The King and I Chapter 12: Fresh Curds for the King

Hinata gave you a big smile when you walked out again, and you nodded softly and followed him back to your room. 

Not much was said, but Hinata seemed happy that you had been called to the King yet again.

He bade you a good night as he left your room, then headed back through the palace to go to his quarters. On his way, he met Captain Daichi, who was patrolling the outer arches.

“Good evening, Hinata,” Daichi greeted in a polite yet stern voice, “has you day been well?”

“Yes!” Hinata said with delight, “King Kageyama has taken fondly to his chosen concubine. He has called for her nightly since her arrival here.”

“Well. That is good news,” Daichi said with a smile, “it has been 7 years since we had a Queen.”

Hinata nodded. “Yes, I know. I am hoping the king chooses her. She is well mannered and reserved but I feel she has a fiery side as she spoke to the King and he responded…. And she lived.”

“She spoke?!” Daichi said with mortified surprise.

“Yes,” Hinata nodded. “I was shocked when I heard their voices on the other side of the door.”

“That is most bold of her. What is her name?”

“Y/N,” the orangette replied.

“I must meet her. If she is going to be our Queen I would like to make a good impression,” he said, “I remember bringing in the women from Nekoma, but I am not sure if I would remember her specifically…”

“She has quite exquisite eyes and a very beautiful face,” Hinata said adoringly, “I can understand why the King has taken to her.”

“Oh! Yes… I recall there being quite a beauty among the women,” Daichi said, thinking back, “if I recall correctly, Sergeant Tanaka and his men found her behind a vase in her house.”

“Oh? How interesting,” Hinata replied thoughtfully, “I’m assuming it was a tall vase if she was able to hide behind it? I wonder if she or her family members curdle milk?” 

“I am not sure,” Daichi replied, “but families that have large vases usually handle dairy?”

“I will need to ask,” Hinata said with excitement, “if she could make fresh curd for the King that would surely please him.”

Excited with his new plan to get you closer with the King, he wished Daichi well on his patrol and then headed to bed.

…………………….

Kageyama waited until you had left the room then flopped backwards onto the bed, raising one hand up to shield his eyes and rest it across his forehead.

“I want Y/N with me always,” he thought, “how do I ensure that?”

He lay there a little longer before packing himself away and getting off the bed to head back into his bedroom chamber for the night.

……………………..

Early the following morning you woke to a knock on the door and you groggily sat up in bed.

“Yes?” you asked in a tired voice.

“Good morning, Y/N,” Hinata said brightly as he opened the door and stepped inside.

You nodded at him, wondering why he had come for you early.

“Does the King require me?” you asked.

“Oh… no… I am here of my own accord,” Hinata said with a shy scratch to his cheek, “may I ask you a question?” 

You nodded, still staying in bed, behind the safety of the covers with knees bent- as your morning wood had made itself known.

“What did your family do to sustain themselves?” he asked curiously.

“My ma made milk curd, butter, cream and cheese, as well as—,”

“Curd!” Hinata said excitedly, “yes! I am glad!”

You scrunched your brows with confusion and waited for him to continue.

“You see,” he said brightly, “King Kageyama does so enjoy fresh milk and curd.”

“Oh?” you asked, “I see…”

“I’m assuming your ma taught you how to curdle milk?”

You nodded.  

“Please,” he then begged, “I will have some of our milk bought to the palace kitchen. Would you accompany me?” 

You nodded again and he grinned brightly.

“I will let you get ready and I will return to take you to the kitchen,” he said, excitement almost bubbling over as he turned and ran to the door to leave.

“I don’t know if this is a good idea though, as I was never as good as my ma at curdling milk,” you thought as you flopped back onto the bed.

After getting yourself ready, you waited for Hinata to return. And he did, with a very joyous look on his face.

“This will get you in good stead with the King,” he said brightly as he lead the way down to the kitchen.

You made no comment. You were a little more preoccupied with the rising nerves about having to curdle milk for the King at that point.

“Here it is,” Hinata said happily when he had walked you into the kitchen.

There was a stone bench, that was the obvious working area for those who tended the kitchen there, and atop one of the benches was a camel hide bag of fresh milk.

You walked over to it and picked up the hide to feel the weight like you had seen your ma do.

“Do you have lemons?” you asked softly.

“Yes of course,” Hinata replied enthusiastically, turning to gesture to one of the kitchen hands who was hanging around back at the door.

In a very short space of time, everything was bought to you and you got to work boiling the milk over the open fire, adding the lemon juice, then stirring and allowing it to sit in a warm place for the afternoon.

“You appear to be very comfortable in the kitchen,” Hinata commented as you placed the vat down, impressed by your skills even though you fudged most of it.

You just looked at the floor and nodded a little.

“You are free to retire, if you like?” Hinata then offered, hoping you would rest and be ready to give the curd to the King that night.

So back to your room you were escorted, and then left to rest.

You took another bath and made sure to beautify yourself just in case you were to service the King again, and as you lay there in the warm milk water, soaking in the minerals, you cast your mind back to the night before- when you were with him.

Just the thought of him getting behind you made your body react and you had to think of something else to calm down.

“I wonder if he will want me again tonight, it’s been 3 nights in a row that he has called for me.”

<<< The King and I Chapter 11: So Right 

The King and I Chapter 13: Sassing the King >>>