•Palace's Kitchen•
Ovelia's POV
When Ann arrived, Ace quietly slipped out to return to his office, and the air fell silent without Wind's familiar voice. After spending some time in the garden reading a cooking book with Ann, I had an idea to make sorbet. It seemed like the perfect treat for a warm day, and I hoped it would help Ace and Ray feel refreshed.
Ann pulled the frozen fruits from the freezer—fruits we had sliced earlier—and we began blending each flavor with lemon and maple syrup. After mixing, I transferred scoops of our vibrant creations—raspberry, mango, and melon—into small bowls, adding a sprinkle of fruit bits on top for garnish.
"Ann, let's taste our sorbet!" I said, a smile spreading across my face.
"Thank you, Ma'am Ovelia," Ann replied, her eyes gleaming with joy.
She took a spoonful, her expression transforming into one of delight. "Mmm, it's delicious, Ma'am! It's so refreshing and not too sweet—every bite bursts with the flavors of fresh fruits!" she exclaimed, her cheeks slightly puffed as she savored each spoonful.
I couldn't help but smile at her enthusiasm. I took a taste myself, and the cool, refreshing sorbet melted pleasantly on my tongue, washing away the heat of the day.
After preparing the two bowls of sorbet—one for Ace and one for Ray—I arranged them carefully on a tray.
"Ma'am Ovelia, would you mind if I tidied the kitchen while you deliver the sorbet?" Ann asked shyly.
"Of course, Ann. Thank you!" I replied, returning her shy smile with warmth.
Taking a deep breath, I picked up the tray filled with our colorful sorbet. My heart fluttered with excitement; I couldn't wait to see Ace's reaction.
"Ma'am Ovelia, I hope that by bringing food to Sir Ace, it will reach his heart, just as Sir Ace expressed his love to you back in the garden," Ann said with a hopeful grin.
I glanced at Ann, my cheeks flushed, unable to suppress a smile.
Is that why Ace jumped out the window to come comfort me? Do I really love Ace, which is why I cook and bring him food, or am I just fulfilling my duty as a wife? These questions swirled in my mind, each one ricocheting off the walls of my uncertainty.
Steeling myself, I headed toward Ace's office, the sorbet in hand.
•Ace's Office•
As I entered, I found Ace sitting at his desk, intently studying a map. Ray was beside him, pointing animatedly at various locations. They seemed deep in conversation.
"The numerous villages along the supply route make it difficult to pinpoint where the ingredients are being delayed," Ray explained, frustration evident in his tone.
It appeared that this was the issue Ray had mentioned last night.
"What if bandits are the reason our food supplies and merchants aren't arriving? We should focus on the villages with weak manpower for security; those are the areas most susceptible to bandit attacks," Ace suggested, his voice steady and determined.
"I'll dispatch the messages via carrier pigeons to our men investigating. We need to resolve this problem before the festival," Ray replied, urgency creeping into his words.
I couldn't interject into their conversation, but the sorbet was starting to melt. Ace glanced at me, eyes wide with surprise.
"Ovelia, have you been there long? Sorry we didn't notice you sooner," Ace said, his voice warm.
Thank goodness they had finally acknowledged my presence.
"Wow, is that a sorbet?!" Ray exclaimed, his eyes gleaming with excitement.
I smiled, stepping closer. Ace swiftly organized the papers on his table as I placed the tray down.
Ray and Ace excitedly began to taste the sorbet.
"It's delicious, Ovelia! So refreshing! And the appearance is fantastic! I love how you combined the three flavors," Ray said, his face lighting up with joy.
"Yeah, my brother is right," Ace added, though his tone was more reserved. Still, his expression betrayed his delight.
I sighed in relief, saying, "I'm so glad you liked it," A smile spread across my face as they both returned my happiness.
I turned to leave when Ace suddenly spoke, "Ovelia, I'm sorry I couldn't spend time with you last night. I promise, once we fix this problem, things will be back to normal," he said with a grin.
When he mentioned 'back to normal,' did he mean the intimate moments we shared every night?
Heat crept up my cheeks, and I noticed Ace biting his lip, which made my blush deepen.
"Ace, Sir Ray, I'm going to head to my room now," I said, my voice slightly shaky.
They both smiled back at me.
"I'm looking forward to the snacks you'll bring tomorrow," Ray said, enthusiasm sparkling in his eyes.
