She glanced up at me, her eyes twinkling with wonder. "I guess we'll see."
I followed behind and joined the long line that weaved between the tiny tables scattered through the front room of the shop. Madame Madeleine and her staff rushed behind the counter, back and forth, taking orders and serving food as quickly as they could. Sweat dripped from their foreheads and with the unbearable heat suffocating the room most of the customers too.
I pointed at the menu, no more than a list of flavors scrawled on a piece of butcher paper tacked on the wall with a nail. "I'm sure the savory ones are excellent, but I can never come here without buying something sweet."
"Why does that not surprise me? I'm pretty sure you know how to indulge yourself."
"Maybe." I glared down at her with a mocking smirk, trying to hold back my laughter. "Or maybe I just know what I like."
She raised her left eyebrow and met my gaze. "Really? I'd love to hear more about that sometime."
We bumped along the line, the smells thickening in my nose and my mouth watering like a starving sheepdog until we finally reached the front. Madame Madeleine herself met us at the counter, straightening the already dirty apron covering her blue dress. A rainbow of shades from splattered fruit painted the front, but she didn't seem to care.
"It's been a while, Your Majesty.”
"Too long, Madame. But I can't stop dreaming about your cherry lemon pie.”
She blushed, the red showing through her cheeks even over the intense heat, and she hooted a deep belly laugh. She flicked her hand toward me and rolled her eyes. "Quit your flattery, my prince. You know you eat for free already anyway."
"Not today, Madame." I slipped my hand in my pocket and pulled out a Baht, leaving it on the counter. “How can I expect you to keep making your wonderful pies if your own cupboards go bare. This should cover mine and whatever the lady would like. I don't need any change."
She scanned my face, critical as if expecting some sort of joke, then took the bill, her eyes widening when she realized it would cover more than double our order.
“Why yes, I think it will. Now, where is your lucky lady?” She scanned over our faces, then pushed up on her toes looking towards the back of the shop.
I tugged Veda closer to the counter, however ,there wasn't much room left. "Right here."
Madame gave an unsettling chuckle. ”My opulent stars, it must be busier than I thought. My apologies, miss. What can I get for you?"
"I'll have the same. Apparently, they are the best."
Madame nodded and disappeared into the kitchen, returning with two piping hot pies, steam billowing off the perfect golden crust.
We maneuvered around the rest of the line and snagged a small table near the window. I tried to be polite pulling out Veda's chair, even as the rumble in my stomach wanted to sit and devour my lunch. I raced into my seat and took a huge bite. The juicy cherry cut with the tart lemon slid down my throat in the most joyful way. I groaned and took another big bite, the sauce smudging on the side of my mouth. I ran my hand over the mess and licked it off my knuckles not willing to risk losing one taste.
"You weren't kidding about knowing what you like, were you?” Veda laughed, as she watched me gorge myself on fruit and pastry. She picked up her own pie and finally took a dainty bite from the corner. Her eyes rolled toward the ceiling and she collapsed against the back of the chair. “Okay, maybe you are right on this one. It's really good.”
"Told you.” I cast her a quick grin before returning to demolish the rest of my pie.
We ate in silence, except for the few tight-lipped mmmm sounds that were unavoidable with food this good. Once I finished and convinced myself not to get back in line for another serving, I leaned back in my chair and watched Veda enjoy hers. The blissful glaze that fell over her expression as the world slipped away leaving just her and the pie made me chuckle as I'm sure everyone else saw me in the same way. Except her enjoyment wasn't the only thing in the room. I glanced around at the other tables. Prying eyes watched our every move, scrutinizing me and evaluating her. I guess my speech did not go over as well as I had hoped, or maybe with my new position people were more interested in me than ever before. I tried to shrug off the uncomfortable feeling but as more people entered the shop, more stares fell on us. Tables close by leaned in toward each other, whispering under closed hands held over their mouths. The gossip had already begun, except I had no idea what it was about.
"I'll have to remember this place,” Veda said snapping me out of my paranoid daze. She reached across the table and grabbed my hand. "Or maybe I'll have to convince you to bring me here again." The whispers around us grew louder, like hushed screams calling my attention.
I slipped my fingers into hers and stood, coaxing her from the table. "Maybe we should get going."
She followed behind me until we reach the door. I propped it open with my forearm and swept my arm to signal her to lead the way.
A bright flash. Black dots blurred my vision and I shook my head.
"Excuse me, Your Majesty, how are you feeling after your speech today?” A voice blared at me before I could cross the threshold into the street.
More voices.
“Prince Fallon, now that you’re king, what does that mean for your father?"
“Prince Fallon, who are you with?"
The questions came rapid-fire like fists in a street fight and pummeled us back through the door. Reporters, enough for every small town paper
