Alina was still fixing her skirt over the clothes she was wearing as she walked after Nala, when she hit one of the dusty objects near her room as the dirt and dust disappeared when they got out of there. When Alina turned to the hallway where they were walking, only then did the girl realize that the aura of the hallway or let's say the entire palace was different. It was very dark and there were some old things strewn around.
It was very different from the room Alina had when she got out of there. Nala was ahead and Alina was still following, they turned right into the other hallway and went down the stairs. It's very spacious, there are some paintings hanging on the walls and some curtains on the hall window but it doesn't add color to the whole place.
When they got down there, Alina saw some people living or serving in the palace. Almost all of them had their faces covered with black cloth, Alina gasped in shock when she saw the creatures helping to work with some servants there. She was startled when several giants with only one eye, nose and mouth turned towards her. Alina felt that the moment she was stepped on by his even bigger hand, she would die.
She gulped when some green creatures turned around and their skin glowed like gold when the sun's rays hit them. They have small wings like butterfly wings and long ears.
When everyone noticed their arrival, those creatures and servants in the palace stopped their work one by one then turned in their direction. They bowed one by one to show respect, only then did Alina realize that she was the wife of the king of this kingdom, she thought that they would not touch her because she was the wife of a high being in this place but still not he could not be afraid.
"Thank you so much everyone," she didn't know if everyone heard her voice especially since there were so many of them in front of her.
Alina turned to Nala then signaled, Nala turned to everyone and then signaled to stand straight in front of them. She couldn't tell from them if they were happy to see Alina, only then did Alina realize that the place was cold and the sky was overcast which added to the sadness of the palace.
"Go back to your jobs and don't disturb the dear queen," Nala ordered everyone.
Alina immediately turned to Nala, she didn't know where to be surprised, if she said she was a queen or by dismissing those in front of them. She thinks that maybe she is sending them away and maybe doesn't want to be seen. She didn't want them to think of her differently.
One by one they walked away and went back to their work. Alina followed and then approached Nala when they stopped at an old and disused fountain.
"Who is the queen?" she asked Nala because she still couldn't believe it.
Nala faced Alina. "You, lady of the house, because King Halston is your husband, you as the queen who is the second ruler of this kingdom."
"Are you sure about that?" Alina still couldn't believe it.
"As far as I know, dear queen, I'm sure."
"Is that so," she smiled while still shy.
'I am the queen---of this kingdom,' Alina noticed some groups of soldiers passing behind them but she still couldn't help but worry about the entire kingdom that was already surrounded by veins leaves on its wall.
"Don't you plan to repair or beautify the palace?"
"That's what I still want to tell you, as a queen it is up to you to beautify the palace according to your wishes, the king gave a trunk of gold coins so you can choose decorations to use in the palace."
'A trunk!' Alina shouted in shock at what she found out.
"Do you want to change or add anything to the palace."
Alina hesitates but Nala says that she is the queen who will be in charge of repairing the palace.
"We can call for help and some traders in town," added Nala.
"Maybe it would be better if we vacate the whole palace before we start, maybe we go around the whole palace first so we know what needs to be changed," Alina felt excited so she couldn't help but smile at Nala but she immediately took it back when he remembered he couldn't see the girl's expression.
"If that's what you want, your majesty, you can follow," Nala agreed.
There Alina and Nala began their tour of the palace, Alina did not know that she would be involved in this kind of work. She didn't think that there was still a lot that needed to be changed and removed from the palace that wasn't needed. She listed with Nala the necessary carpets, new curtains and plants. The waiters also started cleaning that afternoon.
She was stretching back to her room and when she looked out his veranda there she again noticed the broken fountain especially the dead garden that surrounded the palace. She forgot to tell Nala that the garden still needs to be put together.
"Maybe tomorrow," Alina whispered to herself.
She entered his room again and looked around. She likes to soak in warm water to relax her body. She entered the bath again which looked like a garden with a river inside, it looked like her room was the only beautiful one in that palace, she wondered if King Halston slept in her room or in another room.
'If he was resting in another room, what it would look like?' she thought.
She prepared her clothes and then undressed when she got back to the bath. She soaked her body in the hot spring-like river there surrounded by plants, she took a deep breath and leaned her head against the soft plants then closed her eyes. She didn't notice that she was surrounded by fireflies one by one that seemed to weaken her until she felt sleepy.
*
Alina was distracted when she felt that she was lifted up and out of the water. She wanted to open her eyes but she couldn't do it especially since she knew she didn't have any clothes to cover her. Something was lifting and carrying her body so she couldn't open her eyes.
"Who are you?" she asked sleepily voice.
But no one answered her, someone who lifted him put her on the bed and rubbed her naked body. She calmed down as soft lips landed on her forehead.
"I know you're tired, just rest."
'Halston?'