Chapter 16：16. Meghan and Powdered Poison.

Meghan. Women who were the same age as elie were outside the kitchen area. She skulk like a thief. Her legs were bare with no shoes on them.

Meghan's head looks up, staring at the balcony of Ariadne's shuttered room. Meghan is sure she saw someone climbing over the rock wall to Ariadne's room. Meghan sure as hell she just saw somebody. Well, even meghan saw the people in the black suits jump up on the balcony and create a lot of noise.

"Mom, what are you doing here? Didn't you just throw out the leftovers?"

Hearing that question, Meghan berked in shock. It was Sergio who asked. Sergio was Meghan's only son. And Sergio was part of the strongest fighting force in the palace.

"Oh, you scared me. What's up?"

Sergio shook his head. "Nothing. I just wanted to ask where my sword belt was."

"I put it on top of the wardrobe."

"Oh, don't put it there. Not visible to my eyes." Sergio blurted a little protesting.

Meghan tooked her tongue off. "You go back to your room! I'll come by your room later to clean up the mess."

"Okay. You don't have to visit me often next time. I'm ashamed of the other soldiers. I feel like I'm your only son. Don't embarrass me in front of the other soldiers. Obviously our rooms are in a different building."

Meghan shrooms off her son. The woman hurried immediately to the kitchen area.

"Are you not listening to me?"

Meghan flips over. Looking at Sergio being so chatty and annoying. If Sergio's the woman it's okay, but Sergio's the man. Meghan gets most upset when she hears a bunch of complaints and runs through Sergio's mouth. It's a good thing Sergio has a good badge in the army.

"You never listen to me. If you don't want your mother to visit your room, then clean up your own. Don't mess up." Meghan stated in a firm tone.

Sergio scratched the part of his head that didn't itch. The man chuckled slowly and nodded. "Okay. Then I'm going back to the soldiers' room. Thank you for bringing me my food earlier."

Meghan nodded. "Okay. I'll never hear from you again. Instead, visit the kitchen every two or three days. I'll give you plenty of food."

"Okay, mom. See you."

"Yes.."

As Sergio left the royal kitchen area, Meghan started ordering the kitchen servants to start their activities. The morning would be too early.

When Meghan was about to have the servants in charge of princess Ariadne's bath, Darian suddenly stopped by.

Meghan asked. "What is it darian?"

"The princess will rise at noon today. So the servants in charge of giving her a better bath later."

"On what basis does a princess get up too early?"

"In the early days, the princess wake up and have nightmares. She's hit hier forehead on the curb. She is weary, I shall stand guard in front of princess Ariadne's Chambers." Darian explained everything to Meghan.

Meghan's eyes are winking. She smells like a lie. Meghan remembers clearly that she saw someone climbing up to Ariadne's balcony.

"All right then. I let the servants help with the kitchen activities."

Darian nodded politely to Meghan. "If princess Ariadne wakes up I will come here again to tell you, Meghan."

"No need. Just tell your mother she must lead the servants to bathe the princess."

At that word, Darian gave meghan a glimpse. The man nodded briefly and then walked away.

Meghan has a faint smile. She stared at the darian exit until the man's back disappeared at a bend in the palace wall. "You are too loyal to stand beside Ariadne, Darian." Meghan says, softly.

***

The temperature is getting warmer by the day, of course. The sun has made his way to Ariadne's bed. The girl was seen yawning and flexing her body muscles. Ariadne still wakes up.

The Roman wall clock embedded in the wall of her room pointed to nine o 'clock in the morning. Ariadne sits quietly. She doesn't feel sick anymore. Her sleep was quite well and was not disturbed by any sound.

Ah, Ariadne remembered her promise to Charlotte the other day. Today she must successfully persuade Elie to ask for one special day each week. One particular day of her being cleared of all palace regulations and no bodyguards. At least Ariadne should be able to seduce Elie.

Ariadne strolled to her bedroom door. But before the girl opened the door, Darian suddenly opened the door from the outside.

Ariadne nodded. "My body feels better."

"I'm glad to hear it. Do you want to take a shower?"

"Yes. I want to shower myself. Tell the servants to wait outside the bathroom for me."

Darian nodded and immediately went to tell the rotating servants to bathe Ariadne in preparation for Ariadne's gown and jewels.

***

"Is the food for the guards ready?" Meghan asked the kitchen staff.

All the kitchen servants seemed to nod. At another table a large portion of food was already filled for the guards and soldiers.

Meghan asked again. "Which is the food for the special people?"

One attendant showed me a special tray containing three morning meals. Meghan nodded in understanding. "I'll take this tray. Please all of you go to bring food to the guards and soldiers at the front."

All the kitchen servants nodded at once. They all walked in neat rows carrying food in their hands to give to the men of the bodyguard and soldiers.

Meghan has a faint smile when she sees that the kitchen is clear. Three meals on a big tray that looks so delicious.

Meghan pulls out a bowl of mashed rice. Then her right hand reached for a small bottle from inside the pocket of her dress. The woman opened the lid of the small bottle and poured the small amount into the bowl of rice.

Meghan does that rice slowly. The mashed rice has now been mixed with meghan's special powder. The woman's head was seen turning to the right and to the left. Look around and be aware that someone is watching her.

"Rice for breakfast this morning is specially for you, Darian." Says meghan with a crooked smile.

Behind the door of the spice room Elie hears and sees all Meghan's doing. The woman clenched her hands. Why would Meghan want to harm Darian? Elie wouldn't let her son get hurt.

Elie should wait till Meghan leaves with a tray. Then she emerged from the room of spices. Elie glared at Meghan's back.

"Are you behind the king and queen's death, Meghan?" Elie asked quietly.

***