73. Apartment
1846 Words
Gunner and Tre are arguing about how to turn a couch. There's a few guards in my place, about 10 servants, and Mary. Who is trying to unpack my stuff.
"Mary I moved."
"Yes I see that little miss. You are going to need a bigger bath. That one will not work for you. Can you guys tell the king that. It needs done quickly. That girl needs room to spread out 6 hours or so at a time."
Tre smirks. "Princess these servants have been assigned to your place."
I lean into him. "What do they do?"
Mary nods. "Apparently nothing. But you need to keep 5 of them for bathwater and cleaning. I am not cleaning everything every day and I can't carry that many buckets of water."
"5 of you can go. You are not needed here at all." 5 leave and 5 stay staring at me.
I lean back into Tre. "Why are they staring at me?"
"They are waiting on you to tell them what to do."
"How am I supposed to know what they want to do?" This is confusing.
He is equally confused.
"Little miss. I have spoiled you to much." Mary motionss at the 5 of them. "You are dismissed. Return during dinner hour for turn down."
They all tilt their heads and leave.
"What's turn down."
"Let's unpack first. I will explain what servants are supposed to do later."
"She doesn't use servants?" Tre is looking at Mary.
"No sir. Only her parents would order them around."
"Mary are you hungry? I already ate. I can get you something."
"No little miss. Let's get this done."
"Ok FINE."
"Are you going to throw stuff into it's place from the couch? You are all dismissed." The guards and Gunner all run out.
I plop back down on the couch. Dipak laughs. "I need to go be the temporary Advisor Frode for a bit. I'll stop by later princess."
"Have fun sir."
I open the box and pull out my bowl. I hold it and run my fingers over the designs. Mary leaves and shuts the door.
Tre sits beside me. "I remember that. A souvenir from your first trip down. I'm surprised you still have it. That was a long time ago."
Tears come to my eyes. He see's the bracelet and necklace with the green stones. He pulls the bracelet out and holds it. "Your eyes."
"I'm surprised you remember that."
"You hated that veil even before you had it. I remember you asked me once what's the difference between yesterday and today. Yesterday I didn't have to wear it and today I do." He reaches over and pulls the veil off my head. "In truth nothing. You didn't change that day. The same as I didn't become an adult the day I came of age. I only thought I did. I'm sorry princess. I wasn't there for you in ways I should have been."
I can't help myself. I scoot closer to him and pull his face to mine. I kiss him without holding back. He puts me on his lap.
"We were so close Tre. I don't even..."
"We'll get there again baby. Let's spend some time together every now and then ok? I hate missing you so much."
I lay my head on his shoulder. "I'm sorry. I really don't know where that kiss came from."
"I'll take all the kisses you give me. Don't ever be sorry for them. I miss them so much." He tilts my chin up and gives me the sweetest kiss I've ever got.
-BANG-BANG-BANG-
I stare at the door. "I'm surprised that didn't break."
Tre puts me beside him then tosses the veil on my head. Then he yells, "Enter" and laughs.
Daddy comes in and shuts the door behind him. "What took so long?" He glares at Tre.
"She apparently doesn't know how to answer the door sir."
"You say enter."
I'm so confused right now. That was a good kiss. I mumble, "Enter."
Daddy shrugs. "You have to say it loud so people can hear you on the other side of the wall."
"Ok."
He shakes his head. "The dining room is now in the advisor hall. Down at the end." He points. "I'm going back down there to check on it. I'll be back. And I know now not to wait for the enter."
He reaches for the door and someone knocks on it.
I stare at the door and daddy. "Exit?"
They bust out laughing. Then daddy opens the door and Dipak comes in. Tre drops his head back laughing. Daddy can barely stand up. "Oh my princess. This is going to be hard on all of us."
Tre tries to say something but laughs again.
Dipak glances around. "What?"
Daddy smiles. "Princess have you ever heard someone knocking to leave a room? When someone knocks on the door and wants to come in, you say ENTER. Nothing else."
Tre nods. "And say it loud so they can hear you through the door."
Daddy starts laughing again. "And they do not knock to leave. Can you 2 practice that with her please."
They both laugh. "Yes sir."
Mary comes back in and takes the box. "Where you want this little miss?"
"My bedroom table please."
"Hey I don't even know where I sleep." I run down the hallway. I find the bedroom and bathroom. "Yea I need that bath fixed today guys."
"I forgot to sign that order. You have it Dipak?"
"How big do you want it princess?"
I scream. "MARY!"
"WHAT?"
"How big of a tub do I want?"
"About 4 times that size."
"About 4 times that size sir."
