17 17. Requesting Permission

Darian still standing at Ariadne's door, his head turned to Meghan as she approached him. Meghan brought a wide tray of three freshly cooked morning meals. The woman was concerned with bringing a tray, Darian helping Meghan by taking over the tray.

"Ah, that's nice of you." Meghan said.

Darian smiled. "Is this three portions for me, for Jason, and for Marlyn?"

Meghan nodded. "Yes, of course. Your bowl is black. I added the rice portion to your request."

"Well, that's nice of you, meghan. Thank you."

"You're welcome. Enjoy your breakfast."

Meghan smiled at Darian before she turned her back. The woman returned to the kitchen area. Meghan ordered the kitchen attendants to clean up all the dirty silverware, and throw away the horrible leftovers.

Nimbly, all the servants did so obediently. Until meghan comes back from interrupting that all the waitresses start cooking ingredients for lunch.

"Eat without rice." Said Elie, trying to prevent Darian from putting rice in his own mouth.

Darian still scooped his mouth and looked at his mother with some astonishment. "What's wrong, mom?"

"The rice will make your stomach uncomfortable. Have some bread with milk. Mommy's gonna get you some fruit." Elie said firmly.

Darian was sniffed at seeing the soft black bowl of rice that Elie had taken away.

"Oh, my god. What is the problem with my mom? It looks so good on the rice." The word Darian looked sad as a child.

Jason laughed. "Never mind. You have to listen to your mother. You're a young man. Don't eat too much rice."

Marlyn laughed too. They do eat three every day. "That's right. Don't eat rice tomorrow, Darian." Said marlyn with a giggle.

Darian only snorts at the mockery of Jason and Marlyn. Jason and marlyn were older than Darian. Even Jason and Marlyn already have a small family. Darian did not have close friends his age in the kingdom. Darian's daily conversation was with Jason and Marlyn at the kingdom hall.

***

"Hi, elie.." Ariadne greeted elie with great joy. The girl in the diamond crown looks so fresh on her face. The color of Ariadne's gown today is golden yellow.

Elie smiled at Ariadne's tidy appearance. "Have your eyebrows improved? Should I get you a physician?"

"No need, elie." Said Ariadne as she followed the footsteps of Elie in the repository of fresh fruit.

"What's the matter with you following me to the kitchen?"

Ariadne burst into tears. "It's okay. I just wanted to see you."

"Oh, I see. How'd you sleep last night? Darian says you woke up and fell out of bed so your forehead was like that."

"Yes, that's right. I just had a bad dream. And I can't remember what to dream."

"I'll make you an apple drink later. Drink before bed."

"A drink from an apple? For what?"

Elie turned to Ariadne. "So you sleep easy and soundly."

"Okay. It's up to you, Elie."

"Tell me, what exactly are you asking me, princess? I know your agitation when you feel like asking me for something."

Ariadne smiled shyly. Elie knows her inner character very well. "Actually I want to ask you something."

"What's that?" Elie asked as she plucked grapes from the fruit stalk.

"I want to ask for one day every week. I want in one day that I am given freedom, wherever I go is allowed. Give me a white horse I once rode with Darian. And, I wish that one day no bodyguards would follow me, including Darian."

Elie, who heard Ariadne's request, groaned in amazement. "I won't let you." She said firmly

Ariadne breathed a grudge. "Elie, please. I'm seventeen years old. Free me. I'm only asking for one day a week anyway."

Finish preparing fruit for Darian into the dish, Elie turns her over to Ariadne. "What for? Even so, princess, you are seventeen years old and must have many bodyguards. You're still a girl and --"

"I won't do anything weird or dangerous, Elie. I know I must maintain my honor as a woman."

"No. I won't allow it. It's dangerous for you even if it's for one day." Elie said firmly and came out of the storage room of fresh fruit.

Ariadne follows in the swift footsteps of elie. "Elie, please."

Elie's footsteps stopped and the woman looked back. Ariadne's face is sad and desperate to ask for one thing.

Before he said, she drew his breath slowly. An entire plate of fruit for darian he placed it on the table. Elie's hands hold both of Ariadne's arms. She said, "tell me first, what was that for? At least I know where you're going and who you're meeting.

Ariadne looked straight into elie's eyes. "Elie, you believe me, don't you? I asked that one special day for myself. For a full time to myself. I want to take this crown off once a day every week. Any day will do if you let me."

"Princess, I just don't want you to get hurt. Ask for one bodyguard and I'll allow you to venture outside the kingdom once a week."

Hearing that, Ariadne still shook her head. "This is important to me, Elie. I can't tell you yet. And I don't want Darian hearing about this. I can only ask your permission. You're like a mother to me. Please, let me do what I want on this one."

Elie chose to surrender. He knew that if Ariadne had a wish, it would be hard to argue. "Okay, but I have a condition for you."

Ariadne smiled with joy. She gazed with two twinkling eyes at Elie. "What's the condition?"

"If you depart from the kingdom in one piece and unharmed, then you shall return in the same condition. If you get hurt, then I'll make sure to find out who hurt you." Elie said very firmly.

Hearing that, Ariadne's eyes filled with tears. Elie does worry about Ariadne like a mother. The girl hugged Elie's body very closely.

"Thank you very much, Elie. You're so good to me." Said Ariadne.

Elie smiled and stroked Ariadne's delicate hair. "You're welcome, princess. Can I really trust you?"

Ariadne nodded. "Of course. You let me out one day, and on what day did you let me out?"

"You can come out on Thursday, the day the palace began to feel loose."

"Okay. Can I ask for my horse right now?"

Elie chuckled. "Go with Darian when my son has finished breakfast. Have a horse of your choice. I'll tell him."

"Thank you very much, elie."

***