Haru had still not returned from wherever he had rushed off to, and (Y/n) was finding herself becoming more and more irritated with her boredom. There was no work for her to do, and because of the amount of regular upkeep the Vethelan staff did, the embassy had no chores whatsoever. Even Bastien was occupied playing with the ambassador's daughter and Kazuya, as always, was making an avid attempt for his case to be heard. Though, with Haru's recent actions and with the lack of an apology yet, it was clear the regent wanted nothing to do with him.

She tried walking and looking around the palace grounds, and while the terrain seemed never ending, somehow, it still wasn't fulfilling. Even when she went inside the palace, hoping seeing something shiny would give her some kind of excitement, there was nothing. The castle's interior was certainly something, a kind of opulence not easily found in other countries. However, in the end, stuff was just stuff, and she wasn't entertained.

There was no joy to be made out of talking with the castle staff either. People weren't exactly things she liked to interact with meaninglessly. That is; small talk was never her thing and it was useless to befriend the servants. Or, rather, aside from friendship, a very fickle thing, there was not much to be gained. And when there was nothing to be gained, the (h/c) haired girl did not make a move.

Sooner or later, upon her vagabond-like walk, she discovered Celith. He was sitting alone in the corridor, talking to someone. When she got closer, the person disappeared, and immediately, his eyes shot to hers, the small boy giving a panicked expression. He looked around hectically, but, with much distress, discovered that he didn't have anything to give her. As a result, he shivered before fleeing, presumably to get something as an offering. Though she probably could have told him it was unnecessary, it would have only encouraged his presence around her. That was not something she wanted. As always, she tried to distance herself from her "kind".

Still, out of curiosity, only because he had presented her with something from her childhood, she followed slowly. There was no urgency in her pace, the girl not really wanting to ever catch up to him. However, sooner or later, she did run into him again, finding he had stashed himself in a kitchen. It was not one she recognized, but she definitely knew who it belonged to, probably because of the choice in decoration. What was odd, however, was that it was not the kitchen's owner that was cooking in it. She tilted her head at the sight of a woman, wondering who would be so bold as to intrude on the fourth prince's territory.

It made far more sense when the woman turned just slightly to grab a tray and she could see it was his aunt. Observing from afar, the (h/c) haired girl noted that she was a lot unlike the rest of her family. Though it was something that she saw in Orion as well, the princess was gentle. She had a very small presence but the gestures and her posture made it clear that she was - and always had been - royalty of the highest calliber. Graceful and relaxed, she only hummed a small song as she enjoyed the art of baking.

At least, that was how it appeared until a flame appeared in the oven. Once that happened, she lost all poise and began to speak in a panicked tone. Since it was in Vethelan, there wasn't much that (Y/n) could decipher. However, it appeared as though she was asking for help. When whomever she was asking help from did not come to her rescue, instead, Celith made the flame disappear. The girl narrowed her eyes at that. Unlike her, he was not exhausted after doing such basic actions. Envy.

"Thank you," she cooed at the silver-haired boy, pulling out a tray of charcoal, "but it looks like this batch is ruined. The kitchen is a mess, too. How disappointing."

The boy pouted. He put on an unhappy expression and held out his hands demandingly. Celith wanted to be compensated for his assistance. That wasn't so surprising, but she didn't have much to give him. The woman began to apologize, explaining that the cookies she was trying to make were nothing but ash. He, however, wanted to hear none of it, not that he could interpret what she said anyway. He had helped her, so it was only right she returned the favor and give him something sweet.

"Maybe we should have left it to the chefs," the woman eventually sighed, handing the jar of sugar to the boy as payment, "I thought I could do it this time."

Celith once again pouted. He did not receive a cookie and, as a result, he had no great offering to give to the (h/c) haired girl. Huffing, he kicked at the ground before gazing down at the sugar. He supposed it was better than nothing, beginning to return to where he had spotted her before. That was when he noticed her standing at the entrance to the kitchen, becoming slightly baffled and completely paralyzed.

"Berry," he stated strangely calmly while going white in the face.

