The house of Kish

“The first thing you need to do is place the plate 5 centimeters in front of you.” Carmen followed the instructions with her own plate. “Next, place the soup bowl on top of the plate. Do you know why?” “Not really,” she replied. “It's because the first course will be soup. When you’re done eating the soup, the bowl will be taken off the plate and washed in the kitchen basin to remove all stains,” explained Shiandra. Carmen smiled. “Oh, that makes sense now. Does that mean the dinner plate will be used for the second course?” she asked. “Yes, you're very quick. And for every meal, you'll need this,” said Shiandra, raising the cutlery for Carmen to see. “A fork, a knife, and a spoon. Is that the same spoon we used to eat soup with?” Carmen asked. “Yes, it is. And when you’re done using it, gently place it inside the soup bowl before placing it in the kitchen basin. It's crucial to put the fork on the left-hand side of the plate and the knife on the right-hand side of the plate.” explained Shiandra. “But why is that important?” asked Carmen. “Because it ensures that you cut your food item neatly, preventing it from falling out of the plate or moving around inside the plate,” Shiandra clarified. Carmen began to laugh. “I didn’t know food could dance inside the plate. That’s very amusing nana,” she said. Carmen enjoyed calling Shiandra nana. To her, Shiandra was more than a childminder; she was like family. 

“If you don't use the cutlery correctly, the food might dance around in the plate. After you finish eating, you'll need a drink. You'll either use a glass or a cup, depending on what you're drinking. Here, take this cup,” said Shiandra, handing a cup over to Carmen. “I chose to use a cup because you haven't reached the age to drink wine yet.” Carmen giggled. “But I'm a princess, and I can drink what I want,” she protested. “As you just mentioned, you're a princess, not a prince. Women don't have much say in a lot of things, but you'll grow up and understand what I mean,” Shiandra explained. Carmen was slightly confused. “Do you mean they can't speak or live how they want to?” she asked. Shiandra nodded. “But that's not fair. No one will tell me how to live,” Carmen objected. “You're not a commoner. Things might be simpler for you,” Shiandra replied. “Simpler how?” Carmen asked. Shiandra heard footsteps approaching them. “We'll talk about that later. The king is coming. Try to behave,” she advised. Carmen nodded. “The cup is placed three centimeters diagonally from the plate on the left-hand side. This prevents the person drinking from spilling the liquid inside the cup. The same thing is done with the glass,” Shiandra explained. “Wow, nana, you know a lot about table setting,” Carmen remarked. Shiandra chuckled. “That's not all, my darling. It gets deeper and deeper. That was today's lesson. Tomorrow, I'll teach you about the different courses and the cutlery and crockery used to serve each course,” she said. 

The king appeared in the doorway of the dining room, smiling. “Oh, forgive me. I didn't see you,” said Shiandra, bowing her head. “I'm very fortunate to have you here. Carmen is going to be a fine woman one day, all thanks to you,” the King said. 

Shiandra grinned.

"Father, what is the soup bowl used for?" Carmen asked. 

"To serve soup," the king replied.

"No! To serve the first course," Carmen confidently corrected him.

The King chuckled, and Shiandra joined in. 

Table setting had more to it than Carmen realized. She would soon learn that there were various food items that constituted the first course, each served in its own dish, whether it be a side plate or a dinner plate, and that they required special cutlery to be enjoyed properly. 

"Shiandra, may I speak with you outside for a moment? Carmen, please stay here, and the cook will bring you something to eat," commanded the King.

He led Shiandra to the stables, where they sat on a bench. 

"My Lord, what can I do for you?" she asked.

"I need your assistance while I am away attending the royal council meeting in Noracia. I will be gone for a couple of weeks, and during that time, I want to ensure that both you and Carmen will be safe and secure. There will be enough food to last for a month or two, even if I am gone for a brief period," said the King. 

"Carmen and I will be fine," Shiandra replied confidently.

"Excellent. That's what I wanted to hear," said the King.

The royal council meetings were previously held in different countries, but a decision was made to have them all in one venue. The House of Kish in Noracia was the chosen palace, as it was large enough to accommodate more than twenty kings and their advisors during the meetings. The palace was very tall, with guestrooms for royals on the upper floors and staff quarters on the lower floors. There was also a Kish Hall where the royal council would discuss important matters pertaining to each country's betterment. The palace had no king or queen, but rather two rulers - a prince and a princess, who were fraternal twins chosen by prophecy to rule from the age of thirteen until they turned thirty. They were also required to be virgins during their rule.

"Shiandra, if I may ask, do you know the names of the new rulers?" Shiandra inquired. 

"Yes, Prince Uzriel and Princess Ashah. They were chosen by prophecy," replied the King.

"Do they have an advisor like you?" 

"Yes, her name is Ingrid," said the King.

"How old is she?" 

"She is a little older than them, thirty years of age. She has been an advisor since she was seventeen years old. Her parents wanted her to get married, but she didn't want to. She used the money she had saved from doing odd jobs since she was a child to buy books and learn as much as she could, with a focus on human relations and leadership. She then applied for a job as an advisor at the palace and was hired immediately," explained the King. 

"I heard that a woman was responsible for building more schools and factories in Noracia to provide both men and women with job opportunities. Did she have a role in that?" 

The King nodded. 

"Since Ingrid arrived in Noracia, the country has undergone enormous change. They are doing better for themselves and are less prejudiced. As a father to a daughter, I am pleased, but as a king, I must hate her," the King admitted.

"Why should you hate her?" Shiandra asked.

"Because she is a woman who wants to make other women work for their own money instead of staying at home to care for their children. "If Ingrid were to expose my actions, it could cause chaos and unrest among the people. That's why I must ensure that I govern justly and with integrity," the King said, a serious expression on his face. 

Shiandra nodded in agreement. "It's important for a leader to be transparent and accountable to their people. It fosters trust and respect."

"Exactly," the King said. "And as a father to a daughter, I want to set an example for her and for all the young people of our kingdom. I want them to see that leadership is about service and responsibility, not personal gain."

"I'm sure Carmen will be proud of her father's commitment to the well-being of his people," Shiandra said with a smile.

"I hope so," the King said. "Now, let's go back inside. I want to make sure everything is in order before I leave for Noracia."