After a relaxing bath and a change of clothing, Sophia made her way down to the dinner hall. She was slightly nervous, although she was rather comfortable with the kings and queens, she knew she had a reputation to uphold in front of the other nobles around the castle.
A great big smile lit the face of the young ward as she stared down at her bare feet. The pap pap pap on the marble floors were intensely satisfying. She found herself at the bottom of the stairs and nervous as anything.
"Deep breath" she said to herself. She shook herself out, and she opened the doors to the dinner hall. Thankfully she didn't draw too much attention to herself. The hall was abustle and people were busy being served food. A servant helped Sophia to her seat right next to Caspian. He grinned and leaned over to her.
"I had to fight Susan so she wouldn't have you announced." He said. Sophia rolled her eyes.
"Thank you for that. I don't think I could handle being stared at by all these people." She replied, glancing down the table. There were many old, mustachioed, bearded, men, pretty young women, and-
A miserable looking King Edmund. He was looking down at his food, ignoring his dinner conversation and pushing his meat around. Interesting for a known carnivore. Her eyes moved to see a girl of about her age with a pale face, auburn hair, deep pink lips, and dark green eyes staring right back at her.
Sophia felt her brown face flush as the girl stared at her intently, and it wasn't long before the rest of the table noticed their staring contest. The other girl cleared her throat.
"I am Malia, Princess of Galma, and who are you? I heard no announcement of you, stranger." There were audible gasps from around the long table, and Sophia could see Susan and Lucy's eyebrows furrowed in a highly un-queenly way, while Peter's eyes were hard and stern. Sophia took a breath before responding.
"I am Sophia, and I was not announced because I don't feel the need for my name to be shouted through the hall to command a sense of importance, contrary to your habits, I'm sure."
The hall was silent.
"You must forgive my pause, m'lady." The princess resumed with an obviously fake smile. "I'm just not used to having the commonwealth speak to me in such a rudimentary way." Years of knowing the Baroness of Arrowmead taught Sophia that this was a direct challenge, and she answered accordingly.
"Apology accepted, your highness. And please accept mine as well. I suppose your mad outburst was indeed justified." Sophia smirked as she watched the princess' pinkish skin turn a beet red. Caspian grinned down at her from his seat, and she thought she noticed a ghost of a smile on the face of The Just King. After this, the rest of the meal was rather peaceful.
Later that night, when the guests had finally departed, Sophia was finally able to change out of her gown and put on-
"Trousers and a shirt?" Asked Talila rather confused. "It's time for bed, Lady Sophia. Wouldn't you rather me fetch your nightgown?" Sophia laughed.
"Thank you Talila, however, I would like to go down to the kitchens and make myself some tea and maybe do a bit of reading or exploring after that. You can just lay out my nightgown on the bed and I'll attend to myself when I return." She said to the faun, who promptly moved to follow her instructions.
After putting her more comfortable clothes on, Sophia wandered into the kitchens to find a glorious mess. The kitchen staff was looking frantic, and the sink was filled to the brim with dirty dishes and vessels. She caught the attention of the head chef who called the rest of the staff to bow. Sophia waved her hand.
"No, please. No bowing." She stuttered awkwardly. "Why haven't you all gone home?" She asked the staff
"There will be no time for us to attend to the mess tomorrow morning, M'lady." Answered a rather young kitchen assistant.
"Why not?" She replied
"The kings and queens dine rather early in the morning." Answered the head chef. "We need the kitchen cleaned to prepare breakfast."
Sophia's eyebrows furrowed. She knew the kitchen staff had families to go home to, and if they stayed to clean this mess, they'd be here until it was time for breakfast.
"Go home." She said. The eyes of the kitchen staff widened.
"But M'lady."
"I will attend to the kitchens tonight. You prepared a lovely meal and provided everyone with a filling dinner. You all deserve to be home with your families." The staff made moves to object, but Sophia insisted.
"In return you can serve chocolate cake for breakfast?" She asked sheepishly. The staff murmured in agreement and slowly filed out, casting bewildered and confused looks at the young ward. Sophia glanced around the messy kitchen, sighed, and began cleaning. She was barely five minutes into scrubbing at a large pot when Caspian entered the kitchen. His eyes became the size of saucers.
"Where did they all go?" He whisper shouted. "They left this place a mess!"
"They were exhausted and it was already late, Caspian. They needed to rest." Sophia replied, exhaling loudly.
Caspian frowned. "You sent them home?" He asked.
"Yes I did!" She responded "And if you want this kitchen spotless before the morning, you either leave or help me!" She said sternly, turning back around to her work. She assumed the king left, but was surprised to see him roll up his sleeves, pick up a pan and begin scrubbing right next to her. Neither of them said another word, but continued their work. An hour or so later, they were finished with the dishes. They slumped down near the sink and stared at the mess on the cabinets and stoves.
