Hot Chocolate & Marshmallows: Part Two (complete)

My father isn’t happy that the Caldera won’t come into our home. Then again, I’m sure he’d be furious if they did. Nothing can please him now, considering that he knows he was in the wrong. He’d never admit to it or back down, even if it means strong retaliation from the Caldera. Candela has warned me her mother isn’t happy, and is eager to forge a new deal with blood if she has to.

A meeting is taking place; after much argument from my father, he’s finally agreed to it. Candela and her mother come inside to the dining hall, where they are served a warm meal. They promptly turn the food down. It’s a tactic, of course, and they probably want to see my father at his worst to know what they are dealing with.

“Is something wrong with the meal?” my mother asks. “I can have the chef make something else for you.”

“It is fine,” Queen Ximena dismisses. “We are not hungry for food at the moment.” She sits up straighter. “I want answers, Lord Koury. You wish to stop trade with us for a cheap imitation. Why is that?”

I can see my father bristle from head to toe. His presses his hands together lifts his nose high into the air. “As beloved as the Caldera chocolate is, I think it is time we stopped relying on your reputation and start building our own. We’ve been riding your coattails for generations, Queen Ximena. Your people don’t need my little company for so much.”

“I am not here for platitudes, Lord Koury, I want answers. Your intention of creating a Drosselmeyer chocolate is fine, but what is the real reason you wish to cease business with the Caldera? Certainly there would be room in this world for both types of chocolates. All throughout Miror, people love sweets - including your sweets. Why can’t we both sell our wares in your name?”

I watch my father very closely for any sign, but then I notice a very curious expression in the face of my mother. She is watching Queen Ximena with a coy smile upon her lips, and almost seems to be blushing.

My father lets out a forced laugh. “Wouldn’t you rather your chocolate stood alone?”

Ximena gives my father a withering stare, one I shall not forget for as long as I live. “This is not about what I want, Lord Koury. Answer me honestly and maybe I can begin to find respect for you.”

It feels good to hear Ximena say that. I can’t imagine how good it must have felt for her.

“I want to give my son something he can be proud of!” my father shouts, pounding the tabletop. “I want to give him a legacy, something our family has created!”

Candela lets out a high-pitched laugh. “All well and good, but don’t you already have a substantial inheritance? The mansion, the factory, the business itself, wouldn’t that be a legacy for your lovely son?”

My heart skips a beat as she talks. Her husky voice sends shivers down my spine as I remember our shared kisses.

My father glares in Candela’s direction. “Young lady, I am sure you are knowledgeable in the matters of your people, but this is a discussion between your mother and me.”

“My daughter is my right hand! You will speak to her as if you are speaking to me, or you will not speak at all, Lord Koury.” I can see the fire in Ximena’s eyes. “And she brings up a valid point. Surely your son does not need another candy recipe among the thousands your family must have. If you keep deflecting and holding the truth from me, then you are digging your own grave as far as I am concerned.”

My mother reaches out and takes my father’s hand. “Just tell them the truth, dear. It will do you no good to keep withholding it.”

He pulls his hand away from her. “I am withholding nothing! Everything I have said is honest!”

Candela taps her finger to the table. “Honest, maybe, but still deflecting. Are you ashamed of your reasons, Lord Koury? If so, then perhaps they are not the right ones. We will still work with you if you choose to back down. Just admit it.”

My father is restraining himself better than I would have guessed, but still simmering. “I have given you my reasons!”

A silence permeates the room, clogging the air. My father settles back into his chair, thinking perhaps this is an argument worth winning. “I will gladly pay you to finish off our trade deal, Queen Ximena,” he continues. “If that is what you want.”

“What I wanted was a truthful answer, Lord Koury. And you gave me none.” She shakes her head. “The fact you would rather hold on to your pride than give me the truth reveals more of your character to me than anything. I would rather you step down from your position and hand it to the next in line, because you will ruin your supposed legacy.”

My father sits erect in his chair and places both of his palms on the tabletop. He looks squarely at Queen Ximena and he smiles, but it is not a friendly smile. “My son is not yet ready to run this company,” he says through gritted teeth.

Queen Ximena turns and looks at me. “He looks like a capable young man. He certainly has been very diplomatic with us. If you did not think he was ready, why have him here? Why not be preparing a protégé? It seems to me you’re just uncomfortable with honesty.”

My father rubs his jaw, but he’s hiding a sneer behind his palm. “I don’t have to step down just to please you or anybody. This is my business and I shall run it as I see fit.”

“Then you run it as a fool,” Princess Candela throws at him. “And you have no one to blame but yourself if you become crushed when it all falls on top of you.”

He lets out a shaky breath and reaches up to run his fingers through his hair. “You call me names?”

