chapter 2

The morning of the much-anticipated birthday dawned, cold and bright. I, like the rest of my over-worked castle-fellows, rose with the sun; and barely was I clothed, when the King assigned me the duty of over-seeing the presentation of Princess Evelyn's feast. I was given a clipboard, upon which was scribed everything that was to be expected at the feast: 1000 loaves of bread, 100 cakes, etc.
It was tedious work, though, all the same, I certainly did not envy the poor maids whose job it was to convey this feast from the kitchen, one loaf at a time. The King had hired even more chefs for the event, but, even so, I could not imagine that any of them were enjoying the concept of 'light work' on Princess Evelyn's birthday.
The feast was scheduled to commence at ten a.m., but I was summoned to the Princess' upstairs chamber at eight, as one of the maids informed me that the Princess desired a consultation.
I am loath to admit that my heart was beating somewhat harder than usual as I ascended the great staircase to the second floor. I strode down several corridors, until I reached the great double-doors of the Princess' private chamber.
Entering, I observed Princess Evelyn reclining in her magnificent bed, propped up against the intricately-carved headboard by a large number of soft pillows, in cases of the finest silk. My eyes were drawn directly to the remnants of the Princess' breakfast, laid out on a table-tray in front of her: she had had bacon and eggs on toast, as evidenced by the crusts still remaining on the plate, and also pancakes, for I could definitely detect the lingering scents of maple syrup. A big breakfast for a growing girl...
"Ah, Senator, you're finally here," Princess Evelyn said stuffily, beckoning me closer.
"Yes Milady," I replied, with a deferential bow of my head, as I approached her bedside with shaking steps. "You sent for me..."
"Yes," said the Princess, pushing herself into a more upright position against her pillows. Raising a hand to her mouth, she repressed a burp. Lowering her voice, she went on slyly: "I want you to alter the seating arrangements for my dinner feast, so that Prince Benton shall be placed beside me! But breath not a word of it to my father!" she added, suddenly looking rather stern.
"Of course, milady," I replied, with a deferential bow. "Thy will shall be done, post-haste. Many happy returns to you on this monumental day."
Standing over her as I was, I had a very pleasing view of that little potbelly of hers, resting in her lap, and looking quite round and full from her indulgent breakfast. It formed a delectable little sphere, making Princess Evelyn look as though she were with child. Her shoulders and arms looked pleasantly soft.
Then, to my astonishment (and, I must own, pleasure), the Princess said: "Senator, as this is my special day, fetch me another helping of pancakes from the kitchens. I am still hungry. But do not tell the maids! They did not even wish for me to have this breakfast," she added angrily, motioning towards her empty plates, as though the meal they had held had been most insubstantial.
"I am gracious for your trust, dear Princess," I said with a humble bow, before I quitted the room as hastily as possible. This time, I would not delegate the task of fetching the Princess' food to a maid. I was in such great haste to make it to the kitchens, that I very nearly tripped upon my own cape.

Within ten minutes, I returned to Princess Evelyn's chamber with a covered platter clutched betwixt my shuddering hands. I had instructed the chefs to be liberal with the pancakes, and I was now confident that the plate I set before the Princess would not disappoint her.
Indeed, her little eyes were aglow with pleasure when she beheld the stack--nearly twenty cakes high!--with which I presented her.
She began to consume them without delay. As she had not yet dismissed me, I remained standing at her bedside, watching as she devoured the decadent, buttery, syrupy pancakes. She ate the first six as though she were a girl starved for weeks in the dungeons; the second six she ate at a more relaxed pace; the next six with slow deliberation. Two pancakes remained. It was obvious that the Princess was most replete by now--the girth of her belly seemed to have increased by a good two inches--but she seemed reluctant to finish eating.
I watched with painful desire as she rubbed her aching bloated orb, and uttered a low moan from the pain that it was no doubt causing her.
"'Tis but a few bites more, Milady," I said quietly, the utterance surprising even myself. The decadent vision before me seemed to be prompting me into formerly unknown, and no doubt unwise, levels of gall.
To my surprise, however, the Princess seemed to find new heart to eat; and, within a few tense minutes, the plate was entirely clean.
She slumped back onto her pillows, with both hands clutching her bloated belly. I waited.
Presently, she heaved a contented sigh. "Oh... I am so replete... but I simply hate to see wasted food." She lazily waved a hand. "You may take my plates away."
"Good girl," I whispered.
As I moved forth towards the bed, however, the Princess halted me with an arrested stare. "You have proved more trustworthy, Senator, than any of my maids. They would all but starve me, as though I'm a common slave!" she cried.
"I... I cannot have you starved, dear Princess," I returned, barely able to speak for the dryness of my throat. "I henceforth vow to obtain food for you whenever you should desire it, and whenever it is within my power..."
In response to my words, the Princess smiled and thrust out her hand. I took it, and kissed it. I knew that I had just made a pledge that I certainly would not regret.
"Send the maids up in half-an-hour to dress me," the Princess ordered. "I must endeavour to regain my appetite for the breakfast feast!"

Forever would I recall the Princess' 16th birthday with fondness. It marked the first day whereupon she bequeathed her trust onto me; and never before had I seen any one person consume so much food in the span of 24 short hours.
She ate greatly at the breakfast feast. She gorged herself at lunch time, and outdid herself yet again at dinner. The dress she had chosen to wear fit her well that morning, but looked undeniably tight by bedtime. I know not what became of the Prince whom she had coveted, though, as I ascertained during the dinner feast, the sight of a girl eating with such abandon did not do anything to make him regard the Princess in high esteem.
The castle workers no doubt thought negatively of the Princess' voracious appetite, but it was hardly their place to condemn--as I reminded a pair of wayward maids when I heard them sniggering about it in the kitchens.
That day marked a definite change in Princess Evelyn. Now a woman, she took the liberty of complaining in person to her father, that she ought now to be served 'adult portions', whenever she should desire them. The king was not the most paternal man in the world, and wanted only to keep his daughter happy, so he therefore instructed the castle workers to yield to her demands; and designated to me the task of being the Princess' assistant, in the absence of my other duties.
Over the ensuing months, the Princess and I became closer; though never did she cease treating me as the servant that I was. It was not until some ten moons after the birthday, that she disclosed her innermost feelings to her doting Senator.
The bygone time had seen an impressive change in dear Evelyn. The little belly that I had first noticed in the bathing house, had now become a large, wobbling, full potbelly, undeniable to anybody who saw her. She had forsaken her corsets some months prior, after complaining at great lengths about how they impeded her ability to eat. Free from its restraints, her belly stuck out farther now than her breasts, which had also increased most noticeably in size. Her large, round posterior balanced everything out in a most pleasing fashion; her legs were thick, and her arms wobbled when she made any manner of gesture. She had also developed an adorable little double-chin. She was a plump girl now; and, while I would lose my head in the gallows for admitting it, I wished to see her become much, much bigger...