Princess with a Cook

"Okay, okay enough," Bordi spoken from behind. He got off the chair and walked towards Markus. "Markus, I had enough today. Remember to pay your depth soon, good night," he said politely and left with the other man.

Kaplan looked at the leaving two people, then looked at Markus. He was about to beat him again, but Gimila hold him.

"Please, stop this," Gimila said weakly. "Please..."

Kaplan glanced at his mother and shook his head. 'Honestly do not understand why you are letting him...' Kaplan thought. He looked at glaring Markus with disgust before spoken.

"Okay, mom," Kaplan said with a sigh. He looked at bruising on her cheek, then glanced at Markus again. "Rest now, do your cheek hurt?" He asked kindly.

Gimila shook her head. Markus hugged her slowly. "Then rest please. I promise I behave, for today at least."

Gimila looked at Kaplan's eyes, there was a glint of something, but it vanished quickly.

"Okay," Gimila said and went to the bedroom.

Kaplan looked at his supposed to be father, Markus; he was glaring at him but standing still. Probably wondering how Kaplan gotten stronger over a day.

Kaplan felt fear again, and he disgust every part of it. He was nervous, even though he had no reason to, and that was irritating.

What kind of beating original Kaplan got from Markus to reach such a reaction? He could understand for love of his mother, but this kind of fear was unnatural.

While Kaplan was in his thoughts, Markus was observing Kaplan intensely.

Kaplan was a hunter, he hunts animals or some monsters; he was low class hunter however, thus that led him hunt basic preys. He was not that strong, Markus, as his father, was always the stronger one, but now he could easily surpass Markus's strength.

That was something he did not like.

"Bastard," Markus growled. He walked slowly to the desk he was playing gambit just now and sit one of the chairs. "How did you get stronger in a day?" He said coolly.

Kaplan looked at him coolly, then scoffed. "I fail to see why this is your fucking business," he said.

Markus hit the desk, dropping the glasses on it, and looked at Kaplan with fury.

Kaplan was in mixture of emotions again; he did not enthrall, for sure, but a little shaken by the Markus's basic imitation.

"You, boy, will pay for this," Markus said dangerously.

"I am waiting for it," Kaplan said coolly. "Just don't make me wait too much," then he added.

Markus stood up and went towards the bedroom, yet Kaplan stood in front of him.

"Where are you going?" Kaplan asked coolly.

"Bed," Markus said darkly.

"Your bed right there." Kaplan pointed the sofa. "Do you think I let you sleep with mother tonight?"

Markus narrowed his eyes. "This is my house," he said slowly.

"A pity you have no control in it," Kaplan retorted; he crossed his arm on his chest. He looked at the rusty sofa in the room. "Now, sofa," he said coldly.

Markus gritted his teeth and nodded. "This is not over," he threatened.

"Again, don't make me wait much," Kaplan scoffed.

That day Kaplan slept on the ground while Markus slept on the couch.

X—X—X—X—X—X

[Abray]

"My sultan, it is about to time to go to academy," A woman said with a bow. She was wearing a long red silk dress knitted various patterns. She did not look at the young sultan's eyes because she was new at the job; thus, she was nervous.

The young female, who had hazel eyes and long silver hair, looked at the woman with interest.

"Hmm," The sultan made a thinking noise. "I don't remember you from harem's cariyes," she said calmly. "Are you new here?"

(AN: Cariye is basically a maid, which can be concubine or Sultan (Queen), if the ruler Sultan likes her enough. Well, 'Sultan' as a subjective is bit complicated, you will get used to it, I promise. Also, I guess they can consider as Slaves as well.)

The cariye nodded at acknowledgment. "Yes, my sultan. I just accepted into your care in this morning," she said politely; still avoiding eye contact.

"So, I see," The young sultan smiled. She stood up and walked towards the cariye. She eyes the young woman for couple of seconds and smirked.

"Well, first thing first. May I learn your name?" The sultan asked.

"My name is Yaz, Abray Sultan," The young female just named Yaz said.

"Well then, Yaz. What happened Büke?" Abray sultan asked.

Büke was her cariye for the time she was born; she was practically Abray's sister, not that she would tell anyone; that would make disturbance with royalty, and she was taking care of her since then. Hence, when a new cariye came out of sudden, unknowing to her, made the things complicated.

