Rainbow Cookies

I am traumatized for life!

It had been a few days since Leo had baked the Rainbow Cookies, and the prince had rushed to the temple.

Thank goodness he hadn't had Leo killed or imprisoned when he returned, so even though Leo didn't have a clue what had happened, he considered it a good result, and his life in the palace continued unchanged.

...well, not exactly unchanged.

Because things were starting to go much better. He was getting friendlier with the other cooks, and he was learning a lot. Lionel had started to leave him alone ever since Alex started to be his personal guard, and the etiquette lessons were starting to pay off, making Leo even more appreciated by the royal family.

Appreciated had also been when he had taken the opportunity to cook fresh Italian pasta, and the queen had really liked it and had ordered to hold private lessons with all the cooks so that they could replicate it and make it a habit.

Leo couldn't wait to perfect the gnocchi recipe to introduce gnocchi Thursdays at the royal palace. A true Italian tradition! His grandma would have been proud!

And it would also have been hilarious!

In short, life in the palace, after the initial difficulties, was starting to go quite well, despite the fact that Leo was starting to really miss his mother and sister. But he couldn't change his situation, so it was better to get used to it and accept the improvements that came in his direction.

And a huge, incredible improvement came that morning, as soon as he woke up in his bed made with a single blanket which he was starting to get used to.

Because before he finished getting dressed, the door to the dormitory opened, and Chevel entered.

Leo hadn't seen him in a while, since Alex was now always escorting him around, and frankly he wished he wouldn't have seen him for much longer.

"Surprise inspection of the dormitories!" announced the chief of the knights. Lionel, Alex and Prankit immediately stood to attention, in front of the beds, as in a military camp.

Leo was much slower. After all, he was not a knight, but a cook. Probably that inspection had little to do with him.

Chevel started with Alex, and Leo gave her a discreet nod of encouragement, which she caught and to which she replied with a very slight, almost imperceptible smile.

The relationship between the two had improved a lot since they had started spending every moment together.

"Impeccable bed, tidy bedside table, clothes in order... show the sword" Chevel encouraged the girl to show the weapon supplied, and Alex did it with very precise movements.

"Good, perfectly sharp. Great score" Chevel gave her an approving nod, and she responded with a medium bow.

Then Chevel switched to Lionel, who was giving Leo sharp looks, as if the surprise visit could be his fault.

But Leo hadn't complained to anyone. And Alex had told him that other dormitories had already been visited in the last few days. It was certainly not an isolated case.

"Armor and sword are fine, the bed is awfully made! Do it again immediately" Chevel pointed to the pile of blankets over the two mattresses, but didn't say many words, before moving on to Prankit.

"That's not acceptable! It looks like you just woke up! Prepare yourself better right now, make the bed, and remove all that stuff around!" Chevel began to scold Prankit, with an authoritative tone and a certain vehemence.

Leo was more and more convinced that the knight had been almost nice to him, because he was really menacing when he addressed his subordinates.

But since Prankit deserved it, Leo grinned to himself, pleased by the scolding.