{This Chapter dedicated to some of my amazing readers; Jennifer Goliah, BedheadBookworm, Nosliw, Amalie, Sterling, Victory, Ambassador, Caasi, Beloved. Thank you so much for your support so far!}
~~~~~~~~~
Inside the Morville castle, a curious princess still dressed in her wedding outfit sat on a low stool a little far from the cauldron, her eyes fixed intently on the young boy stirring the soup with ease.
"How do you know how to cook?" Jacquelyn asked amazed by the boy's cooking skills, though she wasn't aware what in particular he was making. "I mean at your age; I was mostly ruining my dress with mud while playing under the rain."
Ballister who had been dragged inside the kitchen by the princess paused, "I am the one who makes master's meals, that's how I know." the boy replied, before he continued stirring.
Jacquelyn nodded understandingly, now looking around the kitchen. "But the kitchen looks empty, what kind of food does my husband enjoy, also what type are you making for me now."
"Uh..."
Ballister paused left in a tough spot with the question, his eyes moved away from the soup that was boiling then settled on the princess. Her bold claim on his master was what marveled her also Ballister tried to remember something else his master would enjoy if not blood and wine. But that wasn't the problem, the toughest question was what he was making at the moment.
"Um. . .this is soup?" he replied, his voice filled with uncertainty.
Jacquelyn hummed, "I like soup," her eyes sparkling with excitement as she eagerly awaited the food. Feeling restless, she stood up and began to explore the kitchen, running her fingers over the worn utensils.
"They really look old," she mused, "how long has he been living here?" Her gaze turned to Ballister, who was intently focused on his cooking, his face flushed from the heat. "Is this like a family heritage or something? I mean, the house," she asked, her curiosity getting the better of her.
Ballister used the back of his hand to wipe the sweat from his forehead, his eyes darting towards Jacquelyn as she reached for the cabinet. "Family heritage, eh? You can say it is. Since Master has been living here for..." His voice trailed off, "Don't touch that! It belongs only to Master."
The cup, adorned with intricate patterns, was the only one Kael loved to be served fresh blood with. Ballister's eyes narrowed, his patience wearing thin. The young boy wasn't sure he could survive another second with the princess; she was a handful, asking too many questions and not waiting for an answer before doing whatever she pleased.
Jacquelyn tilted her head, her blue eyes admiring the wine glass she had picked up from the China cabinet. "He really has refined taste, this is stunning." The young princess marveled at the fine lead crystal glass, its subtle blue-gray hue complemented by delicate drawings of vines and grapes on its body.
"Don't worry, Ballister, I'll put it back," she said with a wink, but Ballister's trust was shaken by her careless words and actions so far.
As Jacquelyn tiptoed to return the glass to its place, her hand trembled, nudging another glass.
"Oh!" she gasped, but swiftly caught it, her reflexes saving it from shattering.
Ballister's eyes widened in horror, feeling as though he'd aged a year in that fleeting moment, his centuries-long lifespan flashing before his eyes.
"Relax Ballister, I caught it." Jacquelyn smiled, waving the cup in front of the boy.
"You get afraid easily, is that why other servants don't stay around you...and come to think of it. Where are they?"
Ballister narrowed his eyes, with a mix of confusion in his eyes. "Who is they?" his voice calm.
"The other servants, I saw one while I was walking inside." Jacquelyn looked around the room as if to catch a glimpse of the servant she saw earlier at the castle entrance.
Ballister's eyes now settled on the cup the girl was holding, before he replied. "I am the only one who serves master. Is just the two of us here."
"Then who did I see?" Jacquelyn asked, placing the wine glass back on the cabinet this time she tried to be very careful.
Ballister seeing that she was placing the cup back turned and continued with his cooking, "I guess they are acting up again. The lost souls buried-"
Crash
Ballister's unbeating heart sank as he heard the crash, praying that the sound was anything but the shattering of his master's priceless cup. He slowly turned, his neck stiff with dread, and beheld the devastating sight; the antique lay in pieces, its delicate beauty lost forever.
"No," Ballister whispered, his voice trembling as he approached the shards.
Jacquelyn, torn between fear and remorse, covered her mouth with her hand, her eyes wide with terror. The possibility of seeing a ghost had scared her to death, and now she had broken something irreplaceable on her first day as a wife.
"I'm sorry, I got scared and..." Jacquelyn's voice faltered as she realized Ballister wasn't listening. "Let me help and pack it!" she offered, trying to make amends.
Ballister whose gaze was fixed on the broken cup as if mourning the loss of a treasured friend shook his head when Jacquelyn tried to help,
"No!" he could still remember what happened at the market when he almost drank the girl's blood. He didn't want that to repeat. "Leave it, I will pack it up, maybe you should go back inside I will serve the food to you when it's ready."
Feeling sorry for the young boy, that might probably get shouted at by his master, Jacquelyn quietly left the kitchen. Not knowing anywhere else to go, she walked back inside the room she had met Ballister earlier.
"I should take responsibility for breaking the wine glass." Jacquelyn muttered going to sit on the sofa. With her dress being too heavy and tight. The princess started feeling very uncomfortable and itchy.
"I didn't come with a change of dress; how did they send me to my husband with nothing but a silver dagger." Remembering the silver dagger she had brought earlier that was now inside her dress pocket. Jacquelyn raised it up. "He didn't even accept it." she sighed slumping on the sofa.
Few minutes passed and the princess was still uncomfortable with her dress, she stood up walking deeper inside the room she found a closet that had neatly arranged set of clothes. Jacquelyn carefully removed her wedding dress including the glove and jewelries then she selected one shirt from the stack and donned it over her small figure.
Kael being thrice Jacquelyn's size and height, the shirt covered her down to her knee with the sleeves swallowing up her hands.
"This should do, until I get my dresses." Jacquelyn muttered, looking around for the bed so she could rest until her food was ready.
"Hmm...bed has no cover." Jacquelyn twitched her lips, "I have so many things to discuss with my husband when he returns." she mused going back to sit on the sofa.