Chapter 38

Even after being raised to standards as Lady Kholin and being stripped off her duties as a kitchen wench in Mrs. Gibilis's kitchen, Aurora kept going back because that's the only place she found a piece of mind. When she baked, it's like she's been transported to another world where she's stress free and she doesn't think about Artemis or the future of the crown. Aurora feared her own thoughts would swallow her whole and take her hostage. Hence, in order to have a clear mind, the kitchen was the place for her.

Mrs. Gibilis found Aurora all alone inside the kitchen and as usual, she was making breads. The sun hadn't even risen yet although the good cold morning breeze was blowing its way towards the inside of the kitchen through large open windows. It was during the hour of the Nightingale.

"Good heavens child! It's too early to be awake. You are not a scullion anymore..." said Mrs. Gibilis while holding herself using a heavy fur coat. The mornings in Maldonia were as cold as the ones in Prophis. "It's freezing child."

"I couldn't sleep."

"How long have you been here?"

"An hour or so. You should go back to bed. It's not so wise being awake at this time."

"How can I sleep when the candles are burning inside my kitchen?"

Aurora smiled and held Mrs. Gibilis's hand softly. "I will put them off once I'm done, I promise."

"Oh Aurora... you are just like your mother."

Right there, Mrs. Gibilis's words caught up Aurora's attention. She placed the bread dough inside a pot, smeared it with yeast and covered it with small pieces of hot coal stones. This was the ancient way of baking, or at least that's how Maldonians used to bake their breads. Then, Aurora turned to Mrs. Gibilis eager to know more about her mother. "Tell me more about my mother, I don't remember much about her. The memories come in pieces and the pieces aren't perfectly lined up together."

"How could they? You were so young when she left the city with your grandmother. Huyan of House Guyana was a kind hearted woman with a spirit of the gods, I remember her to this day."

"My father told me she died."

"That's what he thinks child. But I know she's out there somewhere, probably far from here so she can keep your grandmother away from you."

"Why would she want to desperately protect me from my grandmother? My uncle said the exact same thing." Aurora asked with worry and curiosity. At that time, only Mrs. Gibilis could provide the answers she needed.

However, their time was cut short when Princess Sansa walked inside the kitchen looking for something to stop her night cravings. She was caught in action when she saw Aurora and Mrs. Gibilis having a deep conversation.

"Am I interrupting?" She asked nervously, still unaware if she was welcomed or not.

Both Mrs. Gibilis and Aurora bowed softly. "Not at all, my lady. Did you want something?" asked Mrs. Gibilis.

"Yes actually, some... lemon cake and pastries from last night. The leftovers?"

"Let me get them for you my lady."

"Thank you, Mrs. Gibilis."

Mrs. Gibilis walked to her kitchen store in a hurry leaving Aurora with Princess Sansa. These two had never met before or be properly introduced. They saw one another in functions and during the ball but they never spoke. Aurora thought the princess to be distant and usually accompanied by her husband, and not to mention she was an outsider. Outsiders who somehow seemed to climb so high in ranking and found themselves amongst the nobles of Maldonia. Aurora couldn't trust her.

"I don't think if we've been properly introduced. I'm Princess Sansa from Lazica kingdom and lady of Nemphis. My husband, Lord Balon is the Hand of the King."

"I am well informed of your husband's status, my lady."

"Oh, are you?" Princess Sansa made a joke. "What about you? I hear you are to be the Queen of Maldonia. The ruler of us all."

Aurora shied away and placed her eyes down. Mrs. Gibilis came back with two pieces of lemon cakes and pastries and that was the end of the conversation between Princess Sansa and Aurora. Princess Sansa walked with care, she was tiptoeing back to the room she slept which wasn't in the Hand's castle that she and Lord Balon lived. Later on, Aurora grew suspicious and she asked Mrs. Gibilis. "Why was Princess Sansa in the palace kitchens at this time? Her husband's castle is a ten minutes' walk from here. Or perhaps she hasn't slept in her own bed?" and they all grew suspicious of Princess Sansa's presence.

It turns out Princess Sansa was having a secret affair with a servant who worked the gardens and the horses stable. He was a young man in his early twenties known for his impeccable timing and snatching of royals. His name was Saigon and his reputation as a womanizer was well known all over the capital. Saigon fashioned himself as the "ladies man" and he constantly talked about his charms and beauty which no woman can resist. He was tall, sexy, his red-brown skin was different from others as he displayed the same look as people from Doha. That's because he was from Doha. He had dark complexions but he looked pale in some days. His hairs were long and he always tied them back using a black ribbon, a thick grab of brown hairs.

