Food Supply
"Father… Please don't be mad. Sister Meara is very kind. She helped me gather these flowers so I won't get hurt. I’m gonna give them to Mom." The innocent child showed the neatly arranged flowers to Donne.
Donne is very fond of his only son. He doesn't want him to see his ruthless side. He loves that his son is very obedient and coquettish to him. So he almost always gives in to his requests.
Donne carried the child into his arms.
“Did you gain weight again?” He kissed his cheek and smelled his milky scent.
The child looked at him worriedly.
"Alright, Father just got worried when you wandered off and found you at the far end of our property. Next time go there only when your mother is visiting too."
"I'm sorry, father." Vonne's milky voice can melt the hardest of hearts. He gently rubbed his soft cheeks into his father's cheeks and kissed him loudly after. He then wrapped his tiny and chubby arms around his neck and they went into the 1st wife's courtyard.
Anwyn was sitting at the coffee table near the window when they entered the house. She saw them and smiled.
“You found him? Where?”
She was not worried that Vonne would get out of the house. For her, what harm can come to the little boy when he’s inside the property? Besides, there are servants everywhere. Her child has a thunderous voice when he cries so if anything happens, somebody will sure to notice.
“Yes. He wandered off to the farthest courtyard.”
Donne put down the child.
The child ran his little legs towards his mother.
“Mom, these are for you. As pretty as your smile, as gorgeous as your beauty, and as pleasant as your fragrance!”
“You sweet-talker. Come here. Give me a hug.”
Vonne started his monologue about the flowers at Meara's place. He especially described the wonders of Santan flowers. His mother and servants listened attentively.
The mother and child enjoyed some pastries.
Donne didn't stay long and left for work.
Before noon, lunch was delivered for the occupied courtyards except for Meara's. This is because when the kitchen staff prepared the ration for Meara during the first week, the second wife, Corin, stopped the delivery.
According to her, a concubine shouldn't be treated specially. There has to be a distinction between the treatment of an official wife and a mere concubine. The kitchen staff followed the second wife's orders. They sighed in relief when they didn't hear any complaints from Meara's side.
Calla doesn't mind getting the food since she started her duties picking up the food ration when Meara arrived. Back then, the lunch was late and kitchen staff were not aware of the additional mistress.
Meara didn't know that meals should be delivered to them. She thought picking up their food rations and raw ingredients was the norm. She enjoys cooking food with Calla anyway.
As with Corin, once again, one of her loyal servants gossiped that Meara's servant sometimes picks up raw food ingredients and fruits. She also found out that their food is the same as Meara's. Again, out of the pettiness in her heart, she cannot accept that they eat the same food as a lowly concubine.
Before lunchtime, the kitchen staff were almost done with the food preparation. Corin, brewing some irritation, went to the back kitchen and saw the prepared food.
"Is this the food for all the courtyards? Why were there three of the same amount and types? Last time I checked, there were only two wives?" She asked the head chef.
"The other one is for the mistress at the little courtyard at the end of the pathway, My Lady." The head chef bowed his head humbly, realizing that the wife was not fond of the concubine.
"No, remove the appetizers and desserts. Also, I heard that you allow the servant of that concubine to get raw ingredients and even fruits?!"
"Yes, My Lady." The cook trembled. Other kitchen staff shrank unconsciously and wanted to hide.
"That's absurd! Stop it immediately! Does Donne know? If not, I will tell Donne about this!"
"My Lady, please forgive our ignorance. We will stop immediately and keep your instructions in mind."
Corin smirked in her heart. Good thing her bluff worked.
Donne doesn't concern himself with these things. Besides, Donne doesn't care about that concubine either. Otherwise, there were two remaining unoccupied main courtyards beside hers. But he chose to let that woman stay in the farthest courtyard which is used to store firewood.
When Calla picked lunch, one of her friends from the kitchen staff told her about the discord raised by the second wife.
Calla was sad and felt aggrieved for Meara. However, knowing Meara, she will just find another way to cope. Meara is used to adjusting to bad situations.
She reached the little courtyard and found Meara dazed on the bamboo bed outside. She must have been thinking hard about her experiments in the past few days. Her venu flute is on her lap clenched by her hands.
Calla sat beside her and put the lesser food ration on the bed.
Meara woke from the trance.
Calla revealed to Meara Corin's instructions about the food. Meara thought about it hard. Honestly, she felt targeted by Corin who she never even met. But thinking about it, maybe Corin doesn't respect her because she is just a concubine.
She doesn't want any complications from any wife. Her situation is already tight as it is.
She looked over at Calla. She saw her expression and understood immediately that what happened affected her.
"Hey, don't worry about it. Just let it be. We cannot afford to stand out like a sore thumb. We might get kicked out hahaha!"
"My Lady… don't say such things…" Calla wanted to scold Meara’s loose attitude and felt helpless.
"I said don't worry. I clearly remember my master telling me that he doesn't care wherever I go, you know?" Meara looked at the skies as if remembering a fond memory.
"What does that have to do with our dilemma now?" Sometimes Calla loses her patience with her mistress. Her ideas were sometimes… weird.
"Can't you see? I can go out with you to the mountains or the market. We can even sell some of our potpourri. Well, I cannot be known to sell them since I might taint my husband's reputation. But the main point is, I can go outside and buy things with you." Meara explained. Then she went back to what Calla said about the dilemma.
"Also, what dilemma? It's not like they will starve us. They just lessened our food ration and removed our raw ingredients supply. That's fine. We can manage." Meara held Calla's hand for reassurance.
Meara picked up her Venu flute and started playing. Soon a melodious sound floated in the air.
Calla lay down and closed her eyes for a while.