Slumbering Cep | Kanna & Innes
Continued from here.
@strategematicusrex
He overheard some palace maids chatting about lunches, and he heard one of them saying how the cook nearly ran out of ideas what to feed the royals and nobles in the palace. It was understandable because lately the royal palace had been busy serving royal guests from all over Magvel who came for a visit in the context of fostering peace, encouraging cooperation, and affirming allyship. And just this morning Innes found himself curious enough as the King announced they might see more of the guests, including those from abroad-elsewhere as Magvel slowly revived itself and opened for global contacts.
“It’s not winter. We have more options here. Actually, why not save the meat for winter?” that was the head of royal palace’s lady-in-waiting speaking.
“Right, right! Princess Tana seemed to favor simple niceties too like the late Queen. I’ll see if I can find some edible wild-anything and hope the Cook approves. The royals hardly ever had the chance for a pleasant village banquet anyway. But the Prince might not…”
“I will tell him. Now ladies, go back to work. Don’t worry, it’s not like we are plotting to poison Prince Innes.”
That tickled his ears. Really now? Wild berries and mushrooms? If Demon King couldn’t kill him, what could small harmless little things do? And speaking of which…
Curses, she was right, I really have never had a modest wild mushroom soup. Out of the things I thought I knew…
Innes dragged his feet outside. Beautiful morning light shone on him, revealing the greenery outside the palace back entry, which was fenced by a pair of tall, metal doors with elaborate vegetal motifs with their family crest on it. Before he knew it, he had been tracing the road, thinking if this led to castle town, then perhaps he had to make it better-guarded. And yet…
Wild fruits. Mushrooms.
Suddenly he wondered if more guards would ruin this little paradise. As his steps went further and further he accidentally stumbled upon a…
What a huge, unlikley mushroom. Poisonous? He went closer, revealing a…
Little girl? So this isn’t a… wild mushroom?
He crouched low, gently pat her cheeks. “Hey, you. Wake up. Are you lost?”
“No...I don’t want any,” The small girl mumbled out mid-slumber, shifting her head slightly at the patting of her cheeks, “Papa...” She groaned, her lashes finally parting to reveal cherubic silver eyes, nearly as round as her face. For a moment, Kanna stared at the man that had awakened her with a dazed expression, sleep numbing her ability to realize the nature of the situation.
The man crouched beside her was definitely older than her, she decided, judging by his height. She also recognized the serious expression on his features, slightly cold, but not intentionally callous. His eyes were narrow and calculating, causing her to wonder the subject of his pondering. His clothing was unlike anything she had ever seen, ornate yet plain. With as long as his long jacket-like clothing, she couldn’t help but to wonder if maybe he was feeling cold. Then, the realization struck her that this man was in fact a stranger, someone she had never met before.
With that she abruptly raised herself, somewhat of a frightened expression written on her features.
“Who are you? Where am I?” She asked with a degree of panic in her tone. Glancing around her immediate surroundings, she found the area completely unrecognizable, only fueling her anxiety further,
“Where’s my Papa?”
