ROYALTY

Chapter 32

"The weather is beautiful is it not, Lady Naomi?" She asked. "Yes, your highness it is quite beautiful and fair this day."  She smiled to herself. "Often I wonder how it would feel to be a normal person, without duties or worries. Just to wake up one morning and sit under the sun all day and do nothing."  I had been there; I had done that and to tell the truth it got boring after a while.

"But you are the queen, your majesty, you can do that whenever you please." She laughed as she pulled me down to sit with her. "If only it were that simple." She said, she closed her eyes as she socked in the warmth of the suns rays. "Have you seen the village?" She still had her eyes closed, but I could feel her gaze on me. "Yes." I whispered I was still under so much shock after all I had seen, she placed her hand on mine and squeezed a little, I squeezed back. "And the little cottage? Did you pay attention to the directions, will you be able to find your way back there?"

Her eyes were open now, she had a serious expression on her face. "Yes, but what was the need, what is going on?"  "shhh," she placed her hand on my shoulder as a sign of comfort, my heart was racing again. "A day will come when you will ran out of the palace, whatever happens do not ran back home and do not use any carriage, be it the one Madelyn would offer you or the one lord Donovan would. Ran straight for that cottage where you will be safe."  "Safe from who? Should I be worried, what is going-?"  "Naomi, do not worry about all these things, just promise me you will be safe." I nodded my head since I had no other thing to do, the princess came just in time to feel the awkward silence, a blanket was spread down on the grass and the three of us sat down to a picnic, not long than a few minutes later, a skinny servant came walking towards us with a broad smile on her face.

" Your highnesses." She curtsied, more of like mocked, "I bring you your meal." She clapped her hands and servants after servants placed food down for us, not the queen or the princess moved to touch the food, and I could not because that would have been rude. Once the last servant had placed the last meal and made to take her leave the princess spoke up.

"Where did all this come from?" The last servant looked so annoyed, I wondered if she thought herself in authority, or was it the princess? "From the kitchens your highness."  "And did we ask for a grand meal?" The queen asked, another servant that was obviously getting tired of standing under the hot sun spoke up, "We were told that her highness, the princess and her ladyship lady Naomi had gone to the village and her majesty the queen did not dine with the other ladies during the picnic and so a feast was prepared."  "Interesting," The princess said as she stood up, eyes blazing. "Not even my mother knew that I and lady Naomi went into the village, so how come you found out? If I remember correctly, I told the servants that I would be in my room for the whole day and that lady Naomi was ill and in bed." I was ill in bed? When was that?

The servant looked down and sideways clearly looking for a way to escape, "Nonetheless that is not the point here, the point is looking," at each one of the servants in turn. "You will join us to eat." She said it ever so simply, the five servants had shocked expressions on their faces. "But your highness," one spoke up.

"We are nothing but servants, we are not worthy of eating from your plate much less drinking from your cup." Maddie stroked her chin, with long skilled fingers, "I know, but today I am feeling a little bit happy and generous, so please eat." The queen stood up and made way for the servants to sit. At this point I was ready to faint from starvation but the look the princess gave me sent my hunger down the drain and my feet up and about. The servants sat down on the warm blanket but none of them lifted so much as a mussel of bread.

"Well what are you waiting for?" The princess spoke with so much authority. "Do not waste my time and hurry up with the food!" A maid lifted her head up, tears in her eyes. "Or is there something you would like to tell me?" Maddie looked directly at the servant that had tears spilling down her eyes. "I am sorry." Was the only thing she said before she lifted the glass of wine to her lips and drank.

At first nothing happened, not a soul moved, then she was screaming, and coughing white foams coming out of her mouth, blood running down her eyes, ears and nose. The other servants looked horrified, "Well, well Maddie said, with an evil glint in her eyes, Who wants to confess first?"

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