Vixen could hear small sobs coming from nearby, not long after the break till the final round began.

"Katherine?" He finds the lady soiling her dress with tears.

"I can't do anything Vixen! I'm so... Useless."

"Don't say that. No one is useless. Stay right there, I'm going to go get you some tissue and water." He leaves and promptly returns with the items.

"Thanks... You're so amazing, and kind... Unlike me."

"Stop comparing yourself to me, or others. You aren't me, you're you. No two loaves of bread are the same. And you're the kindest woman I know!"

"You truly think so?"

Vixen nods his head enthusiastically.

"Ok... There's still the final round left. I'll try my best..."

"You do know Orias is only letting you pass out of pity right?" Astaroth shows up.

"Astaroth!" Vixen glares at him.

"My bad, just trying to help our naive little princess."

"You are acting out of line."

Katherine begins to sob again, even harder. "Astaroth is right! I'm ruining this year's cooking contest..."

"Astaroth is just being his usual, mean self. But I'm sure that isn't what he meant! Right Astaroth?"

"Right." He roles his eyes and walks away. Ever since meeting Clarissa, his feelings toward Katherine have changed. He used to like her naivety, the urge to protect her, but now it felt irritating. Someone else was taking her place instead.

He spots Clarissa walking around the castle with her cookies, handing them to people without a word. It looked sweet and scary at the same time.

"Astaroth. Cookie." She shoves the plate at him.

"I'm glad there's some left for me." He takes four. "If you don't mind."

Instead of moving on to offer more people the cookies, she watches him take a bite. "Is it good?"

"It's very good. I'm surprised you know how to cook and bake."

"My parents taught me most basic life skills."

"Really? You always have something new to surprise me with. I'm looking forward for what you're going to make in the finals. I hope Vixen finally loses his streak."

"I will do my best. I must win. For Peter."

"For Peter?"

"He'll like me more if I prove to be a good chef."

"Ah... Haha..."

She hurries off to continue giving others cookies, until she eventually spots the still crying Katherine and Vixen. "Cookie for you two."

"Clarissa! Thanks!" Vixen takes one for himself and one for Katherine.

"See! It's so easy for you two to make cookies! My cookies probably gave Orias diarrhea!" Katherine sobs.

I think I'll leave these two alone right now Katherine walks away from them in an awkward manner

Not long after, it is time for the final round and the duke looks pale.

"Welcome back to the final round of this year's cooking contest. I hope you are all excited to see what these three have in store for us, because I am." He was clutching his stomach. "Sorry, I'm not sure if it was the pasta or the cookies. Anyways, like earlier Select your ingredients and return to your spots, once everyone is ready we'll start. There is a hour time limit for this round."

"You forgot to mention what kind of dish they will be making." Peter whispers.

"And you will be making soup."

Katherine's eyes were still swollen and the duke's lack of enthusiasm made her feel worse.

"You can do it Katherine!" Vixen cheered softly.

The three didn't take long to pick their ingredients. Frankly, Katherine just picked what she assumed goes into a soup.

Vixen is going to make a creamy mushroom soup, and Clarissa is going to make a beef brisket soup.

"And the cooking starts now."

"Do well, for the duke's stomach depends on you three!" The rat adds.

"So what are your going to make?" Vixen asks Clarissa while they both begin preparations and chopping vegetables.

"..."

"Clarissa?"

She isn't mad or anything. But she was so focused she had the world on mute. For Peter's approval, a competitive part of her has been awakened. "I will make the best soup."

"Oh, ok! Do well!"

"I... I will make a soup Orias will love!" Katherine cheers herself.

The three raced to make the best soup within the time, and once the time is up, Vixen is called first to present his soup.

Orias didn't sabotage any of our equipment this time, but he's still most likely going to pick Katherine as the winner. What if I propose for the winner to be selected through a voting where all castle residents take part in? Clarissa contemplates.

"Delicious! So creamy!" The duke exclaims.

"Hmm, it's missing a little something but it tastes good!" Peter follows.

"Next, Clarissa!"

She comes forward with her fragrant beef brisket soup.

"Wow!" Both judges look stunned. "In such a short period you manage to make this?"

They both excitedly taste the soup.

"The beef is so tender!"

"This soup is almost on my level!"

Peter's comment made Clarissa want to cry. It's the best she's ever heard in ages. Peter will like me now for sure!

"Now, Katherine!"

Everyone watches her carefully. Just as she gets to the table, she trips.

The soup topples and splashes the duke and the rat, a simultaneous gasp from the audience follows and Katherine once again bursts into tears and runs into the castle in embarrassment.

"Katherine!" Orias leaves to go follow her.

"I guess I shall do the honors of announcing this years winner. Clarissa Wains! Please come and receive your award." Peter lifts up the silver, onion shaped trophy with his tiny arms and hands them to Clarissa.

"Thank you, Peter."

"Congratulations! I didn't know such a scary face hid tremendous skills."

He thinks I'm scary!?

She looked to Astaroth with a horrified expression. Everyone else stopped clapping immediately, assuming she was not happy to win the award.

"C-clarissa?" Peter distances himself from her.

"You think I'm scary?"

"Well that's it for today folks you may all resume your usual activities I have to go bye!" He says frantically and scurries off.

"Congratulations Clarissa!" Vixen approaches her and so does Astaroth. "Mind if we try some of the soup?"

"Sure."

They both get bowls and fill it with soup to the brim.

"It's as good as it looks." Astaroth puts the bowl to his mouth.

"You definitely deserved that award... But Katherine." Vixen lowers his head.

"Go check up on her."

Vixen quickly finishes the dish and leaves the two. The other man feels there's something he needs to tell Clarissa but struggles to put his thoughts together.

"I did have a tiny crush on Katherine."

She stares at him, waiting for him to continue.

"And the reason was stupid. I liked the idea of protecting someone weak because I feel weak myself.  When I face Katherine I feel like the strongest man in the world."

"It takes a lot of courage and self-awareness to admit that."

Her eyes focused on the steam from the soup, dancing upwards. Astaroth looked at her.

"You're the reason I'm able to understand myself better."

"But I haven't done anything." She replies, confused.

"I'm going back inside. Thanks for the soup, it's really good." Astaroth pats her back and leaves with the bowl still in his hand. Clarissa doesn't bother to question the vagueness of his reflection. She just assumed he was overthinking to come to the conclusion she had anything to do with his self-improvement.