Page 51 of Markets & Mooncakes

"The date and the time in which to rise up. Most people do not believe that it is true."

"Do you?" Veronica asks, leaning forward and closer to Jinglan.

"No. It would be a strange tale, but it would be fun if it were true. Such a sweet pastry having such dramatic beginnings."

"I'm sure there are many like that," she responds.

"True." She picks up her tea and takes a sip, reminding me that I have some of my own.

I don't do it nearly as elegantly as she does, but I don't think that matters too much. It's nice to be able to sit with someone and talk about the things that are important, especially when I get to learn more about the food that we have already made. I just hope that we have made it good enough for her.

"Are there more mooncakes?" Jinglan asks.

"I believe so."

"Would you mind if some were sent to my father and to the other people who came with us from Shengda? They also missed the festival, and I think they would like a taste of home."

"Of course. I will tell Chef Matthews. And if you want anything like anything in the future, you just have to give him the recipe and he will make it for you."

"And he does not mind?" she asks curiously.

"He likes to try new recipes," I assure her. "He will be pleased to do it."

"Ah, then I might have more things I would wish to ask for."

I smile at her, glad that I can make her feel more at home while also making sure that Nate gets to explore things that he is interested in. Especially when it means that I'll also be able to help him.

Chapter 21

The fire is crackling in the grate, while Ember is curled up within it, making the most of her perfect dragon home. It fills my audience chamber with a warm glow that flickers over Nate's face as he sits reading a book from one of his tutors.

My head is against his knees while I try to focus on the Duchess' travel journal, but I don't seem to be doing a good job of it because I've read the same page at least five times while my mind jumps all over the place with thoughts of upcoming Yuletide and all of the things that are going to be different from last year. Both the good and the not so good.

The thoughts become too much and I set my book down. "What do we do for Yuletide?" I ask Nate, threading my fingers through his and looking up at him.

"What do you mean?" he asks.

"Well, what are we going to do? The last time we had a Yuletide together, you sent me marzipan almonds, and we made mince pies in the middle of the masquerade," I say, smiling fondly as I think back to the day, even if I was overwhelmed by all of the royal duties that I had to perform.

"You remember that?" he asks in a strange voice.

"Of course. Why wouldn't I remember it?"

"I just didn't think that was an important time for you," he admits.

I shrug, which I'm sure he can feel from where I'm leaning against him. "All time with you was important to me. And I missed you a lot the next year, so I think that made it stick out a lot more."

"That was when I realised I was in love with you," he says.

"You've mentioned. But I don't exactly know what it was about that Yuletide that made you realise," I say.

"I don't think it was one thing. It was a series of things. Every time you needed a rest from the world, you came to me. And then you turned up in the kitchen in a ballgown because it was where you wanted to go to have a break and a moment with me."

"I did." I smile. "Veronica suggested that I went to my room. I considered it, but it wasn't as nice an option."

"I'm glad you came to see me," he responds. "But the real moment that I realised was when you gave me the boots. It was such an extravagant gift, but you treated it as if it were normal."

"You needed new boots." I don't fully understand what's so extravagant about them as a gift.