Dinner Dilemma (2)

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| Previously |

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°Did Zane reserve that seat for me?° Princess Aria gave a thought to the seat at the opposite side.

"Princess Aria, care to seat here?" The Duke offered, gesturing at the empty seat beside Prince Mill.

"I-" Princess Aria began as she weighed her options.

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"... have no choice but to oblige!" She curtseyed, walking over to the offered seat.

°At least you do something right, this time° Lady Leah nodded her head in pride.

All eyes trailed as she took her seat beside Prince Mill.

"Good day, I am Duke Ulien of Pyndra." He brought out his hand for a handshake.

"Aria!" She replied plainly, she shook his hand, smiling.

*Ahem*

King Zane shot a hard glare Duke Ulien's way. "It was nice meeting you!" He said in a hurry, pulling off his hands from her grip.

°That felt odd° Princess Aria looked over at the cause of the disturbance, her Ocean blue eyes meeting his emerald's.

"Hi!" She mouthed, feeling a little awkward at the unwavering gaze from Zane.

He nodded with a smile before standing up, glancing through the audience, he picked up his

gold rim crystal wine glass.

"Distinguished guest!" He began, "It is my pleasure to welcome you all to this wonderful occasion, we are graced with the presence of two beautiful Princesses-"

Princess Aria's composed composure was compromised as she choked on hearing those words.

"Are you alright?" Prince Mill dropped his book, patting the bare back of Princess Aria.

"I'm... fine!" Princess Aria steadied her breathing, shrugging off his hands. If she didn't know any better she would have welcomed his gesture, but gradually knowing the King's actions, his brother might carry the burden of his actions all because of his seemingly little gesture.

°She just wants attention!° Princess Maelin's thoughts screamed in rage.

The grip on King Zane's wine glass hardening as he watched the scene before him.

°He was just trying to help out, that is all° King Zane closed his eyes momentarily, getting a grip on reality.

All attention went back to the King after the momentary disturbance.

"We are all gathered here to officially celebrate Princess Aria and Princess Maelin, welcome to our prestigious castle!" He smiled, "To the Princesses!" He raised his wine glass.

"To the Princesses!" They all chorused.

Sitting back down, any trace of the enthusiasm shown earlier vanished, replace with the cold demeanor of the King.

"Psst!" Princess Aria poked on the side of Sir Mill.

"What is it?" Sir Mill questioned, irritated at being disturbed.

"Why is that seat empty?" She pointed at the seat opposite the King.

"I assume you should know why." Prince Mill deapanned.

°Is she really this dumb, not knowing who seats there?° He looked at the confused Princess, whose teeth bit down on her lower lip in thought.

"Umm..." She squinted her eyes, trying her best to recollect why she should know the answer.

°That's right! Use that brain of yours° Sir Mill smiled, happy that with the current distraction, he would be allowed an alone time to continue his indulgence in his book.

Snapping her fingers she shook Prince Mill slightly which only irked him further, "That's where the Queen seats!" She exclaimed.

"I'm glad your brain could take that!" Prince Mill sighed in relief.

"But that doesn't seem right!" She shook her head on thought, "Back home, we sat anywhere we wanted at the dining hall."

"Brother just keeps that seat empty as a pitiful reminder of when mother was still alive." Prince Mill spat in spite.

°Good thing, I didn't opt out for that seat, who knows what could have happened° Princess Aria shook off the thought.

"Oh- Kay!" Princess Aria raised her hands in defense on touching a sensitive topic, "Let's just get on with the food then." She looked the other way.

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°Wasn't this meant to be a welcome dinner?° Princess Aria looked on in wonder at the fancy dinner arrangements, with the servants trooping in, in their numbers; setting the table for each guest.

The dinner plate laid in the centre of her table area, there laid the forks to the left of the plate and knives and spoons to the right.

°Pointy!° She remarked as she placed her finger on the fork prongs which faced upwards, the knife blades facing towards her plate.

°When is the food going to arrive?° Princess Aria groaned in frustration as she looked on as a servant laid a salad plate on top of the dinner plate and the soup bowl on top of the salad plate.

Looking over at Princess Maelin, she looked poised and calm, her chin high, as she watched the servant fold her napkin into the shape of a swan, placing it on her side plate.

