Chapter 154 - Heartwarming Meal at Grandpa’s Place

It already turned dark, and Vaughn had not seen Zenia since the last time he saw her - that was in the morning. He was beginning to get gloomy and irritated. He was already used to sharing a meal with her and seeing her every now and then.

"Harnen!"

"Yes, Your Highness."

"See what my wife is doing in the kitchen right now."

"Yes, Your Highness."

Zenia told Harnen to guard Zekiah for the time being since there were lots of guards posted in the kitchen area. No one would dare infiltrate it. Zenia knew that Zekiah only knew a few martial arts.

Everyone was busy in the kitchen, and the head cook was able to prepare the dishes that Verone had told them to make. They have an hour left to deliver the meals. It was just the first day of the implementation of the new system, but Zenia was more than satisfied.

Zenia noticed Harnen's presence and searched for him. When she saw him, she gave him a signal to follow her outside. It was done so casually that no one noticed what happened, except the head cook who was currently finishing up the dishes.

The head cook followed Zenia and Harnen with her eyes. She recognized Harnen as one of the Crown Prince's secret guards. She decided to observe to confirm her hunch. It would be best if the maid named Leyna, who just returned, was their real Crown Princess. The head cook took a liking to Zenia, and she would be content if the man that she served from a very young age would have someone like that maid by his side.

"Why did the Crown Prince send you?" Zenia asked Harnen immediately when they reached the side of the kitchen.

"His Highness wants me to check what you are busy with. Your Highness, it is dark now and dinner will be served soon. I think the Crown Prince is looking forward to having dinner with you."

She knew that Vaughn must be sulking already. He told her hundreds of times that he was already used to having her around, but she had been away from him all day.  

Zenia sighed, "Go and tell Redivo to arrange grandpa's room and we will be having our dinner there. Tell my husband that I will be waiting for him there."

Harnen flashed a meaningful smile, "Yes, Your Highness."

Zenia shook her head as Harnen quickly returned to the main residence. He told Redivo what Zenia ordered him to do, and then he informed Vaughn. The men did not waste a single minute and did what they were told.

When Zenia returned to the kitchen, the head cook had prepared everything. She placed the dishes that Zenia cooked for the Crown Prince and the Crown Princess in separate trays. But, she noticed that the dishes on the tray for the Crown Prince had additional servings of other dishes – all of those dishes were the ones that she usually asked to be served to her.

Zenia looked at the head cook who was looking at her with mirth in her eyes.

"I guess you will be taking these dishes to the Crown Prince," the head cook handed the tray to Zenia and added, "I have been serving His Highness since he was young, and he once told me that he met a wonderful girl in Ishelon although she was a bit naughty. He told me that she was the most beautiful girl that he had ever seen. I hope that you will always have a blissful marriage."

The head cook smiled warmly at Zenia. She was certain that the little girl that the young Crown Prince was telling her back then and the woman standing before her were one and the same. The Crown Prince was loved by his people, and they only wished that he would marry the girl that he had been keeping in his heart all through the years.

"Thank you, Head Cook," Zenia took the tray.

"You may call me Mara, Your Highness. I am so used to hearing head cook from the Crown Prince that I nearly forgot my name."

"Thank you, Mara. I look forward to working with you in the days to come."

Zenia walked out of the kitchen. She followed the path leading to the old man's courtyard. She did not try to conceal her identity to Mara anymore. She knew that Mara had a good grasp of the situation that they were all currently facing.

When Zenia arrived in the old man's courtyard, everything was nicely arranged. The Crown Prince's men were swift and efficient. Vaughn was still not there, but Zenia was certain that he was going to be there soon.

She had no idea exactly when grandpa would return. None of them, including Vaughn, knew where he went. He just told Redivo that he had some business to take care of. Everyone believed that it was best not to ask anything when the old man was planning something.

The feeling of exhaustion began to take over Zenia's body. She sat on the couch and dozed off. Vaughn saw that scene when he entered the room. Zenia's vigilance was down. She knew that she was surrounded by efficient and trustworthy guards.

Vaughn lifted his wife and put her on the bed. He saw the table full of food, and he knew that most of them were prepared by Zenia especially for him. He lied beside her and put her head on his arm.

He scanned the room, which used to look so big when he was still a little child. He couldn't help imagining Zenia cooking their meal while the little ones were running around. A simple life would be good too. He kissed her forehead and slept with her.

* * * * *

Verone had no other choice but stay in her room. The Crown Princess visited her again and had an idle chat. To be precise, it was Zekiah who kept talking. He did not give Verone a chance to butt in. Verone felt like she was in a torture chamber while being interrogated by a tyrant keeper. She felt like she was having a nervous breakdown. She still could not figure out the sudden change in the Crown Princess. It seemed like something had possessed her.

