Saintess? Not Anymore! I'd Rather be a Destroyer-Chapter 97 - 84: No one messes with my food 4

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As Aurianna pondered which way was left, her mind struggled to keep up with her fancy gown. "Left, right, left, right," she murmured, feeling more lost than a mouse in a maze. Finally, she made her decision: "Left is this way!" she proclaimed with all confidence, and promptly headed towards the right.

’Princess no! That’s not left but right!’ The knights cried inwardly as they watched the princess go in the wrong direction.

As Aurianna continued down the corridor, her confidence quickly turned to confusion. "What in the world?! How did I end up at a dead end?" she exclaimed, scanning the walls for any sign of an exit. To her dismay, all she saw were stone walls surrounding her. She turned around to see only knights standing and guarding the halls. And she scratched her head in confusion.

"I’m sure I took the right directions to the kitchen," Aurianna mumbled, and the knights nearby nervously looked at her and thought, ’You’re far away from the kitchen princess.’

Meanwhile, the knights who always kept an eye on her were having a hard time keeping a straight face. ’Princess, you’ve been going the wrong way!’ they inwardly shouted, their armor rattling with suppressed laughter.

Despite her confusion, Aurianna was not one to give up easily. "I swear I took the right directions to the kitchen," she muttered under her breath, scratching her head in frustration. The knights couldn’t help but shake their heads in disbelief.

The guards watched in amusement and concern as the princess wandered down the hallways, her eyes darting left and right and her brows creased as if she were looking for a hidden treasure. "Should we help the princess?" one guard said to the other, their voices barely above a whisper.

"Of course we should," the other replied with a nod, "I don’t fancy losing my head over a lost kitchen, do you?"

"Nah bro, so let’s help her," she replied and walked towards Aurianna. As she approached the princess, the guard crouched down to meet her at eye level. "Princess Aurianna, do you need help finding the kitchen?" she asked gently, hoping to offer some assistance.

But Aurianna was not one to be deterred. "No need," she declared stubbornly, "I can find it on my own!" The guard nodded nervously, wondering how long it would take for the princess to do that before walking back to her post.

’Why is she so hard-headed?!’ they all thought in unison with a slight frown.

As Aurianna turned and walked away with a determined look on her face, the guards exchanged nervous glances. "Well, she’s certainly determined," one remarked, "I’ll give her that."

As Aurianna strutted off with a determined look on her face, the guards exchanged amused glances. "However, that pride and determination isn’t going to help her find her way," one remarked, shaking her head in disbelief.

"Yeah, but at least she’s cute to watch. Kind of refreshing than seeing that cold and eerie look she has on her face all the time," the other quipped with a chuckle.

As the Aurianna continued on her way, she couldn’t help but feel a growing sense of frustration. Every hallway looked the same, and she couldn’t shake the feeling that she was going in circles.

’We have to help her somehow!’ they thought as they nodded to each other as though they could read each other’s mind. Just watching the cute princess wandering around made their hearts ache.

With a sly grin, Fin turned to the group of guards and whispered, "I have a plan."

The guards leaned in eagerly, curious to hear what their comrade had in mind. Fin motioned for them to gather round as he began to lay out his scheme.

"So what’s the plan to help her?" A guard inquired about Fin’s plan to assist the princess, all eyes turned to Fin, the designated problem solver. With bated breath and high hopes, the group eagerly awaited his response.

"Alright, so here’s what we do," he said, his voice low and conspiratorial, "I’ll indirectly lead her to the kitchen!"

"Excellent!" Ecstatic about the plan, the group erupted in silent cheers, standing firm in their positions.

Meanwhile, Aurianna marched back towards the hall she ended up at, severally. But her former determined look turned into that of annoyance, her face was as red as a tomato and she clenched her dress tightly.

"Excuse me, Fin, where might you be going to?" inquired a guard as the male guard deviated from the formation.

Caught off guard, Fin gasped before quickly composing himself, "Oh, I’ve just completed my shift, and I’m on my way to collect the kitchen’s trash!" Fin made sure to project his voice enough for Aurianna to hear.

"Alright then, best of luck," replied the male guard, with Fin nodding in gratitude before departing.

’Please take the bait, princess,’ all the surrounding guards prayed inwardly as they observed Aurianna eye Fin.

"He’s going to the kitchen?" Aurianna muttered to herself.

"Grwooooooo!!" Aurianna’s stomach let out a monstrous growl, causing her to grimace in discomfort. ’Ugh, I’m hungry!’ she thought.

’I’ll follow him!’ she thought as she sneakily trailed behind Fin.

As Aurianna trailed behind Fin, the guards exchanged knowing looks and celebrated internally. "She took the bait!" they thought, relieved that their plan had worked.

