_______
Aurianna picked up the knife and took so few vegetables and neatly sliced them with swiftness and preciseness. Once she was done chopping up various vegetables, she picked up a neat pan and placed it on the magic stone which imdiately lit up once it was in contact with the pan. She poured so oil inside and after a while, the colorful dley of peppers, onions, and carrots sizzled in the hot pan, releasing a fragrant aroma that filled the air.
Next to the vegetables, a generous portion of diced at which was already browning in a different pan, its juices mingling with the flavors of the sautéed vegetables Aurianna imdiately added. The at was cooked well, juicy and tender, and seasoned with an exquisite blend of spices that gave it a rich and savory flavor.
"I guess the chefs were either cooking this for lunch or for themselves," Aurianna silently muttered to herself as she saw a bowl of rice at the end of the table. She imdiately picked it up, washed it and boiled it and with the magic fire, the rice was cooked in a few minutes.
As the vegetables and at cooked, Aurianna added fluffy grains of cooked rice to the pan, tossing everything together with skillful flicks of the wrist. The rice was crispy and slightly charred in so spots, adding a delightful texture and depth of flavor to the dish.
With a final flourish, the chef sprinkled a handful of chopped spring onions and fresh cilantro over the top of the dish, infusing it with a bright, herbaceous look. The finished product was a stunning array of colors and flavors, a delicious fusion of fresh vegetables, succulent at, and perfectly cooked rice.
Aurianna paused for a mont, savoring the sight and aroma of the dish before serving it up in a large, white ceramic bowl. The fried vegetable rice with at was a masterpiece, and as she savored the first bite, tears stread down her face.
"Hic, hic," Tears stread down Aurianna’s face as she reminisced about the nights spent practicing her cooking skills, long after the rest of the castle had gone to sleep. In the day, she would watch the chefs in the kitchen with an unbridled enthusiasm, inspired by their dedication and skill.
But Queen Amber was quick to crush Aurianna’s dreams. Every ti she stepped into the kitchen to hone her craft, the queen would rebuke her, punishing her for daring to step out of line. And whenever the chefs showed her kindness, teaching her new techniques and sharing their knowledge, they were swiftly fired.
After a aningless cycle, Aurianna gave up and followed her mother’s wishes and stopped cooking and focused more on her princess duties.
"No one sses with my food," Aurianna cried as she stuffed her mouth with rice.
_____
Shialor shrieked in terror as she stumbled backwards, her eyes fixed on the grueso sight before her.
"Aurianna what is this?!" Shialor cried out, her voice trembling in fear as she fell on her butt looking at the boxes before her. The one she forrly opened was the dismbered body of a man who had a look of agony and despair.
"It’s just a masterpiece I made of so maids and butlers who dared to defy , and steal my money," Aurianna declared in a childish manner which sent shivers down Shialor’s spine. Shialor could feel her stomach turn as she watched one of the maids co forward and expertly wrap up the box, as if it were a re gift. A na was neatly pasted on the side, as if to give it so semblance of normality.
"Princess, please, when did this happen?" Shialor asked with a pale face.
"Yesterday, of course," Aurianna said, her voice devoid of any emotion. "I had to clear out the rats in my castle. Thus, I was presented with thirty boxes of corpses." She said with a huge smile.
’I should have expected this. The princess is ntal after all,’ Shialor cried inwardly as she wiped her bald head with her handkerchief.
She got up and looked at the boxes before her, knowing each one filled with the remains of those who had dared to cross Aurianna. Shialor felt sick to her stomach, ’I must not show weakness before the princess. For I am her assistant. However, I would like to retire soon rather than die in her hands,’ She cried inwardly as she wiped her bald head.
"But Aurianna the king said you shouldn’t be killing off your maids like that!!" Shialor protested and glared at Aurianna.
"But I don’t do it often," Aurianna said, pouting like a child caught with her hand in the cookie jar. Her innocent expression was at odds with the blood on her hands.
"Then why did you kill them?" Shialor asked.
