CHAPTER #32:Wonder Tulips

The lady in waiting trembled in fear as she crouched and begged for Adrielle's mercy. She glowered at the other two who too seemed terrified to death.

I felt a chill run down my spine since the aura around her reminded me of my mother.

The air in the room became heavy that one would suffocate if they stayed there for another second. However, I wanted to clear my head of the confusion that has been lingering behind my head.

"Adrielle! I'm hungry... it's past breakfast time."I scowled knowing that it was something off-topic. But I had no choice but to divert her attention to me.

She turned her gaze to me her face softened from a glare to a subtle smile.

"I see you're not quite ready to go out without fixing your robe, my child." she pointed at the dress I was wearing. It required a ribbon or a belt for the final touch.

"Finish dressing up the young lady and escort her to the dining hall. It seems like the so-called prestigious families have failed to make restitution with importance to the order. Consider this my last warning."

The three of them were left on the floor speechless as Adrielle stormed out of the room furiously.

"Ina let's dress up the lady." The two of them rushed to dress me up.

Within fifteen minutes they escorted me to the dining hall where Adrielle patiently waited for my arrival.

"You look lovely." She smiled and gestured for the servant to help me to my seat since they were a bit higher than usual.

"Pardon me. Everything in this citadel is a bit higher and bigger. But you'll soon adjust to these small changes."

-"Small?" I wondered slowly raising a brow in doubt.

"The chef prepared some dishes. Just to be sure that it suits your taste buds."

I slowly analyzed the dishes placed before me on a thirty-meter-long dining table covered with a clean white long tablecloth with gold embroidery.

The cutlery was all silverware. Indeed all the dishes were blue porcelain. Something even nobles could hardly get their hands on.

"Is it not to your liking?" She asked me worried.

"All of them... are not from the empire... Are they?" I asked staring at the dishes.

"You're quite observant my child." she grinned.

-"Was I too obvious?"I broke into a cold sweat.

"All of these dishes are prepared from where I come from."

"Ah~I see." I nervously laughed.

-"So she didn't catch me for that."

I slowly helped myself by starting with a tulip-shaped pastry.

It suddenly let out a thick golden fluid that startled me and instinctively drop it on the silver plate in front of me.

I could feel that I was being laughed at. I frowned and picked up another one of its kind. And once again it released the same viscous fluid.

"Try tasting it." Adrielle barely retained herself from laughing out loud.

A drop of the golden fluid fell on my thumb and I hesitantly followed her advice and licked it. Though it was something a lady shouldn't be doing. The 'sauce' was sweet. It was honey.

I looked at her and then back at the pastry. Adrielle smiled with satisfaction as I picked it up and took a bite. The crispy light texture on the outside resonated well with the fluffiness and sweet honey on the inside.

"Honey puffs?" I wondered in astonishment.

She shook her head confidently.

"This is the best part about this recipe. It's magical."

I looked at her uninterested in such fairy tails.

"Don't give me that look." She then took one and it gave off a sweet red sauce.

"I don't understand." I looked at it since a pastry can be filled with a variety of flavors.

"Then what other flavors do you like?" She asked me about my preferences which seemed odd according to this world.

"Coffee." I chimed in excitement.

"Coffee?" She raised a brow in confusion.

The pastry itself changed colors to a dark brown fluid that was slightly lighter in thickness than the honey.

I bit into it again. It was a wonder for me as my eyes shone with excitement.

"This is why 'wonder tulips' are my favorites."She sipped some honey-flavored milk.

"Umm... Lady Adrielle."

"Call me teacher." she scowled at me through her cup of milk.

"Uhh... Teacher, I assumed you weren't fond of sweets."

"Isn't it nice to have a bit of change in some time now?"She put her cup on the saucer and went for the salad.

I wanted to ask every one of those questions that were stacked at the back of my head. It was something that I couldn't understand.

"Don't give me the 'tell me everything I need to know' look. Let's begin with the training." she wiped her mouth and escorted me to the basement. It was at the far end at the corner of the main building.

"Below this tower is the royal treasure. All the descendants of the elven royal family know of this secret when they come of age."

"Is it on eighteen?" I remembered my mother telling me that girls come of age at eighteen at most.

"No. That is the criteria set by the Alfred empire. Young elves come of age depending upon their awakening. And that is mostly between nineteen to thirty years. But you and another one are of exception."

We stopped in front of the old wooden door. Despite its appearance, it looked sturdier than any of the doors of the old palace.

It did not have a door handle or a lock. But was etched with strange patterns all over its surface. Adrielle slowly raised her hand. Her hair gleamed purple and her eyes glowed. The soft lavender light escaped the palm of her hand and the door responded as it traveled through the thinly carved patterns right to the center. The dust flew as it rolled open before them. The air grew musty and smelt like that of wet earth. I covered my mouth and nose with my handkerchief. She seemed unfazed by its opening.

"Let's go inside."