[Music Recommendation: 6.6 Gigue ~ Peter Gregson and Richard Harwood]
General Malcolm sighed after Rosalie had left. He noticed the smoking pipe the woman had dropped on the floor. Picking it up, he went outside to return it, but he met Freya and her father instead, with Oriana standing behind them.
"Uncle Malcolm!" Freya shouted, hugging the general closely. "I thought you grew old and died on a lonely island since you stopped visiting us."
Malcolm chuckled, hiding the pipe inside his pocket. "Freya, that’s one way to welcome me. I see you’ve grown into a very beautiful young woman." Moving Freya to the side, he bowed to Oriana. "Your Majesty."
Oriana nodded, acknowledging the greeting. "Don’t stop your reunion because of me," she said, raising the tray she had brought up. "I brought food."
"The Queen has decided to be in charge of making food for your soldiers, so if there’s anything you want, let us know," Louis announced, pointing at the food that Oriana had just set down. "That one was specially made by the Queen for you."
Malcolm bowed deeply. "You are too kind to me and my men. Thank you so much." When he raised his face, he gave Oriana a warm smile. "I was worried that nobody would be able to lead the army like the mother Queen did, but I guess I was wrong. You’re really the right choice."
"It’s just food," Oriana chuckled softly. "And a little bribe. I mean, I have never led an army before, so please be nice to me and my husband." Oriana bowed.
Louis and Malcolm nodded with a smile; they had the proud look on their faces, knowing that Oriana was not only capable but also humble.
"Please come, let my men really appreciate you for your kindness," General Malcolm gestured, moving his hand forward.
Oriana waved her hands dismissively. "No, no, let them be. They must have been stressed out. I mean, after leaving the comfort of their homes so early in the morning just so they could help me."
"We soldiers are known to show appreciation. Don’t worry about us. Soon, by nightfall, we will be starting our training," Malcolm replied. "Let’s go," he opened the tent cover, and they stepped outside. 𝙛𝒓𝓮𝒆𝔀𝒆𝙗𝓷𝒐𝙫𝒆𝙡.𝒄𝓸𝓶
The moment the soldiers saw their general, their noise died down, and they waited to hear any instruction from him.
"Loyal army of the Queen," Malcolm started, "the Queen has decided to feed us while we are here. Let us not disappoint her and repay her kindness with victory."
The soldiers bowed and in unison shouted, "Long live the Queen! May her Majesty’s kindness be our guide!" they chorused.
Oriana, who was still finding the whole thing foreign and overwhelming, smiled. She didn’t know how to react when the soldiers started bowing to her. "Please enjoy yourself and let me know if you need more food," she said to them with a smile, now moving around to shake their hands.
Far away from where Oriana was smiling and shaking hands with the soldiers, Adric stood with his personal guard, watching them.
"What is she doing?" Adric asked with a cold voice. For some reason, he was slightly annoyed watching Oriana smile and shake hands with the men, especially since most of them had no shirts on.
Rowan hummed. "It looks to me like the Queen is welcoming the soldiers with food and a smile. She is a good Queen," he stopped talking when Adric turned to give him a stern glare.
"Why is she welcoming them? Hasn’t she done that before?" Adric’s jaw ticked when one of the soldiers, who was shirtless, held Oriana’s hand with both of his out of excitement.
Rowan twitched his lips and continued talking. "The Queen decided to make food for them herself as a warm welcome, so I’m guessing she added a meet and greet to it, to spice it up a little." When Adric glared at him again, Rowan sighed. "I will stop talking, Your Majesty," then he turned to leave.
"And where are you going?" Adric asked, seeing that Rowan was leaving his side.
Rowan pointed forward. "I am also a soldier, Your Majesty. I shall go now to take my own food and shake the hands of our beloved Queen. Since I also risk my life in protecting the crown, with my hard work, I think I deserve more than a handshake, maybe a hug?" He bowed deeply and, without waiting for Adric to talk, he went towards the place where Oriana was.
