Only the Heart of A Queen (discontinued )

Chapter 13

• 2 white eggs
•1/8 teaspoon cream of tartar

Cathrine cracked two eggs in one hand without a problem, and then added the cream of tartar, mixing it together, then setting it aside. Jest and his Mother looked in awe as she baked. She had the recipe implanted into her brain, so she didn't need the cookbook.

This was her third batch of Rose Petal Macaroons, and each batch made about twenty five. They helped with the first batch, and a little in the second, but seeing that she was anxious to dominate the whole kitchen, they stepped out of the way and decided to watch her do what she does best.

She also was a bit picky on how things needed to be done, such as wanting the exact amount of flour, or even how to properly crack an egg.

Cathrine wore a silver apron, already covered in flour and other ingredients. She had braided her hair, then put it in a bun. Her arms and face were covered in sugar and Almond flour.

She was fully focused on the bowl and ingredients in front of her, blocking out the rest of the world. It was just her, and a kitchen full of wonders.

•113 grams icing
• 70 grams ground almond powder

She poured both into a new bowl; she took a wooden spoon that had hearts engraved into it and mixed it well.

• confectioners' sugar
• 7 grams tapioca starch

She added each new ingredient into small bowls, and kept mixing and mixing. She whisked the bowl with the eggs and Tartar, adding rose water into it occasionally, until it became a thick meringue. She added drops of pink edible powder to give it color. She then added all the ingredients from the different bowls all into one, mixing once more. She piped it all into a tray, and put it into the oven.

She made a chocolate ganache butter cream, it was one of the first things she learned how to make, it was simple for a four year old.

After a few minutes, she let the macaroons cool down, then piped the ganache onto one side of each, and sandwiched it with another. She laid them out all on a tray, forming them into a circle. She added a bit of powdered sugar on then and added a rose petal on each macaroon.

She finally stepped back to admire her work, rubbing more flour all over her face.

Jest slowly walked next to Cathrine, not wanting to disrupt her from her state. He then wrapped an arm around and over her shoulder, pulling her closer to him. Cath quickly snapped out of her thoughts, and out of her own little world, and smiled when she felt Jest's arm around her.
She kind of felt bad that she hadn't noticed his arm around her before, and she didn't know how long it had been there.

In her own world— in her happy place— she can't be disturbed. Not that Jest didn't belong in her happy place, but he didn't exactly belong in her baking happy place, it was just...her.

Cath cleared her throat when she saw Jest's smirk. "Um, how long... have you had your arm there?" She asked. Jest laughed for a moment as she felt heat rush up her neck. "Don't worry, only for a second."

Catherine chuckled as she adjusted her apron. "Sorry, I think I get really in the zone when I bake. And.... sometimes I can't stop." She pauses and looked back at the three trays of identical-looking macaroons. "I think I made a little more than what I was supposed to..." Cathrine mumbled as she scratched the back of her neck. "You think? You made about 75 macaroons, non-stop. I think you would have kept going if I hadn't stopped you. Now, turn to me."

She did as he said so; he released his arm from her shoulder and pulled her closer to him. He held her with one arm on her waist, the other coming up to her face. He then wiped the powder of her face with the pad of his thumb.
As he did so, Cath felt her spine tingle as pink blossomed up her cheeks.

When he was done, he licked the his thumb that contained the powder from her face, he was still holding her by the waist with one hand. "Hm, sugar and Almond flour," He whispered. They both had pink on there cheeks, and as Jest leaned in to kiss her, they were interrupted by the sound of sniffing and snickering.

They both looked to the corner of the room, where Karmen and Hatta were; Karmen sniffing and dapping a handkerchief to the corners of her eyes, Hatta was leaning against her, snickering, trying to hold in his laugh as much as he could.

" I can't believe it," Karmen pauses and sniffed, still wiping little tears, "My Kitty has grown to be such a adorable and romantic young man, so much like his father. I wish he was still here to see how much you've grown. You know, Lady Cathrine, he would have adored you, and I bet he would have admired—and eaten— all your delectable desserts." She then put the handkerchief in the pocket of her dress.

Cath glanced at Jest who had a serious, yet almost a disappointing look on his face.

Cath shivered. "Your....your father..is...is he—"

"Dead? Yeah, he is. It was about six years ago, he was a Knight Major, so it was kind of one of the highest ranks for a Knight. Not exactly the highest, but it was somewhere up there. Anyway, it was in the Battle of The Bishop Knights, and yes that was the name, since it was a battle mainly fought by, well, Bishop Knights. My father was in the front leading them. Then, in the middle of the fight, he was captured and killed. At least the White Kingdom won that time..." Jest stopped talking, almost ad if he were crying, but when Cath looked at him, he had a neutral face planted on.

They stood in silence for a while until Karmen stepped forward, killing the silence. " Er— why don't we go to the Market? I bet Cathrine would love to explore the village. We have many different things here that you can't find anywhere else."

Cathrine's face immediately lit up, making Jest smile. "Yes yes yes please!" She wanted to dance, but she felt like that would have been immature, and Hatta would probably make fun of her, so she just smiled as wide as she could, linking her arm with Jest's, and they walked towards the door. Karmen grabbed a weaved together white basket, and made her way to the door, Hatta behind.

"Raven, you coming?" Jest said, patting the top of his Joker hat, gesturing him to sit there.

"As much as I would love to go, I would prefer to stay here, you must know." Raven replied.

Jest shrugged and went out the door with Cathrine beside him, as Karmen and Hatta following behind them.