The dining chamber was a hub of activity.
This in itself wasn’t unusual.
After all, maids were constantly required to interpret every frown, wrinkle, or ear wriggle to bring us what we wanted.
During the rare tis my entire family were gathered, or the even rarer tis when dignitaries were permitted to dine here instead of the main hall, it was a given that there’d be a flurry of movent as plates were tidied, drinks were refilled and towering cakes were held up with halberds.
However, no matter how grim or how many layers the cakes in question had, the maids of the Royal Villa could be relied upon to act with stoic dignity.
This ti, however, things were different.
Sweat ran down their faces as they constantly dashed about, causing their tidy hair to beco undone and their immaculate uniforms to crease.
The reason was simple.
“Omnomnomonomnom.”
Yes.
A clockwork doll was slightly peckish.
Displaying only a fraction of her gluttony, Coppelia indulged in all the appetisers that three kitchens in rare collaboration could conjure on short notice.
Being only a light supper before the evening al, small portions of entrées were being offered as she sat in the non-wonky chair reserved for guests of honour at our dining table.
And then they continued to be offered, one after another.
Maids rushed to her side directly from the kitchens, carrying trays of tiny bowls, plates and bread baskets, the contents of which disappeared faster than loot in a goblin cave.
I didn’t bla her.
This was her very first ti eating actual food.
Indeed, it was wonderful!
The soupe à la betterave gratinée was perfectly seasoned, the canapés à la pom royale were crisp and sweet, while the marinière d’artichauts et d’asperges was creamy without being overpowering.
No hint of the dry or stale food from a dinner now almost forgotten could be found.
But why should it be?
I had fixed everything.
Everything.
Ohohohohohohohohoho!
Indeed … I had returned triumphant!
Gone was the threat of oeufs en urette with the consistency of tepid pond water! … But more than that, gone were all thoughts of a kingdom in debt and the cruel injustices that would occur from it!
That’s why–here in the seat I was physically glued to and my very life under the looming shadow of marriage, I now experienced the joy of my efforts co to fruition!
Through the sweat and tears of everybody except , I’d not only secured the prosperity of the realm and the dinner table, but I’d affird my status as a princess dedicated solely to her people via their books purchased and food consud!
… Sothing I needed to confirm by asking Mother and Father, just as soon as they stopped staring in awe at Coppelia’s ability to taste test for poison without complaining about the heat of the piping hot food lting her tongue.
“Goodness ,” said Father, his voice impressed as he poked away at his croutons. “Now that’s certainly a healthy appetite. By all ans, please enjoy all we have to offer, Miss Coppelia. No need to hold back on our account. All that the Royal Villa has to offer is yours to indulge in.”
“Indeed, it’s the least we can do,” said Mother, repeatedly dabbing her lips with a napkin despite not having eaten anything. “We’ve been looking forward to eting you for so long.”
“Quite so. We’ve heard so many colourful things about you from Juliette’s letters.”
“It’s truly a delight to finally make your acquaintance. She’s had nothing but praise for you.”
“If there’s anything you’d like, please do not hesitate to let us know–including more of the cherry soufflé. I see you’re quite fond of that. It’s one of my personal favourites as well. With that said, you do appear to be rather famished. Is the fare outside the Royal Villa perhaps not to your liking?”
“The fware was gudnf—”
“Excuse ?”
Coppelia swallowed the rest of her soufflé. I wasn’t certain if she’d chewed.
“The fare was good!” she said, nodding enthusiastically. “And also healthy and green! We most definitely didn’t eat crêpes, goblin moss cakes and brown stuff everyday!”
The expressions of my mother and father turned to confusion.
I clapped my hands in delight … and it had nothing to do with my very loyal handmaiden rembering the most important task of selective amnesia.
Indeed, I was not only overjoyed at their good impression of Coppelia, but their good health as well.
They were as sprightly as I could ever rember.
Although they could never be called old, nor could they be referred to as youthful either. The demands of rule were too gruelling on both body and mind for that.
However, such was their happiness at my return, all their wrinkles had practically disappeared. The shine of their cheeks were as bright as their own portraits on the wall.
Most of all, however, was the speed with which they’d dashed to welco us … sothing I’d appreciate more if it wasn’t so dangerous given the long hems of their formal attire.
Even so, I could hardly deny that it made smile.
“Indeed, over the course of my royal tour, I experienced the kingdom through all that was grown by the hands of our people. To taste bread with the mud still clinging to the flour is truly a captivating experience. I learned much of our subjects through their generosity and labour.”