"That- beloved? Hug-" Adric stuttered, closing his eyes for a brief moment so he could stop himself from cursing Rowan out. His attention returned to where Oriana was. He was moving from getting annoyed to irritated. "She never cooked for her husband, and she’s cooking for soldiers? What good Queen?" Adric said to himself. Watching closely the soldiers who were smiling too much, he decided to mark their faces for later.
Meanwhile, Oriana continued smiling with the soldiers. When she raised her face, she caught sight of Adric standing not so far from there. She remembered what King Fidelis had told her about making him jealous. Oriana racked her brain, not knowing how to make Adric jealous. She saw one of the soldiers who was shirtless, and she ran to him.
"What happened to you?" she pointed at the man’s stomach where a deep scar had formed.
Even the soldier was surprised by the Queen’s action. He opened his mouth to answer when someone interrupted.
"Auntie! Auntie!" Walter ran to Oriana, hugging her closely. "You said we should play the whole day. Take me to the fair, please. I want to go to the village fair."
Oriana was caught off guard by the little boy. She pressed her lips, looking at where Adric was standing earlier, and saw he was no longer there. Oriana sighed, dropping her shoulder. She still wasn’t even able to get Adric jealous. She touched Walter’s hair and thought to herself that maybe leaving the palace for some time to get some air would help her instead of looking for ways to get Adric’s attention. Also, she would get to spend time with the two boys before they left the palace.
"Let’s go to the village fair," Oriana pinched the boy’s cheeks. Turning to Louis, she said, "Louis, I will be going to the village fair. If there are things you need in the kitchen, put them down on a list, and I will be sure to get them." Oriana said, holding Walter’s hand.
Louis shook his head. "You don’t need to. I can go to the market by myself and get it quickly. The market is not somewhere you should go. It’s a dangerous and rowdy place."
Oriana smiled. "Don’t worry. I will be going with Freya and my two little knights," she raised Walter’s hand and pointed at Kai, who was standing in the corner.
Louis sighed. "Alright then, I will get the list ready."
Oriana nodded. "Alright then, our carriage will leave very soon. Bring it out at the palace entrance while I get changed." She turned to Freya. "Quick, let’s go before it gets dark. Please enjoy your meal, General." Oriana bowed.
"Yay! Village fair," an excited Walter jumped up, walking beside Oriana.
Freya didn’t leave immediately; she had her eyes narrowed, looking at someone suspiciously. It was the King’s personal guard, who now joined other guards to eat. She didn’t like seeing the young man around as he only looked like a bad omen.
Rowan felt someone’s gaze on him. When he raised his eyes, he saw the young girl that was looking at him. Raising his plate of food up, he grinned. "Tasty meal."
Freya scoffed, rolling her eyes before leaving the place with Oriana.
After they had left, Rowan brought down his plate, the smile on his lips faltered. He left the camp and walked back inside the palace looking for Adric. When he finally found him inside his workroom, looking through some scrolls, Rowan bowed.
"Are you done eating, you backstabbing personal guard?" Adric said without raising his face to see who it was.
Rowan grinned. "Well, I brought news tastier than the Queen’s food, but if you wish to cast me away, I shall leave."
"Speak," Adric finally raised his eyes, but still held the scroll he was reading.
Rowan touched his brows slightly. "I heard the Queen saying she would leave the palace. She’s going to the village fair with Walter and Kai."
"She would be fine if she’s going with the guards," Adric replied, going back to his reading.
Rowan hummed thoughtfully. "If her tiny personal maid is considered a guard, then yes. She would be okay."
Adric raised his brows slightly. "She left with no protection?"
"That’s what I’ve been trying to tell you. It’s just her and her tiny maid. No guards, no weapons. None. Zilch."
Adric sighed, dropping the scroll on the table. He rubbed his forehead where a headache was rising. "Was she created during the time of war and chaos or something?"
"Tell me about it," Rowan nodded understandingly. Seeing Adric send a hard stare his way, the guard bowed. "I will go prepare your carriage, Your Majesty." He bowed and left the room.
Adric sighed when his guard left the room. He touched the side of his head. The headache was increasing, and he didn’t know who to blame for it.
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