Gula - Gluttony - Sin of overindulgence

Fine men of fine taste. Fitting for Cecil Astor, current king Illeiad. The man was known for his wastefulness of food. Dish after dish would be served out to him and he would only take a little of each before having a servant take it away. Wasteful. He didn't understand how much food he was wasting.

As a head chef, you were angry that all your hard work was being treated like nothing by that man. You didn't want it to go to waste, so you would have other chefs send it to the people in the city in secret. It was frustrating having to work under a man who you couldn't disobey. What was his problem anyway?

Cecil was looking for the right taste. His mother had died years ago. Even though she was the queen, she was a woman who enjoyed cooking. Whenever she made anything, she was sure to share with him. Cecil had loved the taste and found himself missing it even more ever since she passed away. 

He finally decided he would find someone who would recreate the taste he missed. He had gathered chefs from all over the kingdom and had them cook for him. You were among them. At first you were excited to be given such an opportunity but after a while you resented it.

You were payed well and wanted to go back home and open a small restaurant yourself. You always wanted to share your food with people who would appreciate it, not someone who would just take a bite, to then throw it away. 

After two years of working there, you had enough. You were going to quit. You had gained permission from Cecil to have a private audience with him. He was seated on his throne when you entered and you bowed in respect.

"You asked for an audience? Why?"

"With all due respect my king, it has been an honor working with you but I am homesick. I miss my hometown and wish to go back." This captured Cecil's attention. Out of all the cooks, you were the closest to getting the taste he wanted. This was one of the reasons why you were a head chef, though you were so young. 

"Is that so? May I ask you to stay though? I understand the feeling of want but I rather you continue to work under me directly."

"I understand my king but you have many more chefs than me. What difference does it make if I were to leave?" Reluctantly Cecil agreed. He knew about the rumors. With time he would have to give up as protests from the public wouldn't be ideal.

"Very well. By the end of the week you are free to go."

"Thank you my king." Your spirits were lightening up already. You were feeling more happier by the day and it showed in your cooking. It was the final meal Cecil was ever going to eat of your cooking. You were granted permission to leave soon after, so you were gone before the food was placed in front of him.

He took a bite and was speechless. At last, the taste he had been desiring was in the dish you made. He turned to one of the servants.

"Has F/n left yet?" he asks.

"She left as soon as she was done cooking. She would be outside by now." the servant answers. Cecil finishes the meal and leaves to summon his guards.

"Find where F/n lives and see to her every movement." He wanted to know what you were going to be doing afterwards since you were a cook. Your hometown wasn't actually very far. It was only a day's journey from the castle if you traveled by caravan. Within a few days, you were working at a small restaurant. 

Cecil learned of this and on every other night, he would go and eat there. The taste was just perfect. You cooked so well. Why weren't you like this when you worked under him. For the next few days, he continues to do the same until finally he decides to ask you once more to work under him.

You were surprised to see Cecil and even more surprised to learn how he disguised himself and ate here regularly. You walk up to Cecil and bow to him.

"No need for that F/n." he tells you. "I really am sad to let you go. The last meal you ever made for me while you were in my employment had the taste I was dreaming about."

"I am flattered."

"I have tasted your cooking here and it is exactly as I wanted it. Do you by any chance consider working for me again?" You look conflicted before speaking.

"May I talk to your privately?" Cecil nods before dismissing everyone in the room. You then begin to explain. "As much as working under you was a privilege, I must decline. I find that cooking for the masses makes happier as I am not just cooking for you alone."

"I see. Did it have to do with how much food I didn't eat? I will admit my mistakes and how foolish it was for me to not even finish what was presented to me. I apologize and I will fix my mistakes. But I sincerely want you to work for me again. Please consider."

You are given a few days until you finally decide to work under him once more. You were happy at the restaurant but maybe you could find happiness with working under your king. Within a few days, you are back in the kitchens making meals for Cecil. You teach the others how to cook it the way he likes.

