The kitchen door creaked open with a soft thud.
Two guards stepped in, tall and stern in black suits. One of them cleared his throat sharply.
"Break time's over," he said flatly. "Back to work, all of you."
The room went quiet.
Santi immediately wiped his face and sat up straight like he hadn't just been mourning a fake marriage.
Kyan sighed and turned back to the soup pot. The giggly maids grabbed their trays and scurried toward the hallway like nothing happened.
"Yes, sir," one of them muttered as they passed the guards.
Kyan shot Santi a sideways glance. "You good?"
Santi sniffed dramatically. "I'll survive."
Kyan rolled his eyes. "Then chop those onions."
Another sigh from Santi. "Fine. But I'm doing it with pain in my soul."
The guards gave them one last look before stepping out.
The kitchen, once full of chaos and gossip, went back to the sound of knives on chopping boards, boiling water, and the low hum of kitchen life.
