Marron finally had a moment to breathe. Her menu was finished, and her contribution to the event was complete.
The savory courses had broken down the tension between the party guests, but now the desserts seemed to be coaxing out genuine smiles. Conversations had loosened; laughter rippled over the clink of wine cups.
One of the maids slipped back in, cheeks flushed. "The Queen's asking you to come out. She says she wants you to see the guests enjoying your work."
Marron hesitated. She'd been darting between stations all night; the thought of facing that glittering hall was almost absurd. But then she nodded, smoothing her apron before stepping through the tall archway into the banquet room.
The scent of blueberry wine and roasted herbs was still thick in the air. Candlelight glinted off glass and gold.
The Queen was seated near the center table, and just beside her—leaning slightly closer than protocol required—was the Lord Jackal.
"…it wasn't a feud born from spite," the Queen was saying, her voice low but carrying in the momentary lull between courses. "My great-grandmother stole the kill from your grandfather because the Snakewater clan was starving. Low tide lasted months—we couldn't fish, and the smaller prey in the marsh had already been hunted thin."
The Lord Jackal's expression was thoughtful, not angry. "He used to say the meat drop was the finest thing he'd ever hunted. I…never knew it went to feed the snakes."
"It did. Every last piece." The Queen's eyes flicked toward him, something softer than pride in her gaze.
"You should have told me sooner, Selyra."
The use of her first name seemed to crack the air around them. A ripple of murmurs passed through the tables. Marron swore she felt the floorboards hum underfoot.
The Queen tilted her head just slightly, as though weighing the sound of it. "Perhaps. But tonight, the food has already spoken for us."
+
She wasn't sure whether the hall had grown warmer or if it was just her pulse. She quickly returned to the kitchen before she was caught staring, the lingering echo of Selyra still vibrating in her ears.
The kitchen had the warm, chaotic scent of a night well-fought—sugar still in the air from meringues, faint tang of wine from rinsed cups, and the richer undercurrent of roasted meats cooling on platters waiting to be sent to storage.
The last dessert plates were out. The sous chefs were leaning against counters, some nursing mugs of tea, others nibbling on scraps of leftover bread.
Marron finally unclipped her apron and hung it on a hook. For the first time since dawn, her shoulders dropped an inch. "Alright…did anyone save me a plate before we ran out?"
Marina, the snakekin sous chef, grinned and slid a covered dish toward her. "Wolfkin custom," she said, tapping the lid. "Feed the chef or they'll haunt you in your sleep."
Inside was a little bit of everything—a sausage apple roll, a slice of smoked fish with herbs, a citrus tart, and one lonely Millionaire Shortbread.
Marron sat right on a stool, fork in hand, and didn't even pretend she'd eat slowly. The savory hit first, the sausage rich and sweet against the buttery pastry. Then the fish—still tender despite the delay—paired perfectly with the herbal lift. The tart cut through it all, and by the time she reached the Millionaire Shortbread, she was dangerously close to sighing out loud.
"Worth it?" Mokko asked, leaning his elbow on the counter beside her.
"Every second," Marron said around her bite of chocolate and nuts.
The sous chefs had started gossiping quietly while cleaning, voices just low enough to pretend they didn't want her to hear. Marron caught a few snippets.
"…called her by her first name…"
"…looked like they wanted to laugh instead of argue…"
"…might see the two crowns sharing more than a table if this keeps up…"
She almost got pulled into it, smiling to herself, before she clapped her hands.
"The event's behind us, and now we need to clean up. Feel free to talk bout the royal love lives while we do it."
Laughter rolled through the room, light and easy now that the pressure was gone. Even Marron felt it loosen something in her chest.
By the time the last tray was put away, the hall beyond had quieted, the feast shifting into slower conversations and lingering sips of wine. Marron leaned back on her stool, full for the first time that day, and let the warmth of the moment sink in.
The kitchen finally gleamed, every counter wiped, every pan scrubbed to a mirror shine. Marron slipped out into the corridor, thinking she'd just take a peek into the great hall before heading to the Seaglass Lounge.
The party had thinned, though clusters of guests still lingered over half-finished drinks. At the far end, near the dais, the Queen and the Lord Jackal stood close—too close for politics, yet careful enough not to touch.
"Tonight was lovely, Selyra."
"It was, Alexander. I just wish we did this sooner."
The remaining guests leaned forward just a touch, like the moment might shatter into something else entirely--whether for romance or political conflict.
Whatever was said though, Marron didn't hear. A wave of relief and exhaustion hit just as a system chime rang in her head.
[Ding!]
+500 XP — Trust of Both Clans Earned
[Reward: These clans will help you rebuild Meadowbrook, if you wish.]
Wait--rebuilding Meadowbrook? Well...it would be a good idea to have a home base of sorts...but...who would take care of it while I'm gone?
I should discuss this with Mokko and Lucy. The system did say it was just a reward...so maybe I can choose when this will happen?
She was way too tired to make an active decision now. Instead, she just waved to the Lord Jackal and to the Snake Queen.
"I thank you for making this feast a success," the Lord Jackal started, giving her a small bow.
"As am I. We were able to talk about quite a few things tonight, without either side lunging at the other's throat." The Queen (Selyra) said, giving her a polite hug. "We owe much to your meals."
"Mmhm. We have to discuss other matters in the coming days, but for now, we feel good about the future."
"Thank you for giving me this chance," Marron said, cheeks flushed and happy. "I hope you can have more events where you can share a table. If there's nothing else, I'll be going now."
The Lord Jackal (Alexander) nodded. "Nothing else on my end. I hope you have a good rest."
"As do I," The Queen said. "we'll keep in touch."
She backed away quietly, leaving the royals to their quiet not-quite-flirtation, and slipped out into the cooler night air. Somewhere in the distance, the sea murmured against the cove, steady and endless.
Tomorrow, she could start thinking about Meadowbrook. Tonight, she could go home, soak her feet, and finally—finally—sleep.
Who would've thought this rivalry started because her great-grandmother stole her grandfather's monster drop...so the snakekin could eat?