Heir to the Ice Queen (Book 1)

Ch. 20

     So apparently, having a pet tiger means that I need everyone in the castle to get my scent some how in order to be safe around Nuri, until he becomes familiar being around people. And that means every. Single. Person. Mostly the guards who were outside most of the time, but still, if I plan to bring him inside one day, this is the precaution.

     As quickly as Elis could he turned this situation into some sad little welcoming party for me hosted in the throne room. Simple pastries and wine were laid out on the long dark wooden tables and musicians were playing just on the outer edge in the center of the room so people had enough space to dance. But no one really did. As much as I wanted to hide under the table and secretly keep eating all the pastries myself, there was no escaping. 

     "Enjoying the dessert?" A light voice behind me asked.

     When I turned I saw a girl that looked no more than sixteen, her body still youthful and growing. She had light brown skin and chocolate eyes with some flecks of green to them. But the cleanliness ended there, her kitchens outfit was absolutely dirty with food stains on them, even a few smudges of coal from the fires decorated her apron.

     "I made the myself," she added quickly.

      From behind her I saw an older women who looked like her, her mother perhaps, cautiously walk our way.

     I finished swallowing the chocolate I had been eating and wiped my hands clean, "I don't believe we've met yet, I'm Princess Evie." And before she could give me her name I gave her a hug. She was tiny in my embrace but the years of picking heavy dough has made her body lean.

     "We all know who you are," she whispered in my ear, when she pulled back a little she had a gentle smile, "I'm Lave, one of the bakers here in the castle."

     "Well Lave, why aren't you scared of me?" I asked bluntly, "Everyone else here is. Even your mother who's rushing here to come save you from me." I lifted my chin to her direction and sure enough she was trying to hard to make it seem casual. 

     She simply shrugged her delicate shoulders, "I like to see the good in people."

     "Well aren't you just a ray of summer sunshine," I smiled at her too, the innocence she has reminded me of someone I knew back in winter, a long long time ago. I cleared my throat as her mother finally came to her side, gripping her arm.

     "My apologies winter Princess-" she started.

     "Apologies for what? I'm here to meet everyone in the castle, and I am doing just that." She opened her mouth but I continued, "And I am happy one of the best bakers I've ever met has introduced herself to me, I'll be giving her quite the buisness."

     I smiled as I plopped another one of the chocolate cakes into my mouth and winked at Lave.

     Her mother simply nodded and gave a tight smile as she started to turn away, but I called her back, "Wait," I said, and without her getting a chance to refuse I wrapped my arms around her.

     She was stiff and just as quickly I let go, she rushed out of the throne room muttering how she had to get back to work. But Lave smiled and waved her goodbye to me. After that I pretty much made it through everyone as the sun started to set.  It was slightly awkward being in contact with strangers, but I took advantage of this moment to meet everyone and to know their roles.

     I tried not to care about what other thought about me, but deep down I did hope this little party, and the people, helped with the rumors about me. Maybe they met me and saw that I wasn't what they thought, or maybe I scared them off with my cold exterior. Either way they couldn't deny I wasn't a summer.