Learning to Learn

Later that night, I couldn't help my appetite. I knew the way I ate was enough to infuriate an ordinary person how much more a princess or sort.

I peeped some peas as I matched them with some sleazing muched with steaks. I loved the aroma of the chicken placed before me. 

I quietly pulled the plate to myself as I tried devouring half the whole chicken at once. I caught Ustra staring at me across the dinning table and I paused, with the chicken between my jaw and the plate on the table while my mouth was filled up.

"What's wrong?" She asked.

"Is something wrong?" I said, as I dropped the chicken back into the plate.

"No I'm just..."

"Disgusted?, I could go out to eat or perhaps stop eating" I sat upright.

"No, no, Tanya, okay? I'm not your..." She hesitated for while,

"I'm not your stepmother Brianna, I could be anything to you" she raised her shoulders.

"But acting like your stepmother isn't one" 

I sat quietly and more composed this time.

"Alright thank you" I said,as I nodded.

I noticed she hadn't eaten much,

"Ustra? Are you alright?" I asked.

"Yes, I think...I am" she replied,

"I'm not just so used to having anyone around"

I couldn't tell how she felt exactly,

"Have you been living all alone?"

"Yes, for a while now. Ever since I got back from the seven kingdoms. 

I and Fyren had to spend our early years learning the cultures, rules, diplomacy, and wisdom in judgement, fighting techniques and power use. 

We had to learn to a lot at our tender age, you know?. It's just our ancestorial legacies" she added.

"Yes Ustra, I want to know why they refer to you as lord? And then prince Fyren, prince. 

Are some..." I paused.

"And what does Main-arghh," I slapped my forehead

"I'd like to know what it all means." I said, guesturing with my hands.

"Hah! Ha! It's really good you want to learn, it think you'd do well at learning things quickly". 

I recalled what Grandpa Ralph said earlier about learning some things, I became more eager.

I leaned foward,

"Yes, I want to learn it all" I smiled, almost giggling now.

""Right, MAINE-HAN- SHALAL means, the Lord is above all and MAINE-ARMI-NA-HAL means, the queen's commands must be reverend.

It had always been that way here In the province of the spirits and only for the royal household." 

"But you are a princess," I cut in. I wriggled my brows.

"Yesss..." She nodded a bit and sat upright.

"It's complicated kind of."

"Oh.." I paused for a while,

"I really wanted to ask but.."

"No, it's fine. Feel free to ask me anything,at least you're the only one who gets to look straight into my eyes." She retorted.

"Alright, to start with. Why can't anyone look into your eyes? I thought you said only your family were allowed to, but you never pulled off your hood before the queen and the officials. 

And again, why is prince Fyren so saucy? He and the other officials seem to oppose you at every slight opportunity. I observed this during the meeting. 

I thought siblings should be have each other's back, I thought he was supposed to cover for you or something."

"Oh! Fyren! Fyren! My very pompous! Adorable baby brother!." She raised the glass of wine on the table as she made her way to the living room.

I watched slowly as her lightly pink and shinny purple coloured linen robe swept through with fair air.

"That's another story entirely Tanya, but I'll get to tell you some. Urghh!" She stretched and yawned.

"It's alot, join me!" She hollared.

"This might be a very long night phew!" I whispered to myself as I paced slowly to the living room too.