My Lady Chef

Bel's POV:

"I heard your wife will be cooking food for us today. I have heard Prince Belmont's praise for her food and I look forward to trying some of her...offerings." Prince Oshu said in that usual nasal tone that indicates he was looking down on the duchess.

I looked at Ezran and saw how his smile turned flat and his red eyes gleamed with concealed irritation. I decided to intervene before he severs a limb...or a prince's head.

"Please have someone show Prince Oshu and his entourage to their rooms. I am sure he must be very exhausted from his journey." I ordered and Ezran curtly nodded and had his man Hughes led the foreign prince away.

"I did not get a good look at the foreigner when I escorted your carriage but..really? Another whelp of a prince for a delegate, Bel? This one is the worse of them all." The duke growled. "A damn peacock."

"Just tolerate him for a day. If he likes the food then he would make sure that trade with Ryu continues for another 10 years." I looked around and frowned. "Where is your duchess? How is she doing? She is not sick is she?"

"In the woods. Foraging." came his clipped tone as he told me to follow him to our appointed room so Elliot went with me.

That was surprising.was it not a few hours ago that Joel told us that she was not feeling well and now....

She was foraging in the forest like some village girl?

But then again, the duchess was once a baron's daughter, and her home was filled with deep forests. Maybe old habits die hard.

I was quite happy with the lavishly furnished suite that was a bit far away from Prince Oshu's. Elliot's room was equally well furnished and adjacent to my room.

Guess Ez read my letter regarding the room arrangements and responded rather quickly.

unless

nodded in response. His dark expression made my

Ezran? The marital sort

Bel." he snapped back

Ez, back to his usual rude ways

and cold tea to you. My wife has trained my cooks to make acceptable noontime snacks. Enjoy yourselves, Your Highnesses."

back for some time before

cannot fathom how you let him get away with

he stands. It is thanks to him that you get a

and placed a hand

because of your skilled tongue. I can never thank

to be paid in full at a later time." I smiled. "But for now brother, rest

you say? She can't be as good as the Mysterious Cake Maker. I have had some of

I know that the "Mysterious Cake Maker" is another

Chef Pepin. Go to your room and

Have a good rest,

me in a clean cotton tunic

checked the food. The offerings usually offer slices of hard bread, wedges of cheese, and some leftover meat if there

there was a small pie with some steamed wild vegetables

white wine

oozed with delicious mincemeat, carrots, and raisins with onion gravy inside. The seasoning