Chapter 24
Kellan
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I stand with Darius, but not really paying any attention. So far, the food has been bad or okay. We’ve only done two tables, so nothing can get worse. I hope.
I’m sure Elara should be out by now.
“Find her.” Darius looks at Beta William. “If she isn’t here soon,
she gets no points. That sabotages Rowan.”
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“I’ll help.” I go to walk away, and he stops me. “What? I will still taste them all, give me five minutes, and I will be back. Enjoy your conversation.” Turning, I rush through, going to her room. It’s empty. She’s got her dress on.
So she got ready to leave? Turning, I walk out and look into the other contestant’s rooms. I glance outside to check, but she still isn’t there. Darius is still at the same table, talking with the guests.
Moving, we go through the corridors.
“Elara!” Fuck sake, did she honestly get lost? I laugh at the thought. I hear banging and turn. Walking towards it, stopping at the door, I see the key in the lock.
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Unlocking the door I open and see her. She looks at me, shocked, going to rush out, but my hand goes up.
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“One, why are you in my office? Two, why is your dress ripped?”
“Someone pushed me in here.” She goes to walk past, and I stop her.
“I need more than that, your dress is ripped, why?”
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“Kellan, ask after! I can’t be any more late than I already am without losing marks.” She pushes past me.
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“Wait!” Moving, I pull the dress closed on her shoulder. Beta Yori looks at it. “Don’t say it.” Yeah, she’s marked. “I need a pin!” If the shawl slips, it will show.
Pulling her through to her room, I look through May’s items and find a pin. I pin it closed to hide her mark. “Be careful how you move. I need answers afterwards. Your hair is a mess as well.” I hand her the brush as we rush out. I watch as she quickly fixes it.
Taking the brush from her, I give it to Yori. He laughs and puts it in his pocket. Darius looks at us and clearly has questions but
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won’t ask whenever we have guests.
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I need to know who locked her in that room and why she had walked that way anyway. I join Darius just as he gets to Lyra’s table. Lyra is describing the food she made; she keeps saying she, like Callista, hasn’t helped.
Somehow, I can’t keep my eyes off Elara. I keep trying and
failing.
Elara
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Rowan looks at me as I stop by the table. “Are you okay? Your neck is red?”
“I’m fine. Do you remember what you’re saying?” I can talk about the food, but she is the conversation because I won’t be good with that.
She nods, and I watch Kellan with Darius and the guests. Lyra is talking away, and everyone is beginning to look bored. I watch Kellan move and hit the food from Darius‘ hand.
“Don’t eat it!” I want to laugh, but I don’t. Everyone is staring at him like he’s crazy.
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“Kellan, behave.” Darius moves to get another, and he stops him.
“It has peanuts on it!” Darius‘ hand stops, and he glances at Lyra. It specified no peanuts.
“Did you read the brief?” Kellan looks at her, and she nods. “Then why does it have peanuts?
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“It doesn’t.” Lyra looks at him, confused. “It tasted like it, so what’s in it?” Maybe he is overreacting?
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“It’s not peanuts. I didn’t put a peanut in. I just added nut shavings.”
I fight back the laugh. I joked with Kellan about poisoning Darius, but did she actually do it? Or nearly did.
“That is the same thing!” Kellan looks at her.
“I didn’t add peanuts.” She stands confused.
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“Sorry, I asked her, and she said she checked that it had no peanuts in the shavings. It was meant to be coconut.” Callista
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looks at Darius in complete horror.
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“You could have killed him. How did you get them anyway?” Kellan stands shocked. From what I saw, there was nothing in the kitchens with nuts.
“I asked my maid to get me them.” Lyra looks at him. “I thought it would be fine; the sheet said no peanuts; I didn’t add the nut, just the shavings.”
God, she is dumb. I actually feel sorry for her.
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“It’s fine and an honest mistake.” Darius smiles at her and steps away from the table. I doubt he would be so polite if it was my mistake. I watch him walk inside, no doubt to sterilise his hands before touching anything else to eat.
“Surely her maid should have told her?” Rowan looks at me.
“I assumed so. I’m guessing that is one maid getting fired.” Everyone has heard about how nuts are prohibited, and she went and got some, bringing it back. We watch as Darius comes back out and continues his rounds.
It’s cold, and the snow has begun to fall again. I might actually enjoy it more if I wasn’t so cold constantly. A while later, they stopped at our table.
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“Please explain what you made.” Darius looks at Rowan. She stammers and looks at me.
“We made coronation chicken pies. They are made with shortcrust pastry; the insides consist of finely chopped chicken, crème fraîche and a few other ingredients.”
I nod to Rowan. She needs to speak.
“The erm…” She swallows. “Tarts, no.” Her head shakes.
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“Lemon cheesecake tarts is what she is trying to say.” I smile at her. She nods and continues to explain about them; she just needs that push to begin with.
They begin to taste them, the guests asking about the fashion, and Rowan explains it while I add a few things she told me. It helps that we taught each other what to say.
Darius speaks to her but rarely looks at me. I’m okay with that, though. I watch as they move on and relax slightly. There is only Sage left. I watch them tasting the food, and there are a few sour faces at the meatballs, and I feel sorry for her.
She saves it, though, clearly with the devil’s eggs.
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“Thank you ladies. Your canapes will be moved inside the main room, where guests will gather and discuss your scores. Please feel free to spend this time how you like until later.”
William smiles at us and walks away. For the first time since I stepped foot out here, I take a breath. Sage rushes over and hugs me.
“Are you okay?” I nod and walk in with her.
“You did amazing.” I smile at her.
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“No, you did. I watched their faces. The worst ones were Lyra’s. Ours was the third worst. Yours got the best reactions, even the dresses!” She pulls back and looks at mine. Her hand moves the shawl to cover my shoulder.
“Thanks.” She knows. She’s at least one person who is looking out for me. Walking in, we go back to our rooms. I need time to get ready for our dates.
I also need time to get ready for Kellan’s questions. No doubt, when he gets a chance, he’s coming to ask why I was in his office.
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