The door behind Olivia slammed closed, a servant boy running out behind her and down the hall. Elena was standing in front of one of the windows, gazing out at the lake as she waited for Olivia. Olivia walked up beside her, and nudged her. Elena glanced over, a small smile hovering on her features. She leaned closer to Olivia.
"Thanks...for defending me. The guards get rough.." Elena said.
"No need for thanks, I might as well use my position for something." Olivia said. Elena looked down, smiling and nodding her head.
"Right," She said, "Though, I do apologize for getting the time wrong." Olivia blew a raspberry, and turned to walk down the hall.
"Forget it, as I told his highness," Olivia said, looking back at the girl, "a miscommunication on their end." Elena nodded, and followed after her lady down the hall. Olivia hugged the wall, dragging the tips of her fingers against the stone and humming quietly. She didn't feel like going back to her room. She turned into the armory tower, looking up the tall stairs. She should've asked if she was allowed inside. A tour of the castle would have to be postponed. Olivia sighed, leaving the tower, the hallway, and entering into the entryway.
Olivia bit her lip, and sighed. She probably should get back to her room. Instead, she ended up turning towards the castle's exit, Elena following hurriedly in her footsteps. She would stop every now and again to stare at the many statues, feeling the stone they were made of, before continuing the walk to the exit. Once she reached the doors, she pushed them open. They were difficult to move, just like the throne and ballroom doors. However, eventually, a guard from the outside noticed her struggle, and pulled the door open for her. She thanked him, turning back to tell Elena to hurry along, before skipping down the stairs.
"Are we going somewhere, Lady Olivia?" Elena asked, catching up to her lady's brisk pace. Olivia shrugged.
"Just into the noble district. It's gotten boring to just sit in the castle all day, don't you think?" Olivia asked, approaching one of the guards at the gate. Elena made no response. "Excuse me," the guard turned his attention to her, "would you mind opening the gate?"
"What business do ya have outside o' the castle?" He asked, and Olivia bit the inside of her cheek. Was she not allowed out? Maybe the guard was just being intrusive.
"Just wanting to explore the Noble District more. I haven't been here in the city long." Olivia said, "Why do you want to know?"
"There've been a few robb'ries, m'lady. I'll have to ask ya to remain in the noble district." He replied. Olivia nodded her head in agreement, and the guard looked up at the gate, "Open the gate!" The metal gate clanged, and creaked open. Olivia smiled, and exited the castle courtyard. She hadn't been out in the day in so long. She felt grateful that she had the opportunity, especially without Sir Aaron. Maybe some fresh air was all she needed to clear her thoughts. Elena hurried behind her, keeping at her heels as they walked down the hill into the town center. It was bustling with activity, as usual. Except, unlike the festival, it only had humans. There were no dwarves, nymphs, or orcs to brighten the place up. It felt a lot duller in that sense.
Olivia hummed, and walked over to the fountain of Kim. She stared down into the water, thinking back to Sir Aaron again and how he kissed her. She wouldn't ever be able to understand why, they hardly knew each other. She shook the thoughts from her head, and looked around the town center. There were noble ladies and children at merchant booths of silk, jewels, and other foreign goods. Some children were surrounding the fountain, or running around playing together. Those were mainly boys with swords, pretending to be a knight and a fleeing villain. Olivia smiled. They were cute.
"Don't the children of this district have school?" She asked Elena, who had been dipping her fingers into the water, and standing awkwardly next to Olivia.
"Yes, in the morning this area is normally empty." Elena replied, "However, in the afternoon, the kids get released from school and into the town center where their families are for some after school recess before going home." Olivia pursed her lips, nodding and looking away from the children and to the ladies. They were staring at Olivia and Elena, whispering to each other. Olivia squinted at them and huffed.
"They're a little full of themselves, aren't they?" Olivia said. Elena laughed in shock.
"I'm not really allowed to comment on it." She said, and Olivia blew a raspberry.
"Pish posh!" She said, waving her hand in dismiss, "I'm allowing it. Just between us, they're quite full of themselves, aren't they?"
"Well.." Elena drifted off, and Olivia gave her a pointed look, "yes...yes they are." Olivia laughed, nudging her handmaid with her elbow. The ladies had really begun to stare once Olivia and Elena began laughing and making gestures toward the group. The two girls paid no mind to it, in fact they entirely missed two of the ladies approaching as they left the fountain to disappear down another street. It was a back alley that led to the school, and Olivia had insisted on seeing it.
"Do the kids ever leave the city?" Olivia asked.
"Some families vacation, but not really. Not until they're old enough to leave on their own. Even then, most choose to stay and raise families here." Elena replied, turning down another alleyway while Olivia followed suit.
"Oh.." Oliva said shortly. She couldn't imagine living her entire life locked up in these walls. In fact, she was having a hard enough time as it was being inside of the castle day in and day out. Just knowing there was more out there, whether it was the garden, the city, or the forest beyond the lake. The two turned down one last road, and were immediately pushed back into the alley they just came from. Olivia found herself being held onto by a young boy. She looked down, being met with a mop of curly brown hair. Even with his face buried in her abdomen, she could make out the point of his ears, and the copper of his skin.
"Help...help please." The boy whimpered. Olivia blubbered, looking up at Elena who was just as confused as she was. She didn't know what to do.
"What's happened?" Olivia asked, trying to pry the boy's arms from her waist.
"I...I was hungry..I got separated from my family." He began to cry, and Olivia's chest swelled.
"Are you running from someone?" Elena prompted, and the boy nodded. Olivia pursed her lips.
"Who? Why are they chasing you?"
"I stole from Lord Ardin."