Page 4 of Markets & Mooncakes

I nod. "I'll speak with Chef Martina about the menu. Have we been informed of any of the ambassador's preferences? Or things that aren't eaten in Shengda?" I've been organising the banquets for long enough that I know those things are important when it comes to organising one for someone specific. There are lots of ways that food can make people feel welcomed, and that's something I can actually understand.

"I believe all of those details have been sent to the steward."

"All right, I'll speak to him." A week isn't very long to organise anything, but I'm sure it will be manageable with the experience that everyone has.

"There's also an additional job that I need you to do for the ambassador's arrival," Mama says. "Both of you."

My heart sinks as I consider what she might mean. Especially when she's invited both me and Veronica here.

"The ambassador is arriving with his daughter. She's your age, so I suggested that the two of you would show her around the castle," Mama says.

"Is that really a good idea?" I blurt out without meaning to. A new ambassador arriving is important, the last thing I want to do is accidentally insult his daughter or something like that. It wouldn't be the first time I've almost come close to doing that.

Mama sighs. "She is the daughter of the newest Shengdanese ambassador, she's going to expect to be shown around by someone of rank, it would be an insult otherwise. So the two of you will make her feel welcome, and show her our home."

"We can do that," Veronica says as she puts a hand on my arm. I think the gesture is supposed to be reassuring. It isn't.

"Excellent. Now I don't think this needs saying, but Evelyn, please keep the food talk to a minimum."

"What else am I supposed to talk about?" I ask. I know she thinks that I talk about baking too much, but I really don't know enough about other subjects to safely talk about them. Or worse, I then end up saying things that are inappropriate, like complaining about the way the cuffs of my sleeves are irritating my wrists. Which they are right now. I need to ask Betsy to do something about them, or find another trim.

"Anything else," she responds with a sigh. "And Veronica, I expect you to be on your best behaviour."

"Why would she not be?" I ask, looking at my sister. Veronica is always the perfect princess, especially around those who have just arrived in the castle. She's charming and seems to know everything. I have no idea how Mama thinks she might misbehave.

Veronica's lips quirk up into an amused smile before she makes her face blank again. "I would never do anything to jeopardise our treaty with Shengda."

"Make sure that you don't. If I find out about any dalliances with the ambassador's daughter, then there will be consequences."

I frown, not entirely sure what kind of consequences she means. Veronica has had paramours before, and some of them have been visiting dignitaries, she's told me as much. So I don't really understand why this one is particularly different.

"I won't have a dalliance with the Shengdanese ambassador's daughter," Veronica promises.

"Good. Then we are in agreement. The treaty between Falhaven and Shengda has provided a lot of prosperity for our kingdom in the past six years. It is important that we nourish the connection and that the ambassador and his family are made to feel at home here."

I nod. I don't fully understand what the treaty has brought for us, other than the delicious tea that I particularly enjoy having, not to mention a multitude of other ingredients that are now used in the kitchen. For that reason alone, I would want the treaty to continue to do well. But I also want it to be the case because it's important to my family.

Chapter 3

The outside of the teashop doesn't look much different from those around it, save for the sign hanging outside that includes characters I can't actually read on it. Not that it says much that I can't read it, I'm terrible at languages. But I do like how elegant the lines of the characters are to look at even if I don't understand them.

One of my guards goes ahead to open the door for me, and I find myself stepping closer to Nate. As much as I try to ignore the people looking at me, it feels like I'm drawing attention just by breathing, which very well might be true. There's a small part of me that wishes I'd borrowed one of the maids' dresses and pretended not to be a princess just to avoid the attention.

One look at Nate reminds me why I haven't done that. I don't want to hide him. Nor what he means to me, even if it does draw attention to me in a way that I don't like.

I step through the door, feeling some of that tension slip away now that I'm inside the teashop. It's warm, with a lovely fragrance in the air that isn't overpowering, but is noticeable. I'm glad about that, because the last thing I want is to be overwhelmed by anything when I'm here to spend time with Nate.

The man behind the counter is wearing robes similar to those that visitors from Shengda do, with elaborate embroidery in the silk, and his hair is tied up on top of his head with a pin through it. Even if I didn't already know that this was a Shengdanese tea shop, I would know that we're here.

The man notices that we've arrived and smiles. "Your Highness," he says with a slight accent to his Falhavien. He places his hands together and bends at the waist. "Welcome to Chaguan Tea Shop."

"Thank you," I say.

"Would you and your companion like to browse? Or do you wish to eat and drink with us?" he asks.

"Oh, erm, can we do both?" I ask, already seeing the look on Nate's face. I'm not very good at reading most people, but he's different, and this is clearly his interested in new ingredients face. I smile at him, hoping he knows how excited I am to be here with him and potentially trying some new things. "Tasting first, perhaps."

The man nods. "Of course. Would you wish for a guide?"