He writes it down then hands it to my dad. Dad signs it and gives it back to him.
Daddy laughs. "You really do like a good bath princess."
"It's relaxing."
"They will be here soon princess."
"Thank you temporary Advisor Frode."
He laughs again.
Daddy leaves. "I'm going to check the dining room."
"You going to knock to leave again daddy?"
"I was not knocking to lea... You know what. You 2 fix this." He shuts the door.
As soon as the door shuts I crack up laughing. "Can we all start knocking to exit rooms now?"
They both laugh.
Dipak smiles. "How did you mess up enter?"
"Well there was a bowl. It's a really nice bowl. It has designs on it. I'll show you." I search through the boxes. Someone knocks on the door. "I think Mary took it hold on." I run to the back room.
"NEVERMIND PRINCESS... I SEE NOW."
"I'm sorry. I guess I wasn't paying attention." I plop down in my chair.
"Yes I can see that." He opens the door.
"Sir we are here to start the bath work."
"Back this way. I'll show you." Dipak takes the workers back.
"PRINCESS." Tre yells.
"Sorry what?"
Mary shakes her head. "Where is your head at today?"
The boys are staring at me. Tre has a little smirk on his face.
"I missed something."
Tre nods. "What do you say when someone knocks on the door?"
"Enter."
Tre points at the door. "Someone is knocking on the door."
"Enter."
The servants bring in the food. "I CAN EAT IN THE SITTING ROOM!" I grab cake and shove it in.
Mary shakes her head. "You can still use plates though. Crumbs child. Crumbs."
She gets some plates for us all. "I really don't know if I will survive this guys."
Dipak nods. "I'm not sure any of us will Mary."
I sit back. "You all don't have to stay. I mean. I don't care if you do. But if you want to leave you can."
"Your not getting rid of me princess. This place will never get unpacked if I don't stay on you about it."
Dipak shoves some cake in his mouth. "We're not leaving you here with the workers."
Someone knocks on the door.
"Enter. Ha I got it that time."
"Good job princess. Tre grabs some fruit."
Daddy comes in. "Thank you for the enter this time."
"Your welcome. I can eat in the sitting room now daddy."
"That's nice princess. Temporary Advisor Frode I need you in the dining room."
Dipak laughs and glances at Tre.
"I'll stay until there gone."
"Until whose gone?"
Dipak and Tre say, "The workers." at the same time.
"I didn't send them yet. GUARDS!" Daddy yells and 8 of them rush in with swords drawn. Tre, Dipak, and Daddy all run down the hallway with swords out. I sit there eating cake. Mary eats her fish.
After a few minutes they all come back. "Sorry my princess I guess I did send it."
Someone knocks.
"Enter."
Dracul comes in. "Are we moving the conference room in here?"
I throw a grape in my mouth. "Might as well. You're all here anyway."
Someone else knocks.
"Enter." I watch the guys putting their swords away. "That was a good show, but I think I'm going to need more chairs."
Momma comes in and my blood is instantly boiling.
"Child don't eat in the sitting room."
"I WILL EAT WHERE I WANT MOMMA."
Daddy stands between us. We're not close together and I'm still sitting. It's more of a precaution on his part.
"I did not come here to argue. I came to bring a peace offering. I don't want to argue with you anymore. You are growing up and I need to realize that too. And I will not tell you what to do in your place anymore."
"Thank you momma." I wonder what she brought me.
She pulls a bottle of alcohol out from behind her. "I know you like it. It's the kind me and Asa were drinking that night. I think you may have had more than 1 glass though."
Dipak and Tre both laugh.
I get up and jump up and down a few times. "I love it. I love it. I love it. Thank you momma. I did like this a lot. No one will comment on the 1 glass part though."
Tre looks at Dipak. "Remember when she woke up? Why are my gloves inside out?" They both laugh.
"NO ONE!" They both have to stop themselves from falling on the floor.
Dipak's about to cry. "HER DADS OFFICE!"
Tre slides down the wall and puts his head in his arms.
"What did you 3 do in my office?"
"We didn't do anything daddy. We didn't even go there." Daddy gives me a weird look. "They wouldn't let me go there." Then I start laughing. "Thank you momma I do appreciate it."
"You're welcome princess."
Daddy nods. "Ok Dipak, Aurelia, you're with me. Tre you're with the princess. Dracul I have no idea what you're doing. Guards out." Daddy leaves with his arm around momma. Everyone else scatters.
I grab some cake.
"Child you are going to make yourself sick."
"It's good though."
Mary shakes her head at Tre. He smiles at me.
- Writer
