Chapter 44
The smell of freshly chopped herbs and sizzling garlic filled the palace kitchen as Celestina tied an apron around her waist. Kael stood at the counter beside her, already slicing vegetables with surprising precision. Luna sat perched on a nearby stool, her fluffy tail swishing as she watched the activity with curious blue eyes.
“I still can’t believe you convinced me to cook,” Celestina said, raising an eyebrow at Kael. “You, of all people, in a kitchen. What’s next? You start hosting tea parties?”
Kael smirked, pausing mid-slice to look at her. “If I hosted tea parties, they’d be the talk of the town. You’d be the first one on the guest list.”
Celestina rolled her eyes, hiding a smile. “You’re ridiculous.”
“And you’re welcome,” he quipped, gesturing to the cutting board. “Now, are you going to stand there criticizing me, or are you actually going to help?”
She picked up a tomato, holding it up like a prize. “Fine, but don’t complain if my slicing isn’t as perfect as yours, Chef Kael.”
“Don’t worry,” Kael said, grinning. “I’ll teach you. I’m surprisingly patient.”
Celestina snorted. “You? Patient? That’s rich coming from the man who couldn’t sit through a full briefing without checking his watch every five minutes.”
“Hey,” Kael said, feigning offense. “That was one time. And it was a very boring briefing.”
As they worked, the kitchen quickly turned into organized chaos. Kael took charge of the main dish—a hearty pasta with a creamy garlic sauce—while Celestina focused on preparing a salad. Luna, not content with merely observing, pawed at the edge of the counter, her nose twitching at the smell of food.
“Luna,” Celestina warned, nudging the cat gently away. “This is not for you.”
Luna let out a plaintive meow, hopping down to pace around Kael’s feet.
“She’s relentless,” Kael said, glancing down at the feline. “I think she’s planning a coup.”
“She gets that from me,” Celestina said with a smirk.
Kael laughed. “Figures. She’s already got the attitude down.”
As Celestina chopped cucumbers for the salad, Kael leaned over to inspect her work. “Not bad,” he said, nodding approvingly. “You’re a quick learner.”
“Don’t sound so surprised,” she shot back. “I’m good at everything I do.”
“Everything?” Kael asked, raising an eyebrow.
“Everything,” Celestina replied confidently.
Kael grinned, leaning slightly closer. “I’ll keep that in mind.”
As the two continued their playful banter, they were unaware of the quiet presence near the doorway. President Alvada and Lord Veridan stood side by side, watching the scene unfold.
The president crossed his arms, a faint smile playing on his lips. “Well, this is a sight I never thought I’d see,” he said quietly.
Lord Veridan chuckled, his gaze fixed on his son. “Nor I. Kael hasn’t set foot in a kitchen since he burned toast as a teenager.”
“Celestina seems to bring out a different side of him,” Alvada remarked, his tone thoughtful.
“She does,” Veridan agreed, his expression softening. “I think he’s finally learning what matters.”
The two men exchanged a knowing look, their shared understanding unspoken but clear.
Back in the kitchen, Celestina reached for a bottle of olive oil, misjudging her grip. The bottle slipped from her hands, and in her attempt to catch it, she knocked over the bowl of cherry tomatoes.
“Oops,” she said, biting her lip as the tomatoes rolled across the counter and onto the floor.
Kael burst out laughing, quickly grabbing a towel to wipe up the mess. “So much for being good at everything,” he teased.
“Don’t start,” Celestina said, narrowing her eyes at him. “At least I didn’t burn the garlic.”
Kael feigned indignation. “That was a calculated browning, not burning.”
Luna took the opportunity to pounce on a stray tomato, batting it around like a toy.
“Luna!” Celestina exclaimed, trying to retrieve the tomato from the cat’s grasp.
Kael shook his head, still laughing. “I think she’s winning this round.”