Verona looked over at the boy, wondering what he had spoken Athainian for. It became more clear when she noticed the girl standing at the ajar door. She took steps to hide the burnt tray out of embarrassment before greeting her. (Y/n) ignored her hello, instead, choosing to step inside the kitchen and gawk at the burnt crispy ash that were supposed to be cookies. The princess then laughed very nervously and blushed.

"They were supposed to be something sweet to eat, but...to put it simply, I don't have a talent for the subject of baking."

The woman was further embarrassed as she noted the girl observing her attire. Though she wore a very nice dress and looked otherwise beautiful as usual, there was dough splattered all over her. While she wasn't sure what event would have brought about such a mess on her body, it was certainly something. She must not have been kidding about being untalented in the kitchen. Then again, as a princess, she never had to step inside of one. It made the girl curious as to why she would suddenly make an attempt to.

Celith blushed as well. His presence in the kitchen made more sense. He probably wanted to have been given a cookie to use as an offering. However, in the end, he was left with nothing but a jar of sugar. So, sadly, he held the jar up to her, not having the courage to look her in the eye. Instead, he stared at the ground, nervously moving his feet as he waited for her to decide whether or not to accept it. His concern was prominent.

Luckily for him, she was still wiped out from having helped Orion. She didn't mind being given pure sugar. In fact, she very much craved it, taking the jar from the boy and resisting the urge to eat it in front of the princess. Just because Celith knew what she was, it didn't mean she could stop putting up a front. However, Verona simply chuckled at the acceptance of the gift, as if she knew (Y/n) wouldn't be able to resist it.

"I've learned that, when you crave something sweet," the woman started, tapping on the glass jar playfully, "sometimes, a one-tone flavor won't cut it. Water may be nice, but it gets quite boring just drinking cup after cup. Sometimes, it's nicer to flavor it with something a little different so you can stomach more of it. Sugar is just like that. I had thought to use chocolate to liven it up a bit more, but I severely overestimated myself."

The girl paused. She wasn't so sure if she wanted to get involved with Verona either. Though she seemed nice and all, there wasn't much that she could give her. At least, nothing that Haru couldn't. It was probably worth more spending time with the brunette or waiting for him back at the embassy. Still, for some reason, the strangely sympathetic smile on the princess's face made her pause. It was an unusual feeling for her.

"Cookies aren't that hard once you know how to make them," she mumbled, just trying to fill in the lull of the conversation, "I wasn't great at cooking when I first started either."

"But that insinuates that now you are good at cooking, no? I wish I could say the same. But, well, as you can see, I did not do such a fantastic job."

The woman blushed again but this time, she moved to gather ingredients again. She didn't appear as though she was giving up. Rather, in an attempt to make more, she began avidly staring at the recipe again before grabbing the flour. Shyly, she smiled at the younger girl, Celith flinching a bit as (Y/n) returned the smile. Though it wasn't a great beam of joy, she was smiling, something that was more than it seemed.

"Would you," the princess paused, placing a finger to her cheek, "like to join me? Maybe you could give me tips on the process so they don't end up burnt again."

The younger girl paused. Normally, she wouldn't have cared. Again, she didn't like helping people when there was nothing to get out of it. And, again, she did nonetheless. With a very lackluster energy, she began to help the woman gather the ingredients. While the princess poured everything in, she helped stir. And though Celith seemed slightly perturbed about his offering to her being used in the cookies, he nonetheless went along with it, peeking his head over the counter.

It had been a long time since the younger girl had made anything. She used to have to cook all the time, not that she was ever able to eat that food. Once in a blue moon, she might have been able to get away with sneaking some out. Moments like those used to be her one and only time of joy. In that decrepit house with neighbors that ignored the cries of pain and abuse she suffered every day, food was a form of solace. It filled a part of her that lacked affection and warmth. Even a stale, moldy piece of bread was better than starving. At least while being beaten, she would have had something in her stomach.

It was nothing like how it was for her now. Those days, everything she ever wanted was done by the Akahito chefs. They were professionals, having gone to culinary school for an inordinate amount of time, and were there to make anything her heart desired. Even if she didn't say what she wanted, they knew and made it for her wordlessly. The warm food was left for her to eat or not to eat. It was up to her. In a way, food wasn't such a priority for her anymore, but, obviously, it was still something that she could feel fulfilled with.

