A sparrow gently landed on the windowsill, and its tiny feet marked their prints on the flour that was split on the wood beneath.
Chirp! Chirp!
It flapped its soft brown wings, as if bidding good morning to the young lady that was working in the kitchen. A chilly morning breeze welcomed itself in through the open window, fluttering its soft feathers.
"Oh my, it's quite windy this morning!"
The princess whispered, a smile on her thin lips as she held her raven black locks away from her face. She tucked those stray locks behind her ear, her slender fingers slightly brushing against her emerald earring. The bird tilted its head to the side.
Chirp?
She giggled, her clear green eyes gleaming joyfully.
"Yes, yes. A very good morning to you too, Chirpy! Are you here to help me bake the chocolate pie for the morning tea?"
It jumped up and down on the windowsill.
Chirp! Chirp!
"But first."
She said, and turned away from the wooden table that stood under the kitchen's window. She stood on her toes, and reached for the door of the glass cabinet above.
"Let me get you your wheat grains."
Like every other morning in the Duke Haeyet's household, a warm and sweet aroma filled the manor's kitchen and hallways.
That cheerful young lady in the kitchen was the second daughter of the empire's only Duke, Princess Salina Haeyet. She loved baking sweets for her family every morning and for that she would wake up just as the sun rays scattered across the morning sky.
"Here you go, little Chirpy!"
She scattered the golden grains beside her little friend's feet. It was quick to pick them up in its beak, one grain after another. Hands gripping the table's edge, she watched as it enjoyed its breakfast.
Ting!
The oven's bell rang.
"It's ready!"
She twirled around, her white dress swirling gracefully around her small frame before coming to rest around her knees. She grabbed a pair of oven gloves from beside the basket of fresh red apples.
She put them on and bent over to open the door of the stone oven. She was greeted by a dense odor of the sweet delicacy she had baked. Her face lit up, and a smile reached up to her ears.
"Just perfect!"
The lady exclaimed, taking out the chocolate pie. She carefully put it down on the table.
Chirp! Chirp!
The sparrow jumped in its spot, eyes glistening at the sight of the food in front of it.
She giggled.
"Now, now, Chirpy! You already had your fill!"
She took off the gloves, and put them down beside the pie.
"Let me slice it for you, my lady."
A voice said from behind her and she looked over her shoulder at the head maid who stood in the door way.
"Martha, it's you."
She gave the elder woman a smile, revealing her plump red gums.
"My lady..."
Her words were a mere whisper as she found herself yet again enchanted by the beauty of the young princess.
Sun rays which felt on her small back, made her frame glow and those jewel green orbs seemed to shine as brilliantly as that bright smile of hers.
She felt as if it was just yesterday when she had first seen the young lady.
A timid girl, 5 years old.
She had hidden herself behind her mother's gown, stealing glances at the new maid.
Martha smiled.
'Oh, how those 13 years had flown by!'
Soon, the lady would be gone to her husband's house. The thought made her chest ache. She felt her grey eyes being pricked by tears.
'Oh my!'
Salina took off the apron from around her waist.
"I have to go wake up the children. Could you set the tea cups, Martha?"
"Yes, my lady."
She nodded, and stepped away from the doorway.
"Thank you, Martha."
Salina leaned down to placed a soft kiss on her temple, before stepping out in the hallway.
"Mother?"
Salina said to the woman who stood in front of the children's bedroom, its tall double doors still closed.
She walked down the carpeted hallway, and reached her side.
"Dear, you are done with the pie, I presume."
Duchess Haeyet leaned forward to kiss Salina's forehead. The princess nodded, finding a familiar warmth in those fond green eyes of her mother.
The Duchess was still in her white nightgown. Salina leaned forward and pulled her mother's maroon Cashmere shawl close to her shoulders. It hid her braided black hair beneath it.
Her beauty seemed to be unfazed by the passing years of her life. Even in her late forties, she looked just as beautiful and elegant as the first day she had stepped in that house as the lady of Haeyet dukedom.
Crash!
"Aahh! That hurts, Abed! Let go!"
"You let go first, Jeeha!"
"Don't pull my hair, you dummy!"
"I'll pull them all out! You'll get dumb then!"
Smash!
The Duchess sighed, and shook her head upon hearing the commotion that those wooden doors failed to hide.
"Just when I was thinking that it was awfully quiet this morning."
She said, and Salina giggled.
"They can't start a day without breaking a vase or two, mother."
Salina knocked at the door.
"Oops! Hurry! Get on the bed, Abed!"
They heard hurried footsteps.
"Quick! The blanket! The blanket!"
The Duchess hid her trembling lips behind her fingers just as Salina pushed the door open.
The room was a mess.
The white silk curtains had been parted, revealing the huge glass window which touched the carpeted floor of the twin's room. Sunlight found its way into that untidy room which had toys scattered all across the floor. The little chair beside the window had been toppled over and beside it laid shards of a broken vase.
'That must be the crashing sound we had heard earlier.'
Salina thought, picking up a teddy bear from beside the foot of the double canopy bed. The poor toy had cotton peaking out from its shoulder.
The twin's fur slippers were piled over each other beside the bed, as if they had been taken off in a hurry.
Salina grinned, and looked at her mother who was enjoying the sight just as much.
"Are they gone?"
A muffled voice said from underneath the blanket.
"Hush. Let me see, Abed."
The blanket shifted and a pair of green eyes peaked from the top of it. They fell upon the Duchess.
"Eek!"
Jeeha pulled the blanket back over her head.
"What?"
A hushed voice spoke.
"Mother and sister are here!"
A fairly loud gasp erupted from the blanket.
"It's your fault!"
"What? You broke the vase, Abed!"
"Yeah, but you started it!"
Salina grabbed the edges of the blanket and yanked it away from the loudly whispering twins.
"Aahh!"
They cried in unison, hiding their faces behind their hands.
"Abed. Jeeha."
Salina said, and they were quick to point at each other.
"It's his fault!"
"It's her fault!"
Sitting there in their matching blue pajamas and messy bed hair, the twins looked too adorable for the two ladies to scold them.
"No pie for naughty children, Salina."
The Duchess said with a hand on her lips.
"You are right, mother."
Their faces turned pale, and it was quite an amusing sight.
"No, Mama!"
They pounced at the Duchess, hugging her by her waist.
"I want chocolate pie, Mama! Jeeha was the one being naughty."
Abed pointed at his sister. She gasped dramatically.
"What? How could you, Abed? It was him, Mama! Ouch!"
"Don't pinch your sister, Abed!"
"But-"
"If you two don't make up now, there won't be any pie for you two!"
"But-"
"I mean it!"
They let go of her waist, pouting. They glared at each other.
"Fine!"
They cried simultaneously. They stood up on the bed, and reluctantly shook each other hands. Then, they patted each other on the head.
"Forgive and forget!"
They cried and couldn't help the smiles that spread across their chubby faces.