Page 24 of Markets & Mooncakes

"Lady Sun Jinglan was just saying that she used to enjoy going to the market in her hometown. I thought that we could take her to see ours."

"Oh, erm, yes." I give the two of them my best smile, though I'm not sure it's very convincing. The weather isn't very good at the moment, and I can't imagine the market is going to be particularly fun if it's raining. "There's the Winter Fair coming up soon too. Perhaps you might like that too," I say.

"A winter fair?" she echoes.

"It's to celebrate the solstice," I say. "With lots of food and stalls."

"That sounds very nice, Your Highness."

I nod and let Veronica take over again now that I seem to have agreed to multiple trips away from the castle. It isn't until we get close to the kitchens that my spirits start to lift, as if there's a part of me that recognises where we are, and knows that this is a safe place where there's calm to be had.

"And now we get to Princess Evelyn's favourite part of the castle," Veronica says, giving me a look that I think I understand, but only because she's put it into words previously. "The kitchens."

Lady Sun Jinglan's eyes light up. "Is it possible to go inside?"

"I think so," Veronica says. "My sister does all the time."

The other woman looks at me. "You do?"

I clear my throat. "I like to bake."

"She likes the baker too."

I give my sister what I hope is a reproachful look, though I'm not sure that I'm very successful in pulling it off.

"The baker?" Lady Sun Jinglan asks.

"He's her paramour," Veronica tells her.

"I do not know the word, I'm sorry."

"They are in love," Veronica explains.

"Ah, yes." Lady Sun Jinglan nods. "And it is allowed? In Falhaven? To be with someone who is not of your station?"

"It is," I say. "What about in Shengda?"

She nods. "Some of the most celebrated stories are of people who married into a different station and the happiness that love brought them. I worried when my father said that we were to come to Falhaven that the customs would not be what I am used to, but perhaps that's not so."

Veronica gives her a reassuring smile. "I think you'll find that there is a lot to like in Falhaven," she assures the other woman.

I don't say anything else as my sister leads us into the kitchen, but I do nod to several of the staff as I pass them. They don't seem particularly surprised that we're here, but maybe that's because I'm always coming down to the kitchen.

"You might need to take the lead," Veronica says to me.

"Oh, well, this is the main kitchen," I say, waving my hand around and feeling a little strange about it. "Chef Martina is in charge." I point out the woman in question.

"She is the one who made the duck?" Lady Sun Jinglan asks.

"Yes."

"It was very good," she says.

"I'm sure the Chef would be pleased to hear that, especially from one of our guests."

"You will tell her for me?"

"Of course." I smile at her, pleased that she seems to appreciate the efforts of the kitchen staff. "And through here is the pastry kitchen," I say, waving to the doorway that leads to where Nate and I bake. It didn't used to be a pastry kitchen, but that's what it is now. Before Nate took over the job of pastry chef, it was just used for when there were big events.