°Hmph, I want a swan too!° Princess Aria wished.

"Could you make my napkin into a swan?" Princess Aria asked the servant who had began folding her napkin.

"I'm so sorry, Your Highness." The servant trembled in fear, apologizing. "I have a limited knowledge on that technique."

"It's alright, you don't need to be scared of me," Princess Aria smiled, "Do I look monstrous?"

"No, Your Highness!" The servant bowed once again, her tensed muscles relaxing a bit.

"Hi, I'm Aria," She held out her hand in a shake, "but I guess you already know that. So what's yours?"

"I'm Pael, Your Highness." She held onto the napkin, uneasiness still present.

"You have a beautiful name!" Princess Aria nodded, "Could you show me a napkin fold you're good at? I'm sure it would be splendid!" She cajoled.

"I have one in mind," Pael's timid voice suggested as she fiddled the white napkin, "A rose!"

"Okay?!" Princess Aria shifted in her seat, nodding her head in ecstacy.

"Here you go!" Pael placed the rose folded napkin on Princess Aria's side plate.

"It's beautiful!" Princess complimented.

"I'm glad you like it, Your Highness." She felt a sense of pride in her work.

"When does the food get served?" Princess Aria whispered to Pael.

"In a few minutes, Your Highness." Pael whispered back.

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"Zane?!" Princess Maelin snapped her fingers repeatedly in front of him but to no avail.

°What is he looking at?° Princess Maelin followed his gaze.

"Her?" Princess Maelin scoffed.

Looking at Princess Aria as she chattered so heartily with a servant.

°Typical° Princess Maelin shook her head in disapproval.

The mouth watering aroma of the main dish, a pan-seared salmon with sautéed spinach, roasted turkey and zucchini.

°Meat!° This was the only registered word in her thoughts as she wanted nothing than to have a bite.

Putting out her fingers, she aimed at the legs.

A smack from Prince Mill's hand, halted her attack on the turkey. "That's not the right way to go about it!" He corrected.

°Hands are much faster and more satisfying!° Princess Aria's mind screamed, but retreated her hands to her side in embarrassment.

"Are you sure you were a Princess in your Kingdom?" Prince Mill shook his head in wonder, "You weren't switched at birth perhaps?"

"Hahaha!" Princess Aria gave a dry laughter, "I never cared about the etiquette nonsense, I was a real problem child back then." She chuckled at her fond memories.

"You still are." Prince Mill mumbled.

"What did you say?" Princess Aria narrowed her eyes.

"The fork and knife should suffice, it was placed on your table for a reason." Prince Mill swiftly diverted the conversation, placing a evenly cut salmon in his mouth, munching.

"That's hard work!" Princess Aria whined, looking at the turkey sadly.

"If you need help later on, do ask your lady-in-waiting." Prince Mill nodded towards Lady Leah as she stood a far end with Royal Advisor Curtis. "Her training should yield positive results."

"She has a name, and that's Leah!" Princess Aria for an unknown reason felt the need to defend her.

"Whatever you say." Prince Mill replied, taking a sip out of his red wine, savoring the taste as he smacked his lips.

°I had totally forgotten how indifferent he is° Princess Aria held onto her fork in rage.

Picking at her diced zucchini, her appetite dwindling as she tried figuring how she would use her cutlery. Looking over at Zane, his demeanor not easily read as he meticulously ate his share of his food.

°Lucky° She looked in envy as she watched everyone eat as they skillfully used their cutleries.

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"Your dessert, Your Highness!" Pael eagerly served Princess Aria's cut of a triple chocolate ombre cake, "You are sure to love it!" She bowed before taking her leave.

"T- Thankyou!" Princess Aria looked at the cake in shock.

Tears brimmed in her eyes as she stared at the cake. Pushing back the chair, she stood up abruptly.

°Don't start now!° She pleaded with her eyes as she held back her storming tears at bay for a while.

"Please pardon my early leave," She tried steadying her shaky voice. "Do have a goodnight, everyone." She put on a smile, avoided all eye contact; she walked stiffly to the door, once out of the dining hall, her smile dropping instantly, she kicked off her shoes, picking it up, she ran to her chambers.