Chapter 4 Play on Roles

They were standing in front of the dinning hall adjusting their gowns. Shanmala could feel her heart beating really fast. "Shall we?" Amsah asked noticing Shanmala's uneasiness. "Yes, let's go in," Shanmala replied opening the door for Amsah. The hall was unusually silent especially for occasions like this where a Royalty from a neighboring kingdom comes for a visit. Even more surprising was the empty dining table. No one was in the dinning hall.

"Where is everyone?" Amsah asked trying to understand the situation.

"I have no idea. What could have happened?"

They began to hear vague sounds coming from behind the hall. Someone was approaching the hall and from the sound of the footsteps, it was obvious it was Madam Lavoti. Though a petite figure, she walked like a giant stamping her feet on the floor in a way that let's everyone know she is in the premise.

"Come, Amsah! Take cover!" Shanmala said pulling Amsah along.

They rushed to the dining table and squatted beneath it as Madam Lavoti entered the hall. She walked from the second door to the first mumbling angry sounds to herself.

"Jedsy! Jedsy!!" She called out but no one responded.

"Jedsyyyy!!! She screamed out the third time and a petite figure wearing a white and blue apron came running. Her hair was folded in a bun highlighting her cheek bones and sharp facial outline.

"Yes Madam Lavoti," Jedsy replied.

"What in the world is that oil stain on the table? She asked squeezing her facial muscles and nose like she was trying to let out smoke.

"But, Madam Lavoti, there's nothing on the table," Jedsy replied utterly confused.

And the table was clean, at least for normal unsuspecting eyes but for Madam Lavoti, it was dirty. She would spot every stain from stain free surfaces and stain free clothes. She was the most difficult palace keeper to work with.

"Ughhhhh! You irritate me," Madam Lavoti added finally releasing her face muscles from the torture. She gripped Jedsy by the arm pushing her face over the table.

"There! Look at it! Can you see now? Can you?"

"Yes Madam Lavoti I will wipe the surface again," Jedsy replied faintly. She turned around walking back to the mini kitchen feeling humiliated. And this was a common thing in the palace. A thug of power with a fetish for perfection. The ones who bore the most of the stress were the workers but weren't they the most paid? Everyone in Santala will be excited to get a job at the palace and it could have been the best work place but the supervisors would not have such a thing happen under their watch.

"Lazy workers, " Madam Lavoti exclaimed waving her hand through the air as she went on to confirm the other areas have been thoroughly cleaned.

"Uh ha ha-ha ha-ha ha ha" Amsah busted out. She had been holding her urge to laugh back in order to avoid being caught. "That woman is the definition of crazy," she added still laughing hard.

Shanmala raised her hand to cover her mouth. "Would you stop laughing? What if we get caught? Come, we need to find out what happened here? If dinner was served here or not and where the prince of Fananala is?" Shanmala said.

"Hold on. What if the prince is still around? Do I meet him on your behalf?" Amsah asked.

"Shish! Shanmala said placing her index finger on her lips. We'll get caught. Speak in hush tones. You would not be meeting him on my behalf. You will introduce yourself as Princess Shanmala."

"What if he raises my veil," Amsah asked loudly.

"He wouldn't it's against the custom. Now shish. Someone is coming, move back," Shanmala replied. They shifted to the middle of the left quadrant of the table. The table was five hundred inches long with a narrow width. Moving too backward could make it obvious that someone was under the table.

They became still as the footstep got closer. "Madam Lavoti! Madam Lavoti!" The footstep echoed out. It was a masculine voice. "Madam Lavoti!" The voice called out the third time. Jedsy came out of the mini kitchen to attend to the voice.

"Hello. How can I help you? Madam Lavoti has gone to the Royalties Chamber," Jedsy said.

"Oh. I – I know the kingdom is rowdy and all right now but I came to Santala to meet the Princess. I'm Norwaya, Prince of Fanalala."

"Wow! Pardon me Your Highness. Eh, have a seat and.."

