My Lady Chef { La Vita Series } - Volume 2

Chapter 39: Food Wagons

Ezran's POV:

"Another food venture maybe?" Belmont's intrigued voice left a vein in my head to throb.

We were locked in a meeting in his study when the prince let it slip that one of his men saw a carriage bearing my sigil heading into Artisan's Row this afternoon.

And he sought to tease me into revealing information.

For he is one of the many partners who sought to invest in my wife's next idea.

The God Yigg will smite me first before I let any man get within reach of my mate.

I am aware that my wife's cafe business gave her all the capital she needed to start renovations and start the Azure House.

It even gave her the means to start her plans on a third venture.

"You should use your spies for more important things other than keeping an eye on my wife." I merely growled.

"Easy there, Ez. As someone in debted to the duchess. What harm is there for some extra protection." He grinned. "It is thanks to her success with the Soul Fruit that our ports are brimming with trade goods from the Ming Empire. The holy kingdom is prospering once again. Father has been in a great mood lately that even your presence does not make him scowl anymore."

"Let's conclude our business." I looked through the documents on the table.

"Yes."

We worked through a few more documents before Belmont called it a day.

As I hurried to leave the office, Belmont insisted on escorting me to the stables.

As we were going down the staircase. I looked up to see someone I do not often encounter.

The Queen and her ladies.

Her Majesty, Bernadette von Solarius.

She wore a pale blue dress finished with expensive silk studded with diamonds and sapphires with floral laces.

A frilly matching fan was positioned to hide her lower face.

Her blonde beauty was timeless but her brown eyes were devoid of any warmth, merely filled with silent calculations.

I felt Bel bow stiffly and I followed suit.

" My queen. " Belmont's voice has gone formal and cool as he addressed his mother.

" Your...Highness. I trust you are having a good day."

" Why wouldn't I? I have the duke by my side." came his polite answer

At the mention of me, her gaze collided with mine and I resisted the urge...

To kill her.

She is the root of the rumors after all. What her game was. I would not know.

She is the pettiest royal I have ever seen.

The rumor that she was somehow offended by my duchess opening her first establishment for commoners only worsened my opinion of her.

But somehow my wife managed to achieve the impossible.

She managed to convince the Queen to agree to a truce and ceased her efforts on dragging my wife's name to the ground.

But a dragon is slow to forgiveness so I hid my enmity behind a cold mask as she spoke in cultured tones.

"I heard rumors that your wife has managed the impossible. The first female chef in the kingdom. One wonders how far her talent would go...." she flicked her fan over her mouth. "I wish her luck in her future ventures. Do tell her to come visit me; I would be happy to host her."