Sagan #2
I was a huge fan of the non-fried foods like the mini lobster rolls, smoked calamari, and grilled scallops.
The fried was great too, but I didn’t eat it often and had been more than normal, so the table loaded with it was a bit overwhelming.
I did try a lot of it, and while fried shrimp, catfish, and crab were great, I didn’t think fried oysters and a few others were how I liked them cooked.
Fries of course needed to be fried. Of course they did.
“Fried foods aren’t your thing,” he muttered as he kept eating. “Good to know.”
“I’ve eaten a healthy diet for so long that too much and I’ll get sick.”
“Like no alcohol,” he hedged.
I gave a half shrug, not liking the interview vibe I was getting even if this was to get to know each other better. “I haven’t had much, but I’ve not liked it besides some wines. I feel bloated for training and it’s just not worth it to me.”
“Fair.” He frowned. “I just tend to go with the flow.”
I wasn’t sure which of us that was more insulting to? Him for not figuring out what he actually liked and just doing whatever others told him to… Or me for making me sound like I was difficult?
Both?
I decided to help him like he had me with Andra. “No one’s here to judge. Order some drinks and see what you like. Who cares if you don’t like them?” I gave a half shrug and kept focused on my food so he didn’t feel pushed.
“One,” he accepted after several moments.
“Yeah, trying one makes sense. I’m not here to drink, but…
A fun drink sounds nice.” He cleared his throat.
“I’d offer you a sip to try normally but—sorry, just didn’t want to sound rude, but—it’s difficult to know how to adjust. I prefer to just be honest about that. ”
I nodded, unsure of what to say either. There wasn’t exactly a playbook or etiquette training for how to handle after a mating candidate drugged you.
Apparently, now someone should think of that.
He tried to recover the mood—and maybe how I would see him—and talked about how he’d always wanted to travel outside of Thovudin but wasn’t allowed to. None of his family ever did and he didn’t feel it was worth the issues it would cause.
I was glad when our seafood boils came and he was distracted ordering the drink that took him a long time to decide on…
While keeping the server standing there waiting for him.
I was dying to say something, but that would absolutely get back to others and look bad for Zev that I “wore the pants” or whatever bullshit.
So I focused on my food and made polite conversation with the server who basically stared at me with hearts in her eyes for saving her. Finally, he decided and she went to go get it.
And I couldn’t let it go.
“It took you five minutes to decide,” I said quietly.
He flinched. “I can be indecisive.”
“We all can be and that’s not my issue.” I swallowed a sigh when he simply blinked at me. I gestured to where the server had been standing. “You kept her there for five minutes, Zev. Waiting for you to decide on one drink. You could have asked her to come back or—she has other things to do.”
He frowned and glanced towards the door. “Huh, I didn’t think of that. Good point. I’ll apologize.”
I bet he didn’t do that a lot… Think.
“How is this the same person who came up with the idea of bringing in Andra?” Iris wondered in my mind and we both realized the answer at the same time and it was hard not laughing.
He hadn’t.
She had. Andra had probably called him and proposed the idea of putting her in front of me, being different from the other candidates—all of it.
Oh boy.
“Good, right?” he checked after a few minutes of us eating quietly.
“Delicious,” I answered easily. It was beyond that even, the seasoning bold and perfect but not spicy where there was no taste. I ordered the largest option where it was a bit of everything. I had thought that was all we were getting, so I’d been a bit spoiled.
I figured it was fine for my first time. Doing quick calculations in my head of the price difference of what we’d ordered, plus what he’d eaten of appetizers versus what I did and his drink… I was pretty sure he was still more expensive.
Or close where it shouldn’t have been an issue.
“What is your favorite?” he asked when we were about halfway.
“The king crab legs,” I told him, nodding when he raised an eyebrow. “I know most would say the lobster or oysters—but I’m a fan of crab and these are in season and perfect.”
“They are good,” he agreed. “I’m just a huge fan of mussels done this way. Or with pasta.”
Fair enough.
We finished up and both my dragons were sated with the fun and good food. I would have liked something sweet, but oddly enough the place didn’t have a dessert menu. Part of me wanted to ask if he picked the place for that reason, but it seemed so beyond petty and clearly he liked the place.
But I also wouldn’t have put it past some of the other candidates.
On the way back to the castle, I did see something perfect and asked the driver to pull over, not caring the headaches it would cause. That my security would have to scramble—any of it.
I’d gotten stuck on another meh date and I wanted what I wanted… Which was actually a date.
“Really?” Zev asked as I got out and he scrambled after me.
I gave a half shrug. “There wasn’t dessert.” Security went to the doors first, but I frowned. “It’s fine, they’re closing.” I gave another half shrug when all my security looked at me as if they were trying not to laugh.
“We can stay open a bit later for you, Your Majesty,” one of the workers said as if she was trying to cover a chuckle. “It’s fine.”
“It was on a whim and I don’t want to be a bother,” I hedged. “I can send someone tom—”
“Please, come in,” she interrupted, wincing when everyone around us—even people now gathered on the street—froze. It was a huge faux pas to interrupt a royal, especially the ruler.
“Thanks,” I accepted, smiling at the other workers. “This place was—I’ve always wanted to come here.”
“Really?” several people asked, but I decided to answer Zev.
I nodded and went over to the first display.
“Aunt Maple would send me care packages when I was studying abroad. Once a month without fail. Always something fun and—they kept me going when I was homesick.” I smiled at the woman who was clearly the manager.
“And always a box from here. It was the highlight of my care package. I would treasure your treats.”
She rubbed her chest. “You have no idea how much that means to me, Your Majesty.”
Then she broke down crying.
I glanced over at Lydia with a WTF look, but she seemed just as confused.
A man came racing from out back, and while my guards blocked me, he only focused on the woman.
He got caught up and gave me a sad smile.
“My mate recently took over after her mother died a few months ago. We’ve been struggling because people assume she can’t follow the same recipes or—her mother was talented, but it’s not magic. ”
“May I?” I asked when I saw a tray of samples.
“Of course,” he said, nodding when two of my security rushed to try first.
“Thanks, guys,” I accepted, knowing there was no way anyone could have thought to poison the samples at a random place no one knew my connection to.
I took a piece and had to contain a moan as my taste buds happily danced.
“Perfect. This is—you’ve done your mother proud.
This is exactly the taste, and I cannot tell you how much I’ve been craving them. ”
I felt bad when she started crying all over again, but I knew it was happy tears. I knelt down in front of her and rubbed her shoulder.
“I’m so very sorry for your loss. Truly.”
“I’m so sorry for yours,” she choked out.
“I still have my father. I wouldn’t have been able to function if I’d lost them both, and they don’t even let you cry—not even grieve.
” Shock rocked me when she gave Zev a look of hate.
“Only force men on you to breed you for a king like that’s all you’re here for. It’s too much and I support that site.”
“Site?” I asked.
“ItStartsWithSagan,” she told me. “I know you’ve said it’s not you, but I gave a donation so whoever is running it can keep going and get people the truth of who you are. We’ve let too much go and it’s enough.”
I gave her a kind smile and squeezed her shoulder. “It is enough, and I promise I’ll change Thovudin for women. We will have equality.”
“If anyone can, it’s you. I believe that.” She turned into her mate and I stood as he apologized and helped her into the back.
“Wow, the media really needs to pull its head out of its ass and start reporting what’s real because I didn’t even know about some site?” Zev muttered.
It had been reporting on that—mostly to accuse me—but I had a feeling Zev missed a lot that didn’t involve him. Or interest him.