ACASHA (A Symbol of Eternity and Resurrection)
Chapter 08's
...🦋 HAPPY READING 🦋...
Castela sat in one of the five-foot food stalls. The place is not elite, and the one selling is a married couple who already looks old. With a 10-year-old boy sitting in the corner of the tavern looking at Castela with a look of admiration.
Castela unintentionally saw the child, she then undoes her intention of wanting to eat lontong satay. Anyway, where can he get lontong satay? I'm not sure I can find such good food here.
Marcel and Duke Herli exchanged glances. It was as if he was saying 'what does your sister want to do this time?' the one in the back of Marcel's head.
They then decided to sit at the same table that Castela sat at. Karel and Ema also followed them from behind and joined.
"Ah, I feel so hungry. Grandma, is there any food I can eat?" Ask Castela.
The couple exchanged looks with shocked faces at the presence of the most influential family besides the royal family in his tavern. However, they could not cover their happy look, because of the many luxurious dining places, the Duke Herli family chose to eat at their place.
"M-sorry lady, my husband is a fisherman. And every day we always sell our fish in our old shop. We can only serve sea fish here." The granny said she looked regretful for not being able to serve the luxurious meal to the venerable Duke's family.
The people who were there were still staring in shock at what they saw. For their entire lives, no noble family would set foot in this filthy, shabby village. Although actually the area here can be said to be clean and well maintained.
It's just that, they consider this place of residence dirty because they are only small and poor people. It is not suitable to be visited by noble families who are certainly accustomed to luxurious and classy life.
"So grandpa was a fisherman? Isn't Grandpa too old to go to sea? That must be very dangerous." Castela frowned.
Thinking of an old man crashing into a big wave or drowning in a storm and ending up being eaten by a shark? Ahh, just imagining it already made Castela horrified. Moreover, he had a trauma of water currents.
"It's okay Lady, there's nothing else that this old man can do to get on with life. The old man is still healthy enough to go catch fish in the sea." Grandpa said with a sweet smile.
Castela was completely moved by these two old men before her. If only, if only his parents used to be like this, surely he would feel the happiness of a family.
"Lady, lady, do you want to buy my grandma's fish? It has been three days selling lonely grandmothers, grandmothers and grandparents already do not have money to fight tomorrow. Would the lady buy it? Granny-made fish is so good."
Castela turned to look at a boy who was in the corner of the tavern, currently looking down next to her with the end of her dress. They all stared at the surprised boy. They were afraid that Castela would get angry and slap the poor boy for daring to touch his dress.
So did the grandfather and grandmother who stared in shock and immediately prostrated to apologize for the sassness of their grandchildren.
"Lady, forgive us lady, forgive our stupid granddaughter. Please just punish me, please forgive our grandchildren." The old man sank his forehead until he touched the floor.
Those who witnessed it whispered to each other while staring in horror at the same time pity, when they saw Lady Castela staring at the child sharply.
"What's your name?" Lady Castela asked the boy coldly.
They all gulped at each other as the cold voice broke the silence that had occurred. Castela looked at the clothes the boy was wearing, then his eyes began to look at the residents one by one. They all wear the same clothes. Rough fabric with patches everywhere. Only then did he realize, if this village really looks - poor.
"My name is Erik lady." The boy answered still in a down position.
"Your long name?" Ask Castela again.
The boy nodded weakly.
"Hey grandpa! Grandma! Stop that act of yours! Have you lost your mind?!" Jerk Castela in a furious tone.
Truly, he was already annoyed by the actions of the old man who did not stop hitting their heads on the floor.
"Sorry lady, we have to make amends for our granddaughter, sorry lady we will continue to do so." Now replace the grandmother who said.
Castela took a rough breath. Then he got up from his seat.
"If you don't obey my orders, then I'll have my knights behead you." Castela said with a serious face.
The two old men stopped their activities and stared fearfully at Castela who was standing in front of them.
"Well Erik, you are a handsome and courageous man." Castela aligned her height with Erik's body while gently rubbing the boy's red mane.
Making them all hold their breath in disbelief at what Lady Castela just did. They thought, lady Castela would be very angry. However, the 16-year-old woman was instead acting very mature and wise. It is like the image of a future Queen.
"I'll give you a last name. From now on, your name is Erik Meijer." Castela.
"Really Lady? You gave me a last name?" Ask enthusiastically. Her red net seemed to be glazed, she then hugged Castela who was responded with a warm embrace by him.
"That's right, from now on you have to study well, I want you to be a great man when you grow up." Castela said sincerely
Duke Herli had no idea what he was witnessing. So did Marcel, Karel and Ema. Their lady, completely changed. But even so, they really liked the change. They all smiled happily, at least now they were sure, if the family was not a demon as rumored.
"Well lady, I will study diligently. I will grow up, be a great man and will protect the lady." Erik nodded in spirit.
Both parents were crying happily. Truly, they never imagined that this day would be present in their lives. Being given a last name by nobles, was a great honor for a lowly people like them.
"Well, I'm so hungry, can you take me to the kitchen? I think I want to eat my own food." Castela asked Erik.
"But miss, you can't"
"Just let Ema, you're helping your nona in." Duke Herli said cutting off Ema's speech.
