I take a deep breath, only to stop when I notice a woman in the doorway. Nate sees where I'm looking and turns around, only to smile.
"Nathaniel," the woman says in a lyrical accent that I believe comes from Gaullesse. She heads straight to him and kisses him on each cheek.
A strange emotion unleashes within me, but I have no idea what it means, only that I don't like it.
"Bonsoir, Camille," Nate says in a Gaullessian accent that's better than mine.
"This is a sweet little kitchen," she says as she looks around. "How do you say it? Très mignon."
He chuckles. "This is my favourite kitchen." His gaze slips past her to me, and he smiles. But his reaction only frustrates me when I have no idea what any of it means.
Camille turns around and looks at me, a strange expression on her face as if she's trying to work something out. "Your Highness," she says, dipping into a bow. "You must forgive me, I did not know you were here."
"It's fine," I murmur.
Nate clears his throat. "This is Princess Evelyn of Falhaven," he says. "And this is Camille Asselin. We trained together in Gaullesse. She's my new sous-chef."
Does this mean they've baked together before? I know they're going to do it now she's working for him, but what about in the past? Have they shared recipes? Is she the person whose opinion he sought on flavours and new dishes when he was in Gaullesse?
"I didn't know you were arriving today," he says to Camille.
"Ah, we were not meant to, but we arrived a few hours ago, and I wished to say hello before I went to find my lodgings." Her glance strays to me. "I did not realise you had company."
"It's a good chance for the two of you to meet," Nate says, looking at me with a smile.
My stomach churns, and I want to run away so I don't have to deal with it, but my royal etiquette lessons kick in before I can. I may think they're frustrating and full of rules that make no sense, but at least it can be somewhat useful for always having a rule for what to say.
"Welcome to the castle, Chef Asselin," I say in my most polite voice.
Nate gives me a strange look.
"I need to go," I murmur.
"Evie..." He steps forward, only to glance at Camille. "Your Highness."
My throat constricts, and tears pinch at the corners of my eyes. "I really need to go." I don't wait for him to say anything else and turn around to leave the kitchen, desperate to be anywhere but here, even if I have no idea why.
Chapter 12
I slam the door to my room shut behind me and lean back against it, breathing heavily and trying to make sense of the thoughts in my head. I have no idea where they've come from, or what any of them mean. But there is someone who might know. And it's not too late. As far as I know, Veronica is likely to still be awake, and she'll have the answers for me.
I take a deep breath and turn around, fully intent on heading down the corridor to see my sister.
I pull open the door and stop in my tracks as I find Nate on the other side. He looks almost exactly how he did in the kitchens, except that now he has a dragon in his arms, and she isn't particularly happy about it.
She seems to realise where she is and finishes escaping his arms to fly over to the fire and let out a few huffing sounds. I'm surprised that he managed to bring her up here, but I'm not able to process that right now.
"Evie?" he asks.
"Why are you surprised?" I respond. "This is where I live."
"I know, I just didn't expect you to open the door before I even knocked."
"Right, yes." I take a deep breath. "Do you want to come inside?"
"Is that all right?" He doesn't look sure, but considering his reaction to Camille, maybe I don't know him as well as I think I do.
"I don't have any refreshments," I say as I step back so he can step inside.