“Not at all,” Candela replies. “It all depends on your next move. Pride and humility do not intersect, Lord Koury. Perhaps that’s the lesson you should be teaching your son.”

“Your mother should teach you how to speak to others!” My father’s voice is raised. He clears his throat, trying to cover for himself.

Queen Ximena stands. “It is not my daughter who needs to learn how to talk to people, Lord Koury. I pray your wife and child are treated better, considering they have to live with you.”

My father looks up at her, not moving from his seat. “Did you come here just to insult me? Then please, I ask you to leave.”

“If I wanted to insult you, I would have. I wanted to hear why you were planning on ending our trade agreement, from you, since our families have worked together for generations. But you seem to feel as if your pride is more important. You can’t be honest, and for what? I don’t know. You will not answer me. You talk to my daughter like she is a child, and you talk about your son like he is one. This was not the meeting I wanted, but an enlightening one all the same. I am saddened that this tradition has come to an end, but I would rather not work with you now, knowing your character.”

Candela rises from her chair. “You will come to regret your behaviour and words, Lord Koury. Until you step down, we will not return to Drosselmeyer, nor do business with the people here. Caldera chocolate will not compete with your imitation.”

They prepare to leave, and I go to open the door for them. My mother stays behind with my father, though I wish she would leave well enough alone. “Please, accept my apology on his behalf.” I walk alongside Queen Ximena. “He is proud and arrogant, but do not spite the rest of Drosselmeyer and the chance to do business with others because of him.”

“I won’t for long,” Queen Ximena replies. She looks down at me. “I can tell your father does not see your worth, or the worth of anybody who does not suit his ideals. I simply want to see your father suffer the consequences of his actions, young man.” She nods to Candela. “If we keep a correspondence, I would be happy to see your letters.”

“I would like that very much. I hope that one day we can rebuild our relationship. My life has been filled with Caldera chocolate, and I will grieve its absence.”

“A man more after your ancestor than your father.” Queen Ximena’s smile is bright, revealing the gap in her front teeth. “I hope he only realizes that before it is too late.”

I take them outside to their camp, and Candela turns to me as her mother starts giving orders. “We will not leave until morning, so I will come and see you one last time tonight.” She gives my hand a squeeze, then follows her mother.

I wait for the evening, fit to burst with excitement over seeing her. I have hot coffee prepared, as well as a fire stoked to keep Candela comfortable. She climbs up to my window, opening it and stepping inside. I greet her with a kiss, and I have to stand on tiptoe just to reach her.

Candela bends, placing her hands on either side of my face. “You look as sweet as always, my little marshmallow,” she coos. 

“And you’re as heavenly as ever.” I take hold of her hand. “I hate that I will not see you after tonight.”

“It will not be forever, I promise.” She strides to the fire and sits down before it, peeling away her coat so her shoulders and arms are bare. Her shoulder blades have sharp points on them, something I had not noticed before, and her cheekbones and nose, too, are sharper than most.

I pour her coffee and come to sit beside her. I gaze at her long legs, which her skirt has risen away from. They’re long and lovely with the fire reflecting against her skin, making them glow. I do not know why we have been drawn together. All I want to do is stand beside her, basking in her beauty and power. I cannot fathom what I could possibly provide to her that makes her want to linger with me.

“We have our letters to look forward to, so there is no reason for us to fret. I bet you have beautiful handwriting.” She drinks her coffee like it isn’t near-boiling.

“Letters are different than being in someone’s presence,” I murmur. “I would rather be beside you than waiting for days on a letter to return.”

“Our stars are not crossed, at least I do not feel that way. So we have no reason to worry. We just need to be patient.” She pats my lower back and gazes into the fire, her expression soft and dreamy. “You should come visit the Cauldrons and see how the chocolate is made. Once you see the care we put into it, you’ll know why Caldera chocolate is the best in the world.” She slips her fingers under my chin and plants a soft kiss on my lips. Then she eases me down, pressing my back onto the floor as our kiss deepens.

“I can tell that by just tasting it,” I whisper. “Just like your kiss, I can tell how much love is poured into it.”

Candela smirks. “Pretty words from pretty lips.” She snuggles beside me, curling into my side like she is the small and delicate one. “Just hold me, Mero.”

We lay together, tangled in each other’s arms. I’m getting hot all over, and it’s starting to grow prickly, but I deal with it as long as she is happy. She sighs dreamily, nuzzling into the crook of my neck as she breathes. Her breath tickles my skin, helping me forget the prickly heat growing in my core.

In the morning, I’m alone, and all that remains of Candela is a golden charm she’s left for me. I attach it to a chain I can wear. I wouldn’t have wanted to say goodbye, either. I hold out the hope we will see each other again soon.

