By some miracle, the shattered dessert tower hadn't derailed the rest of the banquet preparations.
Within the hour, the ruined sweets were cleared away, the floor polished to a shine, and new trays already arriving from the castle kitchens.
If anything, the little disaster had energized the staff. The story of Kaelith's first birthday "dress rehearsal" (with live fire and a spectacular pastry avalanche) was already spreading like wildfire.
Elysia could hear laughter echoing down the halls as she guided Kaelith—still sticky with rogue icing—toward the castle's smaller, sun-drenched dining room.
It was late afternoon, and the golden light slanted across the table, which now groaned beneath an even more extravagant array of cakes.
Apparently, the head baker, upon hearing of the destruction, had taken it as a personal challenge.
