Helena stood at the entrance of the kitchen, her arms crossed and her keen eyes scanning the scene before her. The clattering of pots and the hissing of steam filled the air as Daniel, a new addition to the kitchen staff, fumbled with a pan of sautéing vegetables. 

"Daniel, the onions are burning," Helena said sharply, striding forward. She had the air of someone who had spent a lifetime in professional kitchens, her every movement deliberate and efficient. 

Daniel glanced up, a look of ...