Ella entered the palace. It was called a palace, because of the family based upon the legacy. London knows it; when palace is mentioned, it's the Kings' they are talking about. One step after another would remind her about the familiarity of this place. This part of the place was only a front reception for visitors. The palace actually is resided in the other part which is connected through this reception. Not everyone is allowed through that part of the palace, as only the family and its relatives reside there. Normally all the meetings are held up in this frontier. Ella climbed up the steps to announce her name to the woman sitting behind the reception. As she reached her, she stared at the girl. She was aware of the girl as Ella used to chat out with her, during break times. Normally she would find her to be doing nothing other than treating the guests, which becomes a bore after a certain time. Hence Ella used to meet Daisy in between the breaks and respites during any function or meeting. Daisy didn't even raise her head, adorned with her specs and asked, "Welcome to the palace. May I know your name for the form of visit?", with her hands clipped over the keyboard, already typing away something.
"Ella Kingsly." The receptionist was typing the name and stopped at 'K'. That was when she stopped minding her senses around and looked up to the person so fast that Ella was afraid if her neck was broken through the impact. Daisy still couldn't believe what was beholding in front of her. Emphasizing it she went on to stand up from her chair, removed her specs in case they were betraying her eyes and came around the table to touch Ella's shoulder. She gasped loudly on contact, with her hands on her mouth. "Geez, what a welcome, Daisy!"
"Are you for real?" Ella went to touch Daisy's both the shoulders in response. After that came a string of 'Oh My God' and a bone crushing hug from her dear receptionist friend. Ella smiled in response and hugged her back. After what felt like years later, Daisy let go of Ella and rounded her eyes to observe her mistress.
"Where are you coming from?"
"From where I was staying." The receptionist didn't say anything about that. The whole city knew about the heir to run off on her own. Rumors that followed later about the reason of her disappearance was made in different stories, without any base conclusion. It was clear now that her mistress was protecting herself.
"Are you alright Miss Kingsly? You do realize this is the last place I or anyone expected you to be. Provided they know who you are of course!" Daisy emphasized the severity of the situation in case her mistress was unaware of it. And she was ready to lose her job in order to ensure that the miss was out of here and safe somewhere.
"The guards let me in."
"They let any visitor in! They know rubbish!"
"I'm fine, Daisy. Won't you have tea and snacks with me? I'm famished." Ella said smiling at her friend.
"Why would I! I'll get the same cookies that my Nana used to make. You used to like it very much. That was one of many things that reminded me of you. She misses you too. You should meet her. I don't know how many days are left for her, but she will be happy to meet you one last time!"
"Of course I'm going to meet her. I've made a list of what to do's here while I was on the way. And among them is you having to give me company."
"At your service madame." She bowed at Ella making her chuckle. They left the parlor and went inside to the drawing room, where the visitors wait up for their scheduled appointments. Daisy ringed a bell for providing tea and took out the cookies she carried in her bag. The both of them chatted right away, like long lost friends.
"The staff look different", Ella commented while seeing all the unfamiliar faces.
Daisy sighed and said, "The staff were replaced, since your birthday party." Her voice dropped down while saying about that day. Ella understood that it was the resulted from Roy.
"And how about you? Are you faring?"
"I came around. A wise friend of mine said to not give up." Daisy answered while giving her a knowing smile.
"And? How was yours? You look pretty and fine. Thank the lords. I was really worried for you. But you didn't even come to me for help. I would have helped you Miss Kingsly."
"What did I tell you about not calling me 'Miss Kingsly'? And no, I couldn't risk you and your family, in the name of treason. I fared well though. Your wise friend can surely make her own wise choices." Ella winked at the end.
"Come I'll show you the garden. Do you know I had made Mr. Walker listen to your request of planting Wild Lilies? It has grown well now! Just like you said. The weather was not helping at first, due to constant rain or snow, but we didn't stop. He'll be very happy to see you!" Daisy went on saying excitedly, and Ella wanted to dwell into that happiness, but she was also worried about the association. She didn't know what will Mr. Walker think about her now. Will he think the same as the whole city thought? Will he forgive her? The lack of attention of her father on her well being and her wants, likes, dislikes; led Ella to find that attention around others. Like Daisy, Mr. Walker, Nana and... Roy too. Even if she hated him now, she can't deny that she was the happiest with him. And some things can't stay forever. Like him.
Ella was interrupted from her thoughts when she heard the duo's conversation, which was more like yelling at each other.
"Mr. Walker! I have a surprise for you...", Daisy sang to Mr. Walker.
"Go away! I'm busy." Mr. Walker replied. His full name was John Walker, but this being London, he lived up to his old tradition and wouldn't let anyone other than his wife call him John. He was currently perched over an array of bushes with scissors, cutting out the extra leaves, with his back to them.
"But you don't even know what I'm talking about."
"I don't want your cookies. It would break all of my teeth."
"Nana won't like it if you say it like that! And it's not hard to bite. You have not even eaten one." Daisy answered exasperatedly.
"Oh I don't have to. It seems to be like a rock. And I don't eat rocks." Mr Walker said while turning his head to the side, but not fully to look at them. The both of them continued arguing and yelling, while straying away from the main topic of their conversation. Not minding the both Ella's eyes roamed around the garden, which was filled with all varieties of fruits and flowers. There were more fruit trees than the flowers. It was the same; as Mr. Walker always insisted, there was no requirement of planting flowers, when they can't be used for anything other than decoration, but fruits can be eaten. That would lead to usual banter between Ella and Mr. Walker. Still on continuous refusal from his side, Ella went on to plant the flowers on her own, exactly how she had seen him do to other plants. The difference was that Ella planted flowers and Mr. Walker planted the fruits. Both determined in their own ways, none backing down.
It was then that Ella spotted the lilies faraway under the open sky. That spot was the one to receive the most sunlight, as it wasn't covered with trees everywhere to block them. Her feet carried her there. And she was inspecting the lilies one by one, careful to not step on the stem.
"No. You won't even get a bite of those pears", continued Mr. Walker. So the conversation has shifted to pears.
"Oh I was thinking of adding that to the cookies and then you can taste!" Daisy as delightful as she, always thought the positive of it. Mr. Walker looked horrified and turned completely to refuse her once and for all.
"You won't do anything to my sacred fruits. They will be mashed out like potatoes by you!" Daisy rolled her eyes at that.
"After you eat your sacred fruits, they will be still mashed down in your stomach."
"Shoo away! I don't like you to insult my fruits. Don't you dare steal any of them."
"Not even the fallen ones?"
"Especially not them! You are short enough to not get up to the trees", Mr. Walker said with pride. Daisy got mad now. He turned back to his work when he caught sight of a woman near the lilies. He hurriedly went over to that woman, to give her a piece of mind and to stay away from the garden. Maybe he should put a fence on the garden for letting no one to trespass.
"You! Woman back away from the Wild lilies", he said while walking to her, whose back was facing him. "These flowers belong to the mistress and anyone touching her flowers are not spared of punishment."
"I never thought you would protect my flowers." The voice stopped Mr. Walker to say anything as he just kept on seeing the woman. Ella turned to him with a small smile on her face.
"Well, you weren't there to defend it. I had to do all the work!" He said composing himself. It was a well-known fact that the gardener and Ella would argue and defend their plants from each other, but for any other outsider, they both would defend the entire garden and not just a single lone plant.