I nodded, returning their smiles, and stepped out of Ace's office.
It felt so rewarding, especially in my heart, to know they enjoyed the food I prepared for them.
[The Next Day: Afternoon]
Ovelia's POV
I had just finished baking a small strawberry cake with Ann. The aroma of freshly baked strawberry cake filled the kitchen, and now I was headed to Ace's office.
•Ace's Office•
As I stepped into Ace's office, it was the same as yesterday—Ace and Ray were still buried in their work, but today, they seemed even more stressed.
I walked over to their desk, and they both looked up, their expressions shifting from concentration to mild surprise.
"Ovelia! You're here already. Sorry, I didn't notice you sooner," Ace said, his voice a bit rushed as he shuffled papers around on his desk.
I could see the dark circles under his eyes; he and Ray looked like they hadn't slept at all.
"A cake! Just what we needed," Ray exclaimed, a flicker of energy returning to his eyes.
"You both look exhausted; you almost look like zombies from the book I read. Take a break and enjoy this," I said, placing the cake between them.
Ray chuckled, and Ace's lips curled into a grateful smile as they started to dig into the cake.
"Mmm, you always make such delicious treats, Ovelia. Just in time, too—strawberries are Ace's favorite!" Ray said joyfully, his eyes lighting up. "You always know how to brighten our day, Ovelia."
"Thanks, as always, Ovelia," Ace added, his tone warm and appreciative.
A wave of happiness washed over me. It felt incredible to have my efforts acknowledged, especially when I had never experienced this kind of appreciation from my adoptive parents, who merely ordered me around without a second thought. I savored this moment of joy, knowing that my small act of kindness had made a difference in their stressful day.
As the door creaked open, I found Eliana standing there, holding a sandwich.
"What's that, a cake? You're eating sweets again, Ace. You might end up with diabetes," she teased, a playful smile dancing on her lips.
In that moment, a wave of sadness washed over me, tightening around my heart. Was this what they called jealousy? This was the third time I had felt it. The first was at the wedding, watching Ace and Eliana kiss; the second, during breakfast when they had shared laughter. And now, here it was again.
Eliana glided toward Ace, placing a plate stacked with three layers of sandwich in front of him. "Here, this sandwich is what you should eat, Ace. It's healthier—chicken, lettuce, tomato, cucumber, and cheese," she announced, gently pushing the cake aside.
Surprisingly, Ace didn't express any annoyance at Eliana's gesture.
A heaviness settled in my chest as I watched them together. I felt like I didn't belong in their world. I turned away, clutching my heart, pausing for a moment. Why did this hurt so much? Just as I was about to leave the office, I felt strong arms wrap around me from behind, startling me.
"Ovelia," Ace murmured, pulling me closer, his voice close to my ear. "I still have feelings for Eliana, but please, give me time. I promise I'll make you fall for me, just as I hope you'll continue to do for me."
My heart raced, each beat echoing the warmth spreading across my cheeks. The ache in my heart began to dissolve, replaced by a glimmer of hope. Is this what love felt like?
"Eliana," Ray interjected gently, " Ace has always had a sweet tooth, and I know he has a special fondness for Ovelia's cake, especially since it's strawberry-flavored." Ray said gently, his eyes sincere. "I'm the only one who eats those veggies you serve here. Ace doesn't tell you because he doesn't want to hurt your feelings."
A wave of warmth spread through me at Ray's words.
Suddenly, Ace released his embrace and smiled at me. I glanced at Ray, who returned my smile, and then our eyes met in perfect understanding.
I turned toward Ray, Ace, and Eliana, taking a deep breath. "Ace, Sir Ray, Ma'am Eliana, I'm going to head out now."
As I caught Eliana's gaze, irritation flashed across her face. I chose to ignore it and stepped out of the office, feeling a mix of relief and anticipation.
What would happen tomorrow? I hoped Ace and Ray would finally resolve their issues with the food supplier and merchant so they could finally rest.
As I walked in the hallway, I noticed the window was open. Approaching it, I was struck by the view of the garden and forest beyond, where another exit from the kingdom lay.
Suddenly, a breeze blew in, carrying a familiar voice that sent a shiver down my spine. "Sorry if I scared you yesterday."
I recognized Wind's voice instantly. Closing the window, I was engulfed by an unexplainable rush of emotions.