Aurianna stealthily followed Fin, careful not to make a sound. She had a single-minded determination to find that kitchen and quell the beast within her stomach. The guards watched in amusement as Aurianna crept closer and closer to Fin, but she never got too close.

As Aurianna followed Fin for a while, she could smell the delicious aroma of freshly baked bread and savory meats. Her mouth watered as she followed Fin towards the kitchen.

After a while of following the guard, Aurianna came across a large door and her eyes widened. She sniffed the air.

"Eureka! I’ve finally found the goddamn kitchen!" She declared proudly and walked calmly towards the door as though she wasn’t following Fin. The knights guarding the door couldn’t help but chuckle at her enthusiasm as they opened the door for her.

’Princess, you got lost like ten times as you tried to find the kitchen, at least give me some credit for me leading you here,’ the knight cried inwardly as he walked inside the kitchen. Nevertheless, he couldn’t help but feel a sense of pride for ultimately accomplishing his mission.

"Hello there, Princess!" The head chef exclaimed as he noticed Aurianna standing in the doorway. "What brings you to the kitchen?" He said in a frantic tone as everyone stood up straight.

"How dare you lowlifes serve me such an unruly meal?!" Aurianna’s voice boomed through the kitchen causing it to tremble and everyone in the room trembled in fear by the pressure she released, even Fin.

"What...meal?" The head chef stammered, his hands trembling. "The handmaid told us that you requested no food to be prepared in order to save money, because there wasn’t enough funds." He started nervously and gulped.

"We were quite worried," the other chefs in the kitchen said with a worried tone.

’Their heart beats are normal, same for their eyes, so they aren’t lying,’ Aurianna thought as she observed them closely.

"Leave and whenever such a thing happens again, inform me first!" Aurianna ordered and they all nodded frantically and scampered out of the kitchen.

After the chefs in the kitchen were gone Aurianna slowly walked into the kitchen and admired its interior. She was immediately struck by the richness and opulence of the space. The kitchen was spacious, with high vaulted ceilings and ornate, intricately carved wooden beams. The walls are adorned with intricate paintings, depicting scenes of feasts and banquets fit for kings and queens. The floors are made of smooth, polished stone, with a soft rug in the center of the room, adding an extra layer of comfort.

The centerpiece of the kitchen is a massive fireplace, which dominates one entire wall. The flames dance and flicker merrily, casting a warm, golden glow over the entire space. Above the fireplace, a spit is turning slowly, roasting a succulent joint of beef to perfection.

In the center of the room, there is a large, wooden table, surrounded by high-backed chairs made of rich, dark wood. The table is piled high with all manner of fruits, vegetables, meats, and cheeses, arranged in elaborate displays and garnished with fresh herbs and flowers.

The shelves lining the walls are filled with an impressive collection of pots, pans, and other cooking utensils, all made of shining copper and brass. There are also jars of exotic spices, dried fruits, and nuts, as well as barrels of wine and ale.

Aurianna’s chest swelled as she drew in a deep breath, her lips curving into a smile. Yet, her expression soured in an instant as her mind wandered to a haunting memory from a previous life. It was a vivid recollection that still cut her to the core, and now it tugged at her heartstrings with cruel persistence.

"Remember, royalty are not meant to dirty their hands in the kitchen. Only servants slave over hot coals and boiling pots," Queen Amber’s voice rang out like a whip, her eyes searing with an unspoken disdain. Nine-year-old Aurianna quivered with fear, her small frame trembling in the presence of the Queen’s icy glare.

"But Mama," Aurianna protested, a forced smile failing to mask her disappointment, "I wish to learn how to cook, to be able to make wonderful dishes that will fill everyone’s bellies with delight!"

A fierce *Paaa* rang out, echoing through the halls like a thunderclap, followed by the sound of Aurianna’s anguished cries. She clutched her stinging cheeks with tearful eyes, recoiling from the blow.

"Aurianna..." The Queen’s voice was cold and unfeeling, devoid of any compassion.

"Mama..." Aurianna looked up at her mother with pleading eyes, hoping to find a glimmer of mercy in her mother’s heart.

But Queen Amber’s expression remained cold and stern, her lips twisted in a sneer of disdain. "Do not disgrace me any further, Aurianna," she spat, her eyes glinting with a cruel light. "You are already a failure, with your pitiful lack of magical potential. Why couldn’t you be as great as your brothers?"

"I’m sorry," Aurianna whispered, her head bowed in shame.

"You had better be sorry," Queen Amber hissed, her voice laced with anger. "I am sorely disappointed to have a child such as you. But perhaps your only redeeming quality is your pretty face. You may use that to your advantage, if nothing else. Now leave this kitchen and do not dare to return!" She stomped on her heels.

Aurianna’s heart felt as heavy as a stone, the weight of her mother’s disappointment crushing her spirit. With a face full of sorrow, she slowly turned away, her footsteps sluggish as she trudged out of the kitchen.