Abray did not like the situation, it was too suspicious. However, it was too obvious way to imprint a spy around her, so maybe she was not a spy; but still, Abray would be a fool if not suspect her.

"She got sick, my sultan," Yaz said with a hint of worry in perfectly polite tone.

"Got sick, you say..." Abray murmured. She eyed the woman in front of her. "Your rank is neophyte, right?"

"Y-yes, my sultan," Yaz said with a cracked voice.

"Hmm." Abray narrowed her eyes. She put her hand on Yaz's chin and lifted her face up swiftly. She observed the woman's face; She could see the forming sweat on her forehead, probably out of fear, and shook her head.

'My brother's men must want to dispose her, and need justificative their reason; after all, my brother is a fool, but a fool dislike to waste resources without any good reason,' Abray thought. She looked at the young woman again. 'But why did they want to kill her...'

"Yaz, I am still the most influential heir to the throne. If I was incompetent enough to find a spy, I would be dead long before," Abray said coolly. "So, I'll give you a chance; Tell me who ordered you to come here, and what happened Büke; or I will handle the situation alone, and you will be disposed by the people who hired you," she said and released her face, looked at the woman's eyes thoroughly.

"I can protect you from them if you tell me what they offered you to be spy me?"

"M-my sultan, please..."

"No, actually..." Abray cut her off and looked at the sun outside. "I do not have much time, like you told before, I have to go to academy. Now, tell me," she crossed her arms around her chest. "Where is Büke, and who offered this to you?

"I don't know what happened to Büke Usta... I-I just ordered by a guy named Kerim," Yaz said nervously. "Please, I don't have a choice! Please help me!"

Abray looked at her and shook her head. "As long as she safe..." she murmured. She then looked at Yaz and smirked. "Say, have you ever had a chance to have your life under your hands?" She asked.

"I... beg your pardon?" Yaz asked, unsure of what Abray Sultan meant.

"Tell me what they have over you first, then we can talk," Abray said with a smile. "Of course, after the academy," she said and walk towards the door. "Also, looked what happened Büke please."

Yaz nodded her head. "Yes, my sultan," she said with a bit startled expression.

"Good, see you at the evening."

X—X—X—X—X—X—X

[Kaplan]

Kaplan opened his eyes to a new day.

He felt like shit.

"I feel like dead," Kaplan whispered as he looked at rusty house around him. He looked at the couch and saw sleeping man and sighed.

"A new day in this world, "Kaplan murmured and got up. Sleeping at the floor was not as hard as he thought it would be, but still, he did not like it a bit.

Kaplan went out the house and saw the newly rising sun. He remembered he had to hunt before people went to work.

"I need to hunt food for restaurants..." Kaplan murmured. He went back into house and observe his father, Markus.

"Yet, I am not sure what will he do to mom if I leave," Kaplan muttered.

As if he sent a signal to world, Kaplan heard a cracking noise from the bedroom. He looked back and saw his mother was already wear her clothes and ready to depart.

"Good morning, mom," Kaplan said softly.

"Morning, love," Gimila said with a smile. She looked at sleeping Markus and sighed. "I had to open the shop early, so..."

"You are afraid, aren't you?" Kaplan asked bluntly.

Gimila looked at her son and breathed out. She signaled outside and walked out.

Kaplan looked at his mother's back, then turned his head to Markus. He snorted and left the house.

Gimila was waiting outside, she was looking at air with a dreamy expression.

"You seemed to be off, mother," Kaplan said.

"You know when you were born, you were just a too tiny, too cute," Gimila said with a smile. "You looked at me with those big beautiful yellow eyes, and I instantly knew there was nothing more precious things in the world," then she added.

'This is a bit awkward,' Kaplan thought with a cracked smile. "I had those eyes from you," he said.

"Yes, you had too little Markus inside of you," Gimila said coolly. She sighed and looked at her son in the eye.

"I decided to divorce Markus..." Gimila said. "And I had enough money to go to Koylucity which I hide from Markus. You can try your luck with academy, if not I am sure we can find other jobs there."

Kaplan looked at Gimila for couple of seconds.

"Did something happen?" He asked as he continued. "Aside from the hit yesterday."

"No," Gimila shook her head. "Just the time has come. We can go in next week," she said with a smile.

Kaplan did not pry more and nodded. "I am alright with that."

X—X—X—X—X—X