Chapter 65: Tea Party Menu (I)

Primrose never thought her simple wish to have breakfast without following the palace’s strict schedule would actually come true.

After Edmund escorted her back to her room, she ended up sleeping for another two hours and only woke up around eleven.

Her body felt lighter than usual, and her mood lifted as if it could touch the sky. Maybe spending the night with the Lycan King was the reason behind it.

It really seemed like every time Primrose spent time with him, she felt a little … happier.

But then again, who wouldn’t be happy if their husband spoiled them so much?

Sure, his communication skills were still far from perfect, but at least now, he could talk like a proper person.

Primrose got out of bed and walked toward the drawer, planning to read the journal, the forbidden book she had secretly stolen and hidden.

But before she could grab it, a soft knock came from the door.

“Your Majesty, it’s me,” Solene called from outside.

Without wasting a moment, Primrose opened the door and let Solene in.

“Your Majesty, the cooks have prepared some sample dishes for your tea party,” Solene said cheerfully. “But I think it would be better if you tried them in the dining room.”

Why did she have to try the tea party samples in the dining room?

She could’ve done it just fine in her bedroom or even in the greenhouse, especially since tea party food was usually only small cakes and sweets.

But in the end, Primrose decided to go along with it.

“Alright,” she said softly. “I’ll go there after I finish my meal.”

Her breakfast was still untouched on the table. It had only arrived a few minutes before Solene knocked on her door.

“I don’t think you’ll need that meal,” Solene said with a cheerful smile. “You can just eat the food samples. I’m sure you’ll be full after that, Your Majesty.”

How could I possibly be full just by eating small cakes? Primrose thought, a little doubtful.

But once she entered the dining room, she instantly understood what Solene meant.

The so-called food samples were nothing like the usual tea party snacks.

There were no cakes, no scones, no macarons, and not even a single sweet.

Instead, the entire table was filled with dishes that looked like they belonged at a royal banquet, not a tea party.

There were roasted meats glistening with herbs and butter, golden-baked poultry stuffed with fragrant vegetables, warm bread rolls served with creamy soups, and large platters of cooked greens, all beautifully arranged like a feast.

Primrose blinked in surprise.

“What … what are these, Lady Solene?” she asked, completely lost.

With a proud smile, Solene answered, “These are the dishes usually served to nobles during tea parties, Your Majesty.”

Primrose’s eye twitched slightly.

“Isn’t tea party food supposed to be cakes and cookies?” she asked, confused.

Not a full-course meal!

She couldn’t even picture a group of noble ladies sitting around, gossiping while chewing on big chunks of meat. The image alone felt ridiculous.

“Cakes and cookies?” Solene tilted her head, looking puzzled. “Oh! You mean … desserts? No, beasts rarely eat sweets. We usually just eat meat or vegetables if they’re the vegetarian type.”

Primrose blinked. “But … I’ve been eating desserts all the time here.”

“That’s because they’re making them just for you, Your Majesty,” said Salem as he entered the dining room. He looked exhausted, as if he’d stayed up all night experimenting with some strange poison again.

“The only time I eat dessert is when I have to taste your food,” he added with a sigh.

Primrose quietly sat down, staring at the plates filled with all kinds of meat dishes.

Sure, she liked meat too, but that didn’t mean she wanted it to replace the cakes at her garden tea party.

“Why don’t beasts eat sweets?” she asked softly.

Solene tapped her chin, thinking for a second.

“Well, it’s not like we can’t eat them,” she said. “It’s just … not good for our stomachs.”

Salem nodded along.

“Think of it like how you wouldn’t let your dog eat cake.”

Salem had already grabbed the utensils even before Primrose. Since it was just a food sample, he was allowed to eat with her this time, not just take a bite and leave like he usually did.

“Why are you comparing yourself to a dog?” Primrose let out a small sigh. “You’re clearly a skunk.”

Salem glanced at her, offended. “How many times do I have to tell you? I’m a honey badger!”

Salem glanced at her. “How many times do I have to tell you that I’m a honey badger!”

Primrose didn’t bother replying. Her mind was too busy worrying about something else.

’How am I supposed to have a proper conversation with the other ladies if we have to eat a full-course meal like this during the tea party?’

Only now did she realize why the desserts in this kingdom always tasted less sweet than the ones back in her homeland.

It wasn’t the cooks’ fault, it was just that desserts weren’t a common thing here.

“Turkey leg?” Primrose picked up a turkey leg that was almost bigger than her face. “Are we really supposed to eat this at a tea party?”

The smile on Solene’s face slowly faded as she realized there was a big cultural gap between humans and beasts, even for something as simple as a tea party.

“We can change the menu if you’d like,” Solene said softly. “But, Your Majesty, if you want to win the hearts of the people here … maybe you need to try blending in with our culture.”

Of course, Primrose knew that.

She had been trying to blend in for years.

But fitting into beast culture wasn’t as easy as it sounded, especially since she used to spend most of her time hiding away in her bedroom.

Now that she thought about it, this might be the first time she was actually trying, really trying, to be part of their world.

“Is there a rule about what kind of meat dishes should be served at the tea party?” Primrose asked carefully.

Solene shook her head.

“No. We usually just eat like it’s lunch.”

Primrose bit her lip, thinking hard.

“What if … we serve pastries made with meat instead?” she suggested.

She began listing a few ideas. “Like beef pastry puffs, mini quiches, or chicken and mushroom tartlets.”

“They’re not sweet, so … would the beasts be okay eating pastries like that?” she asked, her voice soft but hopeful.

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep