It was finally Oryen's turn. A bright smile embraced her lips as she greeted Leonard, her voice low, so as not to draw attention to herself.
"Hi there, Mr. Leavston."
Leonard dull eyes suddenly lit up as it set on the old witch. Oryen was aware that the man had a thing for her. Anytime he tried to approach her, she would dodge him, claiming she has excessive work to do. He has never pressed on, always a gentleman, and today, she will take advantage of it.
"Oryen, how have you been?" He too held a low voice, as his eyes were intoxicated by the woman's beauty before him. He could never forget the day, he laid eyes on her. She was tending to the stables, and he just got off his horse at dawn, ready to begin his usual job at the palace. Her calm sweet voice had catch his ears, and her features —raven hair, a skin as white as snow, with icy blue eyes, pulled his heart. He has always been gentle with her, not pressuring her, as the love he felt was genuine.
The smile on the old witch's lips never faded, and she signalled him, through her eyes to look at the person standing behind her. He followed her gaze, and the spark in his eyes seized instantly, as he came into contact with the pair of ocean blue eyes that had clouded his thoughts for days.
Leonard had woken up the next day to find himself laying in the bush. His head felt heavy and the first thing that came to his mind was the pretty girl with strange features. After some time, he figured she must have been taken by the people who robbed him, regret set in his mind that he didn't take her quickly. But now, fate has brought her to him again, and this time, he will get what he wants.
Oryen studied his changed facial expression and her eyes went to the young witch behind her. She was taken aback by the intense glare the red-haired shot at Leonard. Do they know each other? She looked back at Leonard again, and then look at Dydra, and then back at Leonard, before finally stopping on the girl.
A frown settled on her face, and before she could figure out what was going on, she felt an immense energy coming from the girl. Her frown deepened, as she wandered what got the girl mad. Whatever it was, she couldn't allow it show here, as the kingdom was not found of witches. As within seconds, both of them heads will be off their necks. She reached out and interlocked Dydra's fingers with hers, squeezing it tightly, trying to get the girl's attention.
The young witch's blood literally boiled. There he was. The man who haunted her dreams at night. The man who forcefully tried to take her. Her lips twitched and her chest heaved. She felt Oryen interlock their fingers, but she was too enraged to ask why. The whole room, all of a sudden, started to vibrate, as though they were having an earthquake. The people in the room where startled, as they all grabbed the people they were close to.
"Why is everywhere shaking?" One maid voiced out to the guards, who were not bothered by it.
"Does it matter?! You there," one of the guards eyes shot at Oryen, whose attention was on the girl causing the earthquake. "Get moving, or else—"
He was immediately interrupted, as a fellow guard bursted through the door, drenched in sweat—breathless.
"The prince! The crown prince has arrived!"
Without hesitation the two guards on Leonard's side moved away, heading outside. Leonard's eyes reluctantly left the dark skinned girl, and stood to his feet.
"You heard the man! Get to work, all of you! Now!" He ordered, offering a polite smile to Oryen, shot a quick glance at Dydra, whose eyes never left him, before rushing out. The maids and servants in the room hurriedly ran to their posts. Oryen grabbed the young witch's arm, heading to the kitchen. She didn't have time to ask whatever happened back at the checking room—that's what it's called. The head of kitchen maids came in—a huge woman, with a deep and loud voice. "You aren't being paid to stand and chat. Get to work! The crown prince has arrived. You three," she pointed at three maids, "prepare his refreshments!" She ordered them.
Oryen was aware that Dydra's red hair would catch the attention of many, as it was not common for red hair to grow on a dark skinned person. She had packed it in a bun, and covered it with a scarf. She made sure the girl stuck close to her, as she set more wood into the burning fire.
"You!" Sandra, the head of kitchen maids, voice roared, as she pointed at Dydra, who was standing idle, behind Oryen. Dydra's body shook, as she bit her lips, praying inwardly it wasn't her.
Sandra made her way toward the girl whose back was facing her, she was a tall woman and she had to lean down to talk to Dydra. Her lips came to the dark sinned girl's ear and she spoke loudly.
"Are you deaf?!" Dydra flinched hard, her shoulders jerking up as the sudden shout rang painfully in her ear. She instantly turned around, coming face to face with Sandra, she pressed her lips into a thin line. The huge woman was taken aback by the maid's ocean blue eyes and beauty, but she quickly recovered and glared.
"Do you know how to make food without using seasoning?"
Her question made Dydra's brow draw together and her eyes went to Oryen, who was now on her feet. The raven haired woman received her signal and spoke.
"She doesn't, ma. She is new here." Sandra's eyes immediately shot to Oryen. "No wonder she looks really unfamiliar. You are incharge of her." With that, she turned to inspect the others, and both withes breathed a sigh of relief.