"Yes," Elisabeth said.
She took her fork and cut into the cake. The cream clung to the sponge as she lifted it. She hesitated for a second, then took a bite.
Her eyes widened.
"Oh," she said softly.
Napoleon II watched her reaction and smiled. "Good?"
She nodded while chewing, then laughed under her breath. "Very."
She took another bite, slower this time, savoring it. The strawberries were cold and fresh. The cake was light. The cream melted quickly on her tongue.
"This is dangerous," she said. "I could finish this too fast."
"That's your choice," he replied. "No one's rushing us."
He picked up his fork and tasted his own slice.
Elisabeth leaned forward slightly over the table, clearly invested now. She scraped a bit of cream from the edge of her plate and ate it without thinking, then caught herself and smiled, a little embarrassed.
"Sorry," she said.
"There's nothing to apologize for," Napoleon II said. "That's what it's for."
