The kitchen of the Marcellus estate was warm with the scent of freshly baked bread and spiced honey, but the atmosphere was anything but cozy. Seraphina Dorne, the house’s outspoken cook, leaned against the counter with her arms crossed, her trademark mischievous grin firmly in place. Across from her, Cassian Marcellus shifted uncomfortably in his seat, clearly out of his depth.

“You’re hopeless, you know that?” Seraphina said, her auburn braid swinging as she tilted her head. “It’s no wonder all those ladies keep turning you down.”

Cassian bristled, his dark blue eyes narrowing. “That’s hardly fair. I’m polite, attentive, and respectable.”

Seraphina snorted, rolling her eyes. “Respectable is just a fancy way of saying ‘boring,’ love. The problem isn’t that you’re polite—it’s that you’ve got the charisma of a damp sponge.”

A new voice interrupted, smooth and cutting. “Seraphina, do try to be less... blunt.” Mirabelle Quince, Lady Celeste’s maid and confidante, entered the kitchen with her usual air of elegance. Her olive-toned skin glowed in the firelight, her polished demeanor contrasting sharply with Seraphina’s flour-dusted apron. She carried herself with the poise of someone who was always in control, her sharp cheekbones and sleek black dress lending her an air of unapproachable beauty.

“Ah, Mirabelle,” Seraphina said, her grin widening as if she’d been waiting for this moment. “Perfect timing. Maybe you can help. Our dear Cassian here is in desperate need of a lesson in charm.”

Mirabelle raised an eyebrow, her hands settling neatly at her waist. “Charm? Cassian? Are we truly entertaining this notion?”

Cassian groaned, burying his face in his hands. “I can hear you both, you know.”

Seraphina ignored him, turning to Mirabelle. “You’ve seen how hopeless he is with women. What he needs is someone to teach him how to flirt.”

Mirabelle’s lips pressed into a thin line. “And you believe you are the best candidate for this... lesson?”

“Of course,” Seraphina said brightly, clapping her hands together. “Who better to teach him than the most charming woman in the household?”

Mirabelle’s eyes narrowed. “Charming, or insufferably forward?”

“Semantics,” Seraphina replied with a wave of her hand. “Now, watch and learn.”

She turned to Cassian, who looked increasingly uncomfortable. “All right, big guy. Let’s start with the basics. Flirting is all about confidence and making the other person feel special.” She stepped closer, her smile turning sultry. “For example... ‘My, Cassian, has anyone ever told you how utterly captivating those blue eyes of yours are? They remind me of the sea at sunset.’” She punctuated the statement with a playful touch on his arm.

She turned to Cassian, who was already beginning to look like a deer caught in torchlight. “All right, big guy. Let’s start with the basics. Flirting is all about confidence and making the other person feel special.” Her gaze locked onto his with an intensity that made him swallow hard, and she stepped closer, her smile turning sultry. “For example…” She leaned in, her voice dropping to a near-purr. “‘My, Cassian, has anyone ever told you how utterly captivating those blue eyes of yours are? They remind me of the sea at sunset.’”

To punctuate her words, she let her fingers trail lightly down his arm, the brief contact drawing a sharp intake of breath from Cassian. His face turned crimson, and he looked away awkwardly, clearly unsure where to focus.

“Uh, th-thank you,” he stammered, his voice cracking slightly. He glanced at her hand on his arm, then quickly darted his gaze back to the floor, his entire posture stiff.

“Oh, come on,” Seraphina teased, suddenly swooping into Cassian’s space. Before he could react, she looped her arms around his neck, drawing herself close enough that he could feel the warmth radiating from her. “A proper flirt wouldn’t run away from a compliment,” she murmured, her green eyes sparkling with mischief. “Look at me, Cassian.” His breath hitched as she tilted her head, her gaze locking onto his with playful intensity. “Flirting’s about eye contact, remember? Like this.” Her lips curled into a wicked grin, and Cassian turned a vivid shade of red, his arms frozen awkwardly at his sides.

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“Seraphina,” a sharp voice cut in.

Seraphina turned toward Mirabelle, who stood with her arms crossed, her dark eyes narrowing. “That’s enough,” she said, her tone clipped. “You’re supposed to be teaching Cassian how to flirt, not…” Her lips pressed into a thin line, and she gestured vaguely between the two of them. “Not seducing him.”

Seraphina laughed, releasing the boy. “Oh, lighten up, Mira. What better way to teach him than by example?”

