Ace's POV
My fork hovered over the steaming dishes when Ovelia's hand darted in front of me, depositing a glistening piece of roasted meat onto my plate. Her fingers brushed the plate with a soft clink.
"A, try this first!" Her eyes sparkled with barely-contained mischief, lips pressed together in that telltale way she had when hiding a secret.
I speared the morsel carefully, the tines scraping against the plate. The meat tore easily under my teeth—tender, with an unexpected sweetness beneath the savory crust. As I swallowed, I became acutely aware of six pairs of eyes locked onto me.
"It's good," I said, wiping my mouth. "Tastes like rabbit but... sweeter?"
Ovelia's face lit up like a festival lantern. "I'm so glad you like it! That's ricefield rat. Mrs. Melinda says they're very clean—only eat grains and—"
