Echoes of The Crown

Chapter 08

Long dark wooden, rustic and elegantly curved table stretched along the middle of the palace’s dining hall. A hand embroidered cloth, precisely sewn, with golden  thread and lotus silk, ran over the center of the table. Silver and golden sets of cutleries, bowls and plates filled with mouth-watering food and refreshing drinks were lined up all the way from one end to another. Woven baskets, filled and stacked with plentiful breads and buns were placed at the centre of the grand table.
Soft, fluffy pancakes, drizzled with honey, swirled with whipped cream, along with juicy blueberries, would make anyone want to devour them in mere seconds. However, Marzia sighed, tossing the berries around the plate with a loss of appetite. An elbow nudged at Marzia’s sides and she glanced at the person beside her. Zelda smiled at her, assuring her not to ponder over her worries and urged her to eat.
"I'm not hungry", Marzia murmured to her cousin.
"No mumbling on the table!", a stern voice spoke. Marzia looked up to see her aunt Zora staring at her with an intense look. Even though Zora was her mother's sister, Marzia felt no compassion between them. Her aunt's gaze would always make her skin crawl with uneasiness.
" Forgive me, aunt Zora",
"Sorry mother",
Both Marzia and Zelda apologized together.
Zora hummed and looked to the end of the table to the guests that have joined them for breakfast today. "So, Dr Fahad, I am seeing you here quite often. Were you with my brother-in-law just now? How is he doing?"
The doctor cleared his throat before answering, "The King has a strong willpower, my lady. I'm sure he'll be with us soon, as healthy as ever",he replied politely.
The doctor’s words made her blood boil, but she maintained her posture, plastering a fake smile on her face, while sinister thoughts stir up inside of her.  "Indeed he will", she said with fake enthusiasm, before going back to her food platter.

"Princess Marzia, I heard your horse got injured yesterday and that you have summoned a vet to the Palace. I hope everything is good!?", spoke a man in his late 40s with a rich belly and a receding hairline. "Yes Minister Hakan. My horse was severely injured and he needed treatment immediately. Forgive me for not informing the council for letting someone new into the castle without proper procedures", Marzia replied.

"Hmmm... I heard he is apparently the best doctor in town", snickered another man with sharp eyes across the table from her. "You are not wrong, Uncle Sufian. He is the best vet in town from what I heard. I can't just have anyone looking and taking care of my Zaraan". All the drained out worries came flooding back to Marzia thinking about her beloved horse.

"Of course! Zaraan was gifted by my sister. He needs the best in town.." Zora said,rolling her eyes.
'Was that sarcasm or perhaps mockery?!', Marzia huffed in annoyance. Zora however was not pleased with Marzia’s remark. Anger and hatred only seem to grow more as she stared down at her niece. A change of aura could be felt by everyone as the room filled with silence.
Dr Fahad decided to lighten up the mood by easing up the Princess, "Well, since this new doctor seems to be the best in town, I hope, I don't get replaced, my lady!" he smiled. Both Marzia and Zelda let out small laughs at the doctor’s attempt to jest. "He is a vet, Doctor Fahad. You need not worry about your job", Marzia joked in return.

The light change in the mood brought her the images of those  chestnut orbs that gazed at her soul last night, making her cheeks flush with pink in seconds. Marzia quickly got up and excused herself, as her heart began to beat rapidly, thinking of a certain someone. The urge to see those tender chestnut eyes seemed to increase and Marzia found herself walking towards the Sick Bay, in desperate need of meeting Dr Hamza.
All the while, she failed to notice the confusion and curiosity from her cousin, who also excused herself right after the Princess, following closely behind her, determined to learn about the cause of the sudden flustered state of her beloved cousin, Princess Marzia.