Ema according then goes into following her nona.
Castela saw two large buckets of fresh fish, and one bucket of sizable shrimp. Castela tapped her index finger against her chin thinking about whether this much fish would be eaten. And who will spend it. As if understanding, Erik immediately made a sound.
"Our city used to be a rich lady's city, before the drought hit here for two years. Our city turned into a poor city, although at first we lived happily and adequately. At least enough for daily needs. The fields and rice fields all failed to harvest. That's why, we don't have enough money to buy each other's merchandise. Usually, people here only eat the results of wild game or sweet potatoes that grow around the forest."
Castela looked at Erik, as if she had heard from her brother, if the despair of some areas affected by drought and the community became difficult.
"What is the name of this town Ema?" Castela asked Ema who was examining the fish.
"This is the town of Raksa nona, one of the cities located far from the capital of SEATHLAND. Looks like one of the cities rumored to be affected by the disaster is this city." Said doubtful.
Castela breathed out a rough breath. How could the old man of the bangka forget his own area. It's really suffering for the people here.
In fact, they walked quite a distance from the path they should have taken. This happened, because suddenly Castela suddenly wanted to go to the beach. He wanted to replace their show at the failed palace with a picnic on the beach. However, they stopped when they saw the state of this city.
"All right, I seem to understand. Ema, the whole group of women in this village. I'll cook this all for them. Buy some of the materials I wrote from the merchants around here." Castela.
Ema smiled enthusiastically, she then ran out and carried out her nona command.
"What's wrong, Ema? Why are you running like that?"asked Duke Herli who looked to be talking to a man who looked aged. He seems to be the one who leads the city.
"Miss told me to call on the women who can cook and buy groceries. Miss will cook for everyone in this village, sir." Said Ema who made Duke Herli's forehead wrinkle.
"Castela can cook? Since when is pa?" Ask marchel.
"So, papa doesn't know Marcel either." Answer Duke Herli.
"Ah, it seems that I should help my brother's noble intentions pa. Papa wait here, I'll go inside. Hey Karel, you better come with me." Marcel then rose up followed by Karel.
All the residents looked at each other, and cheered happily. Is it true that Lady will cook food for them? For a long time they only ate boiled sweet potatoes and bland fish all this time. They hurried to the newly built post by Marcel and Karel, who were assisted by the soldiers they brought.
"Ah, it doesn't seem like your idea is bad either. This way, I can cook quietly." Castela said vigorously with her hands on her waist.
"Anything for my dear sister. Hows it? Is this already?" Ask Marcel.
Castela nodded, and then he told the women who had gathered to clean the fish and shrimp. While the men were busy carrying firewood to the post that was built next to the shop owned by Erik's grandmother and grandfather. Incidentally, there was a fairly large land, so Marcel had the idea to build several tents. One of them is a tent for them to spend the night.
Castela vigorously cut vegetables, tomatoes, and other ingredients purchased by Ema, with Duke Herli's money of course. The women there were joking with each other while doing what Castela told them to do.
They felt as if their dead village was coming back to life. The beautiful woman with incredible vigor began sauteing, making sauces, frying fish. Until the incredible aroma of Castela cuisine with a super large portion of it.
"Well,lady, how delicious your cooking is. It looks like it's so good, what's the name of that dish lady? My whole life just saw it." Said one of the women who was nodded by the other woman.
"This is a sweet sour gurame fish, a special menu in my own recipe." Castela smiled proudly.
They stared at the astonishment of the woman standing in front of the fire furnace with the wood Sutil in her hand. Her serious face when cooking makes them fall in love with the figure of Lady Castela.
Marcel, Karel and helped the men who were burning fish were made silent. Marcehl and Karel looked at each other in disbelief. Currently they secretly taste one of the fish that has been burned using a secret spice made by Castela because of hunger.
But they had no idea it would feel like this.
"Are you sure my own sister made this spice Karel?" Marcel asked narrowed
"I'm very sure sir, because I helped him mix the ingredients." Karel replied doubtfully.
"Where did my sister learn to cook? Why is the taste of the cuisine so foreign, but it tastes so good and so good on my tongue." Marceh.
Karel nodded in confirming. This was the first time he had eaten grilled fish this delicious. Of course grilled fish is a common dish that they can find anywhere. However, this time around, it felt completely different. There is a savory, spicy, sweet, and slightly acidic taste of this fish.
"Truly an interesting girl." Saying Karel slowly. "The prince would have fallen for Lady Castela if he had been here." His words were overheard by Marcel.
"Shut your mouth, Karel, I will not let my sister marry that man and become his second wife. You better keep this a secret, or else Castela's gonna kill you. Tell that to your soldiers." Said the marchel and then put the rest of the fish bones they ate into the fire so as not to be caught oelh Castela.
It could be the two of them who will be roasted if caught wet tasting the fish first.
"You take it easy, Mr. Marcel, I will not divulge it. I also disagree with the prince marrying Miss Rosenta. I thought, if there's anything strange, that woman's hiding." Karel's speech slowed down the volume of his voice.
"really?" Marcel asked in disbelief. Which was nodded by Karel.
"Ah, looks like we could be Karel's friends." Marcel said as he patted Karel's burly shoulders.
