(BL) Reborn as Lycan's Emperor's abandoned Beta concubine?!

Chapter 18: 18. Breakfast chaos

THE NEXT MORNING

XAVIER

I woke before sunrise because old habits died hard. No matter what world I lived in, breakfast always came first.

"If the Emperor starts his day hungry..." I tied on my apron. "Everyone else suffers."

The palace kitchen was completely silent when I arrived.

The night before, it had looked intimidating. Now it was just another kitchen.

"Let’s see what the Emperor likes."I smiled.

The servants had already washed fresh rice. Premium eggs rested in woven baskets, there was mountain honey, preserved vegetables, smoked fish, fresh tofu, spring onions, and enough spices to feed an army.

"They really do spoil the imperial kitchen..."I sighed.

Instead of making one extravagant dish I decided to make a complete breakfast, simple, comforting and perfectly balanced. Rice porridge simmered until creamy. I topped it with shredded chicken, fresh ginger, sesame oil, and chopped scallions. Then I prepared delicate steamed egg custard so smooth it barely held its shape. A small plate of stir-fried vegetables, pan-fried dumplings, and freshly baked milk buns. Finally, a pot of fragrant jasmine tea. The aroma slowly filled the kitchen.

"Breakfast?"Even the palace chefs quietly wandered closer.

"He made breakfast smell luxurious."One blinked.

"I have never wanted porridge this badly."Another chef stared at the steaming porridge.

"Sometimes the simplest food is the hardest to perfect."I chuckled.

"Chef Wei."The palace steward arrived exactly on time.

"Morning."I said.

"His Majesty’s breakfast?"He asked.

"Please carry it carefully."I carefully arranged every dish onto an elegant lacquered tray.

"I shall."He said.

Just as he reached for it, I heard another set of steps.

"No." A young maid stepped forward. "I have been assigned to deliver His Majesty’s meals."

"Very well."The steward nodded.

She accepted the tray with both hands. Then she looked at it. "Chef Wei?"

"Yes?"I asked.

"May I ask one question?"She asked.

"Of course."I nodded.

"Can cooks marry food?"She asked.

"What?"I blinked.

"Because if they could..."She pointed at the breakfast as she swallowed. "I would be jealous."

Several servants burst into laughter. I rubbed my forehead.

"It’s only breakfast."I smiled.

"It doesn’t look like breakfast."One of them said.

"It looks like love."Another one added.

"I’ve known this meal for fifteen seconds, and I already miss it."Third one nodded.

Even I couldn’t help laughing.

"Go before it gets cold."I said and smiled.

"Yes!" The maid carefully carried the tray away like it contained the Empire’s greatest treasure.

Inside the Emperor’s study, Lang Li looked up as the maid entered.

"Your Majesty." She knelt. "Chef Wei has prepared your breakfast."

The silver lids were lifted one by one. Steam rose gently. The fragrance of ginger, sesame, and freshly baked bread filled the room. Lang Li remained silent then he picked up a spoon. One bite, another, then another. Shen watched quietly. Finally, Lang Li set down the spoon.

"The porridge."He said.

"Yes, Your Majesty?"Shen asked.

"Who suggested it?"He asked.

"The chef, Your Majesty."Shen said.

"It will remain on the morning menu."Lang Li nodded once.

"Understood."Shen nodded.

He picked up one of the milk buns. Soft, warm, fresh from the oven. Without realizing it he finished the entire breakfast. Shen glanced at the completely empty tray.

"..."He stared in shock.

Normally, half of the imperial breakfast was left untouched. Today not even a grain of rice remained.

"Inform Chef Wei."Lang Li calmly took another sip of tea.

"Yes, Your Majesty?"Shen asked.

"It was acceptable."He said.

Shen had served the Emperor for over ten years. He knew exactly what those words meant. That was the highest compliment His Majesty had ever given anyone.

Back in the kitchen, the same maid returned almost running.

"Chef Wei!"She shouted.

"Did something happen?I looked up."

"His Majesty finished everything." She held up the empty tray.."

"Everything?"I asked.

"He even finished the porridge!"She nodded excitedly.

The surrounding palace chefs collectively gasped.

"The Emperor."One asked.

"Finished breakfast?"Another one nodded.

"Impossible."Third one asked.

"So."I scratched my cheek. "He liked it?"

"He said."The maid beamed. She imitated Lang Li’s calm voice almost perfectly. "’It was acceptable.’"

The palace chefs immediately looked at me with expressions of pure envy.

"Congratulations."One old chef whispered.

"For what?"I asked.

"You just received the greatest praise His Majesty has ever given a cook."He said.

"’Acceptable’?"I asked.

"He once described my best banquet as ’adequate.’"The old chef nodded seriously.

I suddenly understood. The Emperor’s compliment scale was completely of the charts. Three days. That was all it took, three days for my peaceful life as "the palace chef" to disappear completely. I had imagined cooking for one person. The Emperor. Maybe a few ministers during important meetings. Instead ny kitchen had somehow become the busiest place in the Imperial Palace.

"Why are there so many people?"I looked outside.

"They’re waiting for lunch."A palace servant smiled awkwardly.

"The Emperor isn’t even here yet."I said.

