Chapter 241 - Stepping Up (1/2)
Russ flipped the hood up over the ballcap he wore as he walked through the back servant's entrance. Surprisingly, the area was bustling with people. He shot Ry a glance as he made his way through the kitchen. The people were so busy hurrying through their jobs that they barely acknowledge the three large men as they walked through. Russ's brows furrowed as he noted the endless spreads of various dishes. He paused by one of the many loaded counters and lifted a bottle of wine. ”What is all this?” He asked, stopping a young man who came bustling by.
”About three hundred bucks.” Ry said taking the bottle from Russ and studying it before handing it back to Poseidon.
The young man looked nervously between the three men. ”It... it's his Majesty's dinner party, sir...” He looked over their casual attire. ”You... you are not with them? You... you shouldn't be in here.”
Ry arched a brow as a wide smile curved his lips. ”Looks like Ol Fern may have some friends over, and by the looks of these spreads, some important ones.”
Russ made his way around the kitchen. It had to be thousands of dollars in fancy dishes and food. He halted another worker. ”How often do parties like this go on here?”
The woman frowned, not looking away from her work. ”Often.”
”And who finances it?” Russ asked.
”Listen boy, we're busy. If we don't get this work done-” The woman's eyes shot up to his in irritation but the second, her eyes met his, her words died off and her mouth dropped. ”Your Majesty, I... I'm sorry. I didn't realize.”
She bowed deeply as her hands shook in worry.
Russ placed a hand over hers. ”Please, don't do that. I don't want the attention. I'm not mad. I just want answers.”
Her eyes searched his. ”King Fernando likes to woo his investors. They have parties like this that usually last a few days...”
Russ tented his brows. ”I've seen the town, what are the investors investing in?”
She looked around the room nervously. ”I'm... I'm not sure, Sir.”
Russ studied the woman. Her clothes were well worn, and her shoes looked like one good puddle and they would completely fall apart. ”Are you at least paid well for this?” He indicated the work she was doing.
The woman's wide eyes met his. ”No... no, Sir. We're not paid at all for it.” She nodded to the others. ”We are all indentured servants, working off our sentences...”
His brows drew together as he remembered what the driver had said about the guards. ”What were the crimes?”
She looked around nervously. ”Petty thievery, for the most part, unpaid taxes, unpaid debts to the crown... that kind of stuff.” She shrugged.
”Petty theft?” He said with a deep frown. ”Let me guess food?”
She nodded as her nervous eyes moved around the room again. ”I'm sorry, I really do need to get back to work, Sir.”
When the woman immediately went back to work, Russ placed a hand over hers again. He shook his head as her worried eyes met his. ”It's late, do you have a family?”
The woman nodded toward an elderly lady sitting in the corner peeling potatoes with trembling, arthritic hands. ”That's mamma. My husband works here as well. We have three kids, but the oldest is watching over the other two...”
Russ nodded as the deep frown set wrinkles across his brow. ”You and your mother are dismissed. Go on home and see to your children.” He nodded toward the tables of food. ”Take what you'd like. Make sure it's enough to feed your entire family.” He looked around the entire kitchen, several of the workers had either stopped or slowed their tasks and were now watching him. He pushed the hood off his head and handed the cap to Ry. ”That goes for all of you. Call it a night, take what you want, and go back to your families.” His gaze moved from each of the tired, worried faces. ”You'll not be reprimanded, I swear it.”
Ry and Poseidon chuckled as they watched Russ load plates and baskets of food for the workers. Poseidon popped the top of the wine bottle and took a large drink. ”This is going to be more fun than expected. I really didn't expect this of him.”
Ry shrugged as he joined in on loading plates and baskets for the workers as they hurried to leave. ”Our boy's growing up so fast.” He teased. When a nervous, malnourished boy took one of the last baskets quickly before running out the door in fear of being caught doing something wrong, Ry added. ”There's nothing like seeing true suffering to put one's life into perspective. Everyone likes to think they've had it hard until faced with others way worse off.”
Russ pushed through the server's door and into a brightly lit banquet hall. There were three massive gold and crystal chandeliers hanging over the expansive table. At least forty people sat around it, all their eyes trained on the intruders in stunned silence. ”Parties over, everyone out!” Russ bit out in an angry, almost animalistic growl.
Fern pushed up from the head of the table as his guest began to murmur among themselves in equal parts confusion and irritation. He held his hands out signaling for his guests to settle down and be reseated. ”I do apologize, everyone. My nephew is new to palace life and doesn't seem to understand the finer points of such a lifestyle.”
Russ's brows went up in sarcastic question. ”Finer lifestyle? The town is starving, and many are left homeless. Please help me understand.” His angry gaze moved around to the many faces staring back at him. ”Are you people here to donate money for the repairs this town needs? Are you here to help implement a program to feed them?” After several sharp inhales and a few 'Well I've never's, Russ shook his head. ”I didn't think so. Now get the f.u.c.k out of my palace.” Wide eyes and angered conversation filled the room, all darting back and forth between Russ and Fern.
Fern cleared his throat and held up his hands once again. ”Again everyone, I do apologize. But as you can see my nephew is quite upset. We'll have to do this again some other time.” His gaze turned menacing as his eyes bored into Russ. ”I will have to teach my nephew a few lessons on proper etiquette, in the meantime.”
”I'm sure that will be interesting coming from you, Fernie boy...” Ry said as he stepped into the room, leaning against the door frame beside Russ. His smile widened when Fern's anger began to seep through his well-masked diplomacy.