Like A Fairytale

Chapter 38

Flo

"I can't believe it!" Ella indignantly placed a heavy pot on the fire-powered stove. "A party? Now? After such a catastrophe? Many people have lost their homes! And we should... Check out this order! A bottomless impudence, considering the fate of Burgstadt!"

Reproachfully, she held up a long list of paper that had been lying on the stove. The fire was not yet burning. However, Ella already had some matches ready. Flo couldn't see what was on the paper (he was too far away), but it was clearly a lot. He wondered briefly if Ella would set fire to the list.

The cook did not do this.

But she didn't stop scolding.

Smiling, he turned back to the dishes, which he washed together with Alby.

"Don't get so upset, my girl." Alix smiled. He was sitting on a rocking chair, which he had found somewhere and brought to the bustling kitchen. The chair looked old, worn, and cracked as the old man rocked gently back and forth in it. "A party is not the end of the world."

"We've already had that!" shouted one of the many cooks in the room. "Can I see the list?"

"Of course! Please check the pantry to see what is in stock. We have to order what we need as soon as possible." Ella snorted and handed the list to the cook. "And please also see what else we need to reorder."

"Aunt Aisling scolded too!" whispered Alby to Flo. "She has also been given a long list. For the celebration. Several guest rooms are to be prepared. The celebration is planned for the weekend, and invitations must be ready by tomorrow."

"Invitations?" Flo frowned as he placed the next load of cutlery in the soapy water. "Aren't they sent digitally or with the help of AI?"

"No." Alby shook her head as she dried a spoon a little too long. She seemed to have forgotten the other cutlery in front of her. "Paper! Official invitations are sent on paper. Expensive, very expensive, fancy paper!" She rolled her eyes.

"Oh. And who brings the invitations to the people?" Flo knew that there had once been postmen. And there were still some within the villages. In and between the villages. But in Burgstadt, the citizens always asked Minnie to pass on messages if they were not on the phone. But not everyone on Level 3 could afford a telephone. Only a few could afford to fall back on this old method.

"A few of the servants, I think."

"What is being celebrated?" Flo wanted to know. "Certainly not that Burgstadt almost sank."

"Certainly not." Alby grinned and continued to clean one of the spoons. "No. I heard it's about Sofian Goldbird's daughter. Some distinguished young ladies with their families are to be invited. They stay here for two nights."

"Two?"

"Yes! Hence the guest rooms!" Alby winked at him. "Have you seen the guest rooms yet? Heaven! I would also like to sleep in such a room. Colourful fabric wallpaper, stained glass windows, painted ceilings... A dream!"

"I think our rooms are already a dream... Alby? I think you're done with this spoon!" Flo replied and took the spoon from his friend.

"Yes, sure!" Alby confirmed and looked for a new spoon to dry it to the ground. "Our rooms are quite nice! But mine is so terribly small! Have I already shown you?"

"Um..." Flo was afraid that Alby might clean the spoon away. Was the spoon bending under her abuse?

"But the guest rooms! Compared to those, my room is a ... Coffin!" Alby continued. "I'll show you later, Flo."

"Alby?" Alix laughed softly. "The spoon is clean enough now." The rocking chair creaked as if it wanted to agree with him. "Finish your work before you ask a young man into your room."

"What?" At last, Alby noticed the spoon, which was now slightly bent. "Oh! Yikes." Embarrassed, she put it aside and grabbed some forks, which she now dried. Gently. "Alix! What do you think we're doing in my room?" she grumbled and looked briefly at the former chef.

"Probably not much. Braiding each other's hair?" Alix continued to rock back and forth in his chair, carefree. "Telling scary stories? Secretly under the covers? Give each other make-up tips?"

"That will work." Alby rolled her eyes.

Flo raised his eyebrows. He wore some eyeliner and pale red lipstick that day. A gift from Alby, as she didn't like the color. The girl preferred stronger colors.

"Alby?" Karelle, who had been listening to the conversation, called her to her. "Will you show me what I should count for the inventory? Ella just told me to count the dishes. But which one?"

"Everything!" shouted Alby and Ella at the same time. Ella from the pantry into which she had run after there was a loud clatter.

"Ah. Good. Everything..." Karelle shook her head. "It's only about a thousand plates, bowls..."

"Less than a thousand. A plate fell out of my hand yesterday!" Alix told her.

Karelle frowned. "You are welcome to help me count! Old man!"

"No, thank you. I'm fine here, little girl!" Again, the rocking chair creaked in confirmation.

"Will it be like this all day today?" asked Alby Flo, who had now finished washing the cutlery and was devoting himself to a frying pan in which fat was burned.

"Then at least we have something to laugh about", he said.

"Oh! Have you seen the new Shadow?" Alby put the forks aside, which were now more than just dry, and reached for a few knives.

"A new Shadow?" No matter how much Flo scrubbed, the grease wouldn't come off.

"Yes. Two new ones. I wonder what they want here."

"They are shadows." Shrugging his shoulders, Flo put the pan aside and reached for a pot. "It will be something important." Flo turned around and called for Ella.

"Yes?" The cook came out of the pantry. She was covered in flour. Covered in flour and in a bad mood.

"I think the pan is done", he said, pointing to the uncleanable metal.

"So a pan goes on the order list", grumbled the chef. "And new flour." White dust trickled from her face and hair. "A lot of new flour and an axe!"

The cook, whom she had followed into the pantry, crept secretly out of the dark room. Again, something rattled. The cook ran. Ella grabbed a broom and...

She ran after the man, ranting angrily and threatening him with the broom. "The axe is for YOU!" A cloud made of flour followed her.

"What happened?" Alix asked curiously, while Karelle muttered that she didn't want to count pots and pans as well. She had gotten a list and was now on her way to one of the adjoining rooms of the kitchen, where the dishes were stored.

"Nothing", the chef grumbled and stopped her chase. "I'm going to take a shower. And then I check the pantry myself! Here!" She handed the broom to the cook. "Please clean up and don't cause any more accidents!"

The man grinned and disappeared back into the pantry.

"Apparently, the cook dropped the flour... Or something like that", Alby whispered to Flo. "So? Sleepover party? With me?"

"Braids, make-up tips and scary stories?" Flo grinned.

"Yes! Silverpaw may come along."

"Silverpaw doesn't get braids."

"Oh come on!" Alby pouted. "A ribbon would look sugar-sweet on her head!"

(c: sasi)