"Take out the nourishing tonic and serve some to the Young Madam," Zekiah ordered Verone's maid.

When the maid returned, Verone took the cup with a pair of trembling hands. Zekiah smirked when he saw that the content was almost spilled.

Verone drank it in one go and handed the cup to her maid. She was eerily quiet. The maids were beginning to doubt the sanity of their mistress.

"Until when are you required to take your medications?"

Verone looked at Zekiah and did not know how to answer. She had not taken it ever since. Little did she know, her maids were mixing it in her food.

"To answer, Your Highness, Young Madam is supposed to take the last dose tomorrow."

"Is there a need for a follow-up check-up?"

Rosalie was there, and she was the one who answered Zekiah's question, "Your Highness, Doctor Odessa told me to call for her when the Young Madam is still unwell."

"Hmm, we should not neglect these things. Your health, Young Madam, is important to us. We don't want the Left Minister or the King to accuse us of neglecting you."

Verone gritted her teeth and tried her best to remain quiet. She had learned her lessons. The less she talked the fewer mistakes. She felt restless and blamed the tonic for giving her such a feeling. But, she could not go against the Crown Princess.

"You are awfully quiet, aren't you? Do you want me to send for the doctor?"

Verone gave Zekiah a terrified look, "N-No! I am fine, Your Highness. My throat hurts, but it usually happens to me around this time of the year."

The last thing that she needed was another visit from Doctor Odessa.

"If you don't want any doctor, I will let you rest early. After you drank the last batch of elixir, I will take you somewhere."

Zekiah and Rosalie left the room, and Verone let out a sigh of relief.

"Why did the Crown Princess visit again? Why can't she let me have a moment of peace?"

She bowed her head and massaged her temple. The maids looked at each other, and Stella stepped up to narrate the things that they just heard earlier.

"Your Highness, it seems that the Crown Prince and Princess are having a cold war."

Verone suddenly looked up at Stella, "Say that again?"

"The Crown Prince has been staying in his study most of the time and no longer eats his meals together with the Crown Princess. Tonight we saw him walk to the direction of the old courtyard and had not returned yet. We have a hunch that he will be sleeping there."

Verone's lips curved upwards, and she began laughing hysterically. Her maids were terrified and thought that their Young Madam was going insane.

"Zenia Anisen, you're glory days have finally come to an end. You must've done something that made the Crown Prince get angry at you"

"Your Highness, it is possible that the Crown Prince must've have known that the Crown Princess was harassing you. Between you and the Crown Princess, you are definitely better. Maybe the Crown Prince just couldn't cut off his ties with the Crown Princess because of Ovid Anisen." Tilda reasoned with Verone, who began to feel better.

"You need to take this opportunity and grab the Crown Prince's attention. After the last dose of elixir has been delivered, you can try and ask for an audience," Stella suggested.

"Hmm, I'll do as you say. We should strike while the iron is hot."

* * * * *

When Zenia woke up she found herself within Vaughn's arms. He looked so peaceful, and she did not want to disturb him. She slowly freed herself from his embrace but was trapped once more within Vaughn's arms when he pulled her back.

"Let's sleep for a bit more," he whispered in her ears.

Zenia tapped her husband's arm and murmured, "The food is getting cold, and I am hungry."

Vaughn got up and helped his wife. He kissed Zenia's forehead and held her hand as they walked to the table. The dishes were a bit cold. Zenia was about to call out for someone to heat it up when Vaughn stopped her.

"Let's just eat. It's still hot."

Zenia nodded her head, and they both took their seats. Vaughn put food on Zenia's plate, and they began eating their meal.

"I made some changes in the kitchen. You can expect the meals to be delivered on time. The kitchen workers have plenty of time to rest now."

"That's good. Did you make all of these?"

"I prepared your meal, and I have the usual in the kitchen."

Vaughn looked her in disbelief, "Why didn't you prepare a set for yourself? The dishes you cook are way better than the ones being served in the kitchen."

"Oh, I like the ones that Mara makes. She knows the dishes that I want to eat."

"Who's Mara?"

"The head cook! Seriously, you should change that habit of naming people according to their profession. You need to call them by their real names."

"But, I call some of the guards by their names."

Zenia just shook her head and continued eating. On the other hand, no one really complained about the way he calls the ones with official titles.

"Are you going to sleep here with me tonight?"

Zenia stopped eating and looked at Vaughn who refused to meet her in the eye. He was not expecting a good response, but he was hoping for the best.

"Yes! I will sleep here tonight and every night if you wish to stay here temporarily."

Vaughn looked at his wife in disbelief. He was expecting an argument to occur as he tried to convince her to stay for the night. He grinned. Zenia quivered when she saw the expression on Vaughn's face. The Rogue Prince had resurfaced once more.