Angelique lifted herself up into her open window and flung herself into her bed. Just seconds after, Minnielle knocked and entered the room. “My Lady, the doorman just gave me some news,” she said nervously. “Huh?” Angelique blurted out.
“The Alishe ordered all the servants in this hall to leave for the western estate,” she said. “I’m the only one left.”
Angelique thought for a second. “Is there a kitchen in my hallway?” Minnielle responded with a nod. “Wonderful, please, take me there,” she said, jumping from the bed. ‘It's been so long since I've entered the kitchen.’ she thought, following Minielle as they walked down the vast hallway. Angelique looked at the ceiling and floors, noticing stains, ripped carpets, cobwebs. ‘Ugh, this place is so neglected. The servants must have really hated working here.’
The kitchen they entered was not better than the hall. Angelique even believed it was worse. Some of the pots had food still stuck to them, the cupboards were unhinged, the food was rotting. Angelique found a bag of sugar that looked uncontaminated and tasted it. It was definitely poisoned, more poisoned than her past meals. ‘I get it, they poison the meals by making all the ingredients toxic, that way I can just go to the kitchen and eat a slice of bread to avoid being poisoned.’ she thought, looking around at the various foods.
She lifted an empty potato sack and began to scoop every food item off the shelves into it. ‘All of this food is useless. I’ll figure something out after getting rid of all this.’ She handed another sack to Minielle. “Can you help me out please, Minielle, I think I need a hand.” she grinned.
After ten minutes the kitchen was empty, and Minielle offered a bucket with a towel to wipe down the kitchen. “Thank you, and can you dump these foods in a secluded spot. Do not eat them, they’ll kill you.” she said.
Angelique was left alone in the empty kitchen, thinking to herself over a growling stomach. 'If I had eggs I could make some food.’ She pictured the eggs from her past life, made from chickens of the highest quality, perfect in weight, flavor, and color. ‘I always thought it was a waste, regular eggs taste just as good as the hundred dollar kind.’ she sighed. A wasteful family of top chefs was what she was born into, yet she could never get used to it.
Suddenly, a weight appeared on her wrist, and she gasped. Hanging on her arm was a basket of eggs. Just from a glance at them, she knew they were the perfect eggs she had thought of. She quickly placed the eggs on the counter, still in shock. ‘Did I just make food appear!?’ she thought, looking at her palms.
She closed her eyes and thought of another food she had made. ‘Strawberry vanilla cake. I made my first one when I was six, three tiers, layered with strawberry jam, vanilla cake, white frosting, and decorated with strawberry slices and edible flowers.’ She could taste its buttery frosting melting in her mouth.
The weight of the cake in her hands made her open her eyes. There it was, on a silver dish, three tiers and all. Placing it on the counter beside the basket of eggs, she stuck her finger in the cake and tasted it. It was just as she remembered. Buttery vanilla frosting, sugary strawberry jam, the creamy and light flavor was incredible and balanced. ‘I really can make food appear!’ she laughed, jumping up with joy. 'I mean, I don't know how I can, but at least I'll never starve!'
‘No more burned hands from hot dishes, no more poisoned food!’ Angelique began to get carried away, making food from her memories of her own creations, a lamb dish, a creamy pasta. Just as she made a plate of chocolate cookies appear, Minnielle walked through the door.
Minnielle blinked, she had seen it appear in her lady’s hand from the air. Angelique dropped the cookies with a bang. "I-I can explain!" Minnielle calmly closed the door behind her and held it shut with her back. “I know you’re not my Lady, now I’m even more sure. What's your name, Sorceress, and what have you done to Alishe Angelique?”
…
….
Angelique sat in front of Minnielle, who had blocked the door with a chair. Angelique had seen no point in hiding it, there really was no way out. She couldn't lie, since the old Angelique never had magical powers. She instead told Minnielle the entire story, how she died, and was from another world. She decided to leave out parts that were too confusing, like the modern world’s technologies, and instead said it was a world of magic, which in turn explained her own new mysterious ability. This helped Angelique greatly since she had no clue why she had the power to make food appear.
Angelique stared at Minnielle, who was resting her head on her palm, glaring back. “Can you please not tell anyone?” Angelique pleaded. Minnielle closed her eyes and inhaled. The smell of the food-filled her nose and her stomach growled. A blush crept across her face from the humiliation.
“Are you hungry!?” Angelique blurted, grabbing a plate of lamb chops she conjured from the counter and passing it to Minnielle. “Here, eat this.”
Minnielle was suspicious of the food but had already watched Angelique eat some before. She took a bite reluctantly, glancing at Angelique. The first thing she noticed was how perfect the meat was. It was tender, juicy, and flavorful. After the first bite, Minnielle couldn't stop eating and finished the plate in seconds. Wiping her mouth, a tinge of embarrassment still remaining, Minnielle looked back up at Angelique.
“I think we should make a deal.” she said simply. “I have never tasted such incredible food in my entire life, I will not lie. If you agree to provide me with meals and give me one vacation day a week I will keep your secret and serve you as your maid. After all, you are still the Alishen and daughter of Lorden Vosce. I see no issues in this.” She began standing up and dusting off her uniform.
