Queen Merah Muda: Part One (special preview)

The rabbit fluffs up and hugs the carrot. “As you wish, Prince Belle.” He runs off again and Merah Muda looks at me in surprise. 

“You carry carrots in your pocket?” She gasps.

“And dried tuna,” I say with a smile. “For the cats, of course.”

She narrows her eyes on me. “Whatever for?”

“To reward the staff, of course!” I scoff. “Why else?” I then look up as the white rabbit comes running back holding a basket above his head.

“I have brought it for you, Prince Belle.” He lifts it up over his head and I take it. “I found it right by the kitchen!”

“Thank you so very much.” I open up the chiffon wrapping around the basket to see the muffins inside. The scent coming from within is a rich bouquet of browned butter, sweet cream, and luscious berries. 

“You really don’t have to,” Merah Muda murmurs. 

“No, no,” I reach inside and take a particularly plump looking muffin. I unwrap it and smile at her. “You made these for me, I insist you see my reaction.” I take a bite and it is like a warm summer morning on my tongue. The flavor of raspberries and strawberries floods my senses, followed by the nutty taste of the butter and soft creamy notes.

Merah Muda watches me with a close eye, her lips purse out and she slowly moves in closer to me. “Do you like it?”

I swallow the first bite and my heart starts to race. I turn and look at Merah Muda whose eyes seem so much brighter to me. Her skin looks more radiant and dewy, and her lips look like the same plump berries in her muffins.

I lean down, inching closer to her. Our noses brush together and then her lips touch mine. I drop the muffin as I bring her into my arms. I kiss her over and over, wanting her taste staining my tongue like the raspberries.

“Belle,” she moans into my ear. 

My lips drag down her neck as I catch myself. I quickly pull back and cup my hand over my mouth. “Oh! Oh dear-” I look away from her, ashamed. “I’m so sorry, Emm Emm, I didn’t...I don’t know what came over me.”

Merah Muda picks up the muffin from the bench and breaks off a chunk. She moves my hand aside and places it on my tongue. I capture her finger between my lips, sucking it as I grow closer to her body again.

“It’s ok,” she whispers to me.

I kiss her again, feeling an overwhelming hunger clawing at me. Merah Muda gasps softly as I kiss her bare shoulder and down her arm. I kiss the center of her palm then look into her eyes.

“You’re a really good baker.”

Merah Muda smiles shyly then lets out a laugh. “Thank you.” She wipes crumbs from the corner of my mouth. “You’re a good kisser.”

“I don’t know what came over me,” I breathe. “I hope you forgive my awful manners, Emm Emm.”

Her small hand lays on my thigh. “Think nothing of it, Belle.”

That evening, I had to bid her farewell as all the guests began to leave. I had not expected to meet anyone, so I was still in shock over Merah Muda. The next day, when my mother and Rossi took council with me to discuss the ball, I was still mooning over Merah Muda. I had her muffins, eating one and lazily daydreaming about her.

“You actually met someone?” My mother is shocked. “Well who were they? Where did they hail from!”

I sigh dreamily and set my muffin aside. “Her name is Merah Muda and she comes from Pirlipat.”