My Lady Chef

Ezran's POV:

The warriors guarding the prince wore leather armor-plated with metal, their feet encased in wooden sandal-like footwear. Long thin swords called katanas were sheathed around their waists and each warrior had a long and short sword attached to their belts.

They stood still, their faces impassive and unreadable but I could sense the discipline beneath their stoic expression.

It intrigued me on how these...samurais fight when at war. They have never been seen on Western soil and mostly they are just guards to royalty or delegates.

"The Prince Oshu has requested to see the lady responsible for tonight's feast," Belmont announced using the Ryuen language to the warriors who promptly stepped aside to let us in.

The Ryuen Prince's tent was also well-appointed as Belmont's except for the fact that his bed was a raised wooden platform padded with a set of soft beddings used in the East. In Ryu, they are called futons. The Prince was dressed for bed in his white silk kimono, his pretty face was scrubbed clean and his raven hair was braided to his right side with silk ribbons.

I and Bel bowed slightly while my wife curtsied as he approached us.

"Rise, sweet lady." His voice sounded gentle, unlike his usual critical intonations. When I saw him reach out towards my wife, I tried hard not to think of dismembering him when his hand merely took a lock of my wife's long blonde hair and knelt down to her as he pressed a kiss to it. "Your food has appeased me greatly, lady duchess. I would love to reward you for your efforts. Name your boon and you shall have it."

My wife was taken aback at such an odd greeting when his slender fingers dropped her hair but she looked to Belmont for an explanation since Prince Oshu spoke in Ryuen.

"He was pleased with the feast and wished to reward you. He says to name what you want and he will give it." Bel said.

"Oh..I-I am happy that he loved it but I don't need a reward." She calmly smiled.

But as Bel translated for us. The Prince was adamant to reward my wife but she was looking a bit uncomfortable when I asked Bel to translate to the prince if he can procure certain ingredients only grown in the East.

Alaina's eyes immediately sparkled as she politely asked if that was possible.

The odd request surprised Prince Oshu at first but his dark eyes comprehended something I was not aware of as he bowed once again and kissed the hem of her skirt.

"In Ryu society, Unmarried men cannot touch the body of a married woman. By kissing her hair or clothes; he is showing Lady Alaina his utmost respect." my friend whispered when I frowned at the foreign prince's actions yet again.

My confusion cleared up and after a few more minutes. Prince Oshi smiled as he promised to import the ingredients my wife wanted. The radiant smile from Alaina's lips dazzled the foreign prince, whose cheeks turned red for a while as she curtsied.

I wasted no time in ushering her out as Bel stayed behind to finalize the trade agreement.

Seeing how Alaina behaved in front of the prince gave me another clue regarding her personality.

She worked her fingers off and assisted in an international trade agreement but she expected nothing return. It was unheard of for a lady to refuse a royalty's favor.

It was an act of kindness and selflessness.

Once again, another side of my wife was shown to me and I am experiencing a fierce desire to keep her locked up at home so that only I can show her affection or be the recipient of her love and selfless acts.

So that she can only see and want me. It was greedy of me and I am even scaring myself at the strong possessiveness that seems to grip me when it comes to this woman.

Because this was the first time I have ever felt this way.

When we came back to our own room. She looked very pleased with herself as she changed back to her nightgown and saw that her food has grown cold.

"I can ask the cooks to make a new one for you," I said as she shook her head.

"These can be eaten cold as well so it is fine." She sighed as she sat down and munched on one fluffy bun. "Mmmm...yes, bao buns are really the best snacks."

"Wife."

She stopped eating to look at me, my voice made her put down her food as I took a seat beside her.

"I owe you an apology. " I said lamely for such words were not something I am used to saying.

But she did not soften as most women do when you apologize. Instead, she crossed her arms and spoke.

"What are you apologizing for?" She asked me and my palms suddenly started to sweat.

As the duke, no one questions me when I speak or give an order but what is this odd feeling of being admonished like a naughty child.

"For being too heavy-handed and overbearing to you. My intentions were good but the way I commanded you was wrong."

"You wanted me to stay in bed and leave my position as the head chef until I am recovered. How would you like it if I told you to abandon your men in the middle of a battlefield." She looked at me intensely. I took a deep breath and felt guilt for that.

"Fair point. This is why I am apologizing for my forceful manner. It was not right of me."

"So you understand then? Why I was upset and avoided you the whole time?" she asked me.

I nodded. Although the taste of humbling myself for her does not sting as much, it still pricks my masculine pride.

"Yes. I understood that you take your role as a chef seriously the way I take my responsibilities as a knight. I noticed that when you achieved the impossible and made the Ryuen prince happy with your food." She then took the time to stand before me closer as she took my hands and placed them on her waist.

"You get it then?" she looked troubled as I pulled her flush against me, causing her eyes to widen.

"Yes. I was wrong, my love. Can you ever forgive me?" My voice was husky but I meant every word.

Asking for forgiveness was never something I say on a daily basis and now I feel nervous as I waited for her answer.

The thought of my wife staying angry with me somehow feels like a knife wound in my heart.

"....I accept. You are forgiven." She put her arms around my neck and sighed when I relaxed. "What am I going to do with you, Ez?"

Her voice was wistful and soft as if all of today's tension just drained out of her.

The relief I feel now that we have reconciled made me hug her tighter.

"Let me love you for a long time."☐☐☐☐☐