Allie rubbed her hands together, feeling a bit weird about the new dress she was given. For so long she had worn those rags that wearing a normal dress had felt strange, but they were comfortable nonetheless. But because of that comfortable feeling, she was fidgety.

Furthermore, she felt especially nice that she had been cleaned, her body felt so refreshing and light. Her skin was smooth, and her face felt softer. Her hair was shiny and pretty. In short, she was now presentable.

The fragrance of the soap that went on her skin was pleasant to the nose, even to her. It took some time to clean her entire body, how embarrassed she was that even the maids, nobles, had to clean every part of her body. That made her fear their wrath once they were released from the bounds of an order from royalty. Would they treat Allie harshly once they meet again? Allie hoped it wouldn’t.

At the moment, she was being led by Mera somewhere as they walked down the palace corridor, Rogan following behind them. Incidentally, Allie almost blushed, or perhaps a little, when Rogan complimented her when she left the bath chamber wearing a new dress and all neat.

She could not understand him at all, why was he so friendly with her? Not just simply friendly, but openly welcoming with her as well, even in front of the other aristocratic maids. It would be unthinkable that a noble would be that kind with no cost. Even Mera was reserved when they spoke with each other in the past.

However, truth be told, she was feeling nice when someone was friendly with her — after being alone in that dungeon, and being tortured before that.

A short while later, they arrived at a place that Allie was familiar with, she took in a sharp breath upon realizing this. It almost made her emotional, and she hardened her eyes to stop the tears from coming out. In front of her was a familiar door, and beyond it should be a place she knew very well.

A kitchen.

However, it was no common kitchen. It was the one that she used when she was appointed as the personal chef of the princess. The room where she once had full control.

Mera opened the set of doors.

And indeed, it was the same room. The tables, the kitchenware, everything.

Inside, sitting by the table, was the princess. Before her, laid on the table were steel plates with lids on. She turned towards Allie and smiled.

“Finally, you’ve arrived. Enter.”

While feeling tense, Allie stepped inside the kitchen, her eyes peered around intensely. A heavy weight formed in her chest.

She stopped right before the princess’s table.

“Is something wrong…?” the princess asked.

Allie shivered, clasping her hands together, then… tears began welling up in her eyes. She took a breath, but it was stuck in her throat. She rubbed the tears crawling down her cheeks with her wrists, but they never end.

She couldn’t bear it anymore. This was her world, something so special to her. One that she thought she had lost, one that she never thought she would be able to enter once more.

Her lips trembled and she covered her eyes.

“I-I’m sorry… I’m sorry. I…”

Was it an apology for crying right in front of the princess, or was it for the crimes she had committed?

“... It’s alright. Cry your heart out…” the kind princess said so softly. Looking at Allie with a tender expression.

And so Allie cried out all her suffering, her sadness, her loneliness, her joy, and her hope.

***

This content has been misappropriated from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.

Once Allie has gained her composure, she sat down with the princess by the table.

“I know you’re hungry, so I had the best of the menu made.”

She opened everything on the table, and Allie was assaulted by the pleasant smell of warm and steaming food. The dishes before her were so colorful and beautiful.

The old man, Vernon, poured some juices on a pair of glasses. His presence shook Allie for a moment, but with the princess close to her, she didn’t run away this time. Incidentally, Mera left for a moment to change her clothes after being splashed by some water in the bathroom.

“We’ll be eating together, Allie. Alright, let’s go, I am quite already hungry.”

Allie, with a small smile, nodded and began placing food on her plate, and the princess on her own. When that was done, Allie scooped a spoonful, and to her mouth the food went. Her eyes widened, the food was so delightful, intensely delicious. Sweet, sour, salty. All balanced.

She ate again. She ate so fast that she almost choked, thus she drank the fruit juice.

“Mmmm.”

She almost couldn’t comprehend how pleasant everything was, she almost cried. She was so lost in the moment that she had forgotten proper dining etiquette.

But the princess didn’t seem to mind.

At every moment that passed, the amount of food decreased. Before Allie was finished, the princess had already stopped for a while now and drank her juice, her plate empty. Allie noticed this and stopped herself.

The princess held out her hand. “Please Allie, eat if you still want. I am already full, I can only eat so much.” she giggled.

Allie felt lighter seeing how lighthearted the princess was. And so, she continued. She still had some space left in her stomach, however, the princess warned her.

“But Allie, I suggest not to eat too much, or you might get a bad case of a stomachache. Even though you have had some proper food days before, it won’t hurt to be careful.”

Allie paused and nodded her head. The princess was right.

Thus, she took one last spoon before setting it down and drinking a glass of juice.

“Do you feel a lot better now?”

“Um, y-yes.”

“Great. These dishes were prepared by your former workmates, by the way.”

Lowering her head, Allie recalled her old workmates. She remembered the times they had cooked together, and had some fun, even though Allie was the more conserved one. She wondered how they reacted when they heard what she did. Do they hate her now? Even though they prepared the dishes, the princess certainly ordered them to do so.

Did they like making food for Allie? One they trusted but was actually an enemy of the crown all along?

“...”

“Do you want to meet them?”

Allie frantically looked at the princess. “... N-No… I… I don’t think they would want to see me.”

“Is that so? I won’t force you, it is your choice. You may meet them any time you want.”

“Should… Should I meet them?” Allie asked, wanting a piece of advice from the princess.

“Whatever you think will make you feel better. Will you feel better if you meet them or not?”

“I… I don’t know.”

“...No rush to make up your thoughts. But they did give a lot of effort into cooking all the food. Perhaps that says something.”

“...”

“In any case, I will be giving you your free time for today. Enjoy this kitchen, do whatever you want. Tomorrow, let’s talk.”

“Yes.”

The princess smiled kindly. “I hope you find joy in your free time. That said, I’m afraid there will be a guard stationed outside the kitchen, he must be with you whenever you go out. My family does not want you to roam around without any eyes. I hope you understand.”

“...I understand.”

That was to be expected, Allie was still a criminal only brought out of the dungeon by the princess. No matter how one looks at it, she was still a dangerous criminal and the one who tried to poison the princess. That crime was not so easily forgiven. The princess might have, but the others definitely won’t.

“And don’t worry, you will not be treated harshly here. I want you to have a pleasant time, Allie.”

Those words from her put Allie at ease.

“Now then, I will be leaving you for now.”

The princess ordered Vernon to clean out the table and placed the empty plates on a cart. Once that was finished, the princess stood up.

“See you later, Allie.”

With that, the princess left. Allie was now alone, the kitchen silent as she looked around. She peered closely at her surroundings… she felt nostalgia, the nostalgia of cooking, of the joy she once felt whenever she cooked.

She remembered how she enjoyed experimenting with a new recipe. The thrill of making something delicious, and the fascination with every failure. It brought a smile to her face.

She rose from her seat and touched the table before slowly walking around, her fingers sliding on the solid and smooth surfaces, they were neat, as if it was just been cleaned very recently, maybe while she was bathing. Her chest warmed up, and her eyes moistened. Not long when she found herself right by some vegetables and fruits.

Upon touching the rough ingredients, a soft smile blossomed on her face. How she missed this so much. She was in bliss, her heart full of gratitude, hope was within reach. The hope to start anew.

She grabbed the nearby cutting board and then picked up a knife. Pressing the blade into the vegetable, she pushed down. The sensation of the cut, the smell of the ingredient, it pleased her, filling her with wholesome joy.

She cut and cut.

She had no particular goal in mind, no idea of what to cook. But she was doing what she wanted. There was no need to think, only follow the process.

The result did not matter, what mattered was that she was once again doing what she loved — cooking.