“Have you heard of this vulgar new ‘treat’ that strange mortal has conjured up?”

The question came from Lady Bidao as she lounged on her side under the portico roof of Lady Shian’s home. Her hostess sat near her at the low table with a teacup in hand.

Shian paused in her drinking and wrinkled her nose. “You mean what those children are talking about? I am surprised you care what those brats talk about.”

Bidao plucked a loose string from the cushion beneath her and scoffed. “I do not care a jot for those brats, but their mothers have done nothing but talk about it since yesterday. I heard that two of them even visited her home yesterday to plead with her for the recipe, and do you know what?”

Shian smiled and shook her head. “I do not know until you tell me.”

Bidao sat up with a look of disgust written on her face. “She refused them!”

Her hostess lifted an eyebrow. “Why?”

Bidao fell back on the cushions and shrugged. “Who knows? Perhaps she desires to keep such a prized treat to herself and seek favors from their parents. Even the young prince himself is gushing about the treat.”

Shian took a sip of her tea and patted the cushion beside her. “Let them gush. We shall be above the fray and not seek them at all.”

A sly smile slipped onto Bidao’s lips as she slid over to her hostess and took up her cup. “Shall we occupy our time with more pleasant thoughts? Such as those about Lord Eastwei?”

Shian grinned. “A wonderful idea.”

“Perhaps we might go visit him today? It has been some time since you saw him last,” Bidao suggested.

Shian stared ahead and furrowed her brow. “But I have no reason to speak with him.”

“No reason? What about the Twilight Fair that is drawing near?” Bidao suggested. “You are to be in charge of the decorations, are you not?”

Shian nodded. “I am.”

“And should his palace not be properly decorated?”

Shian laughed and set down her cup. “You are as devious as you are beautiful.”

“A wonderful compliment!” Bidao agreed as they both stood and hurried down the path.

Their feet took them to the abode of the great lord but they were greeted not by his stoic face but that of his manservant.

The servant was about thirty years old in appearance with a bright eager face and a lithe form. He wore plain robes of light blue over white and greeted them with a bright smile. “Good afternoon, My Ladies. How may I help you?”

“Good afternoon, Puren,” Shian returned as she looked past him at the closed doors to the palace. “Is your master at home?”

Puren shook his head. “I’m afraid not, Lady Shian. He has just left for the kitchens.”

Bidao snorted. “The kitchens? Has your master taken up the art of cooking as well as flute making?”

Puren shook his head. “I’m not sure, Lady Bidao. I only know he has gone there.”

Bidao grabbed her friend’s hand. “Then we shall see if we might try some of his cooking before the others in Lady Fann’s class get all the good morsels. Good day, Puren.”

He bowed his head. “Good day, My Ladies.”

The pair hurried out of the palace grounds and down the many streets to the kitchen. They found the place a cluster of activity as Lady Fann instructed the maids and a few of the ladies on how to cook a few scrumptious meals. Their target, however, was nowhere to be found.

Bidao hurried up to Lady Fann and bowed her head to the teacher. “Good afternoon and my apologies for disrupting your class, but have you seen Lord Eastwei recently?”

Lady Fann smiled and nodded. “Of course. He was just here not more than a minute ago inquiring as to the students. The lord seemed rather disappointed that someone was missing among the number.”

“Who?” Shian asked her.

“Why, that new goddess who dropped into his garden,” Fann told them with a wink. “If I didn’t know any better I’d say he was slightly smitten with her. Then again, I did hear he found her naked atop his favorite resting couch.”

Bidao noticed that her companion’s smile had taken on a stiff quality at the corners and so she quickened the conversation. “I did hear something of the sort. Do you know where he went?”

Lady Fann shook her head. “I’m afraid not.”

Bidao bowed her head. “Thank you and sorry for the trouble.”

“No trouble at all,” Fann assured her as the two women hurried away. “And don’t forget you’re always welcome to join my class, Lady Shian!”

“The impertinence of that old fool. . .” Bidao grumbled as they left the building. She looked to her friend who had a worried expression. “Is something the matter?”

Shian lifted her chin and her eyebrows crashed down. “What is the quickest route to Fanshe Hall?”

Bidao wrinkled her nose. “Why ever would you want to go there?”

“Never mind, I will find it myself.”

Shian rushed off in the direction of the mentioned hall. “Wait a moment!” Bidao shouted as she hurried after her friend.

Shian’s heart pounded in her chest as she hurried down the streets toward the hoary hall. A suspicion nagged at her thoughts as her friend caught up to her wheezing out each breath as though it was her last.

“Really,” Bidao muttered between gasps. “Must we hurry so?”

“He may have already reached there,” Shian snapped.

Bidao blinked at her. “He? Lord Eastwei?” A choked laugh managed to escape her panting lips. “Surely you jest. He was no doubt making inquiries of the girl for his friend Prince Yushir.”