“That’s not an example. That’s entirely inappropriate,” Mirabelle countered, her voice frosty. “If Lady Celeste walked in right now—”

“She’d probably faint from shock at the thought of Cassian being charming,” Seraphina quipped, cutting her off with a grin. “But fine, fine. I have another idea.” She tapped her chin thoughtfully, then snapped her fingers. “You!” She pointed at Mirabelle, who raised an eyebrow in return. “You’ll pretend to be one of those high-society girls Cassian keeps fumbling over. Perfect, right?”

“Absolutely not,” Mirabelle said immediately, her tone laced with disdain.

“Oh, come on,” Seraphina said, her grin widening. “You’re polished, elegant, and snooty enough to pull it off. Plus, you can correct him when he inevitably messes up.”

Mirabelle’s eyes narrowed further, but after a long pause, she let out a resigned sigh. “Fine. If only to ensure this lesson stays within the realm of decorum.”

“Perfect!” Seraphina said, clapping her hands. “All right, Cassian. Let’s see what you’ve got.”

Cassian looked like he wanted to bolt. “I don’t think—”

“No excuses,” Seraphina interrupted, grabbing him by the shoulders and turning him to face Mirabelle. “You’re on a date. She’s a high-society lady, and you’re trying to charm her. Go.”

Cassian cleared his throat nervously, his eyes darting to Mirabelle, who was now sitting primly on a stool, her back straight and her expression expectant. “Uh… you, uh… have nice shoes,” he managed, his voice barely audible.

Seraphina burst into laughter, doubling over and clutching her sides. “Shoes?! Oh, Cassian, you’re killing me!”

Mirabelle sighed, pinching the bridge of her nose. “This is going to be painful, isn’t it?”

Seraphina straightened, wiping a tear from her eye. “All right, we’re starting over. This time, I’ll give you some pointers. First things first—eye contact, Cassian. You can’t just look at her shoes.”

Cassian hesitated but forced himself to meet Mirabelle’s gaze.

“Better,” Seraphina said approvingly as Cassian managed to meet Mirabelle’s gaze without fleeing. “Now, a little physical touch. Here, start with something simple.” She guided Cassian’s hand to rest lightly on Mirabelle’s shoulder.

Cassian was nervous, but he managed, his grip firm but respectful. “Uh… your hair looks nice,” he offered, his tone a little shaky but sincere.

“Nice?” Seraphina groaned dramatically, shaking her head. “Cassian, you’re not complimenting a horse. Say something poetic! And touch somewhere less formal, like…” Her grin turned devilish. “The small of her waist. Girls love that.”

Cassian hesitated, glancing uncertainly between Seraphina and Mirabelle. “Are you sure—”

“Just do it,” Seraphina said with a smirk, crossing her arms.

Cassian let his hand slide from Mirabelle’s shoulder to the curve of her waist.

And before he could register anything with a mischievous grin, Seraphina gave Cassian a firm shove, pushing him closer to Mirabelle. The sudden motion left him off balance, and his hands instinctively moved to steady himself—one settling on her shoulder, the other wrapping around her waist. The tall, strong, and undeniably handsome Cassian now stood with Mirabelle pulled snugly against him, their faces mere inches apart.

Mirabelle, usually the epitome of cool composure, wasn’t immune to the sudden intimacy. Her eyes widened briefly, and a faint flush crept into her cheeks. Her lips parted slightly, and her warm breath fanned against his neck as her gaze flicked nervously to meet his.

That was all it took. Cassian’s face turned a brilliant shade of crimson, the heat radiating all the way to the tips of his ears. His grip loosened immediately, and he stepped back so abruptly he nearly stumbled. “I—I didn’t mean—uh—sorry!” he stammered, his words tumbling over themselves as he struggled to regain his composure.

Mirabelle cleared her throat, trying to will her own cheeks back to their usual color. “It’s... fine,” she managed, though her tone was not quite as calm as she’d intended.

From the sidelines, Seraphina was practically in tears with laughter. She straightened just enough to smirk and taunt, “If Lady Celeste walked in right now—!”

Mirabelle’s head snapped toward her, her sharp gaze narrowing despite the faint flush still lingering on her cheeks. “Seraphina,” she said coolly, though the slight waver in her tone betrayed her lingering embarrassment. “If you don’t stop talking this instant, I’ll make sure Lady Celeste hears about your antics instead.”