My father is pleased that he gets to go forth with Drosselmeyer chocolate, which is merely a flavoring and not a real chocolate at all. He starts by making sure all Caldera chocolate is sold out before introducing the new product.

“Is it awful that I hope this goes badly?” I ask my mother.

“We should be supportive of your father,” she says. “But we are entitled to our opinions.” She looks at me with a concerned look. “We should prepare for any situation to happen, darling. People could fall in love with the new Drosselmeyer chocolate. Or it could fail, just as Ximena said. The customers will decide, not your father and not us.”

“Do you think he will accept that?” I lean forward in my seat so my elbows are on my knees. “As if he listens to anyone.”

My mother sighs and glances out the window. “I suppose we shall see eventually. All we have to do is be patient.”

At first, the sales of the chocolates are great. People are excited to try the new recipe, especially since it bears the Drosselmeyer name. But once the excitement wears off, sales start to dwindle. The quality of Caldera chocolate is hard to imitate, and people catch on. Because so many of our candies contain chocolate, our sales are suffering. In order to accommodate the new ‘chocolate’ as it were, certain recipes have to change or be remade altogether. Our customers aren’t happy.

I am glad to make these reports to Candela, who I’ve been writing almost every day since she left. Letters arrive quickly, thanks to the carrier birds she sends. Their plumage is pure white, and she tells me they remind her of me.  

“My soft, white marshmallow, how are you today? Still beautiful, I am certain. I do hope things are going well. I know your father must be in all sorts of moods these days. Surely he is treating you and your mother as well as possible. If not, our swords are kept sharp for a reason.”

“My goddess, each day I don’t get to bask in your warmth is another day half-lived. If only I could see your perfect, dark complexion from a distance. My mother and I are coping. My father is so busy trying to make things work, we don’t see much of him. I won’t be needing a sword, but thank you for reminding me. There are days I wish I had learned to sword fight rather than dance.”

“You never told me you could dance. Had I known that, I would have asked you to do so with me. I should have known from the way you move. You have elegance in your fingertips, and grace in your back. Maybe when we meet again, you and I can spend the night dancing away and enjoying something darker than coffee.”

“I know ballet. I also know how to sew, so if there is ever a dress you want to dance in, I can make that for you as well. Thank you for telling me this. I tend not to think of myself so favorably, as my father thinks all men should be masculine. I wonder, though - what is darker than coffee? You have me intrigued, my goddess.”

“There is no proper way to be a person. As long as one is living, they are being. Just because you happen to be elegant and pretty does not make you less of a man, just as I am no less of a woman because I am not dainty or petite. You can dress me however you see fit. I would be honored to wear a dress made by my loving little marshmallow. We have a drink here made from the darkest of chocolate. We mix it with liquor, cream, and cayenne. Do not take it lightly, it can knock the soutest of drinkers on their ass.”

“I appreciate your kind words. My mother has said similar things often. I will be who I am and not feel ashamed anymore. I will start making you a special garment now - just send me your measurements when you’d like. Also, why are you trying to get me drunk, my goddess?”

“It is a drink shared at weddings. I would like you in your good senses, actually.”

It is a simple and short letter, but a powerful one. My face burns and my heart hammers. All these months apart, and our letters have only deepened this love in me.

“Are you suggesting we get married the next time we meet? I do not think my father would approve, but why am I trying to force myself into his graces now? I know my father loves me in his own way, but I also know he doesn’t like me. I’ve never been enough since my brother’s passing, but that’s his burden to bear and not mine. I’ve had to learn to be happy without his approval.”

“Matrimony will not necessarily be the next time we meet - after all, I would prefer to get to know you while you’re in my presence. I am easily wooed by you, my marshmallow, so do not be so surprised. I’m glad you’ve come to learn self-regard. At least you have a mother who is strong and capable, and too bad she’s tethered to a deflated ball of a husband. Hopefully one day he will learn the error of his ways and realize what blessings he has around him. You’re perfect, just as you should be, and I will remind you of that whenever you need it.”

These letters from Candela have been a lighthouse in the choppy seas of my father’s making. My mother and I have been working on keeping things afloat while he continues to press the Drosselmeyer chocolate as the superior product. He didn’t consider that his customers would be discerning with this candy, let alone smart enough to tell the difference between genuine and counterfeit.

That’s when a letter comes from the Pirlipat Royal Family, who happen to be one of our company’s biggest backers. When the company first started, my ancestor was the chef in the royal palace, he was able to start his business with their blessing. They own shares in the company.

So when they threaten to pull their orders from us as well as their backing, my father finally feels the righteous slap of his mistakes. He sinks into depression and begins drinking, each day a little more. It’s unnoticeable at first, but it balloons to where he constantly has liquor nearby. He was moody before; sometimes he is agitated, and other times he can’t be bothered to leave his office. Now, he just doesn’t ever leave his office. This has happened before, after my brother passed, and what he needed then was a firm hand and a tender approach, which luckily my mother excels at.

