When Corinne rejoined her friends, she couldn't help the smile that was stuck on her face.
"Whoa, Corinne." Renee said "What did you just do?"
"You look like you just had the best day of your life." Aramina added.
"Oh... it's nothing." Corinne responded.
Her friends pushed and prodded but they couldn't get it out of her.
"We'll find out later." Viveca huffed "Until then. We've got to get ready for tonight."
"Yep. Cleaning." Corinne shook her head "More and more cleaning."
"Well, actually" Aramina piped up "We get to serve tonight!"
Corinne froze like she had just run into a brick wall "What!?"
"Well, there's going to be a lot of people here." Aramina continued "So, while your mom and Helene are cooking, we're going to be serving."
"Oh." Corinne blinked a few times "Okay."
As the dinner hour drew closer, Madame De' Bosse was busy giving out orders... which were already being fulfilled.
"Make sure you can see your face in those platters!" De' Bosse shouted "I want the sun to catch every piece of silverware!"
Viveca held up one of the platters "I can see myself beautifully."
Corinne chuckled and shook her head. She grabbed a tray of silverware and handed it to Renee.
"I must go greet the guests." De' Bosse smoothed out her skirt "Everything had better be perfect!" then she stormed out/
"I can't reach it!" Aramina groaned, jumping to try and grab something off of the top shelf of the cupboards.
Corinne looked towards the door to make sure the head maid wasn't going to come back then jumped up onto the counter and grabbed several cups.
"Corinne." Marie warned.
"Sorry."
Helene looked back at her "Since you're young enough to do that. How about getting some flour for me?"
"Sure." Without really thinking about it, Corinne leapt from the counter she was standing on over to the other one.
Renee's eyebrows lurched "Um..."
"Here Madame." Corinne said, handing down several bags of flour.
"Thank you." Helene smiled.
"Now off the counter!" Marie ordered.
"Yes Mom." Corinne jumped to the ground and quickly fell back into the work flow.
"Alright." Helene said an hour later "Here's the first trays. Remember your manners."
"Don't worry." Aramina smiled "They won't even know I'm there!"
Helene chuckled "You're not the one I'm worried about." she looked over at Corinne "They're dignitaries. They will ask questions and everything else. Okay?"
"Yes, Ma'am." Corinne nodded, then she grabbed one of the trays "Let's go."
Helene and Marie watched as the girls left the kitchen.
"Shall we hope someone doesn't start complaining about the food?" Helena asked.
Marie sighed "Let's. Or everyone will be complaining about the maids."
"Dinner is served!" Madame De' Bosse announced.
"It's about time." A Duchess groaned.
Louis shook his head slightly. He'd been sitting at this table for five minutes and he already wanted to leave.
He watched as the maids came walking into the room with the platters. His attention was immediately drawn to the blond. Okay... maybe he didn't want to leave.
A conversation about a kingdom's wellfare started as the plates were sat down around the table.
Corinne just happen to have the part of the table where Louis was sitting. She tried not to look at him as she sat his food down, but he turned and took it from her.
"Thank you." he mouthed.
She nodded slightly, hoping her cheeks weren't as red as they felt. Then she sat a plate down in front of one of the Dignitaries' daughters. Her dark red hair was pulled back into a tight bun on the back of her head. Her dark brown eyes looked at everything with criticism.
"Excuse me." The girl said "But, how long was this cooked?"
Corinne froze "I'm sorry?"
"How long was this cooked?" the girl repeated.
Louis rolled his eyes and shook his head.
"I... don't know." Corinne answered "I didn't cook it."
"Who did?"
That girl was really starting to get on her nerves "The cook."
"And where is the cook?"
"Cooking." Corinne flashed the girl a fake smile then continued on her way.
Louis chuckled quietly as the girl beside him huffed.
"Never in my life!" She mumbled.
"Where's the drinks?" The King asked.
"Coming." Renee answered respectfully, then she and the other three quickly returned to the kitchen where the drinks were waiting.
"Aramina," Corinne whispered "Can you and me switch sections?"
"I'm serving a Duke's son!" Aramina responded "And he's cute!"
"I'm serving the prince." Corinne tempted in a singsong voice.
Aramina became stock still for a moment "Well..."
"You're already assigned." Helene said sternly "No changing. Now go!"
The girls hurriedly left again.