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Shian didn’t look convinced as they rounded a corner and the road in front of Fanshe Hall was presented to them. So was the retreating back of Lord Eastwei.

“My Lord!” Shian shouted as she hurried to catch up to him. “Dadan!”

Eastwei paused only a few steps shy of the archway that led into Fanshe Hall and half-turned to her. Shian trotted up a disheveled mess. Bidao was worse, wheezing and gasping.

Eastwei’s dark eyes flitted over her disheveled person. “Is anything the matter?”

Shian pressed her hand against her chest and managed to catch her breath enough to smile at him. “N-nothing at all. I noticed you here and only thought to accompany Your Highness on your walk.”

“I have finished my walk,” he replied.

She blinked at him. “Pardon?”

He turned his face toward the archway and nodded at the entrance. “This is my destination.”

Her heart cratered into her stomach but she retained some of her composure as she pulled back the wild strains of her hair. “I-I see. Do you visit the-that is, do you visit Lady Roberts on account of your friend, Lord Yushir?”

“No. On account of myself.”

A little color drained from her face. “O-oh. How kind of you to visit her.”

Eastwei didn’t reply but stepped forward and through the archway. Shian grabbed her friend’s hand and tugged her after the lord. The trio strolled down the path toward the small hall. The front doors were open and Anna and Arian sat on the porch enjoying the shade.

The pair noticed the crowd and jumped to their feet. They bowed to the lord and his entourage as they came up to the home.

“G-good afternoon, Lord Eastwei,” Anna stuttered as her hands fidgeted with each other in front of her. She noticed her nervous quirk and quickly tucked her hands behind her. “What are you doing here?”

“You said you would make more of your treats today.”

Anna blushed as Lady Bidao noticed her friend beside her stiffen. Their hostess cleared her throat. “I’m really sorry about that. I didn’t know the kitchen was going to be used today and I didn’t really think. . .” Her voice trailed off.

“Didn’t think what?” Eastwei questioned her.

Anna bowed her head. “I didn’t think you’d really come for some.”

“I am here now,” he pointed out.

She bobbed her head. “I-I know, and I’m really sorry.” Her eyes lit up and she clasped her hands together in front of her with her palms turned up. “But I might be able to make up for no brownies this way.” She squinted her eyes and silver light twinkled over her fingers. Slim threads of magic wound their way across her palms and in a few moments, a small bar of chocolate had formed. The sweet dropped into her palms and she stepped off the porch to hold out the gift to the lord. “You can have this.”

He studied the brown block with a curious eye. “What is it?”

“It’s the main ingredient for the brownies. It’s called chocolate,” Anna explained as she nodded at the bar. “It won’t taste quite the same but maybe this will do until I can make some more.”

“No need,” Eastwei assured her as he grasped the bar between his fingers and lifted it to his face so he could study the smooth texture. “This will do.”

Anna smiled and bowed her head. “I’m so glad.”

Shian’s face was a mess of red and her body quivered. Bidao noticed her friend’s growing lack of composure and set a hand on her shoulder. “Careful,” she whispered.

Anna noticed the two women and managed to keep a smile on her lips. “Did you two want some chocolate, too?”

Bidao plastered a stiff toothy grin on her face and shook her head. “N-no, not right now. In fact, we just wanted to admire your gardens for a few moments. They’re very pretty.”

Anna swept her eyes over the area and nodded. “It is. I heard you were in charge of the palaces.” Her words were addressed to Lady Shian. “Thank you so much for making such a pretty garden here.”

Shian inclined her head. “It was no trouble.”

Bidao laughed and grasped her friend’s shoulders. “Well, we should be going. Good afternoon.” She only waited long enough for Anna to reply before she whisked her friend out of the compound.

Shian hardly waited for them to be on the other side of the wall before she stomped her foot. “That witch!”

“Keep your voice low!” Bidao hissed as she nodded at the archway only a dozen steps from where they stood. “They might hear you!”

“Let them hear me!” Shian snapped.

“Including Lord Eastwei?”

The mention of the lord dampened some of her ire, but not all of it. Shian’s lips curled into a sneer as she glared ahead of them. “If she thinks she can win his heart with such an ugly thing then she is sorely mistaken. We shall see who he favors most.” And with that proclamation, she stomped off with her friend following behind her.

While Shian cursed her rival Lord Eastwei had remained in the gardens. He studied the chocolate a moment before giving one corner a gentle nibble. The lord drew the candy away and licked his lips. “This is quite good.”

Anna smiled and bowed her head to him. “Thank you, Your Highness. I’m glad you like it. If you need any more or would like some brownies don’t hesitate to ask.”

He inclined his head slightly before he tucked the food into his sleeve and left, leaving behind the curiosity of the occupants.