"I forgot to tell you, so I went to the market the other day and heard a gossip I can't ignore" Elara just rolls her eyes as she mixes the dough.
Lani looks around the empty kitchen before coming closer.
"So I learned that your mum was sick and admitted in the hospital, and that your dad is nowhere to be found. They were in deep gambling and serious debt"
Elara stops in her tracks. She knows she shouldn't care but she does—so very deeply.
"How is she?" She asks softly, not looking at her Lani.
"Barely there" Elara just nods still staying grounded.
She was always the one who makes sure they don't go too astray, and now that she's not here…the disaster is just starting.
She carried on with her baking while Lani kept on relaying gossips upon gossips.
When the baking was done and Elara was cutting the cake for Lani, princess Selene's court maid comes in.
"Royal Consort, the princess requests your audience"
"Right on time, help me take this to her. I'll be right with you" she hands over the cake to the maiden.
Elara looks to Lani with a weight pressed on her chest.
"Lani, I'm going to go now." Lani quickly wipes her tears before getting up and hugging her.
"Take care of yourself okay, I don't want to hear news of something going wrong" Elara sniffs before masking it with a laugh.
"Also. Be good to Madame Tilda, that woman loves you like a daughter" Lani adds.
Elara shakes her head in disbelief. "That woman barely tolerates me"
"It's not true. When you got sick few days back, she was crying while you were unconscious"
Elara stops looking at Lani while trying to see if she's joking but Lani was really serious.
They said goodbye once more before Elara heads over to princess Selene quarters that's close to the king's.
Princess Selene was pacing the room in worry. What if the royal Consort refuses to come?
She finally just made a friend and she doesn't want to loose that friend just because she's tainted.
"Princess Selene?" The court maiden interrupts the princess's spiral thankfully.
"The royal cosort is here" the princess nods before sitting down but her feets were bobbing uncontrollably.
Elara comes in with gentle bow. "Your Highness"
"Please no need to be formal. Come in, seat" Elara nods before sitting down opposite her.
"I thought I'd bring us some cake" princess Selene laughs softly yet awkwardly.
"Is something…wrong?" Elara asks cautiously upon noticing the princess anxious energy.
"Yeah, everything's fine" princess Selene's started coming out short and clipped.
Elara knows that feeling all too well from past experiences. She rushes to Selene's side, gently rubbing her back.
"It's really weird isn't it?" The princess was still breathing harshly but her attention is now on Elara.
"What is?"
"That the lower halls maidens know more than the king could ever" the princess gasps.
"Is that so?" Elara nods before coming closer.
"Did you know that the Queen Dowager has amnesia?" The princess shakes her head.
"You mean to tell me, I've been with my mum since I was a baby and never even guessed she has amnesia" Elara nods.
"That's the ultimate definition of 'if walls could talk'" they both burst out laughing and just then an uninvited guest comes in.
"Ah, sorry to interrupt your girl talk but I came to check up on my dear little sister" a tall and broad man with a very stressing aura comes in.
He had blond hair, yellow like eyes with a very mischievous and evil smirk on his face.
Elara felt like a prey under his gaze, he had a very unmistakable aura of danger but he masks it well with charm.
"And who is this beautiful princess?" Princess Selene sighs, rolling her eyes before gesturing to Elara.
"This is the royal consort." She then gestures to her brother. "And this is my second brother, Prince Aurel"
"So this is the little angel that has been causing havoc since when she came into the outer realm. Charmed" he grips her hands before gently kissing it.
"Hope you don't mind me joining you guys in your little tea party?" He was already sitting close to Elara before they could answer.
"So what were we discussing?" He looks between Elara and Selene.
"How to deal with period cramps and the blood that spews out of us uncontrollably with the sickening tear and—"
"Oh my god stop before I let out my intestines" Elara and Selene burst out laughing.
"When did you return? Last I checked, you were in the kingdom of Dalmentia to make peace with the king"
"I just got back today after suffering in the hands of that cruel king for months" he grumbles out.
"Serves you right for pissing him off the last time he visited" Selene giggles before deciding to munch on the cake Elara brought.
"Sister, I just got back from torture and you're making fun of me, you could've offered me a drink, or comfort…or even this cake you're about to have"
Elara rolls her eyes before cutting him a quarter and giving it to him.
"Why thank you, how generous of you."
She also fetches her own cake and gaze at them as they both take a bite.
"Oh my god, who made this amazing truffle?" Prince Aurel asks as he takes another bite.
Elara just smiles as she also eats from her own place.
As they ate and converse, Elara got comfortable with the prince and her jokes ensued.
"What's so funny?" The king asks as he comes inside.
Everyone in the room kept quiet and Elara tenses up getting ready for her fight or flight mode.