Chapter 52: Jealousy
The door to the dining hall opened with a soft creak. Elias entered, pushing a silver trolley that carried a porcelain tray covered with a cloche. His steps were steady, but his eyes flicked up as if wanting to gauge the mood of the room.
What caught Axelius’s attention, however, wasn’t the trolley—but the little figure walking just ahead of it.
Ellory.
With her hands tucked neatly behind her back and a bright smile gracing her small face, she walked toward him with such confidence that for a moment, Axelius didn’t know whether to frown or sigh.
He chose the former.
"What are you doing here again?" he muttered, frowning slightly.
Ellory didn’t answer right away. Instead, she stopped beside the table and made a few hand gestures toward Elias. The butler nodded and stepped forward, lifting the cloche with a light flourish to reveal a beautifully arranged dessert plate. There were small, flower-shaped tarts dusted with powdered sugar, glazed fruits in delicate cups, and a centerpiece cake with intricate petal-like frosting.
"Lady Ellory prepared these for you, Young Master," Elias said, his tone proud yet respectful.
Axelius blinked, momentarily stunned. "She... made these?"
Ellory’s face flushed a soft pink as she nodded, looking down at her shoes for a second before meeting his gaze. "Mm! I did," she said quietly.
Elias, smiling gently, continued, "She woke up very early this morning and insisted on doing everything herself. The measuring, the baking, even the plating and the decoration. She only allowed minimal help for the oven, but the rest... was all her."