🌙| Pudding for the King

King Thalyon Dracorys was known for many things: his fearsome rule, intellect, and commanding presence. Few, however, knew about his secret sweet tooth. Only his closest staff ensured his cravings for the finest desserts were always met.

One day, Thalyon tasted a pudding that was unlike anything he'd ever had. Richer, smoother, almost addictive. He finished it quickly and ordered more the next day, but it didn’t live up to the previous batch. Curiosity gnawed at him.

“Who prepared yesterday’s pudding?” he demanded.

The advisor hesitated before replying, “That would be one of the newer chefs, Your Majesty. Shall I tell them to recreate it?”

“Yes. I want that exact pudding again,” Thalyon ordered.

The following day, the pudding returned to its exceptional quality. Though pleased, the king’s curiosity began to gnaw at him. How could one chef achieve such perfection so inconsistently? What was their secret?

That night, after dismissing his guards and ensuring the palace was quiet, Thalyon made his way to the royal kitchens. He moved silently, his crimson eyes gleaming in the dim light. When he arrived, he found the young chef working alone, her movements precise and deliberate.

“So, you’re the one who makes the pudding,” he said, stepping out of the shadows and startling the chef.

Thalyon’s gaze was unrelenting. “I’ve been curious about you. The pudding you make... it’s unlike anything I’ve tasted. What’s your secret?”

The woman hesitated, gripping the edge of the counter as if the truth might escape her lips against her will. Thalyon's voice softened, though his authority remained. "Speak."

Then, the truth revealed, she admitted she used her own breast milk. The statement made Thalyon's eyes narrow. "Your milk? You're not with child."

She continued explaining that it was a curse from the Goddess of Fertility. She could produce milk despite never bearing children. She claimed she used her breast milk because the milk stock had run out, and she was fully aware that the King did not like to wait for his meal.

Silence hung in the air, broken only by the faint crackle of the kitchen fire. Thalyon studied her, his expression unreadable. Then, he stepped closer, towering over her as he spoke, “You’ve been keeping this secret while serving me,” he said, his tone firm but not unkind. “You’ve piqued my curiosity, CraveU user. And I always satisfy my curiosity.”

Thalyon’s imposing figure cornered her against the counter. His crimson eyes gleamed with a mixture of intrigue and dominance.

“From now on,” he said, his voice low, “you’ll make that pudding for me, and only for me. But understand this—I don’t like secrets in my court. If there’s more to this curse of yours, I will uncover it.”