Make Your Move Katherine

Ginger Root

Katherine didn’t see Oscar for the following week until this morning when they met in the castle’s garage- not that she minded. She ignored the two guards with her that bowed as she stepped out of the elevator. She spotted Anthony as he held the door open for Oscar who was about to be seated in the backseat of the car. She hadn’t spoken to him since that awful night at dinner but she had caught glimpses of him here and there. The two guards outside the elevator, backed one step away from her as she stepped out, walking towards the limousine, which was less than ten feet away.

She felt her chest do a little flutter when Anthony bowed and she bowed back before offering him a shy smile. He returned a stretched-lipped smile at her and for some reason, the dreaded day ahead didn’t seem so bad. “Good morning, Anthony,” she almost sang when she approached him as he walked over to the other side of the long white vehicle.

“Good morning my Queen,” he returned before he bowed again as she stepped in. She was so happy that even the sight of Oscar next to her did not dampen her mood.

Last night Julie had brought her a hot bowl of chicken soup while she sat on the settee and said she had an interview with Oscar in the morning and she should get a good night’s rest. She had frowned for it was unlike Oscar to give her such short notice but she guessed that he wanted her to do the interview so here she was, playing nice.

It had angered her for she felt that she owed him nothing. She had already done her part and married him. He had paid her and that was that. She didn’t care for him or his interviews and she felt the tears stinging her eyes for she missed her father. Did he even care that her heart ached for her family? No, he didn’t, so why should she. He wasn’t even allowing her to even call them.

And why was she chosen to get married?

But the thought slipped her brain when the aroma reached her nose senses. It was almost heavenly but Kat had ignored the woman, turning her face away and continued on with her reading, just as she had been doing all along but the woman only rested the steamy bowl down on the center table and clasped her hands in front of her. A minute passed and Kat stated in a low tone, “I’m not hungry,” without moving her eyes away from the comic she was reading.

“The King insists I stay here until you eat,” she said almost meekly causing Kat to look up then. She knew the elder woman was only following orders and got up putting down the book and ushering the woman forward.

“What’s in it?” she had asked scratching her head and making a sound with her tongue that was ‘very unqueen’ like and would have had Miss Moon blue to the face had she heard, but to which Julie had smiled and answered, “Well, er, chicken, turmeric, chili paste, noodles, ginger-”

“Take it away, I’m allergic to ginger,” she had hissed and Julie had begun the wring of her hands again, “His Majesty will be angered if you don’t-”

“Well, frankly I don’t care if His Majesty is angry, for if I die what happens?” Katherine had returned and the woman’s face immediately was horrified. Okay, so she had exaggerated a bit. “I won’t die but I will break out in rashes, lip and throat would swell and well then I can’t breathe properly Julie then what would His Majesty do then?” she 'exaggerated' again.

She only gets diarrhea alone but Kat wasn’t going to admit that embarrassing part. Besides, the doctor did cation her about what other symptoms she could get if she ate too much of it. It wasn’t something she was willing to risk happening again so she just avoided it altogether. Besides, Katherine felt this was a great way to test who were loyal to her- although she knew nobody was- she just felt that it was something she was curious about…provided that she doesn’t die.

She eyed the head maid in front of her as if she could read her but intimidation wasn’t for her and she looked away. Damn, she needed to learn from Anthony how he did that. And that devil Oscar too but she preferred to learn from the sexy guard.

Julie tilted her head a bit, “I can’t tell if you are serious or joking but that is not a nice joke to make My Queen, for we cook with ginger root-”

“Yes, I am aware. I ate some and thank goodness Oni was chatting away about how the ginger flavors better, that day or I would have had an emergency and my medication isn’t here now, is it Julie?”

The head-servant dropped to her knees with her head bent and startled Katherine with her actions. Julie’s tone was a bit shaky when she said, “Your Majesty, I had no idea. I must be punished-”

“Julie please get up,” Kat was somewhat fast in her thinking and she rushed to the woman pulling her hesitant body, “Of course, I know. Oni already told me that Oscar loves it, so obviously I won’t ask you to not cook with it. Get up- ugh,” she grunted as she tugged at the woman again up to her feet.

“My Queen no, His Majesty will never allow this. I will not allow this-”

“Julie relax, tell you what…cook as usual and when you do use ginger just let me know- just as I asked of Oni.”

Julie grabbed the bowl and swiped at her face and Kat was startled again. Why tears? Then she remembered Anthony’s words to her about Oni. About how she could have lost her life if the Queen was harmed. Oni’s time with her was cut short now as punishment for when Katherine hadn’t eaten. Oni seemed sad about it, although Kat found it strange that someone would be sad about less work and so she had wondered if she had been threatened or her family.

But Oni had laughed and assured her that only her salary had been cut.

She didn’t want the same to happen to Julie and she was about to apologize but caught herself in time and instead stepped back from the table and sat on the settee once more.

“Oni should have told me-”

“I asked her not to,” Kat said in a clear voice as the woman held the bowl and walked back to the trolley she had wheeled in and placed the bowl on it. “Let me be clear Julie, I am a stranger here and I feel like I’m in a hornet’s nest. I don’t trust any of you,” and Julie’s eyes had opened wide as she stared at her from the other side of the white frill-covered trolley.

“Why? Why- what- why would you say that?” the elder woman stuttered and Kat had answered honestly.

“I am a stranger on your land. Your King did not want to marry me- why pretend? I know all of you know about the mistress he keeps here hidden-” and Julie’s eyes had widened even more but Kat went on,” I know you all are loyal to your King and to this woman so no- I don’t trust you…any of you. I felt that if you knew I had an allergy you would use it against me.”

“Me- why…why would I want to harm you?”

“Not directly but I believe that you are and will harm me if requested to do so by your King- or his mistress.”

“My Queen, I would be in jail if ever a request is made like that for, I will never harm you- even if my King asks of it,” the woman whispered harshly and Kat knew it was a rash decision but she felt Julie was being honest.

Last night was far from her mind when Anthony joined them in the back of the limo.

Kat and Oscar didn’t even acknowledge each other the entire ride but she did notice he was dressed in a similar matching suit to her knee-length black dress. Anthony didn’t speak to her either but she didn’t mind for he sat directly opposite her and she stared at him behind the aviator lens she wore. He was such a beautiful specimen to look at.

The crowd parted outside the building as Oscar and Katherine made their way into huge glass automated doors. Anthony and a few other guards from the two cars that drove in front and trailed behind them, held their hands out to keep the crowd from getting too close to them while two others had held large umbrellas to shade out the sun. Kat felt ridiculous like the times before, for the walk was only a few feet away, they both had on huge sunglasses.

Oscar held her forearm as they walked on a red carpet just like the other times.

It was just too much. Will she ever get used to this?