[MUSIC RECOMMENDATION: SEND ME AWAY ~ NASTY C]
Chantal carried the laden excitedly, looking for a good spot to enjoy the meal he received; a special dish made by the princess herself. The honor was something he never imagined he would get in his entire life, especially after receiving a mark on his arm. His heart bubbled with joy as he carried the bowl of soup.
Axilla, now done cleaning the kitchen, closed the door and went to meet Lady Larel, who stood by the side waiting for her to finish cleaning.
"Isn’t that the laden Princess Kitanna used to serve the beef soup?" Lady Larel pointed to the side, and Axilla followed her hands’ direction.
"It is," she frowned, but when she saw who was carrying it, her lips curled.
Lady Larel furrowed her brows, "I wonder what happened; maybe the White Lord didn’t like it." She shrugged her shoulders. But rightfully, even a dog wouldn’t like the meal they had concocted earlier.
Axilla pinched the bridge of her nose, smiling. "I think the food found its real owner." She was glad the White Lord wasn’t the one to eat the food but the rude guard with whom she argued earlier. Deep down, Axilla wanted to see the guard’s face while he eats the food; the excitement on his face right now would be long gone by then.
Chantal raised his head when he noticed the lady standing in front. He walked closer and bowed. When he saw who was standing behind, the smile on his face fell.
"Chantal, enjoy your meal." Axilla couldn’t help but say to him, waving her hands at the guard.
Chantal walked away, wondering why the girl called his name. It annoyed him so much, and how did she know the meal was his own? Chantal decided to ignore the girl; she was an unlucky one. His whole focus should be on the handmade special princess meal in front of him.
Back where Larel and Axilla stood, the bright flower continued to smile.
"Is he a good friend of yours?" Larel asked, noticing how lively the girl was after the young guard passed.
Axilla shook her head quickly. "Never! If not, why would I allow my friend to eat that food?" She replied.
"Then someone you like?" Larel pressed on, touching the girl’s face.
Axilla scrunched her face, "Lady Larel! No! The person I like would look way better than that one. He’s trouble, that’s all," the young girl replied, hating the idea of her being associated with that guard.
Larel smiled and started walking while Axilla followed her behind. "So you haven’t seen anyone you like? Even while traveling with my brother. I bet it’s because Cortez always made you work," she shook her head sadly.
Axilla fiddled with her hands at the mention of the young master’s name. For some reason, every time she heard his name, her heart skipped, and it made her think he was not good for her health.
"Young master was really good to me," Axilla whispered.
"I know you’re trying to praise him because I’m his sister. I know who Cortez is, and he can be twisted," Larel remarked, rubbing her temples. The short cooking they had done was already making her tired.
Axilla shrugged her shoulder. She wanted to continue defending the young master, but another thing flashed in her mind.
"Lady Larel, Young master said you’re leaving with him. Is that true?" She had forgotten about this discussion when they started their cooking class.
Larel turned to look at Axilla, "Cortez told you already? That was quick. I hope he isn’t forcing you to join him again so he would make you work more."
"No, he just told me you’re leaving with him in three days. Is it true?" Axilla replied, feeling sad already that the Lady was about to leave the palace.
Larel nodded gently, "Yes. Actually, something happened while you were away. Even though the princess has forgiven me, I still feel bad about it. And now Khelan is no longer king, and the marriage was based on falsehood; there is no reason for me to stay here," she responded, cutting through the corridor to walk to her quarters.
Axilla sighed, "So you are really going? Can’t you just stay here? You want to follow the young master and travel around; the roads are kind of rough." She tried to dissuade the woman from her decision of leaving.
Larel smiled, "You think I’m leaving to follow Cortez around? No. I have a home, where my father and mother stay. Cortez wants to take me back himself to make sure I’m safe." She clarified her words.
Axilla felt really bad; she wished Lady Larel would still stay in the palace. Once she leaves, they won’t see each other again, except she decides to visit the palace. And the probability of that happening was very low.
Larel, getting to her room, turned to face Axilla. "Don’t be sad, Bright flower; I’ll always write to you. Go get some rest now and get ready for the night; I’m a little tired with everything we did today. I’ll sleep early." She rubbed Axilla’s hair gently before disappearing inside her room.
Axilla sighed, standing in the passage for some time before going to her room.
Before the lotus pond shed, at a small corner, Chantal sat on the floor with his legs folded. He picked up his spoon and cherished the meal in front of him before taking a large spoonful of the soup and meat, diving it into his mouth.
Shock overcame him as the first feeling made his shoulders rise, and his face paralyzed. He didn’t know if his teeth were vibrating or if the meat was moving inside his mouth. It was like time stopped around Chantal as he tried to understand what had just entered his system. His whole body shut down as if Elsa froze his entire being, and goosebumps rose from his neck down. The feeling was something Chantal had never experienced, his eyes bulged out from their sockets.
"Urgh!!!!!!" Chantal finally found his voice; he spit the entire soup out of his mouth, then rushed to the clean pond. He used his two hands to scoop water, filling his mouth with it as he tried to rinse off the taste, but his actions were futile because the taste didn’t leave his tongue, and he relived the feeling.
"Why... is..." Chantal turned to look at the bowl, which now looked like a weapon fashioned to end his life. He couldn’t pin the taste he was getting; it was like meat mixed with poison, even though he didn’t know what poison tasted like, but that soup would be the proper definition for it.
Chantal’s mind remembered the smile the young, annoying maid flashed him when he was walking out with the food.
"Princess... just be a princess; don’t create poison," Chantal muttered, getting down on his knees as he felt his eyes sting with tears.