"They’re not waiting for His Majesty."He said.

"..."I stared.

"They’re waiting for you."He said.

My soul quietly left my body. Outside the open kitchen the courtyard was overflowing with nobles. Young masters, princesses, princes, officials, een several noble omegas had somehow found reasons to "visit" the palace today.

"I came to discuss military matters."One prince loudly announced.

A minister beside him blinked.

"With the kitchen?"He asked.

The prince coughed.

"Military matters require proper meals."He said.

"Naturally."Minister nodded.

A noble lady smiled sweetly.

"I simply wished to thank His Majesty for maintaining such a beautiful palace."She said

She hadn’t looked at the flowers once. Her eyes remained fixed on me. Another omega noble fanned himself.

"I heard Chef Wei created a new dessert yesterday."She said. "I also heard he’s even more handsome in natural sunlight."

"I heard he smiles while cooking."Another one added. "I hope he smiles today."

Please stop talking, I can hear all of you.

Inside the kitchen I concentrated on today’s lunch. Braised pork, stir-fried seasonal vegetables, fragrant rice. Lotus root soup, fresh dumplings. Everything had to be perfect. Behind me the whispers never stopped.

"His white hair really is beautiful."

"I wonder how old he is."

"Does he already have a mate?"

"I heard he doesn’t."

"I heard he likes cooking more than romance."

"That’s adorable."

I nearly dropped my ladle. Why is everyone discussing my love life? I am making soup!

Across the courtyard Lang Li quietly arrived. He stopped walking as his golden eyes swept across the crowd.

"..."

There were far more people than usual.

Shen looked around.

"Your Majesty..."She began.

"Hm."He said.

"It appears half the court has suddenly become interested in lunch."Shen added.

"I noticed."He added.

A noble omega laughed at something I had said while thanking him for moving out of the way. Lang Li’s gaze lingered for a moment. Then another noble stepped closer to my counter.

"Chef Wei."He began.

"Yes?"I asked.

"I brought rare mountain herbs as a gift."He said.

"Oh..."I said.

"You mentioned enjoying unusual ingredients." He said.

"Thank you."I nodded and took it.

Another noble immediately walked forward, and another and another.

"I brought premium tea."

"And I brought fresh fruit."

"My family’s fishermen caught these this morning."

Soon the ingredient table beside me was overflowing with gifts. I stared at the growing pile.

"Am I being bribed?" I asked.

Ana, who had been invited to help organize the kitchen for the week, grinned.

"I think they’re courting you."Ana said.

"What?"She asked.

Hin nodded seriously.

"I believe Lady Ana is correct."She added.

"I refuse to believe that."I said.

"You also refused to believe they were flirting."Ana shook her head in disbelief.

"Fair." I sighed.

Lang Li watched another noble hand me flowers. Another offered imported spices, a prince even stepped forward carrying an expensive cookbook.

"For you, Chef Wei."He said.

"You want me to have your cookbook?" I asked.

"It belongs in capable hands."He said.

"Thank you?"I said nervously.

My awkward smile made several omegas blush. Shen slowly glanced toward his Emperor.

"Your Majesty."He said.

"Hm."Lang Li looked at him.

"The crowd seems... enthusiastic."Shen said.

Lang Li’s expression remained perfectly calm.

"Too enthusiastic."He said.

Another noble laughed beside me, another omega complimented my appearancevand another prince asked if I would teach him how to make buns. The Emperor quietly placed his teacup on the table. Crack. A tiny fracture spread across the porcelain.

No one commented, but everyone noticed.

Lunch was finally ready as servants carried the dishes toward the imperial pavilion.

I wiped my hands.

"Done."I sighed.

A palace maid approached immediately.

"Chef Wei."She said.

"Yes?"I asked.

"His Majesty requests your presence."She said.

"Again?"I asked.

"Immediately." She nodded.

Of course.cI carried the final dish myself. Lang Li sat alone beneath the pavilion. I placed the tray before him.

"Your Majesty."I said

He looked at today’s meal. Without a word he picked up his chopsticks.

One bite, then another, then the soup. He remained silent the entire time, I stood awkwardly beside the table. Should I leave? Should I stay? Is breathing allowed? Finally Lang Li looked up.

Our eyes met.

"I want..." He paused before taking another bite. "...to taste it again."

I blinked.

"The... soup, Your Majesty?"I asked.

"Everything."He said.

"...Everything?"I asked.

He nodded once.

"This meal."Helooked directly at me.v"Prepare it again."

"...Tomorrow?"I asked.

"Tonight."He said.

Shen lowered his head to hide the faintest smile.

His Majesty who normally disliked repeating meals...Wanted the exact same menu twice in one day. The surrounding nobles exchanged stunned glances.

"Has His Majesty ever requested the same meal twice?"One minister whispered.

"Never."He said.

"I wish someone looked at me the way His Majesty looks at Chef Wei’s cooking."A noble omega sighed dramatically.

"I don’t think he’s looking at the cooking anymore."Ana leaned toward Hin and whispered with a grin.

"I believe you’re right."She said.

I looked between the Emperor and the empty plates. Somehow I had the distinct feeling that the food wasn’t the only reason Lang Li kept asking me to stay.

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