Aurianna noticed the tense look on Shialor’s face, and she grinned, "When I did so investigation I noticed that a lot of my funds had been missing and these rodents were responsible," she revealed as her calm look turned cold, sending shivers down Shialor’s spine. "So don’t these thieves deserve death?" Aurianna asked.
"Of...course they... do princess," Shialor nervously nodded in agreent, her voice shaking slightly. "But...isn’t this...illegal?"
Aurianna laughed, a sound that sent shivers down Shialor’s spine. "Illegal?" she said, her voice dripping with sarcasm. "Do you think the law applies to ? I am the princess of this kingdom. I am above the law."
Shialor collapsed on the ground, her body wracked with sobs as she cried out to the heavens. ’I knew it, she’s crazy. Why did I ever agree to serve this crazy child?!’ she wailed. ’I an, I know it’s a job and all, but seriously, I can’t handle much more of this!’
As she lay there, face buried in the grass, she could almost hear her mother’s voice in her head. "Good luck, my dear!" it seed to say, cheerfully oblivious to the turmoil Shialor was facing.
"Oh, sure, easy for you to say," Shialor grumbled, sitting up and wiping away her tears. "You’re up there in the afterlife, not down here dealing with this lunatic!"
She looked up at the sky, as she could see her mother’s ghostly image floating there waving at her, and after a few seconds there was nothing. Just the bright, rciless sun, shining down on her like a spotlight.
"Mother!" Shialor cried out, throwing her arms up in despair. "Why did you leave here with this...this madwoman?! I know you’re loyal to the Royal Family, but this job isn’t cut out for !!" Shialor cried, clenching her chest.
"Hey why do you keep crying?" Aurianna asked with a confused expression.
"These are just tears of joy, princess," Shialor dabbed her face with her handkerchief.
’I kinda pity the families of these folks. They probably won’t get any justice because Aurianna can get away with anything. Well, if they stole from the princess, they should have been ready for the consequences,’ Shialor thought as she looked at the boxes.
"But why are they in a box?" she asked, her curiosity getting the better of her.
"You’ll see the big surprise soon," Aurianna said, a wicked grin spreading across her face.
Shialor’s heart sank as she watched Aurianna’s expression.
’The princess is up to sothing, and it is probably sothing diabolical. I sotis wonder how I have survived this long by her side,’ Shialor sulked inwardly and looked at Aurianna.
"What big surprise?" Shialor asked, her voice shaking.
Aurianna’s eyes glinted with excitent. "Oh, you’ll see soon enough," she said, her tone full of joy.
____________
Queen Amber sat in her lush garden, surrounded by delicate flowers that glimred like stars in the night sky. She was dressed in a flowing white gown, her blue hair floating on the gentle breeze as she savored her pink tea.
Suddenly, a female knight stord into the garden, breaking the queen’s mont of serenity. "Your Majesty, a group of nobles requests an audience with you. They say it’s urgent," she announced, her voice urgent.
Queen Amber frowned, her blue eyes flashing with irritation. "What could be so important that they can’t wait until I finish my tea party?" she muttered, glancing at the other ladies seated around the table. Despite their beauty, they paled in comparison to the queen, they were also still beautiful.
"They said it’s urgent and it about your daughter Aurianna!" The female knight stated nervously, and Queen Amber smirked.
"Very well," she said, standing up gracefully and smoothing out her dress. "Lead the way. Let’s see what these nobles want."
______
The heavy doors of the throne room creaked open as queen Amber strode in, her regal bearing commanding the room’s attention. She settled into the imposing throne ant for king Girsal, her blue eyes scanning the group of nobles gathered before her.
"Sorry for the wait," she said with a cool, controlled voice. "but i wonder why you all asked for an imdiate audience with ?"
The silence hung in the air for a mont, tense and charged. And then a man stepped forward, his face twisted with fury. "Queen Amber, your daughter Aurianna is a monster!" he spat, his hands trembling with anger.
Queen Amber’s eyes narrowed at the man’s words. "Preposterous! How dare you co here and say this?" Queen Amber slamd her hand on the throne, causing the angry yells of nobles to imdiately subside.
She looked down at the sobbing woman in luxurious clothing before her. "speak," she commanded.
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