NIGHTS OF HALLOW

”My, my Lady, are you sure about this?” A perplexed Emily hastened her steps while trying to stop the Lady from going ahead with what she had said to her.

Perdita had just woken from her rest after the training she had in the morning, only for her to declare wanting to bake buns. Why would her Lady enter the kitchen when there were maids who could get anything she wanted? Emily wondered.

”Oh, Emily, do not trouble yourself. This had been my work back in Woodbridge village where I sold them to make a profit. Besides, it wouldn’t hurt to stretch my hands now, would it.” Smiling, Perdita turned to glance at Emily who was yet to be comforted by such an idea.

Emily exhaled, scratching her head with mixed fear and perplexed expression. She said, voicing her concern, ”I understand you, My lady, but—but, I’ll be in trouble if His Majesty finds out that I let you do such a work when you should be resting.”

”I’m not a child and I have rested enough. Staying back in the bed is called laziness. His Majesty wouldn’t punish you when the bun is for him.” Perdita halted in her step to pat the troubled maid on her shoulder reassuringly.

”F—for him?” Emily skeptically murmured, her eyes slightly widening in surprise.

”Mmm hmmm,” Perdita hummed in reply as she resumed walking in the direction which led to the kitchen. ”Do not worry, I will share the bun with you too.”

”No no no, My lady,” Emily let out a nervous laugh shaking her head. ”You don’t have to, My Lady. I am but a maid whose privilege in the castle does not include that, My lady.”

”Where I dine, you shall dine, Emily. You should never think low of yourself no matter what you do. You are my guardian witch, you do know the power you wield. Now, let’s quickly bake those buns, shall we?”

”Yes, My Lady,” Emily replied bowing in gratitude and emotion from Perdita’s kind words that overwhelmed her each time. She is so fortunate to have met such a person as Perdita.

As minutes ticked away, the snow which had started falling in the late hours of the morning now painted everywhere with its white flakes, making everywhere cold and damp.

The clatter coming from the kitchen accompanied the whispers of the maids lined outside the kitchen hallway while they spoke amongst themselves.

It was unheard of for a Lady to be inside the kitchen when there were maids who could do that. While some sneered in their hearts, the aroma from the freshly baked buns couldn’t hide the hunger in their eyes as they all salivated wishing to get a taste.

”My Lady?” Emily called out, hungrily eyeing the hot buns, the sweet aroma teasing her senses and what she wanted to say. Clearing her throat, she whispered to the hearing of Perdita, ”I’m sure His Majesty will go nuts and become more possessive of you once he tastes your buns.”

Perdita’s eyes widened on hearing Emily’s words. She spun around staring at her maid in disbelief, ”You do realize your tongue could be cut off at such words you just spewed.”

”My deepest apologies, My Lady!” Emily quickly bowed, the realization of what she said dawning on her. ”I didn’t realize when I said such words!”

Perdita let out a chortle but was quickly replaced by a reprimanding look, ”His Majesty, Emily, has never been possessive of me and I am doing this out of a thankful expression to him. Do not entertain any silly thought in your head.”

”You speak as though you haven’t seen how angry he gets when someone offends you, My Lady.” Emily blurted and at the same time slapped her mouth shut. ”I’m sorry, My Lady!”

Perdita stared at Emily unable to utter a word. She shook her head bewilderingly and remarked, ”Take a bun and eat, let’s see if your mouth can finally shut itself.”

”Hahaha, My Lady! It’ll definitely shut itself now,” Emily cheekily laughed and immediately went for a bun she devoured immediately happily licking her lips.

Once Perdita was done, she set aside the buns for Sthena in a tray she neatly arranged and covered.

As Emily carried the tray of buns, she quizzed looking at the remaining buns left in the bowl, ”My Lady, what shall we do with the remaining buns? There are quite a lot remaining.”

”Madam Rosie shall share it among the maids, servants, and guards. Do not forget to take the ones I set aside for you,” Perdita replied to the hearing of the woman in charge of the kitchen and the maids outside who beamed with smiles as they couldn’t wait to taste the appetizing buns.

As Perdita stepped out of the kitchen, the maids all bowed chorusing, ”Thank you, My Lady.” And in return, Perdita nodded with a warm smile on her face.

Just like the air everyone can breathe in, the news of Perdita’s baking reached the ears of everyone, especially the maids who got to have a taste of the delicious treat.

Now left with nothing to do, Perdita stayed back in her room, reading the books about witches she found in Sthena’s library. Dinner also was eaten in her room as she didn’t want to face the brooding stares of the royal family members.

As hours passed, darkness covered the kingdom like a thick blanket while bringing calmness to the stressed muscles of the people. Perdita didn’t know when she slept off on the bed after forcing herself to stay awake till midnight while she waited for Sthena’s return.

The castle now quiet against the backdrop of the usual cricket sounds, lured everyone to sleep, with the exception of the guards who patrolled around keeping watch.

In the room where Perdita lay, her breath coming in gentle pants was disrupted by a sudden movement she felt in the room. Trying to rouse herself from sleep, her gaze blurred by sleep tried to make out the figure in her room.

”You are awake,” The person in the room commented going to sit on the couch in the room.

”Sthena?” Recognizing the owner of the voice cleared the remaining sleep from Perdita’s eyes as she quickly sat upright on the bed. ”When did you come back?”

”Asking after my whereabouts? You sound like a wife on the verge of nagging her husband for coming back late.” Sthena countered her question with a teasing remark, a sly smile on his face.

”I—I,” Perdita stuttered as she tried to form a sentence. Her gaze went everywhere in the room but Sthena. ”You said you’d see me tonight.” She cleared her throat to soothe the awkward feeling of what her words sounded like.

”Yes, I did say that and I am sorry for keeping you waiting,” Sthena apologized. The sincerity in his voice caught Perdita off guard once more.

Fighting the heat that rushed up her face, she blinked to maintain her composure, ”You don’t have to apologize. You are the King caught up with so many activities—”

”That are not important as you are,” Sthena interjected, his gaze fixed on her. Switching the topic, he asked, ”Did you bake for me?”

At the mention of the buns, Perdita’s cheeks turned rosy. Avoiding eye contact with Sthena she replied, almost in a whisper, ”Y—yes,”

Silence ensued, none speaking and Perdita not daring to look at Sthena. The only sound that could be heard was the beating of Perdita’s heart which accelerated and skipped a beat when she finally stared back at him.

The intensity of his darkened gaze on her, the swirl of emotion in his dark glacial red eyes, and his daunting aura that always softened when she was near him broke the last resolve of Perdita when he asked, ”Why did you bake for me, Perdita?”