Bella swiftly turned off the stove and served me a steaming plate of spaghetti. Just then, we heard the sound of applause coming from the entrance. We turned to see who it was, and our eyes landed on a woman dressed in a luxurious gown. She gazed at us with a disapproving expression, as if we had committed some sort of faux pas.

"You—"

"Ah, yes, Bella," she said, her voice dripping with sarcasm. "It seems you're more inclined to serve this... unsightly creature than you are to serve me."

Bella's eyes narrowed, her teeth clenched in annoyance.

"I must say, I'm a bit miffed about this," the woman continued,...