Cruel and Unusual ( II )

Watching her brother walk outside with Rowan, she couldn't help but smile. Lumielle would change things. Perhaps, she was still a child in this body but that didn't matter. There was no limitation on age. For her, all she needed to do was get rid of the virulence that seethed within the marrow of this castle.

It would have been a completely ridiculous task for a normal young girl. Yet, Lumielle had somehow gone back. She had lived through a life of hell. She would simply do this as if it was inhaling oxygen.

With that, her brother and Rowan left the dining hall. The plates and dishes were all cleared and she waited until the doors opened once more. There were silver trays and dishes obscuring what would have been her breakfast. Glancing at Leo, she had a feeling that this would garner sympathy. Good, she needed it. As a young child, there was nothing better than gaining sympathy.

The silver domes were lifted, but when it was revealed she could see Leo's eyes harden. The food in front of her was absolutely abhorrent. Chunks of potatoes sitting inside of a murky soup. Salad leaves wilted and tasteless colorless jello as dessert. "Would you bring the chef here?" Lumielle asked propping her elbows on the table and lacing her hands together in prayer.

The butler looked surprised at the request as he sneered, "He'll be here soon."

There were no honorary words of kindness given as she simply nodded sweetly. The butler left.

Leo was silent as Lumielle gave him a smile, "Royalty isn't everything you expected it to be?" She asked. There was a slight hum in her words as Leo didn't respond. Indeed, who would have expected the Crown Prince and Princess to be treated with such ruthless negligence.

The Emperor never cared for them thus, no one else did.

The clock moved forward and it was thirty minutes later that the chef entered. Leo by this time had stood up, moving to stand behind her. "Chef," Lumielle said as he approached her.

"My Lady is something wrong?"

The title of a Lady when she was a Princess.

It was almost laughable and she could see the amusement twinkling inside of his beady eyes. Did he find this to be enjoyable? Aris's suffering was nothing more than good fun for him. Her lips twisted into a smile as tilted her head slightly, "Kneel."

The word was brutal compared to the simper that sat on her face, "Do I need to repeat myself?" This time, she had wiped the facade from her face. Her eyes were searing with rage as Leo moved forward to unsheathe his sword; the glinting silver hitting the light dangerously. Indeed, she was glad that he had understood the situation.

"The Princess says for you to kneel."

Quickly, the chef's once pink-tinted face turned pale. Plush cheeks starting to lose their color and sweat starting to form on his forehead. Now, he was starting to understand the situation.

Turning her chair, she sat facing him. Her fingers hooked on the soup bowl as she dropped the contents on the ground. "Eat it," she demanded, her face twisting into a smile. Her shoe slammed into the potato, "Eat the food that you prepared for my brother."

"P-Princess," the chef stuttered out as she quirked a brow.

"Is there a reason you can't eat the food that you have served the Crown Prince? After all, isn't it supposed to be the finest food? Don't you think so, Leo?"

The blue-haired knight adjusted the grip on his sword, "I believe you are correct, Princess."

The chef's hands grabbed the potatoes on the ground as he started to eat the food that she had tossed to the floor. Grabbing the plate of salad along with the dressing, she spilled the contents on the ground, "Eat that as well."

"Is it delicious?" Lumielle asked as the chef placed his hands over his mouth. It was as if he was trying to keep down the food that he had eaten. His skin turning slightly green. Her eyes were cold, bitterly algid. There was not a hint of a smile on her face. An impassive expression staring down at the butler.

"The Princess asked you a question," Leo said, his words harsh.

"Y-Yes!" The Chef stuttered out swallowing.

"Then," Lumielle said as she grabbed the portion next to her. Dropping it onto the ground. Carelessly the plate shattered on the floor. Glass mixing in with the soup and potatoes. "You can finish all four servings. You said it was delicious after all."

"N-No! Princess," The Chef said. It seemed as though if he ate anymore he would throw it up. The tasteless jello mixing in with the colorless soup made his stomach churn. "I was wrong, i-it's not!" Frantic, the man in front of her was panting like a dog. He was kneeling before her like a dog, eating the food that she had thrown on the floor as she extended her leg and placed her shoe against his head.

Slamming his face against the ground she scoffed, "Evangeline, would you alert all the chefs that they'll be excused of their jobs as of today? And for the Head Chef, I believe that you should cut off his thumbs as this sorry excuse of a meal means that he is mocking the royal family."

Bowing she nodded, "As you wish, Princess." Evangeline had a smile on her face. A wicked grin that made her realize that the maid had been waiting for this as well.

The chef's hands found it's way to her ankle as his eyes widened, "I have committed a horrible act. Please show mercy, Princess! Mercy!" He begged, blubbering like a fool he was pleading with her. All she did was look down coldly at him.

"I'll have Sir Leo remove your hand if you don't let go of me. Be thankful that I'm just cutting off your thumbs." Brutal, Lumielle was displaying her character from when she had helped her brother become Emperor. That was right. She was practically stripping away his livelihood by taking away his thumbs. This man would never be able to cook again. Yet, she did not need benevolence. It would not help her. Lumielle needed to rid this castle of unloyal servants and as such, she would purge the entire kitchen first. Thankfully, she had asked Sylvia for replacements and the chatty enthusiastic female already had found men and women who were willing to work for the Ruby Palace.

Standing up, she shook off the chef and looked at the blue-haired male, "Let's go see our brothers shall we?"