Page 42 of I Ran Away to Evil 3
“That just proves my point then, doesn’t it?” Julian stabbed a chunk of daffolyn from his salad. “If she’s still in the palace, then she isn’t missing. She’s probably just chosen some place we won’t think to look so that she can blow off some steam.”
“I know this is not my place, but even if sheismerely hiding, we should still try and find her today,” Their Royal Highness Rowen stressed, “You know,beforethe wedding.”
“Rowen is right.” Duchess Calisto stood, sweeping a lock of hair over her shoulder.
“I usually am.” The fox grinned, then tapped their chin. “I will search the east wing, since that is where I am staying.”
“I appreciate that, Rowen.” The duchess nodded their way.
“We’ll help search the north,” Hana and Wendy said together.
“And we’ll search the south.” King Keith stood with Rufus and Bronwynn. “Henrietta and Gerda will search the city on their way here.”
Julian sighed. “Then I’ll search the west wing.”
“We are not to enter private rooms without cause,” Grand Duchess Calisto informed. “My personal knights have been dispatched along with the guards. If you see one of them, tell them your findings.”
There were three units of North Sumbrian knights. The Grey Hawk Knights, who guarded his mother; the Black Brigade Knights, who were responsible for the safety of the towns and cities throughout the duchy; and the Coral Mare Knights, who protected the palace.
Grand Duchess Calisto walked over and placed a hand on Chloe’s shoulder. “Don’t worry, we’ll find her.”
CHAPTER 23
So You Think He’s Cute
Gerda
Earlier
We decided to order lunch in two stages: savory and then dessert.
I had the floofpoof egg salad sandwich with miner’s lettuce, fresh tomatoes, and a cream sauce. My soup of choice was a smooth and nutty squash base with small dumplings and bacon bits.
Henrietta picked a grilled sandwich with flying pig’s belly cooked in red sauce that reminded me of smoky maple barbeque, and topped with miner’s lettuce, tomatoes, scallions, and a fried goose egg. She’d paired it with miso soup loaded with tiny cut mushrooms and green onions and wild carrots.
“Delicious,” Henrietta said happily, finishing her meal and sitting back. She’d tackled her food with gusto the second it had appeared, while I was still enjoying my soup.
“Hm,” I made a satisfied noise around a warm spoonful.
“I think this is my new favorite teahouse in all of Valaria,” Henrietta announced, taking a sip of her iced berry tisane.
“You should decide thatafterwe’ve tried the dessert,” I advised. When I was done, we picked up our dishes and returned them to a bin at the counter. The treats we’d ordered earlier were handed over, and we walked back to our seats. Before we continued, we cut each in half and split.
“Now for the moment of truth.” Henrietta lifted a piece of my markleberry crescent-shaped pastry, and we both took a bite. It looked like a croissant, but it was baked with an egg wash and tasted like fluffy Japanese milk bread. The berry filling tasted like chocolate jam.
A markleberry was as large as an avocado and purple on the outside. Inside, it was a dark brown and tasted like chocolate pudding. Every berry had three seeds in the center. Sadly, it didn’t have the consistency of chocolate, and was usually frozen or processed into jams, jellies, or sauces Sometimes, it was whipped with unigoat cream for a very close but not exact milk chocolate flavor. The sugar of the berry meant that it already had a natural sweetness.
And it was just another reminder that I was trapped in a fantastical world.
“Perfection,” Henrietta sighed, content.
I picked up a piece of Henrietta’s dessert. It was this world’s equivalent to a soft matcha brioche loaf made with Valarian green tea. It didn’t taste like Earth’sgreen tea, but the color of the brew was green, and so that is what it was called.
People were the same in every world.
The bread was baked with dried strawberries and served warm from the oven with butter.
“New favorite teahouse,” I agreed.
