Chapter 1

“Ophelia be fast with that, you know your father will be coming home soon,” Toma ordered her daughter.

Ophelia navigated the narrow kitchen, her elbows brushing against the stone countertops as she worked. She was busy battling with the lamb meat, hurting her tiny hands from time to time as she kept flipping the meat to roast properly.

She seemed really focused on roasting the lamb perfectly, ignoring her mother's instructions outside.

She wanted to take her time to make it perfect for her father. The aroma of roasting lamb wafted through the kitchen, filling the surroundings.

“Did you hear what I just said?” Toma asked to be sure, because Ophelia kept acting the same way, with no changes.

“I did mother, I’m on it. Besides father’s not coming home until tomorrow, I have all the time to make this perfect for him,” she responded.

“Daddy’s girl” Toma smiled sweetly.

“Alright then, I’ll just leave you to it and tend to your siblings inside. Please come in quickly so you can also have dinner and go to bed early.” Toma informed, slowly walking away.

“Alright mother, I’ll join you shortly,” Ophelia muttered, still focused on what she was doing.

Ophelia's face lit up with a bright smile as she thought about her father's return, she would finally have her father back. He’s been away for months now fighting the never-ending battle between their kingdom and the Eldrida Empire.

She’s missed the myth he loves telling her almost every evening, and how she’s sometimes forced to tag along with him whenever he’s going for their soldier’s training. She misses her father and wants to welcome him.

The town crier announced that the battle of this time is finally over, and the surviving soldiers would be returning tomorrow morning, every family was busy preparing for their loved ones.

Ophelia and her family were never skeptical about their father coming back. He would, of course, he would! He always does, so it wouldn’t be any different this time around. It’s just a pity for those who have already lost their loved ones.

Ophelia staggered a bit as she stepped back from the fire, allowing the coal to do its job. She rubbed her hands against her eyes for some time, and then blinked several times as she finally dropped her hands. She took a few steps back and was already out of the small kitchen by now. She gently wiped her hands on her dress, adding more filth to the existing stains. She lowered her butt and sat on the wooden stool just at the entrance as she studied her once fine skin which was filled with coal now, in disappointment.

“Thank goodness I’m almost done” she muttered to herself, blinking her pretty eyes.

She couldn’t wait to freshen up and go to bed, fully ready to receive her father tomorrow. It’s been an exhausting day for her.

*

“I need the dessert ready in the next thirty minutes,” Matron Dorcas ordered, walking into the kitchen authoritatively.

“Yes, Ma’am.” Peluna bowed. The other maids close to her quickly scurried off to their duty post.

The palace kitchen buzzed with activity, the warm glow of candles and fire pits casting a golden light on the bustling maidens. The air was thick with the savory aromas of roasting meats and freshly baked bread. The sizzle of meat on the stoves and the clang of pots and pans created a symphony of sounds, punctuated by the occasional shout of 'Hurry up!' from Matron Dorcas.

As Peluna moved through the kitchen, her hands brushed against the cool marble countertops, and she felt the warmth of the stove radiating through her apron. They had a lot of dishes to prepare, and a whole lot of work to do. The maidens moved around in their garments having one task or the other to carry out.

The ancient but classy kitchen with different sectors looked a bit different today. Normally each corner was known as one for gossip by different sets of maidens, but it was a whole different vibe that day. It got worse when Matron Dorcas stepped in, everyone had to put on a show and maintain diligence and silence while carrying out their duties.

The whole situation was a welcome preparation for the Princes, who had been away on the battlefield for months. And normally, they expected a victory so it was a double celebration. This could be seen as a stressful and also a celebratory time for the workers in the palace. Hundreds of them working there would all be busy in their different sectors, but the kitchen gets it worse.

As of now, the whole palace was sparkling, and already designed in anticipation of the arrival of the crown prince and his twin, the imperial prince.

“Cole, before I forget. Leave whatever you are doing right now, and take Princess Georgia’s meal to her.” The matron ordered, sparing Cole just a minute and then focusing right back on the maiden she was instructing.

“Right away Matron.” Cole bowed.

*

“You can leave now.” Prince Sage uttered, dismissing the maiden he was with immediately his father walked in.

The maiden stood up quickly arranging her garment, covering her sensitive parts which were out in the open before. She bowed to Prince Sage and his father and hurriedly walked away.

“Greetings father!” Prince Sage muttered, adjusting himself on the mattress to get comfortable.

“I expected more from you.” King Apollo counted his words softly.

His face darkened, his brows furrowed in disgust as he looked at Prince Sage. Sage raised his head up, giving his dad the unbothered look, and then he continued arranging his robe without uttering a word.

“It seems we’ve lost a battle and so many of our soldiers are being killed in the field, and this is all you can do? When will you grow up Sage?!” King Apollo thundered fiercely, trying so hard to contain his anger.

“Come on father, don't give me that tone! What do you expect me to do? What do you even want from me?” Prince Sage fired.

“What do I want from you, you ask?”

“OH yes, Father, I wanna know? Did I kill your soldiers or did I ask them to get defeated?”

“Can you listen to your stupid self speak? You’re a failure to Vorgar Sage!” King Apollo spat.

“Oh really, Father, I’m a failure? And why is that?” He huffed.

“Castor and his twin are out there fighting for the empire, making sure they take the victory home. And here is my son, making out with maidens daily while his soldiers are at war!”

“Like the saying goes, like father, like son! They are doing what they learnt from their father, and I am also doing what I learnt from mine.” Prince Sage spoke mockingly with a small menacing smile.

King Apollo swiftly raised his hands and angrily struck his son’s face.

“How dare you, Sage! Everything I have ever done, I did it all for you. I tried to kill my brother and ended up killing the Empress instead, because she wouldn’t stay out of the way.” He started in rage.

“I was banished from the Empire and I am still currently in battle to have that throne just so you don’t have to be under anyone in the future. And this is what I get???” King Apollo growled in anger, his reddish eyes melting the resentment in Sage’s eye. “Is this how you’re gonna rule the Empire when we finally get it?”

“I’m sorry, Father,” Sage mumbled carelessly, as though he was being forced.

“If I ever get this energy from you again, I swear I will personally cut off your tongue!” King Apollo spat and angrily stormed out of the room.

Prince Sage sat with his head bowed, reminiscing on what had just happened right now.