We enter a room bustling with maids and other staff. I attempt to walk straight, but my gaze falls to the floor, intimidated by the angry and unwelcoming stares. As we pass by some individuals, I lift my head to notice archers present in the room. Puzzled by their presence, my eyes then catch sight of guards of various ranks: to my left, guards clad in blue military uniforms, and beside them, guards in red and black, swords at their left side. To my right, maids and other personnel are visible, with cooks stationed near my designated spot. Bluebell departs to join the other housekeepers, and I ascend the stairs, and turn to face them.
"Welcome to her majesty" they all greet in unison and i can see bluebell smiling at me from the corner of my eyes now was the time to show them i can be of any help and at least make a good impression.
"Good morning," I greet in return, buying some time to think about what to say to them today, not even a week after arriving, having had no chance to rest properly. They must be thinking I'm eager to assert my authority as soon as possible. "I apologize for the abrupt call and any inconvenience it may cause you, pulling you away from your duties.""
"Your Majesty, there is no need for apologies; we are here to obey and serve. Please, feel free to share what burdens you, and we will endeavor to resolve it," says a guard standing before those clad in blue, as everyone nods in agreement.
"This meeting isn't about anything particular; I simply wish to understand how the palace operates and, at the very least, become acquainted with you." My final word emerges as a whisper, yet its impact is evident from the swell of murmurs it provokes; everyone pivots, engaging in hushed conversations with their neighbors. While I stood there, puzzled, and embarrassed.
"My lady, we hail from the Hybrid Guards. We belong to different species I for example, I am part wolf, part human. The king helped me on his way home after a skirmish with the locks," began one of the guards in black, and the others followed, diminishing the gossip and chatter. They shared their stories and how they came to work for the king. I never imagined that other species could work, fall in love, and have offspring.
"Your Highness, we are the Adore Knights, endowed with the knowledge and abilities to control fire," the first in the red says, raising his hands to conjure flames before swiftly extinguishing them as the applause begins. Despite their talents, they do not appear approachable for conversation. He smiles awkwardly and steps aside for the next person.
"I apologize on his behalf, my lady. Darcus is not of the friendly sort and lacks the art of genteel conversation. We are indeed among the most powerful knights in all the kingdoms, not solely due to our abilities but also because of our readiness to serve and our respect for strategy, unlike some others." he says sticking his head to look at those in blue who start rumpling in disapproval.
"My lady, we are the palace guard and the strategists, dedicated to protecting and assisting everyone in case of an emergency. We emerged from the tower of mages; the grasses you observed out there are surpassing expectations." A voice emerges from the midst of the azure throng, uttering a single word before advancing forward. "Hydrus?"
"Thank you very much. I must apologize for not understanding the specifics of your duties, but if I find some time, I will learn and find ways to assist if you need it," I said, I do not know what I had said, but every guard start laughing as if I had told the funniest joke.
"My lady, you need not concern yourself; protection is our mission. How would we serve if we were the ones receiving help?" Darcus explained, looking quite amused this time. I turn to the maid and grant her the opportunity to introduce themself.
"My queen, we are tasked with the cleaning and cooking of the palace. We may not know how to fight, devise strategies, or control fire, but we can prepare the finest dishes known to mankind and beyond," an elderly woman declares, prompting laughter from everyone. This place feels so different from my mansion; it's comforting here, and it seems they have daily interactions, unlike my duchy, which always made the maids feel inferior.
"She is correct; my lady will yearn for the traditional food once she has sampled it," Hydrus states, and as anticipated, everyone concurs.
"We, my lady, are the palace archers, we are not mere human archers because our craft is imbued with magic," he began, visibly troubled as if unsure of how to explain himself.
"How is that?" I as prompting him in continuing. But this time, he gazes at someone, as if pleading for assistance.
"Every time we take aim, we never miss. It's as if merely thinking about possessing something makes it materialize before us. Similarly, whenever we contemplate shooting adversaries, our shots land exactly where we envisioned, regardless of whether the target is a swift runner or a skilled fighter." The individual I perceive as their leader explained, which only serves to heighten their danger in my eyes. As the day progresses, we carry on with our presentation, involving mages, physicians, scientists, and other beings whom I'd rather not offend. Once the meeting concludes, I release them to their respective duties, retaining the maids as we still have the personal maid issue to address.
"I have a question," I begin, once everyone else is out of sight. "Why is it that I must have only one maiden as a personal servant and not anyone I choose?"
"My queen?" The elderly lady from before approaches, calling out as though seeking permission, and I nod in response. "Please forgive Hyndrelle for explaining the situation to me beforehand, but these are the rules the late queen imposed on us, as she wished only to have her childhood servant as her personal maid."
"And why is that?" I ask. She swallows hard before continuing.