As they got to the sugar, her eyes softened. Sugar was a luxury she never received back then. Even when she was very little, living with her father, it was only present in fruits. However, pure granulated sugar that came from sugarcane was something else entirely. It packed more energy than any fruit. She remembered when she first had the substance.

Her first friend was a girl around 6 years old. They lived in the same neighborhood, both being dirt poor, but she was the only one that ever stopped when they heard her being beaten. She cared for her in secret, avoiding coming when the girl's owners were there, and one day, she had taken her to her own home. They didn't have any more than her household, but they still offered her some tea. That was when the girl asked if she wanted sugar.

(Y/n) remembered how baffled she was at the sight of the pure white cube of sand-like particles, but more so, she remembered the taste. It was overwhelming, enough so to make her pause as she tried one. Somehow, it made her strangely happy, enough so to bring tears to her eyes. Maybe it had been a while since she had eaten or perhaps it was because it was a substance her kind craved above all else. Yet she was so overwhelmed with joy that she began crying and she couldn't stop.

"(Y/n)?" the princess called, snapping the girl out of her thoughts, "Oh, may I call you that?"

"How did you - "

"Know your name? I can tell you, but you might not believe me."

The girl averted her eyes. She was aware the royal family was a bit different from other humans. Of course, their demigod status in the eyes of their country did set them apart. Similarly, to her, she was aware of their special blood. For that reason, she wouldn't bat an eye if they actually had some form of magic. After all, Orion had something special in him as well, having at least the potential for something like that. For the others, she couldn't say definitively.

Verona seemed amused by her silence, mostly because she chose to hide her curiosity just as she chose to hide her name and her love of sweets. She probably thought her name was the extent of what she knew about her. And while that might have been concerning in its own way, it was virtually harmless as long as she didn't know what she was. However, unlike everyone else in the royal family, the princess was well aware of her identity along with their own. For the time being, she chose to hide her cards as well.

Before long, the cookies were put in the oven, Celith parking himself in front of it and waiting for the treats to finish. On the other hand, the other two sat down at the table and drank some tea. Though the younger of the two hardly touched her own beverage, Verona was very much enjoying the taste. It was floral in nature and soothing, allowing her to fully savor the impossible situation she had stumbled upon. In a way, the rarity in front of her terrified her, and, in another, it finally gave her hope.

"I hear you went shopping yesterday," the woman hummed playfully, tracing the rim of her teacup, "Personally, I can never resist buying some kind of hat. Big hats, floppy hats, even tiny hats even a mouse can't fit into; I quite like them. What about you? Or, may I take a guess?"

"Feel free."

"I feel you enjoy some kind of project to keep yourself busy, no? You must devote yourself to managing all the projects your occupation has you doing. And then you must enjoy the project of Haru Akahito, at least more than the majority, I believe. So, can I take it you enjoy having a project around?"

"Haru...a project? I guess that's a good way to put it."

"Perhaps you would enjoy art. Have you ever tried painting?"

The girl chuckled, the mere thought of having the sereneness to paint being nonsensically amusing to her. Verona giggled alongside her but began to speak to her about the medium. She didn't appear to know much about it, but she did have a strange enthusiasm for it. However, whether it was based on her own love of the art or if she believed (Y/n) would enjoy it, she didn't know.

"I've been wanting to start painting for a while now. Like you, I also have many things on my mind. The only issue is that I fear I have no one to join me."

"Really?"

"That must sound hard to believe, I know. But my uncle is currently ruling the country and my...husband..." A pause, the woman's eyes glossing over strangely. "He's away looking for a cure that doesn't exist. Then there's Satoru, but, frankly, if I were to speak to him, no doubt my sister would throw a fit. And Meridian...Well, I almost killed her at several occasions, so I doubt my sister would want to sit and paint with me."

"Must be nice."