“It’s time to admit you were wrong,” my mother says sternly to him. “There is nothing horrible about that. You tried and failed, but that is how we learn. You’ve told that to our children many times, so lead by example.”

“Who’s to lead?” he groans. His clothes are stained at the underarms and collar, and he hasn’t shaved in days.

My mother’s scowl could melt steel, but it is all on my father. “Your son! And whether you like it or not, he is a capable and intelligent young man. Man, do you hear me? So what if he doesn’t fit into your mold? He’s your child, and he can run this company. If you truly want this enterprise to succeed, you step aside and let him take it, or we’ll lose our biggest support and we will no longer have chocolate.”

My father scoffs and looks up at me. “What would you do so differently than me? You think you can be better?”

I frown but keep my cool. “For starters, I would approach the Caldera and hope they accept the new offer I bring them. They would not just be part of a trade agreement, but partners in the company. We would expand to the Cauldron Mountains and pay their workers for the chocolate they make for us. It is only fair in the long run. On top of that, Queen Ximena or her daughter would work side-by-side with us to develop new products, as well as having a say in how their chocolate is used.”

The look that comes over his face reminds me of when I broke a vase in the hallway, and he was the first to find me. But I won’t back away from him now, and I won’t ever again. “They’re important to us. Hell, from what I’ve seen these last few months, they are what makes us what we are. I am doing what is fair and honorable, as well as making up for the mistakes of the past.” I stand tall. “If you deny we need them, then you truly are a fool.”

He rises from his slouch and lays his arms on the desktop. “Do you know how much money that is going to cost?”

I take a deep breath. “I know how much money Drosselmeyer chocolate has cost us.”

He slouches back into his seat. “Take it. Fine! But don’t come crying to me when this mess fails.”

“Mother,” I turn to her. “I’ll be going to the Cauldron Mountains to talk to Queen Ximena in person. I’ll need you to get the ball rolling on moving our production away from Drosselmeyer chocolate and back to our original recipes and formulas. Father-” I look at him sinking and I can’t help but feel bad. After all, I may not like my father, but I still love him. “Please, for me and Mom, get some help and take care of yourself.”

I leave for the Cauldron Mountains that night, sending word ahead of me by one of Candela’s carrier birds. The journey takes a few days, and every step of the way it gets warmer and warmer.

Once I arrive, I am greeted with open arms by Candela. The kiss we share will be burned into my memory forever as one of the most perfect and passionate things in my life. “I am glad you are here with such good news. My mother and I are very excited to begin working with you.”

Candela gives me a tour of their factory, which is a labyrinth within the mountains themselves. “I want to get things moving as quickly as possible,” I tell her. “I already have my mother ceasing production of my father’s invention and moving us towards having Caldera chocolate again.” I keep hold of her hand the entire time, so happy to be in her presence again.

Right away, I began negotiations with Queen Ximena, presenting my ideas of bringing in the Caldera as partners in the business, as well as allotting part of their factory to be specifically for the company’s production and paying the employees.

“So no liaison anymore?” Ximena asks. 

I nod. “Face-to-face, always. That way we know each other’s feelings on every matter, rather than a yes or no on paper. We can take turns, or I will come here myself.”

Candela beams. “I would not mind taking turns. I did not mind the cold as much as I thought.”

Ximena rolls her eyes. “If you two like each other, I don’t care. Just stop trying to act coy about it.”

My cheeks burn, and I duck my head in an attempt to hide it. In a way, Ximena has given us her blessing.

With the major details hammered out and agreed upon, and the ink drying on the documents, I am able to enjoy the Cauldron Mountains I dreamed about as a child. Ximena is having chocolate made for me to take home, so we can begin production right away in limited quantities. 

That evening, I cuddle up beside Candela. She curls into my side and rests her head on my shoulder. I run my fingers through her braids and gently kiss her forehead as she rubs slowly up and down my chest. “I’ll come back with you,” Candela murmurs softly. “Just to make sure things get rolling on merging our worlds.” She kisses my chin and cheek. 

I bite the inside of my cheek as my chest flutters. “I would appreciate that. Aside from just having you close, it’ll be helpful to have you around to make sure your side of the agreement starts off smoothly.”

Candela sits up and smiles down at me. “It will not be months before we see each other again. I plan to see you often, my marshmallow.”

I sit up and press my hand into her cheek. “Never again, my goddess.”

I kiss her, and the ground shakes and rumbles. “What was that?” I gasp.

Candela chuckles. “The mountains breathe from time to time. Sometimes, it signifies a great event.” She kisses the tip of my nose. “Like a new beginning.”