The Queen gestured for the servants to uncover the platters, and soon, the room was filled with the aroma of flavored meat in gravy along with piping hot mushroom soup and some baked loaves that seemed to be fresh from the oven. The side dishes were as many as five, and all of them seemed to be heavily spiced to cater to a certain someone's preference.
Prince Theron noticed that everything was what he liked to eat in the royal palace. After he swallowed the first bite, he turned to the Queen who was enjoying the soup. "Seems like Mother is expecting something from me."
Queen Theodora smiled pleasantly. "I don't need to please you to expect something from you, but as you have predicted on your own, I won't let this chance slide."
"What Is it, Mother?" he asked.
"Just because you are insisting on it." Her dark eyes seemed to be twinkling. "I plan to keep Esther by my side as a royal servant."
Prince Theron sighed inwardly. "We are yet to finish the investigation."
"You need her to not leave your eyes until you finish your investigation anyway. Why does it matter where she stays? Don't tell me you are planning to keep her in prison. I won't allow it," the Queen warned.
"I will not imprison her, but I cannot allow someone with an unknown background to stay in your residence, Mother."
"Esther saved me."
"She indeed has but—"
Esther felt uncomfortable to be caught between the argument of this stubborn pair of mother and son. Although no one was raising their voices and both of them sounded so calm, like they were chatting about how delicious the food was, it appeared like neither Queen Theodora nor Prince Theron planned to budge on their views.
Esther would have left? the dining table if she could, but she had no other option but to stay and be quiet, pretending she did not exist to not get any unnecessary attention from the Crown Prince which would add to his well-intended but useless suspicion.
Feeling helpless in front of his mother, Prince Theron's eyes caught sight of the blond girl sitting in front of him. She was eating quietly, not even making a sound with her cutlery, and she funnily was making her movements so small, he almost smiled—it was as if she was showing him that she was making efforts to turn herself invisible, and for him not to mind her. He was about to avert his gaze but his keen eyes caught something.
As he continued to look at her, Queen Theodora also followed her son's gaze and she noticed what her son did.
Esther could feel their gaze on her and could only feel more nervous inside.
Prince Theron looked at his mother who also looked back at him. The thing they noticed was the way she was eating—yes, it was quiet, but if one were to think about it, wasn't that part of the palace etiquette? Not only that, but the blond girl knew how to use each of the cutlery, which spoon to use for the soup and which was used for the side dish, and she did so gracefully, with all the manners that a royal was educated to have. A mere? wanderer raised in the forest couldn't have known all this.
It made Prince Theron more doubtful about her true identity, while Queen Theodora turned even more curious about her. However, regardless of her background, the Queen was further convinced that this young lady was not in collusion with the rebels who attacked her.
At the dining table, both mother and son kept quiet about this newfound discovery.
"Mother, the royal physician said your body is strong enough to travel back to the palace. For your recuperation, would you like to stay here in the countryside or return to the palace tomorrow?" Prince Theron asked.
"That is great news. I can't wait to return, and I am sure your busy father would personally fetch me if I intend to stay longer,"? his mother laughingly said to disperse the strange mood within the room. "Prepare to leave tomorrow."
-----
The next morning, the royal entourage was ready to leave for the city of Blackhelm.
A certain girl with honey blond hair could be seen approaching the carriage, escorted by one of the Crown Prince's knights. In her hands was a small hand-sewn bag that carried her personal items. After the talks of her acceptance in the royal palace as a servant was finalized last night, Esther requested that she be allowed to return to her house in the forest to gather her things. Prince Theron had no choice but to allow her, but ordered his most trusted knight to accompany her just in case she tried to run away.
"Is that all you have?" Seeing her arrival, Prince Theron still had mixed feelings about her, but he could not help but be confused because her bag was at most a satchel that could carry a day's change of clothes for a lady.
Esther nodded. "This is everything important to me."
The Queen also felt sorry seeing the small bag. "You must have really lived a hard life, my dear. Do not worry. Once we are in the palace, I will have everything arranged for you."
Queen Theodora then instructed Esther to sit with her inside her carriage. There was supposed to be a royal servant accompanying the Queen to take care of her, but Queen Theodora preferred to have Esther with her.
As the capital city of Megaris was not far and being escorted by the royal knights made their group had no need to stop along the way, they reached the city by noon. The common folks joyfully welcomed the return of their Queen and Crown Prince. Despite the curtains covering the windows of the carriage, Esther could still hear the cheers of the subjects of the kingdom.
Soon enough, they entered the Royal Palace of Megaris. As Queen Theodora's ladies-in-waiting were dead after the attack, there was a need to find new ones.. For the meantime, only the royal servants were replaced, appointed by the King himself, to take care of everything for the Queen.