My Lady Chef
Chapter 102: Invitation to Kalderos - Part 2

Ely's POV:

I was surprised but then his tongue slipped inside mine as he crushed me against the soft confines of the couch while setting the book out of my reach as his hand curved around my back.

The feel of his huge hands on my body gave me the shivers and he hungrily kissed me deeply. All thoughts of food and cooking flew out the window the moment my husband sucked my tongue as he laid me down on the couch.

And I felt the hard ridge in his pants bumping my stomach.

"I-I thought you would be late...." I sighed when he gave me room to breathe as my head was disoriented from his hot touches.

"I managed to finish earlier than anticipated." He kissed my forehead as my hand curved around his jaw. "Things have been crazy but now that I have completed my report; I can relax and spend more time with you."

I blushed at his brazenly sweet words. Ever since we both made our feelings known to each other, he has been very open and affectionate to me.

The entire staff has been noticing how I have permanently moved to his bedroom. The final evidence was how he had servants dismantle my bed and remodeled my room into an extra study and tea room. It was a clear message to everyone that Ezran favors me greatly and that he loves me very much.

And such gestures were not lost to me and somehow I am still a bit shy at times at how attentive he has been to me.

"Well, I am glad you are home." I kissed his cheek. "Shall I pour you some tea?"

"I am craving you." He kissed my neck and started licking a place that made me tremble.

"A-ah w-wait..."

"What...is this letter?" He reached towards the table beside me and his voice turned curious as he read the contents.

"It is a request for an audience with me from the Kalderos Culinary Institute for Higher Learning." I watched his expression grew dark. "I have been meaning to ask you. What do you think of the letter you just read?"

"Suspicious but interesting. An institute of this caliber won't send someone as important to you without an ulterior motive."

"So I was not alone in that regard. I was going to send a reply tomorrow but I am curious to see what they want from me."I took the letter from him." Thank you for your opinion husband."

"Invite them tomorrow. I'll be by your side. I also want to know what they want with you." he said as I a good up and stamp my insignia into the letter.

It turned into a small paper bird and flew out the window.

"Husband, don't you have a meeting with Pierce this afternoon?" I went back to him as he made me sit on his lap and gave me some tea which he poured already.

"He can wait." he kissed my ear as I drank my cup slowly, savoring the floral notes of chamomile and the sweetness of honey.

"Mmmmm..." I bend forward to pour him a cup with no sugar. "Tea?"

He accepted and a peaceful few minutes passed by as we drank tea and ate the small finger sandwiches.

"It is strange. I have never really experienced this with a woman before." He licked my fingers after I fed him the last tiny sandwich, his red eyes darkening with desire. "Really? But you seem so relaxed with me." I pulled my damp fingers from his lush mouth. "I am happy that you can be yourself when you are with me."

"And what about you? Are you that way with me?" His tone was teasing but even as I diverted his attention by kissing his neck.

"Yes..." My answer pleased him as he kissed my lips, seeking to entice my mouth to let him in.

Guilt crept inside my mind and made me wonder....

I took over the body of the real Alaina and it made me question if it was ever a good idea to keep him in the dark about who I really am.

How can I tell him that I am not the woman he originally married? That I absorbed the original's soul and memories assimilating into the woman he is holding right now?

Somehow I am afraid...more afraid now that we both have so much to lose.

He said he loves me.

But why does it hurt somehow knowing that he cherishes me in another woman's form.

It makes it feel like a beautiful dream that I will wake up from at any given time.

It was that fragile.

Now is not the time. Someday, I will tell him.

But not now, please let me be with him in this perfect dream a little bit more.

"Your Grace, Thank you for granting us an audience with you."

"Please be seated, Mr. Smythe." I waved for him to take a seat as my husband sat beside me looking intimidating with his huge built and his piercing stare.

Johannes Smythe was a slender effeminate brown-haired young man who wore light colors with Kalderosian robes and a jacket.

He came alone and seems to be the polite sort. His face also seems a bit stiff when he saw my husband staring at his every move from the way he sat to the delicate way he sipped his tea.

"May I ask you what is the true reason for your visit, Mr. Smyth?" I began the conversation. "I am pretty sure that a prestigious institute such as the Kalderos Culinary Institute for Higher Learning would never send a representative for a mere visit."

A shrewd glint in his eyes made me confirm my theory as his smile widened but his pretty face never lost its calmness.

"You are smart as you are beautiful, Lady Alaina. I suppose it is time I state my real purpose in traveling all the way here." he looked at me squarely in the eye. "Your work with Cafe Terra was an amazing success. I had my men pay a visit and they have never seen such a clean and professional cafe serving food and desserts that are not usually accessible to the common folks. The food was absolutely divine as well. It was something no ordinary lady could ever do."

"Spit it out and get to the point. What are you trying to say?" My husband growled.

Johannes placed his cup that he was drinking down the table quietly.

"Milady, Have you ever heard of....Other Worlders?" His voice turned hushed.

"What...?" My slight confusion must have been the reaction he was looking for because he answered right away.

"They are people who hail from another world and have transmigrated into ours. These are individuals who are said to possess uncommon knowledge that is often viewed as innovative and ground-breaking; they also have the ability to operate rare items "artifacts" with ease." he explained.

"And?" I tried not to let the fact that there were "others" like me out here disturb my train of thought.

"The headmaster of the institute is one such individual and he is very interested in your food and would like to invite you as an honored guest to the Annual Food Festival that will be held in Arnoux, Kalderos' capital in 3 months. His purpose was that he would like to observe your team while you participate in the showcase and he would like to meet you face to face."

He slid another envelope, this time it was bigger with the institute's logo emblazoned on the front.

Until my eyes did a double-take on the vibrant colored emblem and the detailed edges and smooth finish.

This type of print is not achieved by the archaic printing press they use in this kingdom. It looked like an offset type of print.

A technique from my world.

Working with print houses in my past life to make promo flyers, menus, and custom napkin bands for my cafes gave me a bit of an eye for these things.

So what he says is true. There are people like "me" around in this place.

I-I'm not alone.

"I am planning to leave the city in 3 days, please send me an enchanted letter by then if you are interested in participating and I will send an official invitation just for you, Your Grace." Those were his parting words as he left us that day.000