Unwittingly Used
The ones talking are a few classmates famous for their bottomless appetites. Since joining the Royal Academy of Mathematics, they’ve practically eaten their way through every restaurant in the capital—if you want to know what’s good at Eight Treasures Bistro or Suxin Pavilion, just ask them. They can rattle off every dish like precious jewels.
Once the food talk starts, there’s just no stopping them. They launch into a lively, almost theatrical explanation for the whole crowd:
“Eight Treasures Bistro? That’s run by Princess Lily Hayes herself, right across from Cat's Eye Alley. That alley used to have eight family courtyards, but Prince Alexander Hayes bought them all as a betrothal gift for Princess Lily Hayes. She transformed those courtyards into Eight Treasures Bistro, each building specializing in a different cuisine—eight in total! Every dish is a feast for the senses, and trust me, each one is top-tier!”
“Suxin Pavilion, on the other hand, is owned by Princess Mira of Chu—Prince Alexander Hayes’s old flame. She spent years mooning over him, only to lose out to Princess Lily Hayes. Naturally, that sparked a rivalry, so she opened Suxin Pavilion right across from Eight Treasures Bistro. Their food? Almost as good, but cheaper! No wonder she’s snatched so much business from Princess Lily Hayes.”
Originally, both restaurants were locked in a culinary tug-of-war, splitting business right down the middle. But here’s the kicker—just yesterday, every dish at Eight Treasures Bistro suddenly tasted weird! The food that used to be legendary? Practically inedible. Customers flooded in with complaints, demanding to know if the chef had changed. But the staff insisted: the chef was the same, but they’d run out of their Secret Spice Blend, so the magic was gone.
A wave of furious diners demanded their money back, crying foul. Luckily, the manager at Eight Treasures Bistro is a real pro—he refunded everyone without fuss. We were there yesterday too, and yep, we got our money back.
With Eight Treasures Bistro’s food suddenly a disaster, thank goodness Suxin Pavilion’s dishes are still delicious. Otherwise, after being spoiled by Eight Treasures Bistro, we’d all be suffering from withdrawal!
Lily Evans sipped her tea quietly, eyes lowered, listening to her foodie classmates gossip about Eight Treasures Bistro. Internally, she was already several moves ahead.
Why had Eight Treasures Bistro’s flavors changed? Lily Evans knew exactly why—she herself had ordered every dish to be made without the Secret Spice Blend. Now that’s how you stir the pot.
Without the Secret Spice Blend, the food was a shadow of its former self—practically impossible to stomach.
But Lily Evans wasn’t the least bit worried. She’d orchestrated this little disaster herself, all to lure out the rat who’d stolen her Secret Spice Blend.
Sure enough, the moment Eight Treasures Bistro’s reputation took a nosedive, Suxin Pavilion’s business boomed. Princess Mira must be feeling smug, thinking she’d finally bested Lily Evans.
But Lily Evans had already anticipated Princess Mira’s every move. Let Mira think she’s won—for now.
The real game was just beginning. Lily Evans was ready to reclaim her Secret Spice Blend—and her crown as the culinary queen of the capital.
She glanced up, eyes sparkling with mischief. The next move was hers.
Meanwhile, Princess Mira was already celebrating her apparent victory. But if she thought this was the end, she clearly didn’t know Lily Evans.
Lily Evans smiled to herself, plotting her comeback. The city’s foodies were about to witness the fiercest culinary showdown in years.
She’d let Princess Mira bask in her stolen glory—for now. Soon, everyone would know who truly ruled the city’s kitchens.
The bell rang, signaling the start of class. Lily Evans tucked away her thoughts and prepared for the next lesson, but her mind was already racing ahead to her next move.
Game on, Princess Mira. Lily Evans never loses.