Angelique smiled. ‘Im glad all the people in this world have reasonability, or maybe I just got lucky!’ she smiled. ‘Either way, I feel like I've let a weight off my chest revealing the truth, It's nice.’
“Very well Minnielle, I agree, you will eat like a king until the day you leave.” she smiled back, shaking Minnielle’s hand. “But, I do need to tell you something. I’m being targeted.” Minielle’s sly smile fell. “What kind of ‘targeted’ are you referring to?” She asked.
“I’m being poisoned, with the intent to kill me. So Im going to need your help to save my life if you're willing. I just wanted to warn you.” Angelique replied cautiously.
Minnielle thought back. After the cruel Lady she served died, she had actually enjoyed serving the new Angelique. She was considerate and kind, and very mysterious and wild. Minnielle immediately knew when she heard that her Lady was being targeted that as her only maid, she would also be at risk. She had to think carefully.
“And what if I don't?” she answered. “What if I don't want to help you.” Angelique sighed. “I’m not cruel-hearted. I’ll allow you to leave if you no longer wish to serve me. I'll even pay you enough to last a month so you can find new work.” After hearing this, Minnielle knew what choice to make.
“I’ll help you, my Lady, with whatever you may need. But I hope you keep your offer to leave open to me at any time.” Angelique smiled at her. “Of course. I’m glad to hear that.”
…
…
Minielle patted her full stomach after breakfast the next day. Her stomach had been filled with a duck dish and a wonderful strawberry vanilla cake. Angelique was calmly washing the dishes and thinking to herself. “Minnielle I need a favor.”
“Yes, my Lady?” Minnielle asked. “Well, first of all, you can call me by my first name in ordinary settings.” Angelique sighed. Any time Minnielle called her a Lady she felt shivery. “I’m going to need all your cleaning supplies in the hall. I want to do some cleaning.”
Minnielle nodded and got up to leave, wondering what Angelique had in mind. She would soon find out when she returned, heaving a cart of cleaning materials and a long ladder. There, in the middle of the hall was Angelique, dressed in simple, male attire. Minnielle recognized it as something a male butler would wear, minus the overcoat. She was wearing black pants, with suspenders, and a white button-up shirt.
“Did you steal that from the butler's Quarters!” she gasped. Angelique nodded proudly. “They just left them lying around. I thought, since they all left, nobody’s gonna miss just one suit.” she laughed. Minnielle slapped her forehead in shame. “Oh my.” she sighed, shaking her head.
“Now, bring that cart here Minnielle!” Angelique pulled the cart closer and pulled out a mop and bucket. “You can wait in the kitchen, I plan to work all day. I left you as many pastries as I could think of.” she smiled. Minnielle couldn't help but be tempted by pastries. She left her there to gorge herself on sweets.
Angelique rolled up her sleeves and got to cleaning the floors and walls, wiping the windows and dusting each sill. She enjoyed cleaning, along with her regular cooking. It felt nice to work with her hands and gave her time to think of what to do next in her plan.
After a few hours, the basic cleaning was done. Angelique stepped back, wiping the sweat from her brow and admiring her work. “Not bad.” Minnielle was walking towards Angelique, chewing on a caramel piece.
“Yeah, but it's kind of, empty.” Angelique sighed. “Well, if you want you can go down to the ground floor, there's a big storage space for seasonal changes. They have curtains, vases, carpets. You can do what you want, they won't question you.” Minielle answered. Angelique gave her a sarcastic look. “You sound like you've done this before.”
“Maybe a friend told me.” Minnielle countered. Angelique laughed and decided to go down to the warehouse by herself. It was lunchtime, so every servant in the house should either be serving food to the Alishe or eating. Sneaking around the ground floor, she finally found the warehouse, which was basically a basement sealed off with large wooden doors.
While Angelique was struggling to open up the doors a pair of footsteps began to echo closer to her. Angelique barely had enough time to react when a man suddenly helped her yank the doors open. She turned with a surprised expression up at the man.
He had straight brown hair and brown eyes, with freckles covering his face. His attire was formal, like a man of high status. “Do you need any other help, young man?” he asked. Angelique was taken back by what he said. ‘Young man!? I thought even in this male uniform I would look at least somewhat feminine.’ She glanced back at the warehouse and replied, “No, I’m just retrieving some supplies for the Alishen.”
The man moved closer to her with interest after what she said. “Young man, can you describe the Alishen to me, perhaps?” Angelique inched away, giving him a confused look. ‘What am I supposed to say about myself? Should I tell him I’m a cruel monster, or maybe that I’m an angel of kindness?’ “She’s alright.”
“Just alright?” he probed. Angelique shot an annoyed look at him. “Yes, she’s quite alright actually. A very nice lady indeed.”
“Mhm. Are you lying to me?” Angelique just ignored him and walked into the warehouse, looking at the various carpets, a few tapestries rolled up, and some curtains.
“I guess I’ll take that as a yes. After all, she sent just one servant down to retrieve things for her.” Angelique blinked a bit at his words. “Who exactly are you?” The man grinned and said, “I apologize, young man, I didn't realize I hadn't introduced myself. Though, If I had told you my name, I doubt our conversation would have been so lively.“
The man lifted the carpet that Angelique had been looking at and handed it to her. “My name is Lorden Thinsen Whitley.”
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