the kiah

chapter 2: the debut ceremony [part 2]

After lighting the candles amd incense sticks ailith recited the holy scriptures for the given time inside the ancestry chamber under her father's guidance.
Hearing her and watching her actions the grand duke felt emotional, remembering his late wife. He loved his wife, if he could make his daughter his heir then he wouldnt even have married again.
He still remembered the time when his own father guided him to recite these scriptures at his debut ceremony, he was so nervous that he had messed up quite a lot at that time earning scolding from his father, but his daughter looked unbothered as if it didnt even matter.
After this ritual was finished ailith was taken away by her stepmother ophelia dutchman for further ceremonies.
Ailith was supposed to make lunch for her whole family as to show that she had really grown up and learnt enough skills to get a good husband.
Inside the kitchen ailith was wearing an apron over her dress to keep herself clean, while her hands did their work.
Kneading the dough, making bread, creating dishes by mixing herbs and spices, cutting vegetables. Making desserts. She worked like a pro in the kitchen while her stepmother and the cooking staff oversaw her activites.
Her stepmother was nodding proudly, while the servants were watching ailith with awe and concern not wanting her to get hurt.
Before long the food was ready and the dishes served to the family of four.
The grand duke ralan zosia , the duchess ophelia dutchman , the young lord nichol zosia, and the young lady ailith zosia.
The grand duke. Wasnt expecting a good meal but when he saw the numerous beautiful dishes in front of him he couldn't help but sniff to take a fragrance.
The aroma of the dishes instantly invaded his body making his stomach growl not so elegantly.
"lets begin" as the head of the house ralan took the first bite and had to hold in a moan when the flavours burst on his tongue. Apparantly his worry was for naught, and his daughter also seem to be a genious cook.
"you cook really well" ralan couldnt help himself from praising ailith who bowed her head to acknowledge the praise.
"it was mother who taught me how to cook, she deserves the praises to teach me her special recipies" ailith spoke bowing her head lightly towards her stepmother.
Feeling pride of his daughter ralan glanced at ophelia greatfully.
After his wife died he was at a loss on what to do and how to raise his daughter, even after getting married again he had been worried about ailith. But ailith and ophelia seem to get along just fine and now ralan was also glad towards ophelia to teach everything to his daughter making her a proper lady despite the activities she usually do.
Ophelia smiled at the behavior of ailith, she merely taught her the basics, as for the food; it was even more delicious than her own.
The little girl was just being humble. Not that ophelia was complaining, ailith had been a good daughter and behaved well from the beginning. At first ophelia had been wary of her throwing tantrums and fighting her like a spoiled brat but she wasnt expecting for her to talk with her directly.
After their talk they had come to some agreements and ailith had been following her advices and rules properly, only occasionally breaking them.
Ailith even got well with her son, occasionally eating together and even cooking for him daily.
Ophelia had bare minimum complains about ailith just like ralan.
"your food is as delicious as always sister" nichol spoke softly to ailith, which she replied with a smile.
After the meal her father announced that they would be leaving for the royal palace soon and dismissed them.
As ailith went to her room, her personal maid closed the door behind her, only then ailith acknowledge the people present in the room.
"lets begin shall we?"