The Royal Court situated at the main administrative building of Caredended was nothing less than the throne hall itself. The white-painted building with golden statues of famous jurists and diplomats welcomed Diana as she entered the court.
The panel of judges with two senior judges were already there working on another case. Diana turned to look at Wyatt. Looking at all the busy people and magnanimous criminals slightly worried her. Wyatt could only nod and faintly smile at her. Before too long, the main judge for her session, the Queen of Lanir entered the judiciary building.
The soldier at the entrance of the court announced her arrival. Her courage and wit were quite popular across the nation. It is said that most of these protective measures from assigning hunters to building a silver bridge were all her ideas. Diana turned around to see who this popular woman was as a role model to any woman in that country.
A woman in her late thirties with a kind smile entered the courtroom. Gorgeousness filled every inch of her from top to toe. She was wearing an olive green velvet dress. Diana had never really seen such a pretty woman in her life before. Her eyes couldn't help but stay on the queen like most of the others' eyes in that hall.
The queen elegantly walked half the distance then stopped. With a slight frown and a faint smile, she turned to her right slightly and confronted Diana who was gawking at her stupefied.
"Are you the girl from Ruthernglan?"
Diana was too stupefied to reply to this. So Wyatt had to step in. "Your Majesty. She is the girl," he said. Now her bewitching grey eyes shifted from Athena to him. She squinted her eyes, "And you are?"
"I'm the son of Ruthernglan knight."
"Wyatt?" she asked. Both Diana and Wyatt were startled.
"May I ask how your majesty knows my name?" Wyatt politely asked.
The queen only smiled. Her smile was a lot more evident this time. "She doesn't need to be here for a trail. Bring her back to my palace," the queen sternly gave the order to two of the soldiers standing behind her.
At last, she turned to Diana. Her hand raised as she touched Diana's cheek. "What a beautiful face... Fraden was just blind to call you ugly," she said. Diana's eyes immediately drifted to Wyatt. The queen let her go and turned to him as well.
"Your duty here is over. You may leave," she said. Her eyes were nonchalant.
"I..." Wyatt tried to find an excuse to stay with Diana. "I would like to stay here and know the result of her trial," he spoke hesitantly.
"Why is that?"
"...She is my..." his eyes drifted and met with Athena "...friend," he lowered his eyes.
"So your father had you escort a friend, who is also a criminal?" the queen smirked.
"Your Majesty, please let me stay here for a while," Wyatt immediately kneeled before her. Diana's brows creased at this sight.
The queen rolled her eyes as she turned to face Diana. "Give him a chamber in the crown prince's residence," she said. Wyatt's and Diana's eyes met. "Thank you, Your Majesty," Wyatt spoke.
"You, go and wait for me," the queen smiled at Diana again stroking her cheek. Diana nodded without replying.
The two soldiers who received the order to escort her guided her to the great palace. Diana followed them through the vestibule. Many halls and chambers full of luxury passed her on her right as she walked towards another building at the end of this palace. The great hall, the banqueting hall, and the palace chapel were some of them. On her left, all she could see to a certain distance was the palace garden. This palace was a masterpiece of architecture, fully designed in only white and golden colours. Even the tiles below were white and gold.
With all the lusciousness surrounding her, Diana momentarily forgot she was a prisoner.
When she remembered this again and started to panic a bit, they had already reached the next building, the queen's palace.
The soldiers guided her to the top floor of that building which is fifth. She was already exhausted enough because of this journey so it made her exhausted. At last, they guided her to a chamber.
"Miss, please get ready to meet her Majesty this evening," they said. Tow girls who were wearing white uniform dresses came to them. "Take care of her," the soldiers handed over her to those girls. The girls grabbed both her hands ad guided her inside the chamber, "This way, miss."
"Who... who are you guys?" a flustered Diana asked.
"We are the queen palace's maids," they smiled.
Afterwards, things happened so fast. Diana was asked to take a bath in the bathroom attached to that room. To her surprise, it was also painted in white and plated with gold. The golden tub was large enough to hold five humans in it. The lukewarm water inside it was lukewarm and mixed with some fragrance. In the middle of her bath, one of the maids entered the room and brought a basket full of rose petals. When Diana looked at her in awe hiding well in the water, this maid smiled kindly and added the petals into her bath.
"Is there anything miss needs?" she continued with a genuinely beautiful smile.
"No. Please leave," Diana almost begged. The maid nodded and went out.
'What in the world is happening around her? Why would they treat a criminal this way? Had the queen gone insane?' there were so many questions in her mind. But there was nobody whom she could consult these things with. Diana only could follow whatever the maids asked her to and get ready.
The maids perfectly wrapped her in a peach-coloured dress. It was a simple a-line, jewel-necked, full-sleeved gown that was closely fitted on her waist. Still, it was something Diana never thought she could afford.
At last, the maids had asked her to sit down on a cushioned chair so they can do her hair. Seeing her confused state, the maids spoke, "Our queen likes things around her to be beautiful and perfect."
"Hmm? Mn..." a still confused Diana answered.
"You have such a nice skin tone, miss," the first maid said.
"And a beautiful face as well," the other joined and then the two giggled.
"Do you know what... what is going to happen here? Why the queen wants to see me?" Diana slightly raised her eyebrows, asking the question that had been confusing her for more than three hours.
The maid spoke as she grabbed a few hair strands from both of her head sides and tired them back with a peach-coloured ribbon behind. "We have no idea, miss."
"Yes, but it seems like our queen likes you a lot," the other said and giggled.
Once the maids finished pulling back her hair and finish combine they set Diana free.
"Please have a look at yourself in the mirror." When Diana got up and turned to them, both of their faces showed a trace of pride in their work.
Diana moved to the mirror. This mirror was not the same as what they had in her home. It was a real mirror, that showed the exact reflection.
From head to toe, she didn't look like herself. She indeed found how beautiful she could look for the first time in her life. Her almond-shaped eyes observed her reflection for more than a minute, unable to say anything about it. Her lashes fluttered as she tried to understand it was truly her. In the next second, all of the momentary excitement vanished when she finally focused on the red mark on her forehead.
A flame mark with five tips... An indication of her being the bride of a beast...
Diana's hand instinctively raised to touch this mark. Her mind travelled back to the cave. Travelled further back to the ruby-eyed shadow figure she met six days ago. She suddenly remembered how he carelessly titled his head as she asked him who he was. Diana couldn't help but immediately breathe in trying to hold her breath.
Does she still fear him?
Before too long, the next question popped inside her mind. 'Is he Ray?' It is not like she fears Ray.
She continued to look at her worried election, touching that mark, lost in her thoughts.
"Miss, is the birthmark?" The second maid asked this time.
Diana worriedly turned to the two girls who were still looking at her with a smile.
"It suits you and looks so beautiful," the first maid said.
"Yes, like a ruby crystal forehead jewellery," the other said.
Diana was startled at the word 'ruby crystal. A spine-chilling wave travelled through her body at the thought of his ruby eyes.
"It is not a birthmark. It is more like an accidental scar," she replied and put her hand down.