Even though Saigon was a servant, one may never know what he truly was because of the way he dressed, spoke and presented himself before the royals and especially to highborn women who he loved to take advantage of. He was an overseer of the work done by fellow servants, so he never worked. His tasl was to make sure the grasses were cut, the floors were shiny, the horses were well fed and the king is happy. That's why he had his own chambers in the main palace resident close to the servants' quarters.

And that's where Princess Sansa spent the night cheating on her husband. It wasn't their first time, nor the second, this was actually their third time in a row. Princess Sansa found herself inside Saigon's chambers every day ever since her husband left with the king to go visit the houses. Lord Balrus was always somewhere spying, and he saw the princess walking inside Saigon's chambers in her shift carrying lemon cake and pastries. He smiled and walked away.

In order to cause a rift between the two outsiders and to send Lord Balon away from Maldonia, and back to his penniless farm in Nemphis. Lord Balrus crafted a well worded letter explaining of the night intimates Princess Sansa and Saigon have. He didn't disclose his name and he signed it with "Mr. Well Wisher" and made sure to send his rodents to House Iron Falcon where the king was.

"Make sure it reaches the Hand of the King." Lord Balrus gave the instructions to his most trusted man. This was the next day early in the morning at the market, and so it turns out Princess Sansa was also at the market.

"I will my lord." Replied the rodent and took off in his horse. He wore a black hoodie to disguise himself and prevent not to be seen as a spy of Lord Balrus. Although, the master of spies had a lot of spies that one would waste no time looking at him while there were hundreds of them, inside and outside of the kingdom.

The market was crowded with the locals and it being the headquarter of the capital, as usual people flooded from the villages to the city bringing their goods. From grains and potters to slaves, everything was sold at the market. The merchants from liberty cities and other areas came with bulk of commodities ready to achieve a huge lump sum of profit from their businesses.

Princess Sansa decided to go to Lord Balrus when she saw him standing across a woman selling mangoes and grapes. When she reached him, she sighed fostly. "We need to stop meeting like this, my lord." Princess Sansa adjusted her dress and smiled. She was walking with a male slave who held an umbrella to protect her from the burning afternoon sun.

Lord Balrus returned the smile. "If we are to stop, I'm afraid we wouldn't meet at all my lady."

"Lord Balrus..."

"My princess, how have you been?"

"It's been two weeks without my husband. I fear I may lose my mind."

"Oh, I'm sure you'll be just fine my lady." Replied Lord Balrus with a smile again.

Princess Sansa suddenly stopped smiling. She had a curious look on her face. "What do you mean by saying that, my lord?" she asked with ease but her facial expression betrayed her, she was worried.

"I meant you have Saigon to keep your bed warm for the time being, it shouldn't be that hard."

Lord Balrus took out two coins and handed them to the woman who was selling fruits and bought two bags of dry grapes. He started to eat the grapes one by one as he walked, Princess Sansa had no other choice but to follow him.

"Please... can you keep this a secret?" she pleaded.

"I do not truly understand the makeup of human genitals and their pleasures since I don't have any. Perhaps that's what differentiate me from all of you. Unlike you all, I do not make mistakes based on my lust."

Princess Sansa begged. "I promise you, I will not go to him again. Please, don't tell my husband..." she cried.

Lord Balrus suddenly stopped walking and turned to Princess Sansa. He slowly held her hands and touched her right cheek. "My dear, believe me my lips are sealed. But your nights at the Hand's castle have grown shorter and I am not the only spy in Blackmount. You are ought to be discreet with your paramour. Otherwise, I fear you may have no home to return to. Your father exiled you. Or would you rather go back to Nemphis and lead sheep and goats? I'm afraid not. " He said and let go of princess Sansa's hands knowing fully well he had already betrayed her.

According to Lord Balrus's journals, his betrayal towards Princess Sansa was a service for the crown. Lord Balon was an outsider who had no knowledge nor experience on being the Hand of the King. He rooted for his friend, Lord Angun to be the Hand when Lord Balon returns to Blackmount and find the scandal of his wife's adultery is over the palace.