The Duke's study was unusually warm that morning, sunlight spilling over piles of parchment and polished wood. He stood at the window, arms folded.
"You're to attend the Midwinter Charity," he said without turning. "And this year, you will contribute something… unique."
I tilted my head. "Unique?"
His eyes crinkled slightly when he finally faced me. "Your cooking."
I blinked. "At a noble gathering? My… cooking?"
"You've been feeding half my staff for months," he said dryly. "They all swear your food restores their energy. That kind of talent could earn goodwill — or allies. You'll prepare a small dish, something that shows your skill with mana."
It was meant as an honor, but I couldn't shake the weight in his words.
The great hall was a hive of activity when I arrived on the day of the event. Long tables gleamed with crystal goblets and silver platters. Nobles moved in a swirl of velvets and furs, their voices a low tide of polite conversation.
My station was a small, elegant table near the center, draped in pale blue cloth to match my gown. I had chosen three dishes:
1) Paneer with saffron and mana-infused cream — to soothe fatigue.
2) Spiced lentil soup — to warm the body.
3) Cardamom-scented laddoos — for light energy.
As I worked, the golden glow of mana curled gently around my hands, slipping into the food like sunlight into water.
"You make it look like art," came a familiar voice. Lord Aedric stood just beyond my table, silver eyes watching every movement.
"It's more science than art," I said, though a part of me liked the way he said it.
But as I reached for the saffron, something small caught my eye — the jar was slightly ajar, and the strands inside looked… darker than they should.
I frowned, sniffed it, and instantly knew it wasn't saffron. The scent was wrong — bitter, almost metallic.
Someone had swapped it.
I kept my face smooth. Quietly, I set the jar aside, retrieved the proper saffron from my own satchel, and continued as if nothing had happened.
By the time the dishes were ready, a small crowd had gathered. Nobles sampled the food, murmuring in surprise at the burst of energy they felt. Aedric tried the laddoos and smiled faintly.
But my mind was elsewhere — on that swapped jar, and on the fact that this was a public event. If I hadn't noticed…
From across the room, I caught the Duke's gaze. He was already scanning the crowd, his expression unreadable.