Last night's intense discussion took us past midnight with Kirai. That made me unintentionally blurted out my intention to leave the palace. She was roaring and shouting fire at me, only alerted the standing royal guards. They rushed into the bedchamber with their long pointy swords; gave us a yelp of fright. Lady Pom was there as well with her sleepy state. I bit my lips, trying hard to hold my laughter, but when the rest of the maids showed up in line with the same sleepy and grumpy state, Kirai and I burst into laughter.
It took us more than half an hour to convince them that we were alright and another half an hour to usher them back to their own bed.
A few hours left before dawn, we finally fell to my huge bed like a sack of rice bag. In seconds, we were already in slumberland. It was not until noon, the curtains were pulled away, and I thought I was still at home in Shanghai, and any moment now, Ah Ma will start with her scolding me for oversleeping after burning night oil finishing my thesis.
"Your Highness, you need to wake up now. His lordship Jacob is here for a visit," Lady Lando's voice above me sounded like a thundering sky. 'Let me sleep more, Ah Ma.' I mumbled in my sleep. "Your highness! This is not the appropriate way to sleep." I became aware of someone else in bed with me. She covered herself deep inside the comfy bed as she pulled in the coversheet.
A train of palace maids hurriedly carried me away, still in a sleeping state, to my morning bath. "Argh!" I was already deep into the wooden bathtub.
It took almost 3 hours to get ready, and here I am, sitting in front of brother Jacob with a slight black shadow below the eyes. My body was crooking letter C forward. A loud cough from my back made me straighten my spine. I gave a light slap on my cheeks, trying to stay alert, but the next thing I got was another scolding from Lady Lando. Brother Jacob chuckled at my weird behaviour. Sometimes I wonder if Lady Lando really is Coriane's childhood friend or just a friend with grudges. But was she aware I was not even her real childhood friend? I stole a glance at brother Jacob. I recall his last visit when he rushed out of the palace in a black mood.
'Ah, how I missed my morning black coffee!' I shouted inside. I can't hold a decent conversation without nodding off. I look up towards the windy summer outside the garden.
"Brother Jacob, care to join me for a walk?" I suggested, without waiting for any response from him. I stood up and walked out of the chamber, headed to the garden. He followed close behind. I glanced at the palace maids and Lady Pom- the new lady in waiting.
Lady Pom was the replacement for Lady Mari. It turned out Lady Mari's newly wedded husband was one of Lady Maia's family long-distance relatives.
The atmosphere felt so calm and serene with a pure smell of air that I'll never have a chance to get any living in a big city like Shanghai. It was already Summer season. The smell of dry leaves on the ground gave out traumatic old memories of the village with the bullies that made me flinch.
"Rain," I stopped at his calling. "His Majesty summoned me to the palace this morning." I wonder what Emperor Aleq plans on summoning brother Jacob. Did he finally let brother Jacob know about my decision? I closed my eyes. This is it—no going back. I will be free in four months. "He sent me away."
"What?" I turned around in surprise. "Why?" Suddenly I feel like I can't be left behind alone in the palace. "Did he tell you anything else?"
"No. The coming of age ceremony is coming soon. The task is to deliver the invitations to the seven kingdoms personally. I wonder why all of a sudden?" he is seriously contemplating his travelling plan. "But, I'm worried about leaving Coriane like that."
"Can't the emperor let other high ranking noblemen replace you to do it instead?" I stared at his profile hard but straining up too long starts to hurt my neck, and I give up watching him and walks ahead as he followed closely from behind. Our walks lead us to the greenhouse. It looks gloomy and lifeless, and it reminds me of some abandoned building now that once appeared bright and vibrant energy from Ara.
"Normally, yes. He could. But it seemed he really wanted me to go this time around." he heaved a sigh. "And I am worried for you too. High Priest Romou hasn't returned yet." I nodded to Lady Lando before she instructed the rest of the palace maids to get the table set for evening tea. I silently listen to his concerns while thinking hard about what the emperor's plan is. I need to know, but every time I want to get an audience with the emperor, I am forced to hold onto his remarks, 'In time'.
It forced me to make a backup plan with Kirai.
######
"Are you sure about this?" It was past midnight. Kirai finally gets some information about the lost artefacts from the mystery companion from the black market inside the Imperial City. I was sceptical about her ability to get the information that quick. I crossed my arms, looking at her frigid, nervous state.
"Shhh..," Kirai shushed me, whispering. "I trust that person. Don't you see me as some naive priestess, alright?"
"An apprentice." I corrected her.
"All the same." Kirai objected with a distasteful glare. "In four months, I will be a full-fledged priestess," she said with a proud tone as she bent to watch the people coming in and out of the hidden building. The men guard the door with caution and inspect every person getting into the building.
"Then, why do we have to whisper like a thief?" I watch her from the sideway. Looking at our situation right that moment, we were just twenty feet away from the black market hidden door, hidden behind the shadowed alley. Kirai ignored me.
Not long after that, a boy appeared from inside the building with a special robe. I am sure that boy is not even ten years old, but his character proved a genius and matured boy. He spoke to Kirai with the same caution as the guards. He disappeared into the same building after exchanging a few words with Kirai, and she nodded a few times at him.
"We're in luck. They get a hold of a few artefacts from the Star's Companion," Kirai explained. She handed me the second robe. " Quick, get ready. We're going in there before the auction begins."
I hurriedly put on the robe and followed Kirai from behind towards the building. I have never been to Imperial City before. It was night, and only the huge summer moon appeared and made the night rather brighter. It was a silent night that I still can't get used to compared to Shanghai City at night. I can see the city view at night without any other people than us. Kirai briefed me a few hours before that the location for the auction is at the west side of the Imperial City. Imperial City was divided into four sectors; east, west, north and south.
Although the north was where the Palace was located, and mostly mountain region with most of the people staying there, the noblemen and their families lived on the east of the Imperial City with a huge City Square in the middle of the all fours direction. In contrast, the west and south were for middle people, including one of the Wishing Temple.
Before staying at the palace, my earlier three months were mostly at the Grand Temple. Just on the outside of the Imperial City.
The guards scanned our robes and nodded at us.
As we approached the auction hall's centre, the outside's unheard noises appeared loud and chaotic. I stood jaw dropped at the spectacular view in front of me with only a small building that can hide such wonder. Kirai's chuckled bite through my awe as she pulled me away towards an empty seat not far from the stage.
The boy from before appeared with a list of items to be auctioned tonight.
"I hope you brought enough tokens with you." She asked me. I nodded to her with a thumbs up. Her narrowed eyes watched me with a puzzled expression. I laughed dryly at my mistake and looked away. Only to sucked in my breath with surprise.
"Looks like we're not alone in this." I pointed to a group of familiar figures seated not far in the opposite direction from ours. It was Lady Maia with a tall man in a hood. Just like us. "I am very sure they are coming for the auction too." Kirai didn't say anything but her troubling expression said it all. "What the hell. She came with another man." I think the man is rather familiar, but I can't seem to know where I last saw him. I tried hard to recall him.
"Calm yourself," Kirai ignored me. "We're starting any minute now."
"Oh, my god. It's him!"