Morning.
A loud knock slammed against the door.
"ELARA!"
Aven groaned and buried her face in the pillow.
"Why are people yelling my fake name so early in the morning..."
The door suddenly opened.
The Head Maid stood there, arms crossed and expression sharp.
"Stop sleeping. The King's breakfast must be prepared."
Aven blinked sleepily.
"...The king's what?"
"Breakfast."
A pause.
Aven slowly sat up.
"You mean... I have to cook?"
The head maid looked even more annoyed.
"Of course."
Aven stared at her.
"...Do I look like someone who knows how to cook?"
"Everyone here knows how."
Aven muttered under her breath.
"Everyone here wasn't a celebrity yesterday." The palace kitchen was already busy.
Merry stood beside Aven, trying to help.
"Just cut the vegetables."
Aven picked up the knife like it was a dangerous weapon.
Her eyes widened.
"Why is it so sharp?!"
Merry sighed.
"That's... the point."As Aven awkwardly tried to cut the vegetables, a memory suddenly surfaced.
Another kitchen.
Another time.
Rowan standing behind her while she completely ruined the ingredients.
She had tried to help him cook.
Instead, she had only made a mess.
Back then, Rowan hadn't gotten angry.
He had only chuckled softly...
Then leaned closer and poked her nose.
"Stay away from the knife," he had said with a smile.
"You're dangerous."
The memory felt warm.
Too warm.
Aven quickly shook her head.
That was just a precious memory.
And this...
She glanced around the huge palace kitchen.
This is the cruel reality.
Merry noticed her spacing out.
"What are you thinking about?"
Aven blinked.
"Nothing."
Later...
The food was served to the king.
Aven stood nervously with the other maids as Rowan tasted the meal.
Rowan took one bite.
The entire room froze.
A servant spoke carefully.
"Is something wrong, Your Majesty?"
Rowan slowly placed the spoon down.
"...Who made this?"
Silence filled the room.
Aven slowly raised her hand.
Rowan looked directly at her.
A long pause passed.
Then he muttered quietly,
"...Of course it's you."
Aven frowned.
"What does that mean?"
Rowan ignored her.
"...Interesting."
The maids exchanged worried looks.
Everyone knew the king usually punished cooks who ruined his meals.
But Rowan simply leaned back in his chair.
"From tomorrow," he said calmly, "she will prepare my meals."
Aven's eyes widened.
"What?!"
Rowan looked at her with a faint smirk.
"Consider it... a royal order."
As Rowan gave the order, Aven looked at him.
Her eyes practically screamed, You better be joking.
Rowan returned the look calmly.
I'm not.
Aven stepped back in frustration.
Then she turned and walked out.
Aven walked quickly down the corridor.
"Royal order?" she muttered.
"Who does he think he is?"
She stopped suddenly and leaned against the wall.
"...Actually, he's literally the king."
She sighed dramatically.
"This is a disaster."
She covered her face with both hands.
"I can't cook. I can't leave the palace. And my ex-husband is the king."
A pause.
Then she whispered quietly to herself-
"...Why does he look exactly the same?"
Her chest tightened slightly.
Aven immediately shook her head.
"Nope."
She straightened and pointed at the empty hallway.
"We are not thinking about that."
Another pause.
Then she crossed her arms and huffed.
"...He's still a brat."
A voice came from behind her.
"Talking to yourself?"
Aven froze.
Then slowly turned.
Cassian was leaning against the wall, watching her with quiet amusement.
Aven crossed her arms.
"Looks like you have a lot of free time."
Cassian raised an eyebrow.
"Oh please. I'm doing my job."
"And what job is that?" Aven asked dryly.
"Making sure you don't try to run away again."
Aven clicked her tongue.
"Tch."
Cassian tilted his head.
"That's it? Just tch? No dangerous comeback today?"
Aven rolled her eyes.
"You're worse than him."
Cassian frowned slightly.
"Worse than who?"
Aven waved her hand dismissively.
"Long story."
Cassian studied her for a moment... then nodded.
"Alright."
Aven blinked.
"That's it? You're not curious?"
Cassian shrugged lightly.
"You said it's a long story."
He pushed himself off the wall.
"You can tell me later."
Aven stared at him suspiciously.
"...Why do you keep saying that?"
Cassian smirked.
"Because you look like someone who causes interesting stories."
Aven glared at him.
"Shut up."
Cassian lifted both hands in surrender.
"Alright, alright."
He pushed himself off the wall.
"I should get back to work anyway."
He paused for a moment and looked at her again.
"But don't try to run away."
Aven rolled her eyes.
"Okay."
Cassian chuckled softly.
Then he turned and walked down the corridor, disappearing around the corner.
Aven watched him leave.
"...Weird guy."
She sighed and pushed herself away from the wall.
"Now I have to cook for the king."
A pause.
"...This day just keeps getting worse."
As she walked toward the kitchen, she almost bumped into someone.
"Oh-!"
Merry stepped back quickly.
"Elara! I was looking for you."
Aven rubbed her forehead.
"Well, congratulations. You found me."
Merry looked nervous.
"I heard what happened in the dining hall."
Aven groaned.
"Of course you did."
Merry lowered her voice.
"Is it true? The king ordered you to cook his meals from now on?"
Aven stared at her.
"Does it look like I'm joking?"
Merry's eyes widened.
"That's bad."
