Samoan God

Chapter fourteen

The next morning, Dean, Bayley, and I were down in the kitchens helping the cooks and servers dish up breakfast. "I have an idea, let me serve him, I want to see his reaction to this," I said to the server, Clara, who normally served him. She nodded, chuckling, "Princess, thank you so much for everything you are doing for us."
"Please, no more of this princess stuff, call me Livia."
I took the plate, heading to his table, when I entered the room, all eyes trained to me. Romans mother smiled brightly, laughing, Roman and his fathers heads turned, Romans eyes narrowing in anger. As I stepped up to the table, "Good morning your Majesties, your Highness," I said.
"Princess, what are you doing?" His mother asked smiling at me.
"I thought he'd like a change of pace for once in his life. Besides, the kitchen staff is severely overworked, and needed some help this morning."
"This is unacceptable as a future queen," Roman said.
"Oh lighten up your Highness," I said, turning and heading back out of the hall, hearing the whispers from the others in the hall.
Dean, Bayley and Clara were awaiting my arrival back in the kitchens, "So, what did he say?"
"This is unacceptable as a future queen, his mother seemed to be enjoying his discomfort with what I'm doing."
"She would always come to the kitchens just as you do. She tried to get His Majesty to change the ways as well."
"Then maybe I need to have her help me with this," I said, as the baby kicked.
"May I?" Clara asked, motioning to my stomach.
"Of course," I replied.
"Wow," she murmured, "my husband and I have been trying for years to have a child."
"You will have a child Clara, you would be a great mother."
Many others came up to me asking to touch my stomach, smiling and laughing, I didn't notice until Dean whispered, "He's been watching you from the doorway for awhile Livia."
"Your Highness," I said, turning towards him.
"Why are they all touching you?"
Laughing, I said, "They care about this child. And they are my friends."
He folded his arms across his chest, "This is not how my queen is to behave."
I rolled my eyes, turning away from him, as one of the servants children came running up to me. "Hi sweetie," I said.
"Princess, will you tell us stories?" The little girl asked.
"Of course, Bayley, will you gather the children, and bring them to my chambers. And have them bring some food for the children as well. Actually, have the staff come as well, they can all eat in my chambers."
Romans voice boomed throughout the kitchen, "You will do no such thing."
I raised my eyebrows in challenge to him, taking the child's hand, I guided her from the kitchen, followed by most of the staff. As the children gathered and we began the story, the children adding on as we went. "The Prince, don't forget the Prince coming to rescue the Princess," one child called out.
I laughed at the child's enthusiasm, sitting on the floor with pillows propping me up. Children gathered beside me, one young child sitting on my lap, patting my belly. "Baby, baby, baby," the child said.
Bayley said, "Princess, I'm afraid we've run out of time for now, we really do need to get back to the kitchens to prepare dinner."
"Then we will continue there, story time and cooking, just like the way my mother would do things."
"Your mother must've been a great queen," Clara said.
"She was, I wish she was here. You all would love her."
"You must be like her princess, because we all love you."
We all made our way back to the kitchens, the children running, laughing, and giggling. Preparing dinner, I spoke with the chef, trying to convince him to change some of the menu for the coming week, bringing a little flavor from home to here.
Bayley said, "Princess, her Majesty has requested that you join her at the High Table for dinner."
"Will you help me change then?" I replied.
She and I went back to my chambers, after saying my goodbyes to the children. "Bayley, please make room in the hall for the children to come and join us for dinner. In fact, move the Lords to another table, give the children their table, I want them close to me."
"Princess, are you sure?"
"Yes, absolutely."