Their Princess

Chapter 7

The next few days are spent with me mourning. Brothers have been trying their best to distract me but couldn't succeed fully. But I'm getting there. I just have to take one day at a time. I'm sitting on the window seat watching water drip from the trees when Eli brings me a drink.

“ Thank you.” I politely accept. Eli sits beside me and starts to rub my legs under the blanket. It's been chilly these days, so the brothers have been making sure to keep me warm and covered.

“ Do you need anything else, princess?” Eli asks. I shift my position and cuddle against him. His arms cover me and hold me against his chest. I can survive the pain now. I have come to the realization that I need some sort of touch to recover. Each time I'm away, my mind starts to scare me. So, I decided to opt for physical touch whenever possible. 

“ I just want my Eli.” Eli rubs my arm and pushes me deeper in his chest.

“ I'm here, princess. I'm always here.” I know that is true. They have proven this to me over and over again. 

As I'm sipping my drink, I smell something sweet in the air. I straighten up immediately. “ What's that smell?” I ask Eli.

“ Nera is making some sweet bread. She always does when it's raining. And they taste good. You will definitely like it.” There's no doubt in it. Whatever Nera makes, it's the best. But today, I feel like creating something. Maybe I should ask Nera to teach me to bake. If only….

“ Eli, can I go help Nera in the kitchen?”

Eli frowns “ It's dangerous, princess. You can get hurt. Besides, Nera has a lot of helpers in the kitchen. Don't worry your pretty little mind over it.” He smiles and pecks my head.

I know he won't budge. He is way too protective over me. I've got to try something else. “ But Eli, I want to do something. I'm bored. If I do something, then it will take my mind off of things. Please, Eli.” I look at him innocently and wait.

He looks conflicted like he wants to give me what I want but couldn't. I gently nuzzle at his chest. “ Please, Eli. I will be careful. I promise.”

He sighs and agrees. “ Okay. Fine.”

Nera is an amazing cook and a patient teacher. When I requested her to teach me to bake, she welcomed me happily. I didn't even realize that I had spent the whole day baking bread. 

In my enthusiasm, I baked double the amount Nera usually bakes. She warned me that the brothers didn't eat too much sugar, but I wasn't listening. I was in the flow. Besides, if they don't eat it, I can share with the helpers or eat them myself. Simple.

“ Come on, princess. That's enough for today.” I hear Eli's voice from the door. 

“ Let me wash my hands, Eli. I will be out in a minute.” I'm really excited to have the brothers taste the bread. 

Nera helps me plate the bread and serve it with the tea. I'm careful to bring everything in the living room where Eli is perched on the couch. I'm excited to see his expression, so I quicken my pace.

Eli looks up from his papers and comes to my aid. “ Hmm. Let's see what we have here.” I cross my fingers and hope he likes it. It’s my first baking experience, after all. He lifts his eyebrows and exclaims “ Goddess, you made this princess? It really does taste good.” I sigh in relief when he picks another one. 

“ I'm glad you liked it. Nera taught me well.” I gobbled nearly five pieces of bread, Eli had to stop me. “ Just one more Eli. Please.” I try to bargain. 

“ You already ate a lot, princess. And too much of anything is not good. It might give you a stomach ache. I can serve you more tea if you want.” I nod at him and slightly shift toward the baking delights. He is busy making tea when I snatch the bread from the basket and run. “ What??” 

Eli growls and runs after me. I scream when he is about to catch him. But I duck under the table and run faster. “ Come on, Eli. Catch me if you can.” I giggle at him when he growls playfully at me.

I round the table and run into the kitchen. I squeal when he almost catches me. Nera and others help me out to distract Eli, which ends up in Eli, almost slipping on the floor. In the living room, I see Zed entering from the front door.

“ Zed, cover up the area. We have a thief in the house.” Zed looks alerted. It took him a second to realize what was happening, and I was counting on him to help me. Instead, he started to run after me. Traitor.

“ Rey Rey, save me.” I run toward Rey, knowing fully well that I can't dodge both of these grown men alone. Rey opens his arms for me to come. “ Rey Rey, they're after me. You need to hide me.” 

“ Rey, hand her over to us. You've got a little bread thief in your arms.” Zed's voice is so serious that I start to giggle harder. 

“ Really? Is that true, princess?” Rey asks me, smiling too. I giggle a yes to him. “ Oh no! We need to punish the princess, Eli. Zed, are you ready?” I continue to giggle while Rey carries me to the couch.

“ All ready.” I see Zed's fingers coming toward me. I start to struggle against Rey’s hold. He tickles my stomach and sides. Laughter booms from my mouth. I scream and fight both of the men.

“ Stop…..Zed…dyy stopppp…” I laugh uncontrollably. Beside me, Rey is laughing, too.

I'm breathing too hard. My body aches from the exertion. When he stops, I get up and glare at Zed, pointing my finger at him. I tell him “ You're not getting any bread today, Zedy.”

“ What? Why not?” He asks innocently. 

“ Because you betrayed me.” I cross my arms and tell him.

“ I did not.”

“ Yes, you did. You and Rey Rey are not getting any of my baked bread today.”

Rey chokes “ What? You baked? Why?” Rey and Zed give Eli a questioning glare. 

Eli sighs heavily. “ I couldn't tell her no. She wanted a distraction, and by the looks of it helped.” Eli gives me a tender look. I glare at him playfully, too. “ Don't look at me like that, princess. You had it coming.” 

I pout and give him my puppy eyes. I know I have them all here by my side. Eli groans, Zed laughs while Rey kisses my temple. 

“ Fine. You win.”