Chapter 152 - Another Side of Zenia Anisen? (Part 4)

"Your Highness, the Young Madam has no appetite. She is telling me that she has some dishes that she wants to be prepared for her. I come here to discuss these things with her." Zenia delivered her lines according to the character she was portraying.

She did not notice that Zekiah was shooting daggers at Verone who was feeling ill at ease at the moment. Verone had a feeling that the Crown Princess would murder her on the spot if she moved even a little.

Verone never felt so nervous when facing the Crown Princess before, but in Verone's opinion, the Crown Princess at that moment would like to devour her alive.

"Is that so?" Zekiah walked closer to where Verone was and asked, "Would you like me to send in some nourishing tonic?"

Verone was conflicted. If it was the Crown Princess in the past, she could easily decline. The current Crown Princess seemed to tell her that she should not refuse if she wanted to see the sun tomorrow. However, if she accepted the generosity of the current Crown Princess, she could be poisoned to death. Whether she had decided to accept or not, she would end up in the same manner – dead.

She was puzzled by the sudden change in the Crown Princess. She wished that Zenia would return to her old self. She already thought of ways to handle the Crown Princess, but if Zenia changed suddenly, Verone's previous efforts would be in vain. She had no idea how to deal with the current Crown Princess. 

"It is up to you, Crown Princess. I will follow your lead."

Zenia was surprised at Verone's reply.

'Is this the same lady? Is she really ill?'

Zenia had given all the information that Zekiah needed to know, including the elixir that Verone was taking. 

Looking at the situation closely, Zenia finally saw the reason. It seemed that it was too much for Zekiah to act out his part without being angry. He must have thought that his sister was suffering from it all, and he could be giving Verone a menacing gaze.

"Your Highness, the kitchen will prepare some sweet treats later. I will make sure to send the treats to you after you go back to your room right now." Zenia gave Zekiah a sweet smile.

Zekiah shuddered when he saw it. They looked at each other eye to eye.

"This young maid, may I invite you to my room. I also have some dishes that I want the kitchen to prepare for me."

Verone looked at Zenia, and she gave her a reassuring look.

"After you, Your Highness." Zenia looked at Verone and nodded her head once.

Zenia went together with Zekiah as Verone's maids watched their departing backs.

"Your Highness, can we really trust that Leyna?" The youngest maid, Tilda, asked Verone with concern.

"We can only trust her. There's no one else here who can help us. The Left Minister and the Ninth Prince are not doing anything." The maids detected the anger in Verone's tone.

"We will try our very best to serve you well, Your Highness," uttered the maid named Helena.

Verone looked at all her maids and gritted her teeth. She had no way of knowing what the Left Minister or the Ninth Prince was planning to do next. She only hoped that neither of them would abandon her in the end.

"What are you doing? Why are you threatening her?" Zenia blurted out to her brother as soon as they were the only ones in the room. 

"She' annoying. Why do you keep up with her? Just make her regret entering your husband's palace."

"This is a covert operation. Who told you that I am not giving her some hard time?"

"I have eyes, and I can see that you are going easy on her just because she's a woman. Don't forget that you're a woman too."

"I'm not going easy on her just because she's a woman." Zenia tried to sound as if her brother wronged her.

Zekiah rolled his eyes.

"Okay! Maybe I'm going easy on her just a bit because she's a woman, but I'm not going to let her walk all over me. Are you satisfied?"

Zekiah smiled, "I know you won't let her trample you, but let me play with her for a while to vent out my anger. I won't kill her or something."

"Don't overdo it. Even though she's stupid, she'd still have some tricks up her sleeves. Don't underestimate her."

"I know."

"I will get going now."

Zenia walked to the door and already turned the knob when Zekiah shouted.

"Give me big portions of the snacks that you are going to make. I want you to make them or I will let her life miserable."

Zenia glared at Zekiah and went out of the room.

* * * * *

Zenia returned to the kitchen and told the head cook about the dishes that they need to prepare for Verone. She also included the dishes that they must prepare for Zekiah. She said that the Crown Princess called for her too and gave her some instructions.

She knew that Zekiah could be childish sometimes, and she must prepare the snacks that he told her to make for him. Zenia knew that Zekiah could be petty. 

'Petty…'

The image of Vaughn suddenly flashed in Zenia's mind. She must prepare something for him first before Zekiah. Zenia was afraid that Vaughn might cause trouble for everyone when he learned that she prepared something for her brother first. As for Zekiah, he wouldn't be able to know anything.

Zenia began to change the way the kitchen should work. The head cook did not refuse because she already saw that the system that Zenia would like to implement could help them work efficiently and fast. There would be no more delays in delivering the meals. They would be able to serve every meal on time.

