The Cursed Prince's Strange Bride

"Try it and tell me what you think," Alicia said with an eager smile as she held out a tray to the royal chef, Tyra, Susan, and Paulina, who were standing next to her to see the magic she had created.

She and all those with her were sweating profusely due to the heat in the kitchen, but she didn't mind. She had spent some hours in the kitchen doing something she actually enjoyed, and it was fun. Teaching Tyra, Susan, and Paulina had been as frustrating as it was fun since they were completely clueless in this aspect.

The others glanced at Tyra to take the lead since she was outranked them. Tyra cleared her throat as she reluctantly reached for a tray containing a sugar-glazed doughnut with honey spread on it, and she bit into it softly.

"Hm!" she exclaimed before she could catch herself, but the surprise in her eyes already made Alicia's eyes light up with satisfaction.

"How is it? Is it nice?" Susan asked as she salivated.

"You can have any of your choice too. And you too, sir, for lending me your space," Alicia said, and Susan picked a piece of coconut tart while the chef picked a meatball.

"Wow! This tastes so nice! I can't believe we did this!" Susan said excitedly as she stuffed her mouth full of the doughnut, not minding that they were being watched.

The chef narrowed his eyes as he took a bite. This was a new taste. He had been making meatballs, but both the taste and the texture were completely different. This was expertly done. How could a princess cook this well?

"What are you waiting for?" Alicia asked Paulina, who reluctantly picked a cheese grape cluster, and she blinked back her surprise when she tasted it. This couldn't be her mistress. From all she had seen today, she highly doubted that this person was Princess Amber.

For all she knew, Princess Amber had never stepped into a kitchen or gone close to a fire before, yet this person had handled all the ingredients and even utensils as though she had been raised in a kitchen.

What happened to her mistress? Was she possessed when she drowned? How could she explain these changes in her? Paulina worried as she chewed slowly.

"So? What do you all think?" Alicia asked, wanting to hear them say it even though she could tell from their expressions that they loved it.

The chef nodded, "It's good."

"Good?" Alicia asked incredulously, and then shook her head, "That won't do. On a scale of one to ten, tell me how good it is," she said, and they looked at each other, wondering what she meant.

"The highest score is ten, and the lowest is one. If you like it very much and you think the aristocrats will like it too, give me a ten. If you don't think so, then give me one. If you are not sure, give me five," Alicia tried to explain.

Getting her point, the chef nodded, "What about eight?" He asked, and Alicia smiled as she gave him a nod.

"Coming from an expert like you, I will have to settle for that. Thank you," she said with a polite smile as she turned to Tyra.

"Ten?" Tyra asked, and Alicia beamed her a smile before turning to Susan.

"Ten!" Susan said, and Alicia gave her a thumbs-up before looking at Paulina.

Seeing that they were all looking at her, Paulina blinked back the tears in her eyes at the thought that she had lost her mistress, "Ten."

"Perfect!" Alicia said happily, and then smiled when she spotted Alvin.

"Alvin, come over here," she called with a wave, and Susan's heart skipped a beat as she turned to see Alvin.

Had he missed her so much that he had come here to find them? She mused and pressed her lips together to hide her smile.

"Try this and tell me what you think," she ordered, pointing to the meatball which the chef had tried.

Alvin tried not to look at anyone else but Alicia, since he knew that Susan was there. He wasn't comfortable being in the same space with her. She behaved like she was crazy.

Alvin's eyes rounded in delightful surprise when he took a bite, and he looked at her, wondering if she had actually made it.

"What do you think?" Alicia asked with an eager smile.

"It's... Perfect," Alvin said, and Alicia flashed him a wide smile.

"Good! I'm satisfied then. All that's left is to pack up some and serve the others," Alicia said thoughtfully. Alvin cleared his throat.

"My lady, Prince Harold said I should let you know that it's almost time for dinner and you should get ready," he said quietly, and Alicia nodded.

"I'm done here. I'll be out soon," she assured him, and once Alvin left, she turned to the chef.

"Make sure you serve these before dinner. They are the appetizers," she said, pointing to the tray containing the meatball and cheese grape cluster.

"And after we are done with the dish you prepared, you can serve these. They are called desserts. They might want to take it back to their chambers, so pack it up nicely," Alicia instructed, and the chef nodded.

"Can I get a food box to take some with me? I have to pack some for my husband," she told the chef, and he nodded as he left, while Susan and Tyra exchanged a look.

It was obvious that things were getting better between her and Harold, as she would never have done this some days ago. But then again, they could also see how much effort Harold was making for her. Many royals would not let their wives step foot in the kitchen.

After packing some for Harold, Alicia gave some to Tyra, Susan, and Paulina, who had assisted her, and they all left the kitchen.

"How did you learn to cook that way?" Susan asked, and Alicia shrugged.

"It's a gift. Thank you for helping me today. I'm grateful," Alicia said with a smile of gratitude as she looked at both ladies.

"We need to change our clothes. You've got flour on your face, and you've got some in your hair too," Alicia said as she looked from Susan to Tyra.

"See you at dinner," Tyra said with a small smile as she walked away, and Susan waved at her as she did the same.

Paulina escorted Alicia to her chamber, and once they walked through the door and shut it behind them, Paulina looked at her with questioning eyes, "If you are not Princess Amber, who are you?"