Meal

The birds outside her balcony were chirping and tapping on her window, because she had a habit of tossing leftover bread crumbs for them to eat. The sound woke her up. She dragged her body across the room to reach for the edge of the curtains and open the window. She wanted to welcome the new day that had dawned, interrupted by the gallop of Lotus approaching her.

“ Your grace, his majesty wants to see you at the breakfast table,” Lotus declared.

Lotus worked with focused care, brushing Seren’s long, smooth hair into a neat and stylish space bun. Her fluffy bangs fell against her cheeks in tender waves. To complete the look, Lotus chose a comfortable, flowing frock, light, delicate, and graceful that moved like water with each step.

Lotus had called the jester to accompany Seren to the imperial table. There, she met the king and the prince, who sat at the same table with the jester.

Seren sat elegantly on the chair, resting her hands on the cold table which had a glass surface. The breakfast felt simple to her, just some fruits, toast, and cheese, accompanied by tea.

Back in her homeland, breakfast was filled with many options: jams, cheese, different kinds of bread, Thyme, stuffed buns, and dates accompanied by coffee. In her homeland, there was no need for fancy utensils to eat or a specific etiquette, priority lay in respecting the table and whoever was present. Talking would be respectful and limited, all the present, regardless of status, had a sufficient amount of food, and the leader was the one who served the food.

However, here, things were different. The table was almost empty, and the maids didn't sit on it. The jester got half of what the nobles got, and finally, none of the royalty got to serve the food; instead, their food arrived and was served. Everything felt colder here. " Even at family gatherings?” Seren thought. She looked at the jester eating and then stood to serve him proper amounts of food. The maids gasped. How could she do this? It was not her job.

“Seren, it is kind of you to feed the jester,” said the king.

“However, remember your place,” he added.

“I appreciate your gesture, sir,” she said.

“But on the feast table, we must serve accordingly,” she remarked.

“That includes feeding the jester the right amount, in my country, the higher should be serving the meal,” she added.

“But since you were busy with your own I thought that maybe I should serve it,” she said brightly.

The king excused her for her ignorance and shared why he wanted to see her. He explained that he would like to compile more information about how her lands were struck by fires since it is part of his monarchy, he shared his concern for the lands because how came one land get burned by fires, while the adjacent lands would be thriving, He also shared his concerns about the possibility of more fires hitting more lands, and the possibility of her homeland get invaded bu famine.

“I am afraid that it happened oddly, rather randomly,” Seren said.

She shared that her homeland was devastated by fire, and that would lead to famine. They woke up to the news that the lands, including fields and crops, were burned. The cause is unknown; however, no fire outbreak occurred after that one.

“That is quite interesting,” remarked the king, nodding towards Owen.

“Did an event occur before the wildfires?” Asked the king.

“Well, sorry I might not be able to hold the answer. I don't know,” she replied.

“Don't worry about it,” the king said.

“Prepare yourself a week from now, a party will be hosted to hopefully find your match,” he added.

Seren's heart sank. She simply nodded, closed her eyes, and began to eat with a casual demeanor. After finishing her tea, she excused herself and went to her room. There she combed her soft, fluffy black hair and staggered to the bed. She threw herself onto the bed. Trying to sleep tossing and turning until she finally closed her eyes for the last time and drifted into slumber.

As time moved on, the hues of the sky slowly but surely changed and drifted into a darker, chillier atmosphere.

Lotus worried for Seren, so she went to check on her, she gently opened the door of the bedroom, and there she found Seren still in slumber, but her body was paler than usual, and she was cold, Lotus quickly walked towards the closet and fetched a blanket, she returned to Seren and draped it on her.

Seren's eyes flinched, slowly opening her eyes.

“Lotus?” She said.

“Oh my god! Please forgive me! I was trying to keep you warm,” Lotus said.

“For how long did I sleep for,” Seren asked.

“Well, for quite a while your grace” replied Lotus.

“What would you like to eat!” She added.

“No, Lotus please go rest,” Seren said.

“But…” Lotus said.

Before she could continue, Seren interrupted her.

“You deserve it,” Seren assured.

Lotus thanked Seren and went to her room to finally sleep. Seren was swaying left and right in her room, she was so bored she couldn't find a thing in this massive castle to entertain her, upon pondering on what she could do, chirping sounds filled the room, it was more of a growl, it was her stomach she was starving after all she had not eaten a proper meal today, she decided to go to the kitchen, upon walking in the halls, Owen was staggering around and noticed her walking in a quiet motion towards a targeted location, he decided to follow her.

His footsteps were as light as a feather, so Seren didn't notice him. She entered the kitchen searching for boxes with her family crest. She was searching for a specific box since she made sure to bring it with her.

“Boo!” Whispered Owen.

Seren was startled. “What!” she said.

“Those soft, delicate hands of yours could be the envy of any artisan,” he remarked.

“It’s a pity you’re wasting them on such mundane toil,” he said, smirking with a shrug.

“Quite a contrast, don't you think? I’m almost offended on their behalf,” he pouted.

Seren looked at her hands, but they were far from soft. They held swords, bows, and arrows. Why would he mock her? She thought, her cheeks growing red.

“Watch your mouth, joker, these hands can fight,” she threatened.

“I bet,” he replied with a lazy smile.

“I can,” she said.

“Yeah, yeah you can,” he rolled his eyes.

“Why are you like this?” she asked with a short tone.

Owen’s brow furrowed in confusion. Had he offended her? He wasn’t sure.

"What do you mean, Your Highness?” he asked with a teasing grin.

“You always try to mock me!” Seren snapped, her voice filled with frustration.

“Then I apologize for the most prettiest princess of the castle,” he said.

“stop!!” she commanded with a sharp tone.

Owen was astonished, he didn't know what to do, since that's how he usually apologizes and would always be forgiven, it was his first time getting rejected.

“I am sorry.” He expressed, his witty demeanor dropped, replaced by a serious tone.

“I don't know what I've done but … I apologize,” he continued.

“I don't appreciate you mocking me by saying things like my hands being soft, or the use of inflated, puffy, honorific,” she expressed.

“I wasn't lying though, your hands do appear soft,” he said.

“I'm sorry though … Miss Seren,” he remarked.

She saw the sincerity in his eyes and for a moment, her frustration melted away. Her cheeks flushed slightly as she exhaled a small breath.

“It's alright,” she murmured.

“Anyway, help me find a box,” she said.

She explained that the box was small and had her family crest on it, after a while of searching they found the box, Seren opened the box, and it had her favorite food it was stuffed grape leaves called Yalanci, she ate with a huge appetite, then served Owen some to taste, Owen’s eyes lit with sparks he loved it and he started eating.

“What is this?” Owen asked.

She explained what Yalanci was, a grape leaves stuffed in rice, vegetables, some minimalistic seasoning, and a dash of coffee, she also explained that meant lying because it was a vegan version of dolma.

“Oh! Keep lying then,” Owen spoke to the Yalanci while he ate them.

Seren cracked a chuckle, nodding in agreement.

After they finished eating the Yalanci, everyone headed to their room, but before parting away, Seren opened up to Owen.

“Hey, you are close to the king…” she said.

“Could you perhaps request from the king permission for me to be able to walk around,” she continued.

“Hmm?” He smirked.

“It is getting boring in my room,” she said.

“I will try my best,” he said.

They finally parted to their rooms, she started journaling, and he went to sleep.