Page 130 of King of Ruin

"From now on, I want them all to myself."

Elise still remembered the way he had said it with such confidence that she couldn't even argue with him. She had only shaken her head, amused by his ridiculous possessiveness.

Now, as she placed the cookies one by one onto the plate, she smiled faintly at the memory.

After placing the last cookie down, she removed the apron around her waist and turned toward Astrid.

"Xavier doesn't eat cookies that are sold in the market or made by anyone else."

Astrid looked at her in surprise.

"I have never seen him eat cookies made by anyone else. He only eats the ones that I make."

Elise pointed toward the plate in front of her.

"He loves these."

Then she looked back at Astrid, making sure she remembered what she was about to tell her.

"Remember what I told you before sliding them into the oven?"

Astrid nodded.

"You always have to put a pinch of salt on top of the cookies to make them taste better."

Elise gently emphasized the small but important detail.

"If you don't add salt, the cookies will taste completely different. They will be too sweet. And Xavier won't like that."

Astrid nodded her head obediently, almost like a student receiving instructions from a teacher.

"Got it, boss," she said, lifting her hand slightly in acknowledgment. "I’ll make sure to always put salt on them."

A small grin appeared on her face as she glanced at the plate of cookies.

"Although..." she added, raising her brows teasingly, "I think it suits him. He's always been a bitter butthead."

The playful remark made Elise look at her, and Astrid only smiled wider, clearly pleased with herself.

After taking off her apron as well, Astrid leaned back against the kitchen counter and crossed her arms over her chest. Herteasing expression slowly faded into something more thoughtful as she studied Elise.

For a moment, she said nothing.

Then she spoke.

"Can I ask you something?"

Elise looked at her curiously.

Astrid tilted her head slightly, her eyes moving over Elise as if she was trying to understand something she couldn't quite figure out.

"You are so perfect."

The words came out honestly.

Not as a compliment meant to flatter her, but as an observation.

"You know everything about him. What he likes, what he doesn't like... even something as small as how a little pinch of salt changes the taste of his cookies."