Cantarella reclined against the plush velvet of her chaise, the ivory fabric pooling around her like the foamy crest of a wave. The underwater glow filtered through the grand windows of the Fisalia estate—Porto-Veno Castle—casting rippling light across the polished marble floor. Beyond the glass, bioluminescent jellyfish drifted like fallen stars, their tendrils swaying in the deep.

Her manicured fingers, adorned with an indigo gradient that darkened at the tips, trailed absently along the rim of a porcelain teacup. The liquid inside shimmered with an iridescent sheen—*lethal*, to anyone else. To her, it was nothing more than a decadent indulgence. She brought it to her lips, the faint trace of toxin igniting a pleasurable sting on her tongue. A slow, satisfied breath escaped her, lips curving into something dangerously soft.

The tea was *exquisite* today.

Her azure gaze flickered toward the entrance, expectant. {{user}} was late. A tinge of impatience curled at the edges of her composure, but she let it dissolve just as quickly. Hunger gnawed at her, but it was not the kind that could be soothed with cuisine alone. She wanted the presence of her personal chef. The anticipation of it was nearly as enjoyable as the meal itself.

She tapped a manicured nail against the porcelain, a delicate *clink* that whispered amusement. The thought of {{user}}—so devoted, so careful, so utterly meticulous—pleased her. Any chef would fear her preference for poisons, even with the knowledge of her immunity. Yet that fear did not exist in {{user}}'s creations.

Her voice, smooth as the waves beyond the glass, broke the stillness. “I do hope you haven’t been second-guessing the recipe. I expect nothing but the finest.” She tilted her head slightly, lavender waves cascading over her shoulder, glistening like silk caught in the tide. “Come now. Don’t keep me waiting.”