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I desperately wished that would be the end of my interaction with the prince. If I had any favor with the gods, he would fly to another town and find another woman to catch his eye and forget about buying pastries from me. Clearly, the gods didn’t give a damn because my prayers for freedom from the royal went unheard.

Two days later, the first order came. And then every other day, a new person arrived with an order for the prince. They would come the night prior, place the order, and then pick it up the next day. Soon that became a standing pick up each morning.

It wasn’t long before the pickups included unwanted drop offs. Gifts from the prince. I tried to refuse them, but they would drop them and run like backwards bandits.

And each day the gifts got worse, more elaborate and ornate. Huge baskets overflowing with silks, shimmering jewels, and gold trinkets were unceremoniously dumped onto my counter. To any other woman, it may have been flattering. At another time in my life, I might have felt the same. But every time I heard the convoy’s arrival announced by the sounds of dragon wings drowning out the morning birds, I dreaded it. And each time my door opened to find his royal aides carrying baskets of goods, it just made me feel worse.

Some nights, I would go home and contemplate leaving the beautiful life I had cultivated for myself. The prince wouldn't give up, I knew that. The orders would continue along with the gifts and attention that I didn't want from both him and the people I lived around. I wanted peace, and he was taking it away from me.

How long would it be before the gifts turned into more pressing advances?

“You sure you don’t want to keep this? It is so beautiful.” A woman who visited my shop at least three times a week for berry topped pastries asked as I handed her the basket full of fabrics.

This had become a part of my closing routine, ending my day giving away the wares that came from the prince. The scent of their jealousy hung heavy in the air as I pretended not to notice their envious glares and the sharp whispers that followed them out, their arms full of treasures they could normally only dream of owning. They benefited from my nuisance, but they wanted it for themselves. And if given the opportunity, I was sure they would push me off a cliff to take my place.

“Of course I am, besides it makes your eyes pop so well!” I stretched a fake smile across my face as I lifted a piece of fabric to her cheek. “And your complexion just screams to be wrapped in this fabric.”

“You know, I think you’re right. Thank you!” She grabbed the fabric from my hand, stuffed it back into the straw basket she carried on her shoulder, and ran for the door. They always ran away as if they were stealing something, afraid that I would change my mind and tell them to give me back the things they took. Some of them even purchased more treats, I guess as a way of easing their own guilt about taking the things that weren't meant for them.

After weeks of this routine, I had all but given up hope it would ever end. And on a night when a chill had set in. I was closing up my shop when the bell called my attention to the front as the door opened one final time.

“Sorry I’m closing.” I turned around with a warm smile, expecting a late customer who would take whatever scraps they could get. “There isn't much left, but take whatever you need.”

“Perfect timing then.” Standing in front of me wasn't a random customer or even an aide from the court. Asante. I suppose he had given up on having other people come and do the running for him.

“What are you doing here?” Was it the appropriate way to address the prince? Maybe not. But I was shocked that he was in front of me.

“Did you not like the gifts? You’ve given them all away.” He pretended to be hurt, but I could tell by his expression that he didn't care about the superficial items he had sent my way.

“Not really my style, honestly.” I admitted. “Bushels of flour and fruit would have been better for me, considering what I do here. The jewels and the fabrics were nice, but I don't really get a lot of time to play dress up.”

“I suppose that would have been a more thoughtful gift, considering how much I've been purchasing from you.” His lips tightened with a nod. “I'll keep that in mind.”

“Is there anything I can help you with??” I looked around him, expecting to see his guards. “Did you come here alone??”

“Yes. As a matter of fact, I did come here alone. I didn't want anyone here with me when I talked to you. You see, I have been scratching my head, trying to figure out what it is about you I can't stop thinking about. And in the time since I saw you. I've enjoyed your sweets. And I have realized that’s what it is. It's the things you make with your hands, the way your food makes me feel. So, I wanted to come here to see you without distraction.”

“Without distraction?” I swallowed the lump in my throat. “Your team would be a distraction to you.”

“I have a proposal.” He nodded slowly.

“I’m not interested in marriage.” All I could think about was getting ahead of him. Stopping him from asking me something we would both regret.

“Not a proposal of marriage. You rejected me once and I won't have that happen again. A business proposal.”

“A business proposal? What kind of business could we possibly have together?”

“I want you to come with me,” he hesitated. “I’d like for you to work for me.”

“You have plenty of people working for you.” I laughed at the idea. “What could I possibly do that they cannot?”

“These delicacies that you have. I've tried to have them recreated. None of my cooks have been able to figure out what you do to make them so delicious. Just as you said before, in time, they always taste worse. Even the time it takes for them to fly them from here to me, they lose something. Something magical. And I think the only way I can address that is to just have you come work for me. Cook where I eat.”

“Oh.” Despite the shocked look on my face, I wasn’t at all surprised to learn that they had failed.

“I know this is a shock. And it may be hard to walk away from what you built here. But I will pay you well for it.” He looked around my shop as if considering the gravity of what he was asking and yet still he proceeded, “Will you do it?”

“No.” The last thing I wanted to do was sign up to be locked away in a palace making treats for a prince. That was even worse than the thought of being forced into a marriage with one.

“No?” His jaw tightened once again. He didn't expect me to reject him. The hurt in his eyes told me he believed my rejection was simply a manifestation of my unwillingness to commit to marriage. Even without the promise of love symbolized by a cold, hard ring, a new name, or a sense of nobility, I felt content with my life. Why would I give that up?

In an instant, as quick as a lightning strike, his demeanor changed. That softness that caught my attention earlier hardened. Ridges appeared around his face, as if he was holding back a shift from his dragon. This was not a prince accustomed to being told no.

“You would continue to reject me after all I’ve done?” He spoke through a tightened jaw. “How could you be so ungrateful?”

“Did I ask you to do anything for me? You sent your gifts and purchased your sweets, and you expect me to do what exactly? I don't want to walk away from everything I have here and come live there and cook for one person. I do this because I enjoy seeing the faces of people who enjoy my food.”

“I am more important than these people,” Asante boasted.

“Says who?” I shook my head and stepped away from him, disgusted. “What about you wanting to change your reputation here?”

“I have a lot on my plate. For weeks I have been sending money into this town, buying your treats. And respecting your decision to decline my first proposal. I know who I am and if they can’t see that even after all that, it’s not up to me to fix.”

“And maybe that's your problem.” I hoped no one would hear what he said. “You think you’re better than the people here simply because of your status. A status you did not earn but were born with. You are no better than they are.”

“I withdraw my proposal.” Asante scowled at me. “This is no longer a request. I'm issuing a demand. You have seven nights. Wrap things up here and come to the Crown. And if you don't, I will send someone for you.”

“Excuse me?” I backed further away from his dark expression. “You can't be serious right now.”

“I’m not one for telling jokes.”

I had to swallow back the urge to reveal the secret I had kept for so long, one that could get me out of the unwanted position. But it was a secret for a reason. Instead, I swallowed back the words. I’d have to find another way out of this mess.

“This is a good thing for you.” He reached around me and grabbed the last puffed pastry from the counter. “You’ll earn more and be safer.”

“Are you just going to ignore me?” I laughed. “You expect me to believe this is about my safety now? I told you I don’t want to go.”

“I heard you. But this time, I'm the one rejecting what you want.” Asante turned and left the shop. The little bell above the door ringing as it slammed shut.