As they made their way to the dining room, the aroma of fresh bread and brewed tea filled the corridors, courtesy of the new cook Arun's father had provided. Louise walked between the two boys, her steps still tentative after her long recovery, though her spirits had lifted considerably since awakening.
The breakfast table was laden with an impressive spread—warm pastries, fresh fruits, thick porridge sweetened with honey, and strips of crispy bacon that made Julius's mouth water.
"The cook certainly knows her craft," Arun observed, settling into his chair. His eyes sparkled with appreciation as he buttered a warm roll.
Louise sat across from them, her transformed appearance still startling to behold. She moved with an unconscious grace that spoke of noble breeding, though she tried to suppress it. "I haven't eaten properly in over a week. Everything tastes wonderful."