“Yeah,” said Coppelia as she waved for more of everything to be piled in front of her. “I an, we ate a lot. All the ti. So days felt more like a picnic than a journey. Even the horse was getting impatient.”
“What Coppelia ans is that we ensured nothing of this fair realm was missed. It is not enough to simply pass through like unwanted strangers in the night. Every corner was thoroughly admired.”
“Especially bakeries. I helped with the admiring.”
“Indeed, we paid tribute to the hard work of our rchants who as ever carry on the entrepreneurial spirit of our ancestors. Coppelia was very helpful in this regard. There was much I didn’t understand about the ways of comrce. Her advice and presence were indispensable.”
My parents shared nods of contentnt.
“Well, then perhaps Juliette’s letters were understated,” said Mother, almost threatening to break out into a smile as she offered a respectful nod to Coppelia. “We cannot offer our gratitude enough for all that you’ve done, not least in ensuring our daughter didn’t accidentally get herself lost in a forest.”
I gave a small cough, all the while tossing a plate of carrot confit beneath the table.
“Please, Mother. I’m aware of the dangers of forests. I would never wander into one.”
Her attention snapped to at once, like a spider sensing its prey caught in its web.
“Is that so? And yet from what little you’ve revealed, I wonder if it would have been safer.”
My smile quivered slightly. A maid imdiately replaced the carrot confit with another.
“Oh? Whatever do you an?”
“I an that your letters are sprinkled with concerning tidbits and sparse on details. It appears you’ve been frequently encountering those of an unfavourable disposition. Vagabonds, even. I needn’t tell you that such confrontations are quite dangerous and not to our liking.”
“Which isn’t to suggest, of course, that we disapprove of your royal tour,” added Father quickly. “On the contrary, we’re very proud. That you managed to return without being covered in leaves, and, well, other things, is truly worthy of the practical smarts we knew you had deep inside you.”
“E-Excuse ! What do you an by–”
“With that said, your mother and I are truly delighted to have you back. Of course, we did ask Clarise to keep an eye on you whenever she could find you through her telescope as well. She says you were busy, although her explanations are rather sparse on the details as well.”
C-Clarise!
I had no idea what she’d seen … but whatever it was, nobody would know! Sisters stick together!
Naturally, I still needed to find a way to offer my gratitude–that’s why before introducing Coppelia, I’d find a way to convince her to not run away the mont she sensed danger!
“My, how wonderful. To think that all this ti, the things I didn’t do, say or eat might have been witnessed by Clarise. I’m simply overjoyed to know she was watching over . In fact, I really must thank her. Urgently so. Will she be joining us soon?”
“Ah …” My father’s expression fell–as did the crouton on his fork. “I’m afraid she won’t be joining us. Clarise has fallen slightly ill.”
“Ill?!” I was shocked. “Then that is all the more reason to bring her! She needs food at once!”
“It’s not a lack of nutrition she suffers from. It’s a fever.”
“A fever?! That’s … That’s awful! Is it serious?”
“The physician reassures us it’s rely a passing spell common with the changing of the seasons. However, it does an bed rest is required. Have no fear, you’ll soon be able to speak with her. She’s already been inford of your arrival.”
“I see … then I hope she recovers without issue. Clarise does have a fragile constitution.”
Offering a show of courage, Father gave a light chuckle.
“Clarise is more durable than she appears. Why, I’m certain she’ll jump out of bed the mont she catches wind of Miss Coppelia. So before she does so, your mother and I would like to monopolise your ti. There’s much about this royal tour we wish to ask, particularly concerning … well–”
“Everything,” said Mother. “Clarise will be fine. You on the other hand have so explaining to do … including this matter about throwing ducks at mages.”
“O-Oohohoho?! Did I include that? … If so, you needn’t worry! A highly abbreviated yet also accurate account can be shared just after I finish this delicious carrot confit, which keeps strangely reappearing no matter how much I make it disappear.”
It was, frankly, highly vexing.
One of the maids clearly didn’t understand the subtlety of tossing plates beneath the table.
Clearly a new hire. It was worrying to see standards dropping since I left, but I suppose this was the only way for equilibrium to balance out my new staff.
Still, I saved my finger of firing for later.
It was hardly only my parents who had questions, after all.
“Indeed, there’s much I wish to discuss,” I said, innocently smiling with a clap of my hands. “... But not only about myself. On the way back to the Royal Villa, I caught wind of so curious news. Sothing about a … Royal Tirea Company.”
My father excitedly sat up, his fork resting against his plate.
“Ah! So you’ve already heard! Excellent. That ans it’s beginning to spread.”
“Excuse ?”