Verona looked up in surprise at the comment, but the (h/c) haired girl made no attempt to pretend as if she hadn't said that. Rather, a look of both envy and hatred crossed her features. She didn't hide it. Though the statement was ominous, the woman could make a guess as to why that could be. After all, it was not always easy to have a sister, particularly if they threatened one's own happiness.

"You have siblings as well?" the woman hummed, placing down the cup and folding her hands in front of her, "A sister, clearly, but others?"

"Your guess is as good as mine. I just know the one personally, but I could have done without."

The princess remained quiet, letting the younger girl's thoughts run through her head. She had known the two princesses were on poor terms. It was hard to miss the news surrounding them, particularly because of their attempts at regicide. However, she didn't expect it would affect her if she were to meet one of them. Still, memories were hard to hide - far harder than a name or a love of something. She couldn't help it, and with the silence, her thoughts came out into the open, the woman taking every word and evaluating it.

"I wish I could have killed her, and I wish she never existed in the first place, but, if it wasn't her, it would just be someone else." A pause as (Y/n) glanced up. "Do you still want your sister dead?"

"In all honesty, yes. I think she is a bad person and a worse leader. I think the things she says and thinks about my son are reason enough to get rid of her. And, obviously, I think she is a threat to my own position."

"Then why is she still alive?"

"That's a good question, but it's probably because it would do more harm than good. If I killed her, there wouldn't be a soul who wouldn't know it was me. I would be charged with her murder, and, obviously, I wouldn't be able to protect the people I want to protect. What about yours?"

(Y/n) gave a cross look. She clenched her fists and her breathing ever so slightly was thrown out of disarray. In some way, she wanted Verona to agree with her. She wanted her to say that there was a plan in motion to kill her sister and that, within a set amount of time, she would do away with her. There was logic in her actual response, but she wasn't satisfied with it. She couldn't imagine the desire to kill her sister suddenly vanishing. As if that would happen, she began to hate the female even more, trying to hate her even more so she could keep her animosity towards her.

"I'm not strong enough," she huffed, gritting her teeth, "Not then, not now."

"And in the future?"

"...I'm trying. Haru can help."

Verona suddenly understood the nature of the relationship between the two, finding a reason to smile. She held onto the girl's hand supportingly before motioning to the oven. The (h/c) haired girl took the treats out delicately, trying to suppress her anger. Seeing this, the copper-haired woman very slowly hugged the younger girl. Though, at first, she tensed up and, instinctually, tried to push the woman away, she soon realized it was a gesture of empathy.

Verona, too, had been immersed in her hatred for her sister, and she knew firsthand how difficult it could be. As (Y/n) realized this, she began to soften a bit, letting the woman comfort her. She very gently pet her head and whispered that it would be alright. If it were someone else, she wouldn't have believed them nor have gained any kind of relief from the action. But, when she was faced with someone that understood her situation, it felt calming. As a result, beyond even her, she hugged the woman back for a while. Celith, confused at what happened, also hugged the two, just trying to make them feel better. He sensed their sadness and began to emulate it, sniffling.

"Now, now," the princess sighed, petting both of their heads, "There should be no tears - not when we've finally figured out how to make cookies."

The woman began to hand the two a treat, parting from them to do so. She then began to chuckle at the sight of the (Y/n)'s attire. It seemed the mess that Verona had on her transferred to the younger girl. Regrettably, she began to clear it up, dabbing at it with a cloth before using the same cloth to wipe off the chocolate that stuck to Celith's face. She then began to enjoy her own cookie, revelling in the sweetness. Though, she knew she never would have been able to make anything if (Y/n) hadn't stepped in to help.

"Verona," the younger girl called shyly, an embarrassed look on her face, "Would you still need someone to paint with you?"

The woman paused for a moment, a bit shocked at how quickly the girl's interest in her changed. She wasn't going to get much out of her relationship with Verona. At least, she wouldn't receive what she usually targeted. However, she could not ignore the fact that she was still starving. Verona had filled her stomach up with sweets and given her mind some food for thought, but there suddenly occurred a third craving. She wanted her heart to be satisfied and receive a form of love she had never had before. The princess beamed.

"Let's learn together."