Page 9 of Princesses & Pastries
To my right, my older sister Kathryn is in an animated discussion with the Admiral of the Fleet, which is a surprise. I don't think I've ever known her to be that interested in the sea.
I stare down at my plate and push a carrot around. It's touched two different sauces, and my mind is rebelling against the idea of eating it, but I also don't want to disappoint the kitchen staff by sending it back, especially when I intend to make my way down there later so that I can bake with Nate.
"Don't eat it if you don't want it," Veronica says from my left.
I sigh. "I should eat it."
"Evie..."
Tears prick the corners of my eyes. "I should be able to eat it."
"But you can't," she says softly. "So don't."
I sigh and set my fork down. I know she's right, but it's frustrating to feel as if I've been defeated by a carrot.
"What are you going to bake later?" she asks.
"What?"
"I'm trying to distract you from the carrot. You can't cry here," she reminds me. "So, what are you going to bake?"
"Croissants," I respond. "Nate said he'd show me how they're made properly."
She chuckles. "You're going to sneak out of dinner even earlier than normal now that he's back, aren't you?"
"I don't sneak out. I walk out," I point out. "And I know that I need to stay for a certain amount of time." As much as I don't always like it, I know that I have to be here. There are some things that I can't get around, even if I am a princess. Though maybe I can't get around it because I'm a princess.
Veronica reaches out and touches my arm reassuringly. "Our parents know you can only take so much of being around other people."
"Other people aren't so much the problem," I mutter. "It's the noises other people make that I don't like."
She laughs. "That sounds like it's the people that are the issue."
I shrug. "I don't mind being in the kitchen and all the noises they make there," I point out.
"I think you'd probably feel differently if you had to work there and didn't just go down when it's quiet," she points out.
"There are always people in the kitchen," I point out.
"Yes, but you're not going there during mealtimes, or even when they're preparing for meals, because you have other things to do. Meetings with officials, organising events, whatever it is you do with the rest of your day..."
"Try not to scream while people ask me inane questions," I murmur.
Veronica snorts. "We have that in common."
The servants appear behind us to clear our plates, and we both sit back to allow them to take them. I do like smaller dinners like this in the fact that I get served a specific plate for myself.
"Do you know what they're serving for dessert?" Veronica asks me.
"No idea," I admit. "I don't have anything to do with the daily menu."
"That feels like something you could be in charge of."
"I don't believe that Chef Martina would like that. It makes sense for me to have input for banquets when they're important political functions, but the daily menu is entirely different."
"But then how am I supposed to know what's going to come out for dessert?"
"Blackberries are in season," I respond. "So perhaps something like that. And there's been a recent delivery from Someil, so there could be something with oranges or lemons. They were both delivered."
