The Girl: Part 5

Author's Note: Based on the last poll, I've decided to slow down a tiny bit just so I don't run out of material but I will still be getting new parts out every week or less. The picture included should be of a girl I describe during the story.
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At last! Large platters with steaming hot fowl, meat, grain products, and dairy products were brought out and placed on each table. Along with bottles of wine and ale. She looked uncertainly upon it. Surely, the alcohol would not be healthy for her 17 year old body. She shrugged to herself and let the prince pour some ale in her glass.

"I want to make a toast to our beautiful new Girl and my possible betrothed!" he exclaimed happily. The girl with the black eyes shuddered at this comment. Nicolette wondered why this comment would make someone uncomfortable. The idea escaped her mind.

"Thank you dear prince. This meal looks absolutely ravishing," she said now realizing the eager hunger she had in her mid-section. The corset wasn’t much help either. She smiled when she saw a large plate of mutton.

"Would you get me a couple pieces of that?" she asked a maid that was obviously there to help her eat her meal. The maid grabbed the carving knife and cut off 3 slim slices, not enough to suffice. The maid then served the little plate to her.

"Um, I hate to be a bother but would you mind getting me a bit more?" she asked politely.

"I wouldn’t want to ruin your majesty’s fine slim figure. It is my responsibility to keep you looking like a royal all the time," she said quietly. Was this how royalty ate? She was unsatisfied when she finished her mutton. Her stomach still growled angrily. She would have to sneak some mutton out into the courtyard later.

"How was your meal m’lady?" the prince asked as he used a bone to clean out his white teeth.

"Delicious," she said struggling to fit the right word. Definitely not satisfying but very delicious. He nodded and rose up as the tables were cleared and the couples started heading towards a pair of even grander doors. She rose along with him and tagged along as he entered the doors into a grand ballroom. It was amazing. The ceiling must have been 30 or 40 feet high. Everything was lit gently with soft candlelight. It made the already gold rimming appear luminous and bright. The entire atmosphere was enchanting and caught Nicolette’s breath.

"May I have this dance?" he asked soothingly.

"Of course," she replied, drawing close to his arms. He smelt like spring, if it could be described. He smelt like fresh grass when you lay in it on warm summer nights. He smelt like the aroma of rain when the sun began to peek out and a rainbow raced across the sky in a blur of colors.

"Where are you from?" he asked breaking the trance he created upon her.

"Town. In the woods. I live in a small cottage by the river that the men of town fish in," she said shamefully.

"Oh. So no, grand castle on the mountain top. Hrmph," he said thinking she didn’t hear him. She wrinkled her nose at the rude comment. "Who are your mother and father?" he continued.

"Benjamin Codman and his wife, my step-mother Lucialle Codman," she said sadly.

"Never heard of them," he said again. He wasn’t embracing her as lovingly now. It was now just kind of an awkwardly limp hug. The song ended by then. Nicolette remembered her angry stomach and requested to take a walk outside for some fresh air.

"Uh. Yeah," he said a little bit too enthusiastically. He had spotted that girl with the black eyes. She didn’t look as cold now that she was standing up and she noticed Prince Peter eying her. Actually, she was very pretty. She had loose brown curls and porcelain skin. She wore a long emerald dress that had sleeves almost as long as Nicolette’s. The embroidery was not as impressive though. However, the coloration showed how white and pure her skin appeared. Nicolette figured she would make introductions after she ate something.

Swiftly, she snuck into the now-empty kitchen. She spied the garbage with the mutton lying safely on top. She approached it longingly. Just as she got close to the delicious meat, the door opened.

A young man walked in. He walked over to the washing basin but didn’t notice Nicolette crouching behind it. She slowly got up and tried grabbing the mutton without rustling anything and startling him. However, her shoes failed on her and just as she was about to pounce on the meat, she fell forward and he spun around.

"WHO’S THERE?" he demanded. Nicolette picked her head up out of the meat and looked up at him.

"Me. Nicolette the ‘Girl’ thing," she said shamefully. She knew she looked ridiculous with meat juice smothered on her face.
"Oh. What are you doing in here?" he asked quietly.

"Getting something to eat," she said honestly.

"What. The royal diet doesn’t suit you well?" he said with a smirk.

"Erm, no. Who are you anyway?" she asked defensively.

"Nobody. Now you and I can’t be seen in here. Get out!" he said quietly as a maid backed in the door with an armful of dishes in her hands. They both hid behind the waste bin and prayed she didn’t come over to where they were hidden.

When they heard the wooden door slam again, they rose up and he was gone. She left the kitchen promptly with a pocketful of mutton in her bag. She left for the garden to eat her meal alone.

When she reached the garden, she chose to sit directly on the thick green grass next to a row of rose bushes. The juicy meat was cold but still delicious. When she had finished her 6 thin slices, she lay back on the grass and looked up at the starry night sky. What a day. So much had happened in one day.

She inhaled the cool night breeze. That prince could never smell as good as the smell she had just smelled. She inhaled another breath. Good thing it’s free, she thought to herself. She was planning on indulging herself on it for a little while.

"What are you doing?" a familiar voice called to her. The prince? She lifted herself up and saw it was not him but the boy from the kitchen.

"Breathing. If that’s alright with you," she said questioning his authority.

"Hey. Mind your manners," he said sharply. Yet, he couldn’t hide his smirk from her watchful eyes. He walked over and sat on a damp bench nearby her spot.

"Really. Who are you?" she asked again.

"Why does it matter who I am? It shouldn’t matter who anybody it. People are people. Titles, jewels, and fancy homes shouldn’t make up who you are. You should be judged based on your personality instead," he said, not really talking to her but more just matter of factly.

"But how would we know what is right and wrong if we don’t have someone telling us?" she theorized. This was a question she had always pondered.

"How do they know what is right or wrong? People have brains. They should know it’s not right to steal but it is right to love and care," he replied after a bit of silence.

"Hm. I never thought of it that way," she said rolling over on the grass to look up on him. He wasn’t hard to look at. She assumed he was about her age. He had long, silky blonde hair and olive eyes. His facial features were strict and sharp.

"What am I to call you though?" she asked.

"I’ve always liked the name Casper," he replied thinking to himself.

"Okay then Casper. What time is it?" she asked not really caring. Just wanting to try out his name.

"Eleven. Late. Shouldn’t you be inside dancing and romancing with all the kings?" he probed. She sat right up and got up onto her feet.

"I should! I completely forgot. Gosh. This position is so difficult to maintain," she said rubbing her head. Quickly she gathered her shoes and her bag and started to run back towards the ballroom.

"Wait!" Casper called after her.

"What?!" she said out of breath and time.

"Same time tomorrow night?" he said with a hint of a grin.

"Sure! Bye!" she said smiling as well.
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