As Ira walked around the palace, she was stuck making a simple dish such as soup.
How hard could it be? You boil vegetables in a soup. But even so, she's unsure; she knows the Emperor is cruel and unmerciful. Suppose she made a dish he didn't like, and her efforts to survive would all go up in ashes.
As Ira was walking around, a voice stopped her in her tracks.
"Kathryn! After a long time of avoiding me, which I don't blame you for, you're getting the consequences!"
Ira looked behind her, only to see a stunning, ethereal woman. Although she looked like a princess, her attire was that of a maid.
"Ah.."
"So, what's with you? Running away?"
"Well, I-"
"Reira! Liora needs help again!" A voice from behind interrupted.
When Ira turned behind, she was met with Ivan and Reign, two knights with whom she was already familiar.
"So? Bother Elowen. That's her sister, and I need to talk to Kathryn." Reira replied.
Ivan sighed, looking at Reign before making eye contact with Reira.
"Yes, but it's crucial. she's doing "that" again." Reign replied.
Reira gave a massive sigh before turning her head towards Reign.
"Fine, I suppose Liora needs help." Reira finally succumbed and followed Reign.
After Reira left with Reign, Ivan came to me, smiling from grin to grin, looking relieved.
"Hey, sorry about that, Kathryn! I suppose your little reunion with Reira has to wait a little longer. So, where is my thank you?" Ivan asked.
"What do you mean?" Ira replied with confusion.
"I saved you from getting scolded, and perhaps I need a little gratitude," Ivan joked.
Ira scoffed, but she chuckled a bit.
"Thank you, my knight," Ira replied back with a sincere voice.
Ivan smiled and looked at Ira's hands. It was preoccupied with a book, a recipe book.
"Are you cooking up something?" Ivan asked.
Ira nodded as she pulled up the book Ivan was referring to.
"Yeah, I'm cooking for the Emperor.." Ira replied back.
The atmosphere diminished a bit as soon as the Emperor was mentioned, but Ivan shrugged it off to avoid making things awkward.
"He's currently sick, so you should make something like soup. If it were like lobster, people would think you're killing him." Ivan stated.
Ira already heard this before, but she didn't mind listening to it another time.
"Do you think you could help me? I'm just scared the soup I make might not be up to the Emperor's ideals," Ira asked.
Ivan thought for a minute before replying, but he looked at Ira before giving a gentle smile.
"Yeah, sure, but I'm sure the Emperor wouldn't be picky because he's sick," Ivan replied.
"Thank you! I needed the help." Ira replied.
Ivan laughed and gave a cocky smile, "Then maybe after, you could do a little favour for me."
"What would that be?"
"You'll find out soon enough."