We spent the rest of the afternoon unpacking our belongings from the truck.
Thankfully, we'd brought plenty of food, from instant meals and canned goods to fresh cuts of meat preserved in a cooler box. We'd also bought vegetables and fruits at the market in Grampleton that morning. All in all, we had enough provisions to last us a week or two.
I took the largest bedroom on the first floor, leaving one of the upstairs rooms to Mel. With the sheer amount of things I'd brought along, it took until early evening to finish unpacking.
Not that I had much to complain about. The house was spacious, and we'd brought enough belongings to make it feel a little more like home. Still, there was plenty left to arrange, and I found myself wondering whether I'd brought too much.
"Master, I'll take care of that."
Mel's voice interrupted my thoughts as she reached for a box I'd been trying to move.
"It's fine. I can carry it myself."
"I know, Master."
She took it anyway.
I could only stare at her as she carried the box away without so much as breaking a sweat.
...Well, it wasn't as though I couldn't let her have this one.
Besides, there would be plenty of work waiting for me tomorrow. I might as well enjoy the last few hours of being spoiled.
As I stepped out of my room, the smell of dinner greeted me. My stomach rumbled in response.
I couldn't quite tell what she was cooking, but knowing Mel, it would be good regardless.
Making my way to the kitchen, where I found her stirring something in a pan. Her dark clothes contrasted with the white apron tied around her waist, while her fair skin and silvery-white hair stood out against the darker colors. Her long ponytail swayed gently with each movement as she worked.
"Anything I can help with?" I asked.
Hearing my voice, Mel turned briefly before returning her attention to the pan.
"No, feel free to rest, Master."
I smiled, not insisting.
Leaving her to finish dinner, I returned to the living room and stretched out on one of the long sofas. With nothing else to do, I picked up the remote and began switching through the television channels.
'There's a lot more shows than in the game, huh?' I muttered.
I already expected that. It wasn't the first time I'd watched TV in this world, but still, it made me think about how different life on this farm would be from the game.
Eventually, I settled on the news, just as Mel called me to eat.
She'd prepared a stir-fry of vegetables, beef and broccoli, along with some potato soup. It was delicious, as always.
They ate in silence. The two have always eaten together since they were kids, their relationship not as strict as their statuses might suggest.
Mel ate with proper decorum, while Anthony ate amidst scrolling through his phone.
Anthony finished first. but rather than leave the table, he continued fiddling with his phone until she was done.
"Thanks for the meal," I said. "How about I wash the dishes?"
I reached for the plates, but Mel shook her head.
"No need, Master."
"All right."
I let her take them without arguing further.
I'd offered to help with one thing or another over the past two weeks, but she always turned me down. It wasn't as though I didn't appreciate her taking care of me. It just felt right that I should contribute as well, especially now that we were starting a new life together.
Still, I wasn't about to force the matter. There would be plenty of opportunities to help around the farm.
I wandered around the living room while Mel cleaned up, walking about to help digest the food.
By the time she finished, she was holding out a glass to me.
"Master, your milk."
I stared at the glass.
"Come on, do I still have to? We're starting a new life. Can't I grow out of this?"
Mel said nothing. She simply continued holding out the glass, her expression unchanged. Her eyes remained fixed on me, as if she had all the time in the world to wait.
I held her gaze for a few seconds before finally giving in.
"Fineee."
Taking the warm milk, I settled back onto the sofa and resumed watching television.
Meanwhile, she headed upstairs.
It wasn't long before Mel returned.
"I'll be going ahead."
I turned to her and, seeing her carrying her toiletries, simply nodded before turning back to the screen.
After finishing my milk, I washed the glass and set it aside. I could still hear the water running, so I prepared my own stuff, waiting for my turn.
By the time I was ready, Mel had finished showering and was blow-drying her hair to the side. Without her usual ponytail, her silvery-white hair looked particularly long.
I took my own shower.
When I returned, Mel was still in the living room, now watching the news.
As he walked into the living room, drying his hair., she spoke without looking at him.
"Shall I accompany you tonight?"
I answered without pausing.
"No need. You should rest too."
Still drying his hair, he headed toward his room, not properly registering her words.
It was only after his door had shut that Mel responded.
"...Okay."
She stood there for a moment longer before switching off the television and returning to her own room.
It was a peaceful first night.