"The queen was fearful of being poisoned by our food, believing she couldn't trust us sufficiently. Thus, over those three years, it became a rule that only the maid with whom she felt comfortable could serve her," the lady explained. I cannot fathom what she endured to reach such a state of distrust. As a princess, she must have faced considerable danger, and ascending to the throne likely exacerbated her worries.
"But still, didn't she get to know you to lessen her weariness?" I understand it might not have been easy for her, but considering she spent three years at the palace, she should have at least gotten to know them to halt the sensation of perpetual danger.
"She was not one to communicate," another maid said, stepping forward. "My lady appears to be a reserved individual, favoring only Azura, her personal maid. This woman was solely responsible for attending to all the queen's needs, including her meals, Your Highness."
"Do you feel comfortable with this?" That was the assurance I needed before moving on to the next step.
"My queen, we are here solely to act upon your wishes; we have no say in this matter," stated the older maid, her gaze fixed directly into my eyes, reminding me of Bluebell's words about those who dare such direct eye contact—she evidently harbors no fear of me.
"How can I address you?" I inquire, suggesting we start with names to facilitate and make our communication more respectful.
"My name is Manta, my queen, Manta from the east," she says, and I smile at her before regaining my composure to descend the stairs.
"Alright, Manta, since you are visibly older than me, I owe you some respect," I begin, bowing slightly as a greeting, which she did not attempt to conceal her surprise. "My name is Saltanat Edgar. I used to say 'of Vinsmoke,' but since I departed from there a while ago, I should now say 'of Zahkish.' However, you can simply call me Saltanat," I say, maintaining the same smile. This not only causes her, but also the others, to stare at me in total shock; I'm sure they did not expect such an action from me, and frankly, neither did I. I had always thought of leaving my problems for others to solve, remaining in the shadow where everyone expected me to stay. However, for some reason, this place feels so different from my mansion that it makes me believe I could actually do something to prove I am not that useless.
"I cannot possibly do that, Your Majesty. It is not within my place to do so, my apologies," she explained with a trembling voice.
"Manta, I believe there's been a misunderstanding; that wasn't a request, it's an order," I said, not to threaten her but to convey the respect a youngster like me owes to someone who appears older than my grandmother. I can't possibly let her address me as 'Your Highness' or 'Majesty' continuously until her dying day, especially since I don't quite feel majestically high at the moment. She smiles at me taking my hands in hers.
"Since it is Her Highness's desire, I will have to agree with it," she says, and everyone starts giggling behind her. She turns, giving them a scolding and confused look before looking at me. I tilt my head to the side, trying to make her understand her mistake. It takes some time before she realizes and quickly corrects herself, "I meant 'Sultanate'."
"Now that this is settled, why don't we discuss whether you agree to abide by the rules here?" I suggest, leading us out of the room with Manta's hands in mine. It feels strange, yet not unpleasant. Glancing back to check on Bluebell, I'm surprised to find she's already emulating my efforts at making friends and a good impression. Then, turning to the elderly lady, I give her my undivided attention.
"I've never really abided by this rule my... Saltanat, you know I've been working here since my coming of age. I cook for people so they can eat, enjoy their stay, and have pleasant memories of the palace. So, being told to cook for the employees just because she doesn't trust me—it kind of hurts," she confides as I listen without interrupting. She mentions she's been working here since her coming of age, which means she knows a lot about the king's life. But for now, let's not pressure her and focus on how to deal with the palace first. "So, after she placed that order... I wouldn't say I was angry about cooking for the employees who workday and night to protect us, but I was accustomed to cooking for the king since his birth. The thought of him eating food he didn't enjoy truly disheartened me," she said, gripping my hands tighter to emphasize her weariness.
"I can tell you love His Highness deeply," I say, more to myself than to her, at which she smiles and brings her palm to my face.
"And I can tell you will be his salvation," she whispers, and I can't help but wonder why she said that as she leads me out of the palace and into the garden. "Since you called us here, what is your plan?" she asks, looking me in the eye, those eyes showing no fear or restraint.
"I need not lie to you, but I do not understand how it works here or anywhere. However, I am quite certain you would want things to return to how things were five years ago," I say, attempting to keep as much distance from the late queen as possible.
"Yes, if you allow it, I would like to return to cooking for Ileus," she asked with pleading eyes. Ileus? She must be quite familiar with him to address him by his first name. I smiled at her and nodded in approval of her request. In response, she tiptoed and planted a kiss on each of my cheeks. Shocked, I stared at her in dismay before returning her kiss. "What would you like to eat, considering you've already missed breakfast?"
