They moved fast through the hall. The runner who had come for them was waiting just outside. He was one of the younger kitchen boys Mia had seen washing pots. He looked scared

“What happened” Lin whispered as they walked

The boy glanced around like the walls might answer before he did. “Royal messenger at the back entrance. With seal. Head Chef says emergency taste call. Middle of the night. No warning. He looks angry but not scared which means this is big but not death. I think”

Lin made a face “That is not comforting”

The boy swallowed. “He said hurry and he said make sure she looks awake and not sick”

Mia breathed in slow. Out slow. She rolled her shoulders back once the way she used to before stepping into a chaotic dinner rush. She had done this before she told herself. She had handled last minute VIP tables. She had handled angry rich men who thought yelling at staff made them powerful. She had cooked while injured. She had cooked while exhausted. She had cooked while heartbroken. She knew how to work tired

But she had never cooked with her life hanging on it in the middle of the night for a king in another world

They slipped through the back arch of the kitchen. The fires were lower now but not dead. Night crew was still active stirring slow pots and prepping for morning. Head Chef Zhu stood near the low door that led toward the private hall. His face was set hard. Lin called it his stone face the one he wore when he did not want the room to read him

When he saw Mia he gave a single sharp nod and motioned her closer

There was someone else with him

A man Mia had not seen before

Not dressed like a guard not dressed like a servant not dressed like a noble either. Plain dark robe. Plain belt. No jewelry. No visible weapon. His hair was tied back in a simple knot. His face was unreadable in the worst way not blank not angry just controlled. His eyes were steady and sharp like he saw everything at once and judged all of it at the same time

Mia did not like his eyes

The man looked at her and said “This is her”

Zhu answered “This is Mia. Yes”

The man nodded once. “His Majesty is unwell”

Mia felt the floor tilt under her feet “Unwell”

“Not dying” the man said fast and flat “Do not panic. He is not wounded. He is not poisoned. We check every dish every cup every plate every utensil and every oil that touches the stove. If there had been poison someone would already be headless. This is not that. This is strain. Breathing tight. Stomach in knots. Head pain. He will not sleep. He will not rest. Court meets at dawn with border reports and he will not go tired. You understand”

Zhu replied in the same even tone “We understand”

The man’s gaze flicked to Mia again. “He asked for her. By name. He did not ask for you Chef. Do not be insulted. He asked for her. So we moved fast”

Lin’s eyes widened

Mia felt heat in her face at once then cold under it. She could hear Zhu’s earlier warning in her head If he asks you something answer honest and simple. Do not lie to him. Do not play the game with him

Not for the first time Mia wondered what the Emperor had looked like before he was Emperor

The man continued “You will prepare the same dish as last night. No change. You will bring it when it is ready. You will not speak to anyone you pass in the hall. You will enter his private room. You will serve. If he waves you out you leave. If he asks you to stay you stay. If anyone tries to stop you in that hall you tell them His Majesty called you and they will move. If they do not move you say it louder. You will not apologize. You understand”

Mia nodded “Yes”

The man studied her face for one more second like he was measuring if she would break. Then he turned to Zhu. “If this works you both live an easier week. If it fails I will have to report that it failed. When I report I do not soften the words. I am saying this to you now because I respect your kitchen. I do not want to have to report failure tonight”

Zhu held the man’s gaze. “It will not fail”

The man nodded once. “Then move”

He stepped back. Not out of the room. Just far enough to say I am not helping but I am watching

Zhu turned to Mia. His stone face cracked just enough to show the stress under it. “You know what to do. You have done it twice. Do it again. Calm. Clean. Careful. Do not cut yourself. Lin prep her station. Boil now. Keep the flame under control. I want that broth smooth as silk and clear as glass. I want no burn. I want no cloud. I want no panic in your hands. You hear me Mia. No panic in your hands. He will taste panic if you cook with panic”

Mia nodded. Her voice came out low. “Yes Chef”

She moved to the small inner stove without thinking. Her body knew the steps now. Water. Bones. Ginger. Onion. Citrus peel. Flame steady not wild. Skim early not late. Control the heat not with anger with care. Care warms different than anger. Her father always said that when he had the energy to say things