Something is definitely odd!

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| At the Kingdom of Azalon - The Dining Hall |

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"Princess Aria didn't look too well," Duke Ulien observed, "she looked kind of distressed, any thoughts why?" He turned his attention to Prince Mill.

"How am I supposed to know?" Prince Mill shot a hard glare his way.

"You were the one sitting beside her and from what I saw, she conversed with you more." Duke Ulien pointed out.

"Hmmm..." Prince Mill nodded in thought, "and that concerns me how?" He dropped his fork on his dish.

"There should be something you might have noticed." Duke Ulien shrugged.

"Could you do me a favor?' Prince Mill's lips curved up in a smirk. "Please concentrate on your unfinished food, while I'll do the same."

Duke Ulien placed a hand on his chin, "But didn't you sense anything strange in-"

"Would you cut it out!" Prince Mill hissed, "In an actual sense, you should be more concerned about the Dutchess don't you think?" He retorted.

"The Dutchess is beautiful and in a good mood," Prince Mill nodded in the direction of the Dutchess. "Just look at her!"

Stiffly turning his head to look at his wife who chatted heartily with her female friends, "Where are you gaining at?"

"It's a shame, what would your wife think of you, once word gets out about this improper interest in the Princess?" Prince Mill lowered his voice as a smirk played on his lips.

°I was just trying to be considerate, no one seems to care why she left so suddenly° Duke Ulien met Prince Mill's green eyes.

"You might just be the reason she left." Duke Ulien turned the other way, not wanting to discuss further.

~~~~~~~~~~

°You should go after her° King Zane's thought scolded.

Holding onto his armrest, the only thing keeping him sane as he itched to go after her.

°If I go, it would bring nothing than more trouble° He repeated to himself until he believed it.

"Zane, dear!" Princess Maelin's called in a singsong voice, twirling the tip of her Azure hair, biting down on her lower lip.

°Don't you know when to quit?° King Zane tried to calm his boiling rage at being denied something as little as solitude.

"Now that she's gone, I assume we would have a little peace and quiet," Princess Maelin smiled, "well apart from these chatterboxes here." She looked around her, sneering at the guests in disgust.

"And where do you fit in?" King Zane raised a brow, replying reluctantly.

"I could be someone you can lean on, like the old times!" She beamed in joy, reminiscing on the past.

°Until I know how you managed to come back to the Kingdom, after I thought you were dead, I can't trust you, nor my Royal Advisor." King Zane's lips drew in a thin line as he watched Maelin give an eye shut smile.

"Indeed." King Zane took a sip of his wine, looking over her at the door.

°Why do you make me worried, Aria?° King Zane furrowed his brows in confusion.

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| The Kitchen |

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"Hurry up!" A voice hollered in a heavy accent, his hand trailing on his moustache. "Regulate the heat! The cake needs delicate attention!"

"No! No!! Noooo!!!" The Head Chef screamed as he watched one of the staff slip, dropping a bowl of flour, spreading it's white powdery content on the floor.

"I'm so sorry, Sir!" The attendant pleaded.

"Remember this, we deal with time, and make sure all the utensils and ingredients are hygienic." Head Chef reminded. "Get back to work!" He clapped his hands.

"Yes Sir!" The staff chorused, heading back to their various activities.

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"Pael!" The Head Chef called.

"Sir?" Pael dropped the tray on the table, scurrying to his side.

"You have a guest." The Head Chef chuckled, moving to the side, revealing who stood behind him.

"Lady Leah?!" Pael exclaimed.

"I have a few questions for you," Lady Leah drove straight to the point, "don't fret, your boss has done his fair share of his account of the situation.

"Uh..." Pael looked at her boss, waiting for his approval.

"Let's head to a more quiet area." Lady Leah gestured towards the store room. "Follow me."

Nodding his head in approval, Pael breathed out as she made her way to the store room.

Closing the door, Pael rested her back on the door as her hands trembled slightly at the reason for her being singled out of the other staff.

"I'm sure you are wondering why you are here?" Lady Leah's attention on the floor as she spoke.

"Y- yes." Pael's eyes darted towards the ceiling.

"It's about the cake..." Lady Leah paused, looking at Pael, awaiting a reaction, any reaction at that.

There it was, the twitching of Pael's brows, her eyes wide in surprise at her question.

°What am I missing?° Lady Leah nodded her head in thought.

"Hmm... let me rephrase that," Lady Leah began. "Why was the Princess specifically served that cake? It wasn't part of the menu prepared, Chef Kul affirmed he didn't authorize that recipe.

"Chef Kul didn't authorize it?" Pael hung her mouth open in shock. "But... but-" She mumbled.

°Something is definitely not right° Lady Leah's hand brushed through her maroon hair in frustration.

"From the looks of things, it seems you thought differently. Did anything seem odd to you?" Lady Leah went with her guts.

"I had thought it was strange when I arrived at the kitchen to carry out my duties, I saw a piece of cake with a note." Pael suddenly paused, thinking on how stupid it really sounded to her hearing.

°What was I thinking?!° Pael's brows knitted in annoyance at how gullible she was.

"What note?" Lady Leah picked on the only clue she could get.

"It read... umm..." Pael scratched her scalp trying to recollect what she had read then.

"I got it!" Pael snapped her fingers, "in it, the note read: No other beautiful way than to celebrate with some cake, the Princess is sure to love this surprise."

"Any name, perhaps?" Lady Leah tried to clarify.

"No!" Pael shook her head, "I had thought since it was in the kitchen and placed at my station, I had thought Chef Kul wanted to surprise Princess Aria."

"..." Lady Leah couldn't help but look on for a moment.

"Did anything happen to the Princess?" Pael panicked.

"Not exactly!" Lady Leah stressed the latter part, "Let's just say it caused a reaction I haven't really seen in her, in the few weeks of serving her and that makes me worried."

°Phew! I thought I was going to be in big trouble for my stupid action° Pael deadpanned.

"Is there anymore information you would like to ask, I'll be glad to reply!" Pael saluted, high in enthusiasm.

"I would like to see the note, if you must!" Lady Leah's fingers drummed on a wooden crate as she looked around the storeroom, "No one can know about our little discussion, okay?"

"Umm..." Pael gave a nervous grin as she played with her thumbs. "I couldn't find the note after I served the Princess her cake!" Her lips drew into a thin line as the feeling of being stupid then, hit her hard.

"Ugh!" Lady Leah groaned, she was almost on the edge of gaining onto something.

"You may go," Lady Leah sighed, "Thankyou for your help!"

~~~~~~~~~~

Walking to her bed chambers, Lady Leah felt a chill run down her spine as an uneasy feeling raked through her, the feeling as if being watched eerily strong, constantly looked behind her just to make sure of her claim, but all that stared right back were the pillars and the shadows.

°There is something definitely there° Lady Leah forced her stiff legs to move faster

Lurking in the shadows, a figure hid behind a pillar, watching as Lady Leah placed her key into the Kerry hole, turning it clockwise a few times, pushing the door open.

°The master would not be pleased° The figure looked on as Lady Leah entered her room.

"In due time!" The grip on the note hardening, forming creases. "You're treading a dangerous path, trying to interfere in the master's plan!" The voice snickered.