I sat bolt upright in my bed and saw that it was already light outside. “It’s afternoon already?!” To think that I slept so late... The comfort of my family home was practically magical.
Almost as soon as I came to, I heard a knock at the door. “May I help you prepare for the day?”
“Yes. Come in,” I called.
“Good afternoon.” Anne Marie, who’d been my maid when I lived here, entered. She was the third daughter of a viscount and she’d come to the Cocoriara house as part of her etiquette training. The seventeen-year-old wore the standard maid’s outfit, her hair—blonde with a yellow-green tint—tied into a bun. In the past, her subtle gestures of kindness had saved me time and time again. As soon as they met mine, her eyes brimmed with tears.
“Anne...!”
“I-I’m sorry. I’m just so relieved to see you safe,” she said.
“No, I’m sorry I didn’t get to see you yesterday,” I returned. “I went to bed right after dinner.”
“You shouldn’t have concerned yourself about me. The duke and duchess were both worried sick.” Anne Marie shook her head, rubbed the moisture from her eyes, and flashed me a smile. “I can wait my turn. I’m happy just to see you again. Let’s get you ready.”
“Thank you,” I said, giggling as I let Anne Marie dress me for the day.
Once I was dressed, I went down to the dining room to find L’lyeh there, her mouth full of lunch. The head chef stood beside her, describing each dish. When did they become friends?
“Good morning,” I greeted them.
“Sharon! Morning,” L’lyeh said around her mouthful.
“Good morning, Miss Charlotte. I’ll have your lunch prepared immediately.”
I watched the chef give orders to a footman, then approached him. “I actually have something I’d like for you to cook.”
“Of course!”
On the table, I placed the basket I’d brought with me, full of the Giant Peaches I’d scored in Arcadia.
The head chef took in the sweet aroma with amazement. “Wh-What is that?! It smells divine...and I’ve never seen peaches that large. Where did you get these?!” Apparently, this was an ingredient the chef had never seen before. “I can’t believe I get to cook with this!” he exclaimed, eyes glimmering with anticipation.
Chuckling, I told the head chef how I’d gotten the peaches from Arcadia.
“Arcadia... I did not think such a place existed. Leave it to you, Miss Charlotte, to find a way to get there,” he said.
“Thanks to my friends,” I replied.
“Trusty allies indeed.”
“Absolutely.” As a supporter who had no business attacking enemies, I needed strong allies in order to go on adventures. “I’d love for you to incorporate these Giant Peaches into dinner tonight. Don’t be conservative with the portions. I hear Rudith and Otis are coming for dinner.”
“As you wish, Miss Charlotte!” The head chef reached for the peaches, apparently eager to put his culinary expertise to the test.
“I want to help!” L’lyeh called out. Lately, she’d been into cooking food as well as eating it.
“I could never!” the head chef said frantically. “I wouldn’t dare ask one of our esteemed guests to sweat in the kitchen!”
I chuckled at that. Regardless of their own birth, all of my friends were guests here. None of the Cocoriara servants would allow them to lift a finger, let alone cook in the kitchen. That being said, L’lyeh genuinely wanted to learn how to cook. “I’m sorry to ask this of you,” I said to the chef. “But could you teach Lulu a thing or two in the kitchen?”
“Miss Charlotte...”
“Until very recently, she passed every day locked up in her room. Food is the first thing she’s shown any interest in—” I began, wondering if I was embellishing L’lyeh’s circumstances a bit much.
“I did not realize!” the head chef cried out, overcome with emotion. “I shall teach her everything I can!”
“Really? Thank you, chef,” I said.
“Let us cook these peaches into a delicious dish together, Miss Lulu.”
“Mm-hmm,” L’lyeh answered. The pair shared a look and then disappeared into the kitchen with the basket of Giant Peaches.
I was enjoying a leisurely brunch being served by the household staff when mother walked in. “You’re up. Good morning, Lottie.”
“Good morning, mother.” I watched her sit down across from me, ask for tea, and dismiss the servants. “Did something happen?” I asked.
“This may not be easy for you to hear, but you must,” she said with a grimace. “All of the paperwork has been taken care of when it comes to your broken engagement and exile.”
I nodded. Ignacia had been held responsible for our breakup, so our engagement had been officially recognized as null and void, rather than disgracefully broken. That meant that I would face no punishment for it, and my exile had been lifted. Technically, since it had never been officially processed, I’d never been exiled to begin with. The chips fell where they were supposed to.
“On that note, Prince Ignacia has requested a formal meeting to offer his apology. I know it might make your skin crawl, but could you make time to come to the castle for it?” mother asked.
“I don’t need an apology at this point, but I’ll go,” I said without hesitation, and mother looked relieved—more so that she’d managed to get the good news out than that I’d agreed. She was good friends with Ignacia’s mother—the queen—so that must have been weighing on her mind as well. “Is there a date set?” I asked.
I could practically see mother hold in a groan. “He requested tomorrow.”
I let out a little snort. “That’s quick.” An official meeting with a royal normally took a few days to schedule, at the quickest. Requesting a next-day meeting was a sign of desperation on the prince’s part. Call it a chance to tour the castle, I thought. I haven’t had an opportunity since my memories returned. What else could I do but look for the silver lining?