We'll Never be Royals

✥︎ 8 ✥︎

Stolen Bread

Sawamura Daichi
Past Tense
16 winters ago

Daichi ran his fingers along the brick wall of the wide halls, sighing quietly as he trudged forward. It was nearing lunch, and he found himself lingering around the cooking quarters. The smell was divine, as always, and it only made his stomach growl louder.

Quietly, he peeked his head inside, feeling the heat of the large furnaces. They stood tall on the far back wall, the fire inside roaring. The cooking staff scurried around, preparing the royal family's meal with utter perfection.

They were having guests tonight, the royal family of a small kingdom know as Tamad. It was a few days north of Karasuno, and while the kingdom may be small, Tamad thrived off of their agriculture. Most of their land was countryside, and even the capital city, which was surrounded by fields in all directions, was home to hundreds of farmers. The family has been visiting them quite a bit, and every visit, his father and and King Kenzo would huddle away with their councils for meetings.

Daichi absently wondered if tonight, he would be able to join in on the meeting. While Princess Yui was decent company, he always found it quite awkward spending his time with her while their fathers discussed who knows what. (Well, Daichi had somewhat of an idea, but he refused to ponder on that, because then it only made spending time with the princess even more awkward).

One of the staff members spotted Daichi and smiled, bowing her head. "Good evening, your highness. Growing curious, are we?" Daichi snickered before fully stepping inside.

He's always enjoyed hanging around the cooking quarters, he found the preparation of food fascinating. Sometimes, he'd convince the head chef to allow him to help.

And speaking of the head chef, she let out a hearty laugh when she spotted him, before motioning him over. "We're making Perdreau de Casserole."

"It smells wonderful," Daichi complemented, earning a few thanks from the other staff members. "Is there any way I could help?"

The head chef's smile widened and she narrowed her eyes. She waved her latle around, as if she were scolding the teen. "One day," she stressed, "Your fathers going to have my head for knowing I allowed you in here!" It was all said playfully, because both of them knew his father would never go to such an extreme. If anything, Daichi's father would probably just laugh it off.

Daichi placed a hand over his heart while holding his left one up, "On the gods, I won't tell."

"Tch. Fetch me some potatoes, won't you?"

Daichi nodded hastily before maneuvering his way towards the door that led to the palace ground's vegetable garden. It was tended by the best farmers in Karasuno, offering only the most exemplary crops.

He squinted at the bright sun as he stepped out. There were a few farmers working in the garden, faces red from the heat and clothes drenched in sweat. He approached one of them and they immediately bowed their head.

"Your Grace," the old farmer rasped.

"Do you have any fresh potatoes? Marv is preparing lunch and has asked for some."

"Yes, your Grace. The ones we've cleaned were just stored in the pantries."

Daichi nodded his head with a thank you before hurrying off to the large pantries back inside. They were down the hall from the kitchen, but he could still smell the wonderful food being prepared.

Just as he reached the pantry, he noticed the door was already cracked open. Daichi hummed, hands folded behind his back as he quirked a curious brow. There was a clutter from inside followed by a hissed voice.