"No, no, there's no need for that, thank you. I will be returning to the Royalties lodge in three hours and I'll be leaving for Fananala first thing in the morning so I really need to speak with the Princess else my journey here will be futile."

"Yes. Okay. I will lead you to her chamber. Please wait here while I take off this apron".

"Alright. You go do that. I'll wait here," he replied.

Jedsy left him leaning on the dining table. As she walked back to the mini kitchen, Norwaya's eyes followed her step after step. He was staring at the curves of her blue mini velvet gown. His eyes fell off as she closed the door.

In a few minutes she came out through the door and his eyes fell on her again. She had loosened her bun and her long black hair fell across her shoulders. It gave her face a more feminine appeal.

"Shall we?" She asked as she approached where he was standing.

"Yes, after you," Norwaya replied.

Jedsy took the lead as they walked out of the dinning room. He now had the freedom to gaze at her however he pleased without getting caught. They got to the second door of the dinning hall and he opened the door for her.

"Thank you," Jedsy said and Norwaya beamed back a big smile that looked like he was about to laugh. He closed the door behind and they headed for the Princess's chamber.

"Go on, hurry, we need to get back to your chamber before he gets there," Amsah said a bit worried.

"No, " Shanmala replied sitting on the floor freeing her knees and thighs from the pressure of the long squat.

"What do you mean no?" Amsah asked sitting down too. She was tired of the long squat and her expression showed she was also tired of Shanmala's weird way of thinking.

"We would not need to pretend and act each others roles if he doesn't meet me at my chamber. You heard him. He will leave for Fananala tomorrow morning and I would not have to see him again till after a month cause he is not allowed to travel long distances more than twice a month."

"I see," Amsah replied relaxing her back on the table's divide. "So when do we leave here then?"

"We will have to wait a little longer. Jedsy and the Prince will come back here when they don't meet me in my chamber. He will leave for the royalties lodge through the third door and Jedsy has to finish her work in the kitchen. Once we confirm the coast is clear, then we'll head back to the chambers."

"I haven't done any hard work today compared to other days but I'm already so exhausted," Amsah said rolling her eyes."

"You can not deny that this is fun," Shanmala replied.

"Fun? What's your idea of fun?" Amsah asked.

"Oh let it go, I'm paying you for this," Shanmala added.

Amsah let out a heavy sigh and silence was the only one talking afterwards. Amsah was lost in her own thoughts. She could not bring herself to understand Shanmala. She was getting engaged, she had everyone to attend to her and care surrounded her. Whatever she wished for was at her disposal yet she chose to make life difficult for herself.

Coincidentally, Shanmala was also wondering what life really felt like for Amsah. The freedom to make her own choices. Earn her own money. Go on adventures to the stream without having to worry about male guards. Strolling through the hub world unguarded and living in a simple hut where you don't have to ask for exit permission at every door once it's past 22:00. She always wondered how life was like for the other children. The luxury of being able to speak freely with their parents without having to schedule meetings. The joy of having their parents as their primary caretakers and not growing up at the mercy of palace keepers and caretakers.

The second door creaked pulling them both out of their trance. They could hear mixed voices through the waves, Norwaya and Jedsy's voice. The voices got closer as the foot steps got louder.

"I'm really sorry for wasting your time, Your Highness," Jedsy said

"Oh I should be sorry for wasting your time. I'm sure you still have chores to complete. You should get back to them. I saw the old lady screaming at you the other time, try to avoid that the best way you can," he said.

"Old lady?" Jedsy replied giggling.

He smiled looking straight into her eyes, noticing the change in her facial outline as she giggled.

"I will be retiring to my lodge now. Do take care and it was a pleasure meeting such a beautiful lady," he said still looking straight into her eyes.

"My-my pleasure," Jedsy replied falling fully into the trap of his stare.

"Bye," he said

"Bye," she replied turning away.

He waited back watching her as she walked into the mini kitchen. She did not look back. The door closed behind her as she got inside and he had to take his eyes off again. He took his weight off the dinning table, walking out of the hall.