Solicited advice

Barn's last day of recruitment was not so bad after all. Thanks to the Arquall sibling's help, he managed to hire more staff than he expected. 

With his goal finally met, Barn closed his business for the afternoon. But it was not the time to take a break yet--- he had to assist the royal sibling with their business in town. He, together with the other attendants, busied themselves in redecorating the booth. They removed all the fliers and recruitment posters and draped emerald silk curtains on the four corners of the booth, they also placed a flagpole at the upper right corner--- carrying the kingdom's sigil.

An old small truck filled with baskets of fruits was at the side road, the attendants were going back and forth, transporting the goods to the long table placed behind the royals. The scene peaked the attention of the bystanders, enough for them to fall in line before the royals would officially accommodate them. 

The royals were sitting at the table facing the crowd. The table was empty except for the green tablecloth with the kingdom's sigil embroidered on it. 

Lady Kiva was stretching her hands above her head. "I guess we could start now, better not be late for dinner."

With this, Barn agreed, he did not want to miss dinner too.

Barn beckoned one of his staffs to him. "Assist Lord Ziloh." The staff nodded, grabbed a basket of fruit and stood beside the Lord.

Barn did the same and stood beside Lady Kiva.

The two lines were a good meter away from where the royals were sitting.

Kiva tilted her head sideways, smiling at the crowd, she waved a hand when she recognized the flower vendor waiting in her line. She then jerked her head towards the line next to hers, her face stiffened to see her brother's line was not just twice as longer than hers but was also full of young women. 

Kiva cleared her throat and sat up straight, pretending she was not affected by it.

Ziloh raised an eyebrow. "Any problems?"

Kiva jumped on her seat from the sudden attack on her eardrums, her ears were getting tingly from the sudden scream from women. That was saying a lot, she never felt her ears being attacked in a long time. 

Kiva wondered why women would always react to every tiny thing her brother does.

Kiva was suddenly determined to finish this as soon as possible. "Let's do this Barn."

Barn placed a basket in front of Kiva. "The first person in line can come forward now."

"Hi, how was your day?" Kiva offered the basket to the young man as she tries to have small conversations with him. 

Kiva knew how to be professional as she smiled to the crowd, encouraging them to ask her anything. Unfortunately to Kiva, she could hear the questions raised beside her--- Ziloh was bombarded with inappropriate questions, things that Kiva would never want Ali to hear. 

"Next," Kiva sighted in exasperation. "Did you have a nice day?" The side of Kiva's lips was twitching as she greeted the woman halfheartedly. "Oh, it's you!" she noticed that it was the flower vendor from earlier. "Now, go home enjoy these fruits." she shoved the basket to the flower vendor.

There were a few questions raised to Kiva too, questions to her were concerns about the palace's safety. She kept on assuring them that everything has been handled perfectly, that they do not have anything to be frightened of.

Kiva did a double look and was surprised to see that even young men liked Ziloh better than her--- she noted to herself never to go out of the palace with her brother again.

The next in line waiting for the occupied Ziloh was merely a boy.

"Ahem! Let's keep the conversations short and simple." Kiva cleared her throat once more, as it seems like she was not heard the first time. "A minute per person, not an hour."

Knowing that she was deliberately ignored by her brother, she stepped onto the foot of Ziloh under the table as hard as she could.

Ziloh's knee bumped onto the table, making Kiva very satisfied. "You may proceed now," she encouraged the boy. "Go,"

Kiva pushed the basket personally to the woman and eyed the attendant who was assisting Ziloh to escort her away.

"Not when we're getting into the interesting part." Ziloh crossed his hands on his chest and laid his back on the chair, smirking at the boy in front of him. 

"Are you not gonna give me that?" Luppy gestured at the basket. 

Ziloh gave a curt nod. "Take it."

Luppy gripped the basked tightly but he did not leave yet. "can I have one more?"

Ziloh shrugged and the attendant who was assisting him assumed this as an approval and handed another basket to the boy.

"Thanks!" Luppy beamed. "It's for my brother, he's sick and I think eating fruit would help him recover."

A laugh escaped from Zioh. "I never said you could have another one." He gestured to the attendant to take one of the baskets back. "Mostly not for your brother."

Luppy tightened his grip onto the basket, playing a tug of war with the attendant. "But…my family will starve if he won't recover soon."

"No." Ziloh pointed to the side. "Now, go."

Luppy's shoulder slumped as he suddenly let go of the basket, forcing the attendant to lose his balance.

Ziloh could hear Kiva exhaling deeply, he immediately slid his feet away, knowing what was to come.

Kiva stamped on the empty gravel. 

"Now, we cannot give you a whole basket, but we can give you an extra pineapple." Kiva assured the boy.

Barn passed a pineapple to Kiva and she gave it to the boy. "I know your brother will recover soon." She beamed to the boy. Her eyes were telling the obvious. 'See, you should have been on my line instead, I'm much nicer than my brother.'

"Thanks…I guess…" Luppy was not satisfied but he walked away on his own without being dragged forcibly.

It shocking to see that the next in Ziloh's line was a man again, this time an older man. 

"Have a nice day." Kiva was busy observing his brother that she just kept on shoving baskets after baskets to any person in front of her. "Enjoy the fruits." she greeted automatically.

"I do have a concern." The old man removed his hat and fiddled with it. "Hhhow.. to…my wife."

Kiva observed that the man was not just old but was also bald.

"I'm sorry?" Kiva leaned in closer towards him, as if the question was addressed to her.

"Newlywed…." The balding man stuttered. "How to …with my wife…"

"What happened to your wife?" Kiva asked as she blindly gave another basket to someone.

The balding man's face turned beet red as he mustered all his courage for his next words. "How to satisfy my wife!" He shouted a little too loud.

The balding man managed to receive a few giggles from women in the line while the men at the crowd offered their own version of advices while laughing out loud.

But the balding did not care about the other's opinions, he was only looking at Ziloh. 

'This royal gentleman seems to know his way towards women, surely he could help me.' The balding man thought.

Kiva observed the old man once again. The old man's suit was at par with that of a royals'--- he even outdressed the royal siblings. He definitely did not need the basket of fruits; he was ample enough for Kiva to know that he eats three times a day--- and probably more.

To be married at such an old age…

'He must be very kind.' Kiva thought.

Ziloh smirked. "Use your teeth." He advised. "But never leave a mark."

Women in the crowd shrieked once again, giggling, and whispering to each other.

Kiva shook her head; the crowd do not know that it would not be a laughing matter if Ziloh's fangs would land into their skin.

"Do not listen to my stupid brother." Kiva shook her head. "Please don't give bite your wife as if you're a dog." She gave a side glace to her brother. "Definitely not a good idea. But congratulations to your wedding Mr.?"

"Wide." The man said. "Mr. Wide."

Mr. Wide did not understand the advice, but he memorized it to heart and left without taking a basket.

Everything went back to normal after that. The townspeople were satisfied, and the royal siblings achieved their goal—to boost the moral and to keep the trust of the people in the crown.

Kiva was happy that she will not miss dinner, she was also glad that the pastry she bought was still in good condition--- she cannot wait to give it to Ali.

As they walked home, Kiva gave a warning to Ziloh. "Don't ever give that advice again, ever…" others may not have understood it, but Kiva knew it perfectly well. "If they found out about you…" 

"He was desperate. I only gave him the truth." Ziloh shrugged. "I said what works for me." 

'If they found out about you, the three of us will be beheaded.' Kiva can't seem to say it out loud. 'the House of Arquall…gone.'

It was a secret that should be buried, a secret that not even Ali should know.