"May I help you?"
Victoria turned to see a woman in a chef's coat and hat walking toward her while drying her hands on a towel. "I was looking for a quick snack, but I'm not certain where everything is just yet."
The chef didn't question her at all so word of her arrival must have gotten around. "Of course, ma'am. Would you like something in particular?"
"Something light and yummy." Victoria managed to keep her cringe internal. Queens did not say words like "yummy" with a straight face to anyone over the age of six.
"Of course. I would be happy to have something sent to your quarters?" The implied question caught Victoria a bit off-guard.
"That would be lovely, thank you." With a nod, she turned and left the kitchen, uncertain of where she should go next. Wandering the halls didn't hold much appeal, but her unfamiliarity with the building didn't work in her favor.
Deciding she should go left, since she came in from the right, Victoria started down the corridor. Each time she came to an intersection, she looked all directions and made a choice.
And saw no one.
If she never made it back to civilization on her own, would Enzo have any way to find her? The last thing she wanted to do was burden him. If she didn't find someone soon, she'd call her mum and ask her to reach out quietly to a member of the staff here.
Rounding another corner, Victoria stopped in her tracks both thrilled and more than a little intimidated by what she saw.
A smile crossed her face. She was going to be fine.
Meeting after meeting after meeting.
No time to mourn.
No time to think.
That last one might be a good thing for Enzo. Thinking would mean he couldn't remain numb anymore.
But it also meant his decisions might not be made by someone operating on all cylinders. He needed rest and time. Time without demands to recharge.
That wasn't going to happen any time soon.
He'd been told to go down to the staff lunch room, though he didn't know why.
When he reached the entry, Enzo stopped, surprised by what he saw, though he shouldn't have been - not after the encounter with the little boy outside.
Victoria sat in one of the chairs with about a dozen staff members gathered in a circle with her. He couldn't be certain what they were talking about but the laughter combined with tear-stained cheeks gave him a pretty good idea.
One woman bounced to her feet as she caught sight of him then dropped into a curtsy. "Your Majesty!"
The others in the circle followed suit, though Enzo motioned for them to remain seated. "Good afternoon. This looks like the place to be. May I join you for a few moments before I have to get to my next meeting?"
He didn't have a next meeting. Not for a while.
Murmurs of assent came from around the circle as he pulled a chair up next to Victoria's. He suspected his presence would stifle the conversation but he did have some things he wanted to say.
"I want to thank all of you for your continued service, not only the last few days but in all of your time with us. Your work does not go unnoticed or unappreciated." He needed to make certain they were all taken care of and had access to mental health professionals and anything else necessary.
"Thank you, sir." The most senior among them answered for them all.
He didn't know her name.
Making a mental note that he needed to get better at knowing everyone who worked in the palace or on the grounds, at knowing their names and what they did, he looked around the circle. "I do hope you'll forgive me, but as you can imagine I've had quite a bit on my mind the last few days. Would all of you be so kind as to remind me of your names and positions here in the palace?"
Maybe someone could make him flashcards with pictures.
"Cynthia," the first woman said. "I'm in charge of the cleaning crew for the main floor of the palace, including the public facing areas."
