The rest of the day practically flew by for Mirabelle.
She spent the afternoon brainstorming gift ideas for the Queen together with Lonan, while a decidedly grumpy-looking Silas stood against the kitchen wall with his arms crossed, silently watching her.
She had told him several times that she was perfectly capable of managing on her own. He insisted on staying anyway.
Only after the kitchen had filled with the irresistible aroma of freshly baked pastries, and she had absentmindedly fed him one... then another... straight from her fingers, did his mood noticeably improve.
The head chef, meanwhile, pointedly ignored the panther altogether and devoted his full attention to his work.
Secretly, he was rather excited. He had been chosen to accompany them to the Royal Hunting Party. Even if it meant someone else would have to keep the castle kitchens running in his absence.