“The Royal Tirea Company. I won’t take all the credit, but it was a sudden thought which ca to my mind. As you know, the kingdom is filled with many truly exceptional goods. But more often than not, people must travel to Reitzlake to find them. Even then, most of everything is lost amidst the wares from other kingdoms. rchants are loyal to crowns, after all.”
“... And so we’ve decided to compete with them?”
“Not compete. rely to offer a convenient location for the kingdom’s most quality showings. rchants and commoners alike are free to purchase as they would from a store or a supplier. It’s an excellent opportunity to highlight our finest goods while diversifying our inco stream.”
I was stunned.
It wasn’t that I necessarily disagreed with what Father was saying … but the words diversifying inco stream wasn’t sothing I had ever heard him say before.
Not unless it was lost amidst the smalltalk concerning his favourite socks.
“I … see, but would rchants not find cause to complain if we sell the sa goods as them?”
“Not if we’ve carefully chosen our stock to reduce the possibility of that occurring. Why, so of what we sell cos directly from the Royal Villa. The cambert, for example.”
I tapped my ears, certain that I’d misheard.
“Hm? Did I hear that right? You’re selling cambert? Your cambert? The ones you prize above all else?”
“Well, yes, but they’re hardly ant to only be looked at, or indeed, left to mature–as so of the tour groups are keen to point out, even if they’re not quite certain where the sll is coming from.”
“Tour groups.” My smile continued, even as my heart wavered. “That’s sothing I was curious about as well.”
“Ah, well, I’m afraid I can’t take all the credit for that. It was your mother’s idea.”
“Mother’s … ?”
I stared at her in disbelief. She lifted up a cup of tea and pretended to take a sip.
“Clutter removal,” she said matter-of-factly. “And at no expense. The less we need to deliver to our company branches, the more room there is in the carts for other goods. Those visiting the Royal Villa not only pay to enter, but also for the privilege of taking our unneeded hoard of things for us.”
“I see,” I said, never realising we had anything for sale. “That’s very … practical.”
“Practical, yes. But also tasteful. Those lavender plates were the first to go.”
“The lavender plates? … Do you an the ones with the poisoned ivy pattern?”
“Those are the ones. Ghastly to the last. I’ve no wish to think about my tongue being stung while eating.”
“But that’s why you chose them, no?”
Mother paused, as if needing to rember that fact.
“In the past–yes,” she said, her tone dismissive. “But modern sensibilities an modern tastes. I hope to do away with the rest of what’s languishing in our cupboards. Plainer tableware will help soften our image. Shows of austenacity are unlikely to garner favour with the common people.”
“... But is that not equally unlikely to impress the nobility?”
“They too can learn from us, too. The nobility may pay their share in taxes, but so too do the farrs, the rchants and the stableboys. Often too much. In that regard, rely offloading plates is hardly enough to show our ties to the least wealthy.”
I slowly nodded.
“You refer to the tax relief.”
“Well now, that’s a very recent decision,” said Father, the approval clear in his tone. “But it’s no surprise it’s already made the rounds. There’s been much suffering as of late, and when that happens, what the people shall rember most is whether our hand gives or takes.”
“I-Indeed … it is imperative that we remain in good standing with the common people ... to decline the taxes used for funding the pillow castles is but a small cost ...”
“A small cost, yes, but even if it was a large one it wouldn’t matter. Too often are the common people overlooked, when combined they stand taller than any of us. It’s important that we rember this should we decide to impose taxes again. That is a privilege, not a right.”
My smile twitched. As did my hands. Wildly as they gripped a spoon for comfort.
These … These words were completely strange … ?!
My mother and father, who had always imparted upon the need to remain tall so that our subjects could strive to match us … was speaking about taxes being a privilege?!
I glanced around the dining chamber once, searching for the spies being fooled.
I hadn’t a clue who these words were being offered to, but it certainly wasn’t . Were they under duress? Did they need to blink twice to show they were fine? Or was it sothing more sinister at play?
“Ah, goodness ,” said Father, with a sigh towards his salad. “I’ve spoken so long even the lettuce has grown bored. My apologies, Juliette. Your ears deserve better.”
A mont later–
He picked up his fork again. Except that it wasn’t the croutons he ate.
Poking a piece of lettuce, he did away with all my mories of him discreetly tossing anything green or leafy to join the carrots beneath the table.
It was our shared bond, forged beneath Grandmother’s glare.
And it was one he shattered with an unfussed bite.
My hands covered my mouth.
Then, I promptly stood up from my seat and pointed, reeling from the horror.
“... W-Who are you?!”
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