The giggling had to be connected to something in the tea.
I caught Sasha’s eye, and she gave me the tiniest nod, confirming my suspicion. That brief connection made my chest warm, but she quickly looked away, saying something about the timeline to Alaina. Deflecting again, keepingit to work.
“This has been incredibly helpful,” Sasha said, turning back to Alaina with a warm smile. “I appreciate you taking the time to show us everything. Would it be possible to take some of these tea leaves with us? I’d love to experiment a bit in our rooms, maybe try preparing some myself.”
“Of course, Your Majesty.” Alaina looked thrilled. “I’ll have a selection sent up to your suite right away. Different varieties so you can try various flavors.”
“That would be wonderful,” Sasha said. “And perhaps some of those cakes as well? They really are extraordinary.”
We returned to the main kitchen, and I sneaked another piece to Savory while Alaina was giving instructions to her staff about what to send up. The raven made a soft sound that could be approval or could be a warning about future digestive consequences.
“Is there anything specific you’d like to know about the other preparations?” Alaina asked, turning back to us. “The breakfast spreads, perhaps? Or the dinner menus?”
“Actually,” I said, following Sasha’s lead, “I’m curious about timing. When do you typically start preparing for breakfast service?”
“We prep pastries and breads the evening before, of course, to give them time to rise. But we begin prep for everything else a few hours before serving time. Setting the flour out. The spices we’ll use for breakfast. That sort of thing. We start earlier for more elaborate meals, of course. But for standard breakfast service, a few hours gives us plenty of time to have everything ready.”
“Is there anything else you can tell me about the tea specifically?” Sasha asked.
“We prepare it about ten minutes before serving. We want it as fresh as possible, and piping hot, so we time itcarefully. The leaves steep for exactly eight minutes, then we strain and bring the pots to the dining room.
I filed the time away, suspecting it might be important.
“Do you ever prepare tea in advance and reheat it?” I asked.
“Never, Your Majesty,” Alaina said, looking almost offended by the suggestion. “That would ruin the flavor completely. Fresh brewing only, always.”
Sasha nodded, seeming satisfied. “One last question, if you don’t mind. Where do the herbs you use for cooking come from?”
“Various sources,” Alaina said. “Some from the castle gardens, some from local suppliers in the market, and specialty items from traders who visit seasonally.”
“And you store those in the spice closet?” Sasha gestured toward the small room Lady Featherby had been in when we arrived.
“Most of them, yes. Though we also keep fresh herbs in the main kitchen for easy access.”
We followed her back into the herb room, though only Alaina could fit, and Sasha asked about specific varieties and their uses. She eased into the tiny room with Alaina and touched several containers, making comments about the quality and freshness.
I watched her work, impressed by how thoroughly she was gathering information without coming across as suspicious or accusatory. The staff remained relaxed, pleased to share their knowledge with someone who showed such true interest.
She was brilliant at this, which only made me want her more.
Finally, we made our way back to the main kitchen again. The bustle had resumed, staff moving through theirtasks while pots bubbled and something with a cinnamon smell baked in one of the ovens.
Savory perched on the end of the counter, her head tilting this way and that.
“Thank you so much for your time,” Sasha told Alaina and the rest of the staff. “This has been incredibly informative. I look forward to trying my hand at preparing some tea myself.”
“It’s been our pleasure, Your Majesty,” Alaina said, beaming. “Truly. And don’t hesitate to come back if you have more questions or if you’d like to try your hand at cooking. We’d be honored to work with you.”
“I may take you up on that,” Sasha said with a smile that looked genuinely pleased.
We made our way toward the kitchen door, Savory launching herself from the counter to glide ahead of us.
I paused at the threshold, turning back.
“Thank you all for your excellent work and for your patience with our questions.”
A chorus of “Your Majesty” and various bows and curtsies followed us as we stepped out into the hallway.
