"The First Lord is adopting one of the peasants, have you heard?"
"Yes I have. She will be arriving in the palace today."
"I envy her, you know."
Everyone in the village was talking about Alora being adopted by Ruger from the previous day. Everyone of the peasants came to wish her well the previous night. Even if some weren't from the heart, Alora accepted it all.
"Are you ready darling?" Arielle asked as she walked out of the cruck in a simple dress and her hair was braided. "I'm going to miss you."
"I'll miss you too, mother. I hope I can come see you once in a while." Alora hugged her mother who just pat her back gently.
Alora was led into the carriage sent to bring her to the palace. It was her first time in a carriage but she didn't even pay attention to all of the details because she was sad she was going to miss all this. It was known to all that according to the Royal family rule, no member of the royal family should come down to the farmside unless it is for inspection which was only done by appointed nobles and the Lord who is in charge of business, that is Lord Diego.
When the carriage stopped, Alora was helped down from the carriage by some maids. As she stepped into the throne hall, she could see everyone waiting for her already. Some guests who had arrived for her crowning that night too were present.
Zayen was the one who went over to where she stood and led in. "Welcome to the Royal family Alora." Ruger smiled at her.
"Thank you my Lord." She bowed.
"You'll be returning down for the ball later tonight. Well before that, I'll take you to your room personally." Ruger stood up from his throne and walked over to Alora.
The walk to her room was a long one since the palace was very large. "I had them arrange one of the largest rooms for you. It is on the same floor Zayen's room is."
They got to a white door which was at the other end of the hallway. The two guards standing at the door pulled the door open, revealing the beautiful and stunning room.
"This is your room Alora." Ruger informed.
Alora was still shocked with the beautiful sight before her. The room was all red which was her favourite colour. It was weird that someone who loves nature had a favourite colour like that but she didn't care.
The large canopy bed stood on the left side of the room, elevated with a few stairs. There was a glass door opposite the entrance door and on both sides of the glass door were window seats. There was a reading nook on the right side of the room and a shelf attached to a table. It looked weird to her so she looked up at Ruger.
"Well, since you like making herbs and all, that would be the place for you to mix them and keep your herbs." Ruger explained and Alora's eyes widened with happiness.
"Thank you my Lord." She thanked while he just smiled.
"Have a seat Alora, I want to talk to you." Ruger led her to the nearest sofa and squatted before her. "Listen Alora, you might be thinking that I adopted you because of your gift to heal. No. I've wanted to adopt you right from when you were little. I watched you and wished you would be the daughter I never had. When I knew about this, I knew this would be my chance to protect you and treat you like my daughter. I won't force you to call me father, you can just call me Ruger."
"No…..my….father." Alora raised her brows and Ruger just smiled.
"The maids would prepare you for tonight's ball. I'll take my leave." Ruger stood up and patted her hair before walking out of the room.
Immediately after he left the room, six maids walked in. Two of them were carrying trays while two were dragging a rack of clothes.
"Please follow us my lady." The first maid said before leading her into the bathroom.
The bathroom was very large and was all red like the room. A bathtub stood in the middle of the room with a few steps leading into it. Like the floor, the stairs were covered with red rugs.
"My lady, we want to help you undress for your warm bath to begin your makeover." The maid who spoke earlier spoke again and Alora looked at her with a frown.
"I can take a bath myself and undress myself." Alora shot.
"I know you would feel uncomfortable with it." A feminine voice called from the door, making Alora turn her head. "But you're a lady now, they'll serve you, not you serve yourself."
Alora looked at the lady questioningly as she stood there.
"I am lady Ira, Lord Diego's sister. I wanted to inform you that Lord Ruger said you would be starting classes in three days and I would be helping you to learn how to become a proper lady." The lady said tucking the loose strands of her black hair back to its place.
"But I don't feel comfortable with people helping me bathe." Alora frowned deeply.
"If you don't want all of them to help you, they can wait for you outside but two of them would have to assist you because this isn't a regular bath. It is a bath before a Royal makeover."