Zenia prepared a simple soup and hearty meat sandwiches for Vaughn. She also prepared him a pot of tea that she personally brewed. She knew that he did not eat his breakfast yet. She told someone to deliver the soup and sandwiches to Vaughn as per the Crown Princess' order.

After that, she began preparing Zekiah's snacks. She knew that her kitchen days were there to stay. She braced herself for possible occasional requests from the childish men in her life.

Knock! Knock! Knock!

Redivo was the one who delivered the food to Vaughn. He entered the study without waiting for Vaughn to acknowledge him. He knew that the Crown Prince was too busy with the piles of doc.u.ments to be signed.

Redivo put the food and drink on the table. Vaughn continued with his work and did not spare a glance at the food that Redivo delivered.

"These are all personally prepared by your wife."

Vaughn stopped writing and looked at the food on the table. They were not the usual things that the kitchen would prepare. He felt warm inside and ordered Redivo to clear his table.

He sipped his tea and was surprised by the refreshing, light flavor. He sampled the soup, and it was probably the tastiest soup that he had ever tasted. He was not sure if it was because he knew that Zenia was the one who cooked it. He took a bite on the sandwich and the flavor exploded in his mouth. The meat was cooked to perfection and the taste blended well with the soup and the tea.

He took his time enjoying his meal. Zenia was indeed a great cook. He wished she could prepare his meal every day, but he also knew that Zenia was not someone who would choose the kitchen over her weapons. Redivo looked at the satisfied expression on Vaughn's face. He smiled and left the room without disturbing his master.

* * * * *

"My Prince, we received a report that the spy maid that we planted in the Crown Prince's palace has returned. We gathered the information that she left the palace earlier and reasoned that her mother was sick. However, our secret guard who was stationed near Prince Vaughn's palace could not confirm it. But, he admitted that a servant's carriage left the palace during those days. The maid could be in the carriage and was being guarded."

"Do you know if that maid and Verone already met?"

"My apologies, Your Highness, we still don't have a report on this. If that maid has returned, they will surely meet. We are still trying our best to break through the defenses of the Palace of the Crown Prince."

Damien threw the nearby vase to the guard who just let the vase hit him. He knew that avoiding it would only make the Ninth Prince more furious.

"What about Jorick? What is he up to? He should have returned to Luna Inn long ago."

"It seemed that Jorick encountered a troublesome person and could not shake him off. He only said that he could handle it himself and asked for a few more days."

"Find out who it is and know his business with Jorick."

"Yes, Your Highness."

Damien rubbed his chin and became curious about the identity of the person that was pestering Jorick. 

'What do you want to know about Jorick?'

Back in Solaria, the manager already assigned someone to clean up the room that Vaughn and Zenia stayed in when they failed to return on the expected time. He knew that they would not return any more. He did not report the previous incident since nothing was missing. The manager knew that he would only invite more trouble if he reported anything. The couple already left and it was best to let the sleeping dogs lie.

Jorick protested when the manager assigned someone to clean the room. Vaughn already paid for it in advance and the payment was good until next week. Jorick was still looking forward to meeting them. The manager advised him not to meddle too much.

In the afternoon, Jorick had a visitor.

"Why are you being stubborn? My master already told you that he knew where you come from." Rodham once again bothered Jorick.

"I told you, I don't know the identities of the guests. I'm not even sure if they gave their real names. I am also waiting for their return."

"Are you planning to ask them about your country of origin?"

Jorick looked at Rodham for a long time and uttered, "Compared to you and your master, the young madam and her husband look more trustworthy."

"Are you accusing us of being shady?"

"You're the one who said it and not me."

"Humph, if you ever change your mind, you can go to Magasiner Au Coin Dela Rue and look for Duke Gordon Milford. We will leave for the capital in a week. Don't regret it."

Rodham walked away from Jorick and headed to a blacksmith. Jorick looked at the direction of Magasiner Au Coin Dela Rue and shook his head.

* * * * *

It was a very busy day for Zenia, but she did not forget to send in the meals of Vaughn and Zekiah during lunch. He told Harnen to send a message to Vaughn that she wouldn't be able to join him for lunch and will try to have dinner with him.

It was good enough for Vaughn since he too was busy with his pending work. He received another plea from Verone's maid, and he totally ignored it. He sent a message to Zekiah and told him that he could take care of Verone who was pestering him once more.

Vaughn knew that Zekiah was very angry at Verone. He could not wait for the things that his brother-in-law would do to Verone. Whatever they may be, he was certain that it would be ugly.

Zekiah smirked when he received Vaughn's message.

"Help me choose some accessories. I need to go somewhere." Zekiah ordered Rosalie.

"Where will we go, Crown Princess?"

"I need to deliver some nourishing tonics to the Young Madam."

Rosalie shuddered when she saw the Crow Princess emitting a dark, sinister aura.