Cecil liked your cooking the most. He was pleased it with it and could tell the difference when someone else made food for him. He hated the taste. It was nothing compared to yours. Soon, you were the only one cooking for him. You had grown aware of it but he wasn't wasting food like last time so you didn't mind it as much.

You were free and decided to walk around a bit before heading back to the kitchens. As you were walking, you ran into Cecil.

"Good to see you F/n." he tells you.

"Pleasure is mine." you reply. He offers to accompany you and you accept. You talk about things that go on and finally the topic goes to why he was so adamant about finding the right taste.

"My mother loved cooking. Imagine that, the queen of the country, in the kitchens making snacks. She used make meals for me sometimes. It tasted perfect in my opinion. But as fate would have it, she died. I won't see her again or taste her cooking."

"So you wanted to taste it again which led you to hire so many chefs."

"Indeed. It had been so long but I remember the taste. You were the only one able to recreate it."

"That makes sense in a way." You and Cecil continue to talk until finally you depart to make his next meal. A pattern began to form. It was random at first, Cecil finding you, but soon he figured out your daily schedule and what you do during your free time. He didn't think much of it until one dinner party. 

He was entertaining guests and you were cooking for them. You helped make everyone's meal and the guest were eating it happily.

"Your chefs are very good. They make fantastic food."

"Of course they would. They work under a king."

"I wish I had cooks like yours." Everyone laughs including Cecil but he was worried. Many people knew about your cooking. Your previous employer did as did all the customers that came. Now it was nobles. It didn't sit well with him. It was shortly after everyone went to their respective rooms he told a servant.

"From now on, F/n will cook for me and me alone. No one else is allowed a single bite of her food."

You were about to make the guests breakfast when you were given orders to only make one plate. This was strange and you felt something wrong. You wouldn't be able to talk to Cecil about it since he was entertaining his guests. Later perhaps.

Even so, you were upset and it was showing in your cooking. Cecil was finally able to talk to you about it.

"Why am I only cooking for you. I thought I would be cooking for all the guest."

"It would be rude to not tell you. I don't want to let others taste your cooking."

"Why?"

"I value it too much to share it."

"It doesn't feel right to me though." Cecil ends the conversation there though as he still had to take care of his guests. You weren't happy with this arrangement and if it was going to be like this for the rest time working here, you didn't like it. You wanted to share your cooking with others. Perhaps it would have been smarter to not have accepted his offer.  You once again ask Cecil for a private audience.

"You never really asked for things like this F/n. Very curious as what you are about to say." he says lightheartedly.

"I apologize my king." you bow your head. "I wish to quit. I am pleased that you enjoy my food so much but it doesn't feel right to me if I don't share it with others." You see his smile fade but within seconds it reappears.

"I understand F/n. May you be happy with your decisions." You thank him and leave. Shortly after your departure, his habits had restarted. He begun being extremely picky with the food that was brought to him. A single bite before throwing it all away. He needed you back. And not just because you could cook.

It was late at night and you were walking home when you felt someone following you. You quicken your pace. You were in an empty alley way as it was a shortcut to your home. You were trying to find a way to the main road so you could scream if necessary. You were about to make it the main road when you feel a pain on the back of your head. That is all you feel before you go unconscious.

When you wake up, you turn and see a man smiling at you. Your head stinging. Where were you? Who was this man? More importantly, who were you? You turn to the man.

"Who are you?" The man looks shocked for a moment before smiling again.

"Cecil. The king of this country and your lover."

"Lover? I have a king for a lover?" you say confused. "Who am I?"

"You were my chef. I fell in love with you through your cooking."

"I see. What happened to me? I know I lost my memories if I can't even remember myself."

"Someone found you unconscious. Broke my heart hearing that. But it is okay F/n. I will help you. As long as you don't leave my side."

"I see. I apologize though, I don't know if I will be able to cook properly."

"With time F/n. Don't worry. Everything will be okay." Cecil hugs you. He didn't care if you couldn't cook. As long as he had you. He was pleased to know that you had amnesia. Because of that, he has the shot of winning you over. Even if you do regain your memories, he will never let you go.

Edited by: Audballlllll