The Crown's Seduction-Chapter 57: Heavenly

The next day came by not without too much of an issue. Well, beyond Mineah waking up far earlier than she would've liked. And the fact that she had woken up to an empty bed despite Nikolai having let her fall asleep by his side last night.

"And here I thought I was making progress," she sighed to herself as she held onto her throbbing head. "Ugh… It's far too early for this…"

Looking out the window, the fact that the moon was still up should've been a sign that she should just get back to sleep. However, she really didn't feel like sleeping again when the sun was about to rise anyway.

"I might as well try and make breakfast somehow," she pondered to herself as she scooted over to the edge of the bed. "I just know that Nikolai will show up later when I least expect it. The least I can do is get things ready."

Nodding to herself, Mineah got up and prepared herself for the day ahead. Cleaning herself up and getting a change of clothes, she then made her way down to the kitchen to try and fix up something to eat for her and her husband.

"Now… Where's the storeroom again…"

Mineah kept a keen eye on her surroundings as she did her best to see with the limited light of the coming dawn. With only the moon's light to assist her so far, she at least managed to find the place where she remembered Nikolai pulling out a few of the ingredients he used to cook the stew yesterday.

"Alright, remember what he taught… Try to make things work…"

Grabbing what ingredients she remembered Nikolai using, Mineah set to work preparing a stew for their breakfast that day. Chopping up the meat and vegetables against the dim light of the moon, she made sure to also add seasoning to all of the ingredients before moving on to the next one. After all, she remembered him telling her to season everything as she went, and she will do just that.

"Although, wouldn't the food end up salty?" she wondered as she sprinkled a bit of salt on the newly-chopped carrots in front of her. "Hmm… The water will probably dilute the taste of it…"

And speaking of the water, once she was done preparing her ingredients, she then prepared a fire under the stove and began boiling the water needed for her dish. By this time, the sun was already starting to rise, and she couldn't help but feel like Nikolai was about to return any moment now.

"I just know that he's coming," she wondered to herself as she began putting the ingredients into the boiling water. "Maybe he was out hunting for breakfast himself?"

Either way, she wouldn't let whatever Nikolai was doing stop her from preparing him a dish that he once gave her. Following her memory of yesterday's cooking session to a tee, Mineah hummed to herself as she stirred the pot, her practice in potion-making made things easier for her as the soupy mixture slowly began to thicken with each movement of her ladle.

"Ooh… This actually smells great," she beamed. "I can't wait to see how-"

"Mine?"

Mineah almost let go of the ladle she was holding as Nikolai's sudden arrival startled her more than she would've liked. Turning around, she couldn't help but smile as the visage of her husband's figure made him look like he had just been on a run. Over his shoulder was yet another dead boar, one that was clearly just killed with how red some of its blood still was.

"G-Good morning, Lai," she stammered just before she managed to compose herself. "I was wondering where you went."

"I was out catching our day's meal," he softly smiled as he replied. He then raised an eyebrow as he sniffed the air, his eyes eventually landing on the softly simmering stew on the stove. "I see that you've taken the initiative to cook breakfast. To be honest, I was fully expecting to be the one to do that."

"I woke up earlier than expected," she shrugged. "And I wanted to see if I can replicate your efforts."

"Well, judging by how amazing the stew smells from here, I'd say that you've succeeded so far," Nikolai sincerely complimented as he walked towards the counter to put down the boar carcass. "At least we'll keep the storeroom stocked. I'll just have to prepare this boar later."

Mineah couldn't help but smirk at the praise given to her. Nikolai's reaction to the smell of her dish was already better than what she got with her failed attempts at skewers yesterday, and she couldn't help but be excited to see him try her dish.

Well, that, and the fact that she actually made something good might make her even more desirable in his eyes. After all, he had clearly expressed a desire to teach her, and what better way to show gratitude than to show that she had clearly learned her lesson?

"Why not have a taste then to see if I've really gotten your recipe down?" she couldn't help but suggest as she made sure to stand right next to him. "I'm sure it's already fine."

Raising an eyebrow, Nikolai slowly inched over to the simmering stew, Mineah quickly positioning herself in a way for her to be in between him and her dish.

And just as she did that, another idea came to her.

"Here. Just open your mouth."

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Dipping the ladle into the pot, she gently blew on the steaming mouthful of stew before gingerly bringing it up to Nikolai's mouth. Already, she could see that her gesture was having an effect on him, even if it was probably just in her imagination.

"You're being too close right now, Mine," he hoarsely whispered. "You do know that I'm still trying to control myself."

"I'm just trying to get you to have a taste of my cooking," she sultrily whispered, making sure that her face was hovering just a few inches from his own. "Can you smell it? I'm sure it tastes heavenly."

"Probably not as heavenly as you, Mine," he grunted, his hot breath hitting her nose just past the ladle separating them.

Mineah smirked as her plan all fell into place. With one last push, she was sure that she was going to take yet another step toward making a room for herself in his heart.

"I did say that I can please you in other ways," she whispered. "Perhaps you can count this as well."