Her words left me astonished.
"Well, that's all I have to say. I'm quite exhausted and in need of some rest. Zinnia, I'll take my leave now. Goodnight," Dahlia expressed with a wearied tone.
"Of course, Dahlia. Have a safe journey," I replied with a smile.
Dahlia nodded, ready to leave, but before she could take another step, I halted her. "Oh, Dahlia, just a quick question."
She paused, turning her gaze back to me. "What is it?"
"Why didn't you invite Adelaide to your birthday banquet?" I inquired with genuine curiosity.
A subtle shift in Dahlia's expression caught my attention. "Chasina, the second-in-command knight and Lady Adelaide's wife, requested that I not invite her. She didn't want Adelaide to feel obligated to attend, as it was their anniversary."
Their anniversary coincided with Dahlia's birthday? The realization surprised me. I couldn't help but wonder why Adelaide hadn't mentioned this to me. I made a mental note to have a conversation with her about it later.
"I understand now. Thanks for clarifying that," I said, accompanied by a grateful smile.
"No problem. Now, I'll be on my way," Dahlia said before gracefully exiting the room.
With Dahlia gone, I found myself alone in the dining hall that looked like a five star restaurant.
The events of the day had left my mind in a whirlwind of emotions, and I wasn't in the mood for further contemplation. All I knew was that I was still hungry and utterly fatigued.
I decided to put my complex feelings on hold for the night and prioritize getting some food and some much-needed rest.
I'd address these emotional entanglements tomorrow.
With that in mind, I left the dining hall and headed toward the kitchen. The smell of freshly baked bread and the crackling of the furnace welcomed me, along with the cheerful chatter of the kitchen staff maids as they worked diligently. I pushed the door open, entering the bustling kitchen.
The three girls who were working with the dough halted their activities and turned their attention toward me. The head chef, on the other hand, appeared engrossed in tending to the fire in the furnace and didn't initially acknowledge my presence.
"Greetings, Princess Zinnia," the three maids chimed in unison, curtsying respectfully.
As soon as the head chef heard their words, he swiftly shifted his gaze toward me. With purposeful strides, he approached me and executed a formal bow. "G-greetings, Princess. I-I did not know you would visit at this hour. May we help you with anything?" The head chef stuttered and sweating for some reason.
"Hello everyone! Good evening, Peppery, Saucy, Salty, and Chefy!" I greeted with genuine cheerfulness.
Upon hearing their names called out, their eyes widened in surprise. I tilted my head, perplexed by their reactions.
"Is there a problem with what I said?" I questioned.
"N-no, Princess! It's just that we never expected you to actually remember our names, being commoners and all," Peppery replied, a hint of confusion in her voice.
"We don't intend to be impolite, but it's rather astonishing for someone of your stature to take note of our names," Salty chimed in.
"Indeed, although we certainly didn't mean it negatively," Chefy added, gently shaking his head.
"Of course, I would remember. I've been visiting here frequently, and it would be disrespectful of me not to address each of you by your names," I replied, my smile unwavering.
My statement seemed to cause a glimmer of appreciation in their eyes.
"You've truly undergone a transformation, Princess!" Saucy exclaimed in awe, his companions nodding in agreement, their eyes also sparkling.
"Couldn't have said it better!" Chefy chuckled, his eyes similarly bright.
"Seeing the Princess evolve for the better is a sight we never thought we'd witness ourselves," Peppery praised sincerely.
"Haha, alright, everyone, that's enough," I interjected with a light laugh. "I genuinely appreciate each one of you and what you contribute. That's why I've taken the effort to remember all your names."
The truth was, remembering their names was a simple task due to their distinctive characteristics. Peppery's dark ash hair and freckled face, Salty's white hair, Saucy's ginger locks that reminds me of barbeque sauce, and Chefy's title as the head chef that gave him his name.
"Anyway, I'm here because I'm still a bit hungry, and I'd like to request some food to be brought to my room. Would that be alright?" I said changing the subject.
"No problem, Princess! We would be more than happy to prepare a meal for you!" Chefy responded with enthusiasm.
"What dish would you like us to serve you, Princess?" Salty inquired.
"I'd like some spicy chicken, please. And if you could, bring me a bottle of wine as well."
"Coming right up, Princess! I'll ensure that this spicy chicken becomes the best you've ever tasted! Muah!" Chefy exclaimed with a flourish, playfully pressing his index finger against his cheek while turning it, gesturing in a manner similar to that of Italian chefs expressing their love for food.
"Great! Thank you!" I said before reaching for the doorknob. As I paused for a moment, I added, "Oh, and I just wanted to let you all know that you did an outstanding job with the meal earlier. The food was truly delicious, and everyone thoroughly enjoyed it." With a wink, I complimented them.
"T-thank you, Princess!!!" they chorused, bowing once more as gratitude filled their voices.
I offered them one last smile and then headed out.
As I made my way toward my room on the third floor, I sighed with relief. I wanted to avoid any unnecessary interactions, so I briskly walked without lingering or glancing around, lest I attract someone's attention.
My primary goal was to reach my room swiftly, rest, and enjoy the anticipated meal.
Finally, I made it to my room without any delays and took a nice relaxing bath. Afterward, the promised spicy chicken and wine were presented. I savored the meal heartily, my contentment growing as my hunger was satisfied.
Once the meal was finished, I indulged in the wine while gazing at the luminous moon from my balcony. As I looked back on the events of the past few days, I found myself lost in thought.
A lot has happened today, and so a few minutes later, I had drifted off into a sound sleep that lasted a remarkable eighteen hours.
It was, without a doubt, the best sleep I ever had.