Cup of Hot Tea.

Elle’s POV

My back was killing me and the worst part was I didn’t even know when it would end.

I scoffed, blowing away unnecessary air.

How dare he make me kneel in front of his ridiculous chambers and write a silly letter of apology?

I mean who does he even think he is? A real king?!!!

Sure, maybe I shouldn’t have said that but it was the truth. The old man was being ridiculous. He was clearly just about to pin unnecessary hardship on the young man.

I did the right thing by saving an innocent person.

I should be awarded, not punished!

“Announce me,” I said to the door guard, ready to submit another letter of apology.

This was the third time in a row and he had to accept it. Another rejection would come with a punishment from me.

“Again!” He barked from inside. “Do it okay again.”

This was the third time. The third time!

I squeezed my fingers around the paper, raging.

Again, if it wasn’t for my father’s illness, what the hell would I be doing in a place like this?

I would be in school, pushing myself through whatever those ridiculous professors had for me.

And I thought they were bad.

Hah. They were angels compared to this one. A literal satan.

But there was nothing I could do. It wasn’t like I could lose such an opportunity of being in that arena, I had to be there until I got what I needed.

I drew in a deep breath, mustering up the fakest softest voice I could manage.

“Your majesty, I promise you this one is perfect. Really, you just need to take a look at it.”

“Again! Those were my instructions.”

I humphed, not giving up. “Trust me, you really don’t want me to toss this aside. It deserves to be in your royal library.”

Silence stretched.

Then the doors flung open, exposing the minion.

He said nothing and just stepped aside.

I smiled, not at him but at the prospects of finally being free.

Before going in, I took a moment to slowly run my eyes over him, sneering. He had laughed at me when I got the punishment, of course he deserved it.

“Your majesty, here.” I presented the paper to him.

His eye dropped low, taking it in. “What’s this?”

“My apology lette—.”

I looked down, noticing the paper I was holding.

“…oh shit.”

I froze.

It was the rumpled one. I had forgotten to change it.

I smacked my tongue, quickly snatching it back to get a new one from my pocket. That was when I noticed the minion making a side laugh.

I inhaled gently, avoiding the other pair of eyes as I struggled to get the papers out of my apron.

“Tea. Make it,” he ordered once, cutting my activity short.

“But I thought you wanted to see my apology?”

“And I thought you really needed the job?”

I darted my lashes around, pressing my lips against each other.

“Fine, I guess I’ll just hold onto my apology.”

I walked over to the small basic kitchen in his chambers and made a small prayer before starting.

Remembering exactly how I was taught in the kitchen, I followed every step to the teeth.

The size of the cup? Slightly bigger than normal.

The water temperature? Boiled for exactly four minutes, not one second less or more.

Exactly four.

Producing an unnecessaryly hot temperature.

As I poured the smoking water into the cup, I took a quick glance at him, wondering why anyone would want their tea that hot?

Was the water too afraid of him to burn his throat?

The leaves? “You must steep them for four minutes also,” the head maid had said to me.

What was his deal with the number four?

I narrowed my eyes at him suspiciously.

Was he like a…four minute man?

My own wild thoughts almost made me trip over with laughter as I walked over to serve the tea.

I had to tighten my lips together to hold the laugh in.

Hmmm, but could he really be a four minute man?

I mean it was plausible. All that stoneface, what time would he have for any romance?

All he probably did was go straight to the point, chased his pleasure and left.

All but in the short minutes of the number four.

I pressed back the snicker threatening to rip from my lips.

“Your tea…my king. Done with precision, served with love and respect.”

He gave me one short look.

“Proper title is “your majesty,” Mr Minion butted in.

“Is there a difference…sir?” I fired back softly.

He shot me a frown and I rolled my eyes away, waiting impatiently for my tea to be tasted.

The more I waited, the more I looked to make sure every single detail was in place.

The tray.

The cup.

And the spoon.

It was all to perfection.

I smiled slightly while wondering why he won’t just pick up the damned cup.

It’s been three minutes already.

Perhaps, he was waiting for four.

I feigned a smile when really a gut wrenching laughter that would have me in grinch king's gallows was the goal.

Four minutes.

Five.

Oh, he changed the parade?

Six minutes passed and this cursed man just remained motionless, only flipping to the next page of his book.

“My king…your tea awaits your precious touch.”

He shot me another look. Darker this time.

Then returned to his page.

My wait continued.

So did his reading.

For another long four minutes.

I shifted slightly, looking at the minion who just snickered away.

I locked my jaw, getting to my fill.

At least he had to do something.

Sip the tea.

Reject it.

Hell, toss it at me but he had to do something.

I inhaled sharply. “My king, your tea is waiting for you.”

He didn’t look up. “I’m not blind.”

I frowned. “So why aren’t you taking it?”

“I was waiting.”

“For what?”

“For it to cool.”

I paused, glaring in confusion.

“What? You like it hot. Scalding even.”

He shot me a brief look. “I do.”

“So—o? Why the wait?”

Pause.

“That… is too hot.”

My eye twitched.

“Too hot?” I scoffed. “I boiled it for four minutes. YOU LIKE IT HOT!”

“I do. But this?”

He pointed.

“…Too hot. Get it out of my sight.”

My head ached.

“And alongside your apology, add the proper recipe to make the king’s tea.”

I blinked once.

Twice.

Then a third time just to be sure I wasn’t hearing the wrong things.

“What?”

“You heard me. Get back to writing.”