"Anything will be fine," I say. We chat a little more before I let her return to her duties. I sit in the wooden chair next to the apple tree in the garden and admire the splendid view this place conceals. I do not know how long I have been sitting there, but I suddenly hear some strange noises. I instantly turn to look and find a guard attempting to hide, failing miserably. I walk towards him, and when he spots me, he comes out of hiding.
"Have I disturbed Her Highness?" he inquired; his tone laced with apology. I approached him, shaking my head, gently coaxing him from his seclusion. He rose and joined me in the garden. Upon offering him a seat, he politely declined with a bow yet chose to remain at least.
"Did the king ask you to keep track of me?" Naturally, he would. Who, in their right mind, would trust someone after a betrayal? I can't fault him for that. I gaze at the cup of black coffee before me, awaiting a response, but none comes. I lift my gaze to him, yet he remains silent, not speaking a word. Did he fail to hear me, or is it pity he feels for me? Eventually, he collects himself and place a knee on the cold floor.
"My intentions were not to cause any misunderstandings with Her Highness regarding the king's orders; he simply wanted me to ensure your safety. With the Locks in place, he desired someone to be with you at all times in case of an invasion," he explained. However, all I could focus on was the word 'invasion'. Who would dare to plan an invasion of a palace so heavily guarded, and has such a thing happened before?
"What are those locks?" I had heard about them before, and it was never in a positive context. Rising to his feet, his expression hardened, a clear display of his aversion to those things.
"They hailed from the Tower of Mages, trained to serve as magi to kings and emperors. However, after the war, many were captured by warlocks. Since then, we've been in the dark about what was said to make them despise the three houses of Carpel. They convinced some of their families and friends, feeding them strange tales, which sparked another minor war that they lost, further aggravating their already wretched state of mind." He explains, clutching his sword tightly as if sensing imminent danger.
"And what about the king? Didn't he try to speak with them to resolve the issue?" As a king, the best course of action would be to attempt a peaceful meeting before resorting to unwanted conflicts.
"The king made an attempt, Your Highness, but it was a futile case from the outset. We sought to have a treaty signed, but their sole demand was to place a witch in command as the head of the three houses. Given the emperor's furious state, it was a perilous move, and there was nothing to be done. Why would they insist on appointing a witch as a commander instead of one of their own? he said the reasons remain a mystery, but wouldn't one prefer to position their own family rather than complete strangers? however, it's perplexing yet intriguing enough to occupy me for the remainder of the day.
"Would you mind showing me where the library is? I really want to learn more about this, so as not to disturb your time," I say, trying to bargain with him. But unexpectedly, he freezes on the spot, and once again, it takes him some time to come back.
"Your Grace, please do not concern yourself with such minor issues; our presence guarantees your safety," he says. At least he isn't upset that I'm encroaching on his duties, but this time it's not about protection—it's about ignorance and weakness.
"I know I can count on you in case of danger, but it would be great if I also knew some things to avoid problems," I say, offering him a warm smile. He ponders for a moment before telling me to follow him. We walk out of the garden and back into the palace. "So, what do you call yourself? I apologize if I forgot, even when I arranged a meeting just for introductions." It might be a foolish move to break the silence, but I can't call them "guard" every time we meet.
"We know it will be a miracle if you remember each one of us," we? Have they been talking about me? I glance at him to see him chuckling. "Amarae, but you can just call me Amar, Your Highness," he introduces himself, then opens a door. I see the library is not far from the garden; it will be nice to read there from time to time.
"In this place, Her Grace may discover all there is to know about mages and wizards, though I cannot guarantee its usefulness." He leads me inside, and the place appears ancient and eerie, with books strewn across tables and chairs near the windows. The darkness amplifies the sense of peril. He opens a door, releasing a cloud of dust, and climbs a ladder to press something. Instantly, the lights flicker on. The place looks even worse in the light, as if it has been untouched for ages. How can such a palace neglect this space, leaving it unclean? The windows are locked, as if guarding a secret, and every corner is coated with dust, suggesting it hasn't been used in a century. "Your Highness, you can find anything you desire in this area. The King has gathered all the necessary information, and I am quite certain you will find whatever you seek," His continue, only exacerbated my already confused state of mind.
"How can one find what he is looking for in such a place, Mister Amar? Where are the so-called books?" I ask, raising an eyebrow without showing my anger. He looks at me, then turns to the scattered books everywhere and scratches his head as if in a difficult position.
"Your Grace, you are the first person after the king's grandfather to ever want to use this place," he explained. So, the king and his father haven't used this place?
"Why is that?" I asked, and he turned to me with a wry smile.
"This, my lady, I do not quite know," he responded truthfully, and I nod in understanding.
"This place, looking the way it does, will make it very difficult for me to find what I need," I begin, and he turns to me, scared, but I just smile reassuringly his way. "It will require thorough cleaning because, starting today, it will become my personal space."