Ruby had timed it perfectly.
She had perfected the art of the "accidental" entrance, the blink of surprise, the way her lips parted as if a word was caught right on the tip of her tongue.
Internally, however, her mind was anything but soft. It was cold and boiling with rage.
She had seen Ishita loitering around at the staff quarters, and when she had asked why she wasn't in the kitchen, the older woman had replied that the King had asked her to leave the kitchen and allow him to make breakfast for the Queen himself.
Ruby had felt like someone had slapped her, and she had come to see for herself.
"I didn't realise anyone was in here," Ruby said again, masking the acidic burn in her throat. "I was actually looking for Ishita. There's a minor welfare discrepancy with the lower-level staff in the east wing that needs a signature."
"It's fine," Derek said, without looking up from the mug he was refilling. "Ishita isn't here, but sit down, since you're here."
