An old man in servant clothes spoke, "Buon pomeriggio, young master and mistress, my name is Paulo. I newly joined my work as a servant in this household as Lord Julian requested for my presence for the duration of the time he is gone as your personal servant," the servant said as he bowed deeply.
Miriam and Luca looked at each other, Julian nor Alena said anything about this.
"Welcome Paulo, make yourself at home in the servants quarters for the rest of the afternoon, you can start work tonight in the kitchen for dinner," said Luca authoritatively.
Paulo left but not glancing at Miriam, he just couldn't keep his eyes off her. However, she had her back turned to him as she bent down to the up the rags and bowl.
(///▽///)
Miriam, Mia and Luca sat at the table while Paulo placed a steaming pot of risotto with lemon and beans.
He smiled proudly while serving the dish into their bowls. " It is my favourite dish! My nonna used to make this dish for us when I was younger. Buon appetite!"
Miriam smiled and she lifted up a spoonful of risotto to her lips and chewed it. "Mmm, it tastes delicious," she said while looking over at Paulo. Paulo smiled, bashfully, albeit a forced one.
How dare they have a hearty dinner while his son is suffering at homPe? No, he shall never tell Luca and Miriam who his son is, then they might find a way to escape his wrath. Paulo should just keep on acting and then lure them into a trap. And he knew exactly how.
(///▽///)
Miriam strolled through the silent house. Mia and Luca were sleeping and Miriam woke up bright and early to help the servants with household chores, like she did everyday.
She walked into the kitchen, planning on preparing Mia's favourite dish for after lunch; gelato .
When she entered, she noticed that the cooks weren't doing as much cooking as usual and were instead shouting at each other from across the room while only a pot of water was boiling away on one of the stoves.
A servant girl, who couldn't be older than fifteen, came stumbling through the steam of the water that was quickly evaporating, while holding an empty wooden basket and a pouch which carried money and nearly dashed into Miriam.
Miriam caught the girl by her shoulders and she looked up at Miriam with fearful eyes.
Miriam's eyebrows were pulled together in confusion before she spoke without a seconds thought. "What's happening?"
The girl whimpered, "There are no more fresh produce in the house, and the vegetables in the backyard aren't fully grown yet" she said and looked down to hide her tears. "So I have to go to the market to buy them. But I want to because I want to go home to I look after mia mama!"
Miriam looked at her sympathetically before speaking. "You go home, I'll buy the stock."
The girl thanked her tearfully and left the kitchen without a backward glance.
Miriam smiled softly at the girl's rushed retreat; she must've really cared for her mother. Would Miriam have done the same if her mother was alive? Her smile faltered at the thought.
Miriam dismissed the thought and turned towards the cooks. "Quiet!" She yelled, silencing the staff immediately, "Thank you," she then said breathing out heavily.
After instructing them to decide the menu like civilised people and insisting to go shopping after one of the cooks offered, she went out of the kitchen, not noticing the old man grinning at his succeeding plan behind the thick blanket of smoke in the last puff of evaporating water.
Buon Pomeriggio- Good Afternoon
Nonna- Grandmother
Mia Mama- My mum
YOU ARE READING
The Battlefield
RomanceSet in the early 15th century of Rome, Miriam is a strong-willed girl who would stand up not only for herself but for anyone who needed it. She couldn't possibly let anyone else experience even a fraction of the pain she had felt when her parents we...
