LONG LIVE THE VILLAIN (MHA AU)

IX.

The Castle Kitchen was laid out much better than you'd expected with many utensils. You were impressed to find that at the very least, Shinso had stored a few fresh foods in the kitchen, but it seemed like most of the utensils in the kitchen weren't really used. You did a small stretch and began assembling the ingredients you would use for dinner. It seemed like there wasn't much meat, just a bit of lamb chops preserved by basic magic. Magic which you marveled at. Magic which you knew was not even anything to do with your cause, but you would still definitely learn.

After preparing the meat to be cooked by placing some spices on it, you began making the side dishes. You hoped Shinso would be in soon with the produce you'd sent him to get from the gardens. 

As if he'd heard your thoughts. the man himself strolled in with a basket full of the produce. He stopped for a moment to see you humming away, cooking. For the first time since you'd come, you seemed so...peaceful. He couldn't help but stop and admire you. He was intrigued by your small smile and the gentle hum that emanated from your lips. He was almost...entranced. It was flabbergasting to him, the way your gentle demeanor shone through, even if just for a moment. The way it caught his attention and completely deterred his brain from focusing on anything else. Almost as if you had him under a spell. Like you were the one with mind manipulating abilities and not himself. He hated it. The lack of control he had. 

"Your Majesty." He said, choosing to interrupt your peace. His expression was stoic, much like it was when you'd first been dumped at the palace. You didn't mind, however, because the less he messed around, the better. You had other things to do. 

"I see you found the plants I was looking for. It seems that there is something upstairs after all."

"Well of course there's something upstairs. This is a multi-floored castle, your Highness. Though I didn't get the plants from there. I got them outside." He replied in his usual know-it-all manner.

"You have the comedic standing of a man whose had one too many ales at the local tankard." 

"So...genius." He gave a cheshire smile. 

You rolled your eyes and began washing some of the fruits.

"Alright. Thank you, you may go." You say simply.

Shinso pondered for a moment and then shook his head.

"I can help you."

"I think not." You replied.

"I think so. I've been making food for myself all this time, what makes you think I'll like what you make after being used to my own cuisine this entire time. That is not even Kaeylian dish, its an Endormian one."

"Lamb is lamb. You clearly eat it since I found it here." 

"But not in the way you'd make it." 

"Well," you held up the pot, your eyes meeting his.

"How do you make a Kaeylian Lamb dish." 

His silence told you everything you needed to know.

 "So..you dont know either."

"I couldn't bring myself to open all the cookbooks after what had happened here and as the years went on, I just..never tried. I found my own way of making things, save for the recipes I remember authentically from boyhood." 

He was surprised to hear a tip of laughter from you as you set the pot over the fire to cook and turned to look at him.

"Boyhood? Surely you don't think you are a man yet. You are still in boyhood." You laughed. 

His expression immediately changed, hearing your words, he felt easily angered.

"What makes you think I am not a man?"