[Music Recommendation: Western Nights ~ Ethel Cain]

Adelaide flipped the small note that was supposed to be sent to Oriana, looking at the original food that Adric actually enjoyed with her fingers tapping on the pillar.

She had seen a maid walk out of the king’s room earlier going to meet Oriana with a small note, and when she read what was in it, she had it swapped with something else. Raising the note, she placed it on a nearby fire and watched it burn to ashes.

Adelaide dusted her hands, and as she turned to leave the passage, she bumped into someone.

"I’m sorry, I’m so sorry," Louis bowed deeply to the member of the royal family. He knew this because of the way the young girl was dressed.

Adelaide looked at the man for some time, then sighed deeply. Covering her nose as if the man was smelling, she walked past him.

Louis raised his head, watching the princess walk away before he continued to Oriana’s room.

Knocking on the door, he waited until the princess opened it.

"Louis," Oriana moved to the side to let the man inside her room. She couldn’t wait for daybreak before she would get started to prepare for the cooking competition.

"Princess Oriana," Louis bowed deeply, wondering why the princess had sent for him at this time.

Oriana raised the small paper she was holding. "I need you to teach me how to cook these by tomorrow. Please," she begged.

Louis took the note and read what he was going to prepare. "Princess, these would take time. Are you sure you don’t want to learn something simpler?"

Oriana shook her head. "No, it has to be this. Um, we can start tonight. Before tomorrow, I know I’ll be able to learn the basics."

Louis sighed. The process of making the food on the list was going to be too stressful and hectic for the princess. "Are you sure about this?"

Oriana nodded. "I’m very sure. I’ll get everything you’ll need in the kitchen ready. Please, Louis."

"I’ll do anything for you, Princess Oriana," Louis bowed. "I’ll be waiting for you in the kitchen."

Oriana clapped her hands excitedly. "Let me get ready then," she waited until Louis left the room. She closed the door and had a quick bath before changing into something simpler.

She made her way to the kitchen, where maids now lined up, waiting to assist them.

"Um, you can all go to bed," Oriana said to the maids who were reluctant to leave her all alone. "You don’t need to worry. Louis here will be helping me."

The maids exchanged looks among themselves before leaving the kitchen. Oriana rolled up her sleeves, ready to prepare the best meal for Adric.

Louis cleared his throat, and after washing his hands, he asked, "What meal have you ever tried preparing, Princess?" He tried to engage her in conversation while he started the fire.

Oriana tapped her finger on her lips. "Um, nothing?"

"Nothing - wait, you haven’t?" Louis exhaled. "That’s going to be tough, but let’s try."

He brought out a pan and pointed at the slab. "Bring the cornstarch and sugar for me."

Oriana, excited to do something to help, went to bring the things set on the slab. "Cornstarch," she muttered, looking at everything on the slab. After a few minutes of not recognizing anything, she turned to look at Louis.

"Alright, come hold this, I’ll get everything," Louis noticed her struggle with finding the ingredients.

Oriana nodded. "I’m so sorry, I’ll hold it." She ran to hold the pan while the fire was heating it slowly.

Louis found everything and got it ready for the pudding. "We are doing it overnight because it’ll be left in the cold cellar overnight for great serving."

Oriana nodded, but the first pudding that was made got overturned when she tried to break the egg inside, and the hot content spilled on her dress.

Louis quickly brought cold water for Oriana to dip her hand in.

"You don’t need to worry, Princess. I’ll cook everything overnight. Go inside and rest." Louis suggested, dabbing Oriana’s hand with a wet towel.

Oriana didn’t budge. "Not to worry, I’m fine. This is nothing, trust me, and I want to learn. Let’s try again." She wiped her hand on her dress, ready to start making the new pudding.

"Let’s try again," Louis washed off the pan so they could make the pudding afresh.

Oriana stood close to him, learning through the process as she didn’t want to miss a step.

Outside the kitchen, Adric walked towards his room, ready to retire to bed when he saw that the kitchen candles were still on. He turned to ask Rowan,

"What is going on?"

Rowan stepped forward. "Tomorrow is the cooking competition. I heard from the maids that the princess decided to start cooking overnight."

Adric nodded. "Is she alone?" He could see two shadows moving inside the kitchen.

"I don’t think so. That should be the man you saved from the mine weeks ago

Here daughter is the princess’s personal maid." Rowan replied.

They were about to continue walking when they heard something crash inside the kitchen. Adric turned to look at the kitchen door, which was slightly open. He saw Oriana down on her knees, picking up the broken china.

"Should I evacuate everyone from the palace? It seems like tonight won’t be safe for us all," Rowan asked with a serious look on his face. 𝕗𝐫𝚎𝗲𝘄𝐞𝕓𝐧𝕠𝘃𝕖𝐥.𝐜𝚘𝚖

Adric chuckled. "I wonder why she’s doing her best. It’s just a mere competition." He saw how her golden hair fell on her face, covering her eyes.

Oriana forgot she was holding something, dropped it all to tuck her hair behind her ears, then cursed under her breath when she started picking up the broken pieces again.

When she raised her face as if looking at the door, Adric stepped away. He continued walking to his room without saying anything.

"Should I get the maids to stop her?" Rowan asked.

Adric shook his head. "No, you don’t need to. Allow her." He stopped walking when he noticed Rowan was still following him. "Aren’t you going to close for the day?"

Rowan bowed deeply. "Goodnight, Your Highness."

Adric turned when he remembered the reason Rowan was following him. They were to discuss the suspects of the murder. "Rowan!" he called, but the guard had already turned through the next passage and disappeared.

"That—" Adric cursed. He shook his head and smiled, looking at the passage that led to the kitchen one more time before he left.