"This is going to take forever." Whined the king. Sophia chuckled before responding.
"You head off to bed. I can handle the rest." Caspian raised an eyebrow wearily before agreeing and stumbling out of the room. Sophia stared at the work to be done and sighed, She picked up a rag, and began her work. She was almost finished with the entire kitchen when she was greeted by another king entering.
"King Edmund!" The Ward exclaimed. The Just King jumped back, startled.
"What're you doing in here?" He whisper yelled. Sophia rolled her eyes.
"Can't you choose whether to whisper or yell?" She asked. The King looked even more surprised.
"I wasn't planning on waking up the whole castle! And you still didn't answer the question. Why are you in here?" He asked again.
"I'm cleaning up. The kitchen staff was exhausted, and they needed to get home and rest in order to cater to you and the rest of your highnesses' need to dine when the rooster crows!" The King raised his eyebrows.
"Are you actually angry that breakfast is early in the morning? Do you just want a few extra hours to sleep? Sounds like you're thereal princess here." Sophia's eyes flashed as she scowled darkly. Her next sentence was almost growled out.
"I just think that people should be allowed to be with their families and not overworked to the point of them having to work through nights at a time without seeing their wives and children." Edmund's face sombered quickly and then he became rather defensive.
"I can't control that!" He sounds like a child.
"You're a King aren't you?" She snapped. "You're one of the only ones with control." Sophia walked briskly out of the kitchen past The Just King, who had a very thoughtful expression on his face.
The next morning, Sophia was woken by a bustling Talila.
"You must get in the bath, Lady Sophia! You're about to be terribly late for breakfast!" She tittered. Sophia groaned and rolled over.
"Not now, Talila. I was up all night cleaning the kitchens!" She whined, pulling a pillow over her head. Tahlia snorted and chuckled.
"Oh, yes." She began. "I heard all about it. The cook, my husband, told me all about it when he surprised me early at home." Sophia sat up and looked at the handlady curiously, while she stopped her tasks.
"Thank you, Sophia." She said. "I can't remember a night where I had my husband home before dawn this month." Sophia waved her hands.
"It's fine, Tahlia. Come, let's get ready for the day." She replied hopping out of the bed and into the bath.
After preparing herself, she ran down to the dining hall, Talila in tow, and her feet pattering on the marble floor. The doors opened, and she sat down in her place near Caspian. King Edmund was casting her the most interesting of looks. Soon, the head chef entered the dining hall with the announcement of the breakfast menu.
"Before you begin, Hadwin," Edmund piped up. "Call the staff into the hall." He ordered, casually waving his hand. Sophia became anxious. Her eyes widened as well as the eyes of the head chef. He soon scurried away and then scurried back with the rest of the kitchen staff in the hall. They all looked exceedingly worried.
"No need to look so alarmed." Said Edmund calmly and almost warmly. "I realize that we haven't been accommodating to your needs. We have been poor Kings and Queens to you, who do so much for us, and for that I am truly sorry." Sophia raised her eyebrows curiously.
"Th-thank you, highness." Hadwin stammered out, looking rather lost.
"No need to thank us." Continued Edmund. "I realize that expecting you to cater to us in the evening, clean, and then return to attend to us in the morning again is too much to ask of anyone." Sophia felt her chest bubbling with happiness as she saw Talila's eyes light up with what could only be the delight of knowing she would be seeing her husband more often than before.
"What do you propose, highness?" asked Hadwin, ringing his hat between his hands.
"I give you full authorization to put together an addition to the cleaning staff, who will tend to the kitchen after dinner has been concluded. You shall be home to see your children put to bed." said Edmund with a smile on his face and an almost dancing light in his eyes. The kitchen staff murmured excitedly. Some were even shedding tears and muttering quiet thank-yous.
Sophia glanced over at Talila, who was standing in the corner and weeping with joy. Her eyes wandered over all the faces of relief, happiness, and gratitude. Then her eyes met King Edmund's, and she smiled. He raised his eyebrow cheekily as he took a sip from his drink. He placed his goblet down and clapped his hands together loudly.
"Alright! Now that we've settled this, Breakfast!" he announced. The staff bustled away only to return with a single, covered, platter. Those sitting around the table looked outwardly confused. Sophia's eyebrows were scrunched up. Usually there were several things to choose from for breakfast. What was this?
"The menu for today's breakfast is rather simple, we're afraid." Said Hadwin. "We hope your majesties find it to your liking." he finished his sentence by lifting the lid of the platter to reveal a large chocolate cake covered in a decadent cream topping. Sophia laughed as Hadwin winked at the young ward. The Kings and Queens were silent until Lucy burst out,
"Chocolate cake's more than alright with me!" The rest of breakfast went along rather well after that.