Chapter 5: The First Step
The morning sun rose over the estate, its golden light spilling across the stone walls and illuminating the busy training grounds. Amara stood at her window, watching the soldiers sparring below. Their shouts echoed across the courtyard, mingling with the clang of steel. Despite the harshness of her new surroundings, she felt a flicker of determination. If Kael expected her to cower and retreat, he would be sorely mistaken.
She turned from the window and began preparing for the day. Her plan was ambitious, but it was a necessary first step toward earning respect—not just from the staff, but from Kael himself. She had spent much of the night thinking, her mind racing with ideas and possibilities, until one thought crystallized: she would organize a feast for Kael's soldiers.
The kitchen was already bustling when Amara arrived, the air thick with the aroma of baking bread and roasting meat. Mrs. Harkin glanced up from the stew pot she was stirring, her expression a mix of surprise and skepticism.
"My lady," Mrs. Harkin greeted, wiping her hands on her apron. "What brings you here so early?"
Amara squared her shoulders, hoping her confidence would mask her nerves. "I'd like to organize a feast for the soldiers. Something to show our appreciation for their hard work."
Mrs. Harkin raised an eyebrow. "A feast? On such short notice?"
"I know it's a challenge," Amara admitted, "but I believe it's possible. We have enough supplies in the pantry, and I'll help with the preparations."
The older woman's lips twitched, as though suppressing a smile. "You'll help, will you?"
"Yes," Amara said firmly. "If we work together, we can make this happen."
Mrs. Harkin studied her for a long moment before nodding. "Very well, my lady. Let's see what you're made of."
For the next several hours, Amara worked alongside the kitchen staff, her hands floury and her sleeves rolled up to her elbows. She kneaded dough, chopped vegetables, and even tasted the stew to adjust the seasoning. It was grueling work, far removed from the polished, genteel tasks she had been taught as a noblewoman, but she found an odd sense of satisfaction in it.
The staff, initially hesitant, began to warm to her. Celia teased her when she fumbled with a knife, and even Mrs. Harkin offered a rare smile when Amara successfully folded a tray of pastry dough.
By midday, the kitchen was alive with energy. Pies were baking in the ovens, loaves of bread lined the counters, and cauldrons of stew bubbled over the fire. Amara wiped her brow, exhaustion tugging at her limbs, but the sight of their progress filled her with pride.
Kael was on the training grounds when he noticed an unusual flurry of activity near the kitchen entrance. Servants were carrying trays and barrels out to the courtyard, setting up long tables draped with simple cloths. He frowned, his curiosity piqued.
"What's going on?" he asked Norman, who stood nearby, observing the preparations.
"It appears Lady Vyren is organizing a feast for the soldiers," Norman replied, his tone carefully neutral.
Kael's frown deepened. "A feast? For what occasion?"
"Perhaps you should ask her yourself," Norman suggested, his lips twitching in amusement.
Kael made his way to the courtyard, where Amara was directing the servants with an air of quiet authority. She wore a plain apron over her dress, her hair pulled back into a simple braid. She looked entirely out of place among the bustling activity, yet somehow, she seemed to belong.
"Amara," Kael said, his voice cutting through the noise.
She turned, her cheeks flushed from the heat of the kitchen and the effort of her work. For a moment, she looked startled, but she quickly recovered.
"Lord Vyren," she said, inclining her head. "I hope you don't mind. I thought the soldiers deserved some recognition for their efforts."
Kael folded his arms, his expression unreadable. "You could have consulted me first."
"I could have," she agreed, meeting his gaze. "But I wanted it to be a surprise. They've worked hard, and I believe they've earned this."
His eyes narrowed slightly, but he said nothing more. Instead, he watched as she returned to her task, her movements efficient and purposeful. There was a determination in her that he hadn't noticed before, and it unsettled him more than he cared to admit.
As the sun dipped low on the horizon, the soldiers gathered in the courtyard, their curiosity turning to delight as the feast was unveiled. Tables groaned under the weight of roasted meats, fresh bread, steaming pies, and pitchers of ale. The men cheered as Kael addressed them, though his speech was brief and to the point.
"This feast was organized by Lady Vyren," he said, gesturing toward Amara. "Enjoy it, but remember, drills start at dawn."
The soldiers laughed and raised their mugs in salute. Amara, standing off to the side, felt a flush of pride as the men dug into the food with enthusiasm. She had done it. For the first time since arriving at the estate, she felt like she had accomplished something meaningful.
Kael approached her as the feast continued, his expression softer than usual. "You surprised me," he admitted. "The men seem to appreciate the gesture."
"I'm glad," she said, meeting his gaze. "They deserve it."
For a moment, they stood in silence, the noise of the celebration filling the air around them. Kael studied her, his dark eyes unreadable, before nodding slightly.
"Well done," he said simply, then turned and walked away.
Amara watched him go, her heart inexplicably lighter. It wasn't much, but it was a start.
---
That night, as the laughter and clinking of mugs faded into the stillness of the estate, Amara sat by her window, gazing at the stars. She felt the ache in her muscles, the lingering heat of the kitchen's fire on her skin, and the weight of exhaustion in her bones. But she also felt something she hadn't in a long time: hope.
Kael, in his own chambers, leaned against the edge of his desk, a faint smile tugging at the corner of his mouth. She was proving to be more than he had expected. Perhaps, he thought, this marriage might not be as unbearable as he had feared.
In the quiet of the night, both husband and wife found themselves wondering what the future might hold.