"Thank you," Aven said dryly. "Very comforting."
Merry grabbed her arm and started pulling her toward the kitchen.
"Come on."
"Where are we going?"
"The kitchen."
Aven stopped walking immediately.
"No."
Merry blinked.
"No?"
"Not now," Aven repeated firmly. "I already embarrassed myself once today. I'm not doing it again."
Merry crossed her arms.
"If you don't learn, the king really will get angry tomorrow."
Aven sighed dramatically.
"Why is my life like this..."
Merry tilted her head.
"You've really changed."
Aven glanced at her.
"Yeah?"
"You used to be quiet and obedient," Merry said. "Now you argue with everyone."
Aven smirked slightly.
"Improvement."
Merry shook her head and dragged her toward the kitchen again.
"Come on. We're practicing before tomorrow."
Aven groaned.
"This is torture."Merry pushed Aven into the kitchen.
"Alright," she said, rolling up her sleeves. "We start with something simple."
Aven looked around at the pots, knives, and ingredients like they were enemies.
"...Define simple."
"Soup."
Aven blinked.
"Soup?"
"Yes."
Aven crossed her arms.
"That doesn't sound simple."
Merry sighed.
"It is. Just cut the vegetables and put them in the pot."
Aven picked up the knife again, eyeing it suspiciously.
"You know... this thing still looks dangerous."
"It's a knife," Merry said flatly.
"That's exactly my point."
After a few awkward attempts, Aven finally managed to cut a few vegetables.
Most of them were uneven.
Some of them barely looked like vegetables anymore.
Merry stared at the cutting board.
"...We'll work on that later."
Aven proudly dumped everything into the pot.
"See? Progress."
Merry pointed at the stove.
"Now light the fire."
Aven leaned down and carefully lit it.
For a moment, everything seemed fine.
Then the flame suddenly grew bigger.
And bigger.
Aven blinked.
"...Merry?"
"Yes?"
"Is the fire supposed to look like that?"
Merry turned around.
Her eyes widened.
"ELARA-!"
The flame burst up with a loud whoosh.
Smoke started rising from the pot.
Aven jumped back.
"I DIDN'T DO ANYTHING!"
"Turn it down!" Merry shouted.
"I DON'T KNOW HOW!"
The kitchen quickly filled with chaos.
Aven grabbed a spoon and tried to stir the pot wildly.
"This is why people order food!"
"Move!" Merry rushed forward and quickly lowered the flame.
The fire finally settled.
Silence fell over the kitchen.
Aven stared at the slightly burnt soup.
"...So."
Merry slowly turned toward her.
"We are never telling anyone about this."
A calm voice spoke from the doorway.
"I think that will be difficult."
Both girls froze.
Aven slowly turned her head.
Rowan was standing at the entrance of the kitchen.
Watching them.
Arms crossed.
Aven blinked.
"...You saw nothing."
Rowan walked inside slowly.
"I saw fire. Smoke. And my kitchen nearly turning into a battlefield."
Aven pointed at the pot.
"It's soup."
Rowan looked inside the pot.
A long pause.
Then he looked back at her.
"...Interesting."
Aven frowned.
"Why do you keep saying that?"
Rowan ignored the question.
Instead, he turned toward the servants nearby.
"Leave."
Within seconds, the kitchen was empty except for Rowan, Aven, and Merry.
Aven swallowed.
"...Why do I feel like I'm about to get executed?"
Rowan looked at her calmly.
"No."
A small smirk appeared on his lips.
"You're about to learn how to cook."
Aven blinked.
"What?"
Rowan stepped closer to the counter.
"Move."
Aven stepped aside automatically.
Rowan picked up the spoon and stirred the soup once.
Then he glanced at her.
"You're doing it wrong."
Aven crossed her arms.
"Well, excuse me for not being born a chef."
Rowan looked at her for a moment.
Then he quietly said-
"You didn't change."
Aven froze.
Rowan turned back to the pot.
"You were always terrible in the kitchen."
Aven crossed her arms and mimicked him under her breath.
"You're always terrible in the kitchen..."
She clicked her tongue.
"Tch."
Then she waved her hand toward the door.
"Go. Do your king duties."
Rowan raised an eyebrow.
"I am doing them."
His gaze shifted toward the stove.
"Looks like I gave my kitchen to the wrong hands."
Aven scoffed.
"Yeah, you gave it. Take it back."
Rowan looked at her.
"You-"
Aven leaned forward slightly.
"What? Me?"
Rowan stared at her for a moment.
Then he sighed.
"...Forget it."
Just then, a palace attendant rushed into the kitchen and bowed quickly.
"Your Majesty, there is something important that requires your attention."
Rowan nodded once.
"I'll be there."
The man stepped back and waited near the door.
Rowan turned his head back toward Aven.
For a second, their eyes met.
Then he said calmly-
"You just got saved."
Aven blinked.
"Saved?"
Rowan gave a faint, knowing smirk.
"Yes."
Before leaving, he paused for a brief moment.
Without looking back, he added-
"Don't burn the palace while I'm gone."
Then he left.
The kitchen fell silent.
Aven stared at the door.
Then she turned slowly toward Merry.
"...I hate him."
"…I swear," Aven muttered.
"If he asks me to cook again…"
She pointed the wooden spoon at the pot like a weapon.
"I'm poisoning his soup."
Merry's eyes widened.
"What?!"