Just as before, when Corinne reached that one girl, she stopped her.
"What's this?" she asked, pointed to her cup.
Corinne swallowed a groan "I believe it's called Tea."
"What's in it?"
"Tea leaves."
"Who made it?"
"The same person who made your food."
The girl, who's name by the way was Agnes, wrinkled her nose "And where is this person."
"Still cooking!" Corinne hissed through clenched teeth. Then she continued around the table.
Agnes's face turned red as she took a sip of her tea.
Louis watched as Corinne continue with her chore. She glanced over at him and immediately looked back away.
"Who is that maid?" Agnes asked Louis.
He raised an eyebrow "Actually... I have no idea."
"I just wanted to thank everyone for coming." King Edward said "I know you know why you were all invited here."
As if on cue, all the younger girls around the table looked at Louis and giggled.
The Prince's face turned red and he looked down at his plate. He didn't know if it was more embarrassing or humiliating.
"In one week Louis will become the King of France." Edward continued "Then my wife and I can take that vacation we never got." There was a small round of laughs "But, until then... Enjoy dinner." he clapped his hands "Main course!"
The rest of the dinner was a nonstop rush for the girls. A whole seven course meal complete with dessert was served.
One, rather large, lord in Viveca's section seemed to back an endless stomach. He inhaled the food then called for more.
Viveca delivered so much food that the thought of eating made her feel sick.
Aramina, even though she had quite a few demanding charges, she kept her smile in place... mainly because of the 'charming' boy that was in her section.
Renee just carried out her chore with dignity, like she did everything.
Corinne on the other had, was having a hard time keeping her cool with Agnes. Every single thing brought up a question. And by the third course, it was all Corinne could do to keep from dropping the girl's plate in front of her and telling her to eat the food or leave the table.
Louis was finding Corinne's little enangerments humerus.
When Corinne had delivered the dessert, Agnes had questioned it thoroughly, from it's crust to the topping. Then she had demanded to see the cook.
"The cook is busy." Corinne said "Cleaning up after your meal. Now please... eat your food." then she stalked off.
"Thank goodness this is the end." Corinne whispered to her friends "That little miss Duchess over there is about to kill me!"
Aramina giggled "I'd noticed."
"Shall we go to the parlor?" King Edward announced "More comfortable seating."
Philippe stood up and offered Agnes his arm "May I?"
"Of course." Agnes accepted his arm. On her wat to the door she shot Corinne a glare.
Corinne rolled her eyes "I am so insulted." she said sarcastically.
Viveva elbowed her "Sh!"
Queen Annabelle smiled then whispered something into the king's ear.
"Of course." the king nodded "You! Blond maid!"
Corinne jumped "Sire?"
"Follow us to the parlor. In case our guests need anything."
Corinne's jaw dropped "Uh..."
Renee sent her a disbelieving look "It's the king!" she hissed.
Corinne quickly curtsied "Of course, Your Highness." she sent her friends a distressed look then followed the dignitaries from the room.
At the front of the line, Philippe and Agnes were talking and laughing.
"Oh look." Louis said, falling in step beside Corinne "Philippe seems to have taken an interest. Why not make him get married then leave me alone?"
Corinne glanced over at him then at the couple ahead and chuckled "I think they deserve each other."
"Philippe's not too bad." Louis shrugged "But Agnes...?" the both groaned.
"I'm surprised the cake didn't melt beneath her glare." She shook her head "But she did eat it. So I guess it wasn't poisoned." she cocked her head slightly "Or... could it have been?"
Louis held his breath trying not to start laughing, but he couldn't help it. A second later he burst out into laughter.
When everyone looked back at him curious, Corinne slid away from him.
"Louis." Edward snapped "What's so funny?"
"Um..." Louis looked over at Corinne who was now several feet away from him "Nothing, father. Nothing."
Philippe groaned and shook his head "How is he the heir?"
"Because he was born to it." Agnes whispered.
Philippe scoffed "I was the heir before he was born. Aunt Annabelle wasn't supposed to have children. The doctors had deemed it impossible."
"And yet, he came." Agnes finished. She shook her head "It's a shame. You would have made a perfect king."
"And I still will." He looked over his shoulder "If all goes according to plan he won't live to see his coronation."
(Okay... new character! Agnes! She's the 'evil stepsister' in this scenario. I hope you liked! Laterz!)
