Chapter 16 The Soup

I stood in my hut not knowing what to do. Why was he knocking on my door? Wasn't it so obvious I changed his clothes? Should I tell him, I did before he finds out?

"Why did I even change his clothes?" I murmured silently. "I'm going to be a dead meat soon". I heard the knock again and I mustered enough courage to open the door.

"Oww, Yhuri! It's you" I signed in relief. "Come in"

Yhuri entered and asked,

"My Lady, are you ok?"

"Yes, I am"

"I soaked the dried stem in water last night. I was wondering if I should go and take it out now?"

"I'll do it when I am about to prepare the soup"

"Ok, My Lady"

"Yhuri, I want to rest. Wake me up in the afternoon"

"Ok, My Lady"

"Do you know where the bathhouse is?"

"Yes, pls"

"Take me there"

Yhuri led me to the bathhouse carrying a big pot of warm water. I had a warm bath and went back to my hut. I slept the moment my head touched the pillow. I had enough rest and woke up before Yhuri came to knock on my door.

"Who is there?" I asked.

"Yhuri. My Lady, it's midday" Yhuri replied.

"Thank you, Yhuri" I said.

I walked into the kitchen and prepared the soup. I add the water from the soaked dried stem. It gave the soup a unique smell. All the maids in the kitchen were amazed I had such skills.

***

Mbaku smelled the soup in his hut and asked Jabari who was in there with him;

"Is today the day she has to make soup for me?"

"Yes, Your Highness" Jabari replied.

Mbaku nodded and said; "the smell of her soup is unique. It's tempting".

Jabari rose his head only to see Mbaku smiling. It was unlike Mbaku to smile let alone, to praise a woman. Maybe things were changing now.

"I only hope it's taste will match it's smell" Mbaku chuckled.

Jabari could tell he couldn't wait to taste the soup. Jabari lifted his eyes to look at Mbaku and said;

"Your Highness, you seem distracted. Should I leave now?"

Mbaku raised his eyes to look at Jabari who kept quiet immediately his eyes met Mbaku's.

***

Immediately the soup was ready, I went to the head kitchen maid, Sila, to ask her how Mbaku wanted his food served.

"His Highness wants his meal served warm. He doesn't like too cold or hot foods. Serve the soup in bits. He hardly finishes everything at one sitting. You can leave the rest to the maids in this manor".

"Thank you, mama Sila," I said with a smile.

"My Lady, such formalities are not needed between us," Sila said with a smile.

"I just can't call you without adding mama. Please make it easy for me to live here with you by allowing me to call you mama"

"Ok, My Lady"

I made everything ready to serve Mbaku. Yhuri held it and followed closely behind me. I knocked on his door and Jabari opened it and turned to Mbaku immediately to announce my presence.

"Your Highness, Lady Zui is here," Jabari said.

"Let her in" Mbaku replied with his eyes fixed on a plan he was working on.

Jabari stepped aside to allow me to enter. I took the tray from Yhuri and entered. I realized aside from the small table in front of him, there was no other table in the room.

"Yhuri, bring me a small table" I ordered and Yhuri left immediately to fetch a table.

Jabari stood at the entrance smiling and asked permission to take leave of us and left before Mbaku could say a word. Mbaku lifted his eyes to look at me and I prevented his gaze by looking away. Yhuri arrived with the table and Mbaku pushed the small table in front of him aside. Yhuri placed the table in front of him and went to stand outside the hut. I placed the tray on the floor, lifted the bowl containing the soup, and placed it on the table. I placed a spoon beside the soup and looked at him and said shyly;

"Your Highness, I made this soup for you".

"What soup is it?" Mbaku asked.

"Black soup with kale and dried fish, your favorite"

"How did you know, I liked black soup?"

I raised my head and told him;

"It's an assignment, find out".

He smiled briefly because he knew I spilled his own words at him and said;

"Only my mother knows the soup I like. It's obvious you had help from her. In the future, if you want to give me an assignment, don't make it an easy one".

I smiled and nodded shyly and said;

"Hurry, it'll cool down"

Mbaku took off the lid of the bowl and scooped a spoon full and said;

"Not bad!"

"Say it's delicious!" I said angrily.

"It's not bad means it's good, so why should you get angry?" he asked innocently.

"I am sorry. I misunderstood you. But do you know you owe me an apology?"

Mbaku nodded and continued to eat silently. After he finished eating, I asked him;

"You didn't touch your breakfast nor lunch. Why?"

"Don't you think it's a shame for me to eat alone a day after my marriage?"

"Then why didn't you wake me up?"

"Wouldn't it rude?"

"Let's have supper together"

"If only you would be able to eat in front of me!"

"It'll be difficult, but I'll try"

"Fair enough!"

I packed the bowl, tray, and table and left his hut when he finished eating. Soon it was time for supper. I went to have supper with him. Immediately after eating, Jabari showed up and Mbaku left with him in a hurry. I supervised the maid to do the other household chores.

I had just finished bathing and was brushing my hair when I heard a knock on my door. It was surely going to be Yhuri. But I clearly remember telling her to take the rest of the day off since she was complaining of menstrual cramps. I walked to the door with only one thing in mind, to scold her only to find out it was Mbaku.

"Your Highness!", I said looking shocked and tried to slam the door but he pushed it open and entered and closed it behind him.