The Fated Trio

Foodie

Isabella walked past the servants as she headed towards the kitchen. The servants were very busy running helter skelter. One of them collided into her pushing her against the wall as she made to turn around a curved path.

"I am sorry my lady. I ...", She said . Noticing she was trying to Courtesy, Isabella stretched out her hands stopping her."No don't", Isabella noticed the girls surprised look but couldn't help but wonder why the girl was surprised. Did she think she would be punished for colliding into the princess. She could imagine her thoughts. The servant looked at her surprised before saying, "Thank you, my lady", Isabella noticed that she has never seen her in the palace before. "What's your name?", She watched as the servant tensed up once more. She couldn't understand this girl. She was trying to stop herself from pulling the girl forward and saying,"hello girl,I am not going to have your head cut off ", when the the girl replied.

"My name is Becky,my lady", she said still folding her dress nervously as Isabella watched her amused. Her guess was right was new to the palace else she won't be that tensed up.

"Well I suppose you already know who I am", she said as the servant nodded frantically. "You can call me Isabella or lady Isabella instead of my lady.", She didn't like the sound of that but she now she can't stop people from saying it entirely. But whenever she got the opportunity,she would just tell whoever it was what she wanted to be addressed by. "You can now go", she said dismissing Becky who left with a courtsey before she continued heading towards the kitchen.

Isabella continued her walk to the kitchen careful this time to avoid colliding into any of the servants that continued moving back and forth across the hallway. Any visitor would conclude that the reason for the hustle and bustle was because of the king's visit which was partly true but Isabella knew better. 'Much ado about nothing', she murmured. She knew it was because of the party. Oh! Did she forget to mention that her kingdom loved parties?

They valued their peaceful environment but parties?, They cherished them. It was always an opportunity to come together and socialize with one another. What was more,they liked to celebrate even the smallest event in a very grand style. One would wonder what the servants do running helter skelter but, wait till you get into the ballroom. Courtney makes it a personal duty to as to how the ballroom will be decorated and supervises the work till the end. Well, apart from the decorations and dancers, there's nothing else that catches Isabella's interest in the parties.

Left to her,a mini welcome party is okay or rather,an elaborate dinner would do. Why put so much energy and resources in just a welcome party? As far as she's concerned, they were just preparing and decorating the ballroom for another night boredom.

She entered the kitchen seeing the cook, a young lady about two or three years older than her, standing at the far end of the kitchen. She had an orange apron on, a pot placed before her on one of the numerous electric cookers in the kitchen. Isabella could see water vapour escaping from two other pots on another pair pair of cookers. Aroma from the food filled her nose as she inhaled deeply closing her eyes ignoring the servants that were now looking at her puzzled. From the aroma,she knew what it was and she couldn't wait to have a taste of the soup.

"I am surely going to taste that", she said startling Susan who relaxed on seeing her. Susan closed the pot turning to face the table behind her. They were now alone in the kitchen.

"Wait till Courtney hears that the princess entered the kitchen demanding to taste the food before it was served", Susan teased. Turning the tap of a nearby sink, she began to wash her hands.

"Then you will have to explain why it took you so long to prepare a meal that the princess has to walk into the kitchen herself to demand for it.", Isabella said stopping before the sink as Susan stepped away from the sink turning back to the table.

"As if its my fault that the princess loves food so much and won't stop wandering in and out of the kitchen at any slightest opportunity", Susan said as she drew a tray full of vegetables close to her and started chopping them.

"Well,too bad for you. Courtney is too busy with decorations to notice that the princess wandered off into the kitchen", Isabella replied. Taking a knife from one of the shelves,she picked a tray, put some vegetables to it and joined Susan in cutting the vegetables.

"How was your night and today's practice?", Susan asked in a low tone careful to avoid the being overheard other people in the kitchen.

"Beautiful, but my morning?, Memorable", Isabella replied her mind racing through the events of the morning",

"Memorable?", Susan asked narrowing her gaze towards Isabella.

"Yes unless narrowly escaping being caught training isn't memorable to you", Isabella replied arranging the now chopped vegetables to one side of her tray pushing it aside.

"How?, What happened?", Susan asked now putting the vegetables in the pot. Taking her tray of chopped vegetables, Isabella walked towards her telling her what happened earlier.

"Do you think he will bring up the issue again?", Susan asked referring to the king. Isabella knew her father,he always kept to his words. She just hoped he would forget this time.

"Well, I think you have to take a break from practice for some days", Susan said when Isabella didn't answer . Isabella gave her a look that said "really?",She didn't expect Susan to say that knowing fully well how she loved training. She couldn't imagine stopping her practice for who knows how long.

"Yes, unless you want to find yourself before the whole council explaining why you have chosen to go against the tradition.", Isabella sat down she knew that Susan was right. But she knew it would take a huge amount of self control to stop herself from jumping up from the bed every morning to rush to the training ground. She looked up to see Susan studying her knowingly waiting for her reply. From her expression, Isabella knew Susan could read her thoughts.

"Okay , fine!", Isabella said reluctantly throwing her hands up in the air.

"I know it will be difficult for you but you have to", Susan said. Pouring some soup into a plate from one of the pots boiling, she handed it to Isabella who took the soup to the table,sat down on a stool and began to scoop the soup into her mouth with a spoon not saying any more word. She knew has to find a way to continue practicing without being caught.

The door opened as some servants walked in carrying foodstuffs.

"I will be going to pick my dress for the party before Courtney does that for me.", Isabella said. Standing from the stool, she walked to the sink and put her plate in it rushing off towards the door before she heard Susan say,

"Oh!, you mean your second mother and fashion designer", Susan said laughing. " You have to stop complaining about her like that ,you know. She's just trying hard make sure you are at your best. She simply cares and is doing her job",

"Yes I know but I am old enough to decide what I want to wear.", Isabella replied. "Do you need anyone to tell you what to wear?"

"Don't look at me cos our cases are different. I am not a princess. A princess is never old enough to pick her dress", Susan said moving aside as the servants arranged placed the foodstuffs in the table leaving the room.

"And what's worst,my best friend has begun to sound like Courtney.", Isabella said rolling her eyes. "Tell me did she make you read one of those books on etiquettes and rules as pertaining to ladies and princesses?", Isabella asked pretending to be concerned. Susan made to say something but Isabella placed her hand on her shoulder cutting her off," Save your breath dear friend, cos this princess will continue to decide what to wear", She said to Susan who finally gave up and turned to the foodstuffs on the table unpacking them and placing them in their various positions.

"Sometimes I forget how stubborn you are. Go pick your dress then. See you at the party", Susan said as Isabella left the kitchen.

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