When Juno and Peony finally returned to their shared room, they signed in relief. They hadn't gotten a chance to rest from their voyage.
Peony hadn't travelled but walked together with the guard all the way up the hill to the palace. Her feet were burning from strain and uncomfortable shoes.
Somebody had brought a bunkbed into their room and removed the old beds. They had added a room divider between Peony and the boys. It didn't look much different, but they had more space and privacy. Mio had already dozed off on the bottom bed, so Juno dragged himself up with a lot of cursing.
After failing to find a comfortable position on the bed that might as well have been a plank, he climbed back down the ladder and grabbed his bag. It had small items, a picture book, underwear, and a notebook.
"Where do I put my things?" He asked Peony, worrying his lower lip when he heard her snoring. Had she fallen asleep already? He thought anxiously, looking around for any corner to tuck his bag in.
Juno felt signed defeated. He definitely wouldn't be able to sleep now, so he opened his notebook and grabbed a pen.
⟪Day 1:
Vivianne had met with Viscountess Serene and her daughter Edith regarding an unknown matter. A letter and a filled pouch were received. The pair seemed happy to leave early.
It's hard to be alert when everyone is a mystery. I still know nothing about Mio, but I spoke to Peony briefly. It seems she was brought over in a hurry as well. However, she is adapting quickly, as she made zero mistakes in front of the guests today.
We had nothing to eat today, but somebody must've come by to furnish our room; we now have a bunk bed, a plain rug, and a cupboard. Hopefully, they'll come by with a closet as well.
As for my job as a personal guard, I worry for the Princess as her family seems to dislike her, judging by their poor choice of staff. Still, I have no choice but to do my job well.
Juno closed the book in deep thought, contemplating stealing the letter but promptly shaking the idea away. Whatever was written there was probably of no use to him. His gaze fell on the pair sleeping peacefully; he couldn't help but wonder if they worried as much as he did. After all, they all had something to lose, just like he did.
He climbed up again, careful not to jostle Mio awake, and forcefully closed his eyes. Hoping his erratic thoughts die down soon with his exhaustion.⟫
...
That was until a scream filled the quiet night that ripped Juno up a flash, who was not used to the new space. He slammed his head against the ceiling and fumbled out of his bed, his feet catching onto his blanket as his body flew forward into the floor beneath him.
He snatched a heavy book with him, lost for breath and words. Juno had never been this clumsy. Must be nerves, he figured, and the strangers sleeping with him in this damn castle. All of it was already causing him to screw up.
Don't screw this up. Come on! Don't screw this up! He chanted to himself nervously.
He threw open the doors feverishly, running to the Princess's side. The poor pale girl was gleaming with sweat, hair in every direction Juno could think of.
It seemed so unruly that Juno's fingers almost grazed against it before he realized what he was supposed to do.
"Princess! Princess Vivianne? Are you alright?" He shook the other's shoulder, wishing she could tell him what was wrong or at least wake up.
At that moment, Mio and Peony rushed into the bedroom, eyes widened and frantically searching the room for intruders. Mio peaked outside and was stunned to see that the guards were nowhere to be seen, as if somebody had ordered them away.
The young Princess was still in a catatonic state, the pale slicken forehead moving to abash in curt fidgets. She wouldn't stop thrashing, so Juno held her down from throwing her arms around.
It was no use getting a black eye on the first night from a nightmare. Juno would never live it down.
"Mother, is that you?" A rasp flew from the soft, spit-slicken lips. Juno felt himself swallow, shocked.
"No, her majesty. I'm your new guard, Juno."
"Do you see it? You see that man over there?" The soft voice echoed a mere prayer befalling Juno's ears. Juno just nodded unabashedly, grabbing the other hand in his own. He stared deeply into the eyes of Vivianne, who seemed awake now, at least more so than before.
But there's a fog in her eyes that even the moonlight couldn't erase. Juno looked to where the other had cast her gaze, lingering on the balcony the Princess mentioned. Mio checked to see if the balcony had been opened, but it remained firmly locked.
Peony walked up to the Princess with cold water, and she gently guided the water to her lips. The tension got released from her shoulders. Soon, she sagged back into her drenched duvet, again dead to the world.
The three stood, eyeing each other until Mio returned to their room. The other two walked in after him, leaving their door open, just in case.
"Let's speak tomorrow," Mio whispered as he slipped back into his bed, facing the wall.
...
Early morning, some random maid banged harshly at their bedroom door, causing Juno to slam his head into the ceiling again. Peony tried to rise to her feet but got tangled in her blanket. She fell hard into the hardwood floor, groaning and cussing with a strained voice.
"You, come with me; today's your first official day." the maid gestured to Peony on the floor. She rose from the ground and grabbed the folded clothes at the foot of her bed, hurrying out with the maid, her cheeks flaming in embarrassment.
"Maybe we should ask for a curtain, so she can dress comfortably here," Juno contemplated, not knowing that it would be arranged soon. Mio just nodded and rose as well. His hair was glowing in the morning sun, but he had deep eyebags, just like Juno did. None of them had slept well in the unknown room.
Juno grabbed his clothing and quickly dressed while Mio occupied the small bathroom; they washed in the sink as well as they could.
As they finished getting ready, a butler appeared with a bright smile.
"Hello! Good morning! I have been assigned the task of showing you two gentlemen around. Follow me, please," He, the butler Charles, babbled, not bothering to see if the two of them were tagging along.
Vivianne's sleeping figure was visible behind her lavender-coloured bedcurtains as they left the bedroom.
When they left Vivianne's bedroom, Charles stopped smiling; it was abrupt like he knew the boys wouldn't budge from his stone-faced expression. He was correct; they just stared at him with controlled expressions.
At that, the trio headed for the main corridor of the castle and out to the garden. Juno silently admired the wetness beneath him from the freshly cut grass and neatly trimmed bushes. In the middle of the garden was a statue of limestone depicting the king in a very flattering manner.
"The castle has three buildings. The main house is where the royal family inhabits, and it's also where meetings are arranged and where you'll find the library." Charles spoke.
"The second building makes up the living quarters for the guests and servants. If the guests are not staying the night, they'll be in the main building." Charles seemed to have switched his happy tone for one of professionalism. It was almost unsettling how quickly he could change, like a flicker of candlelight.
But true to his word, they pass across the grass into a hallway filled with servants getting ready for the day.
They slipped off their shoes and held them with their fingers, walking balanced enough for them not to slip on the polished wood but gesture casual enough to make Charles look unpleased for a moment.
It seemed that even the most minuscule things could upset a man like this. On the other hand, maybe he was just unpleased with their status.
"The king likes his privacy; that's why it's built this way. Usually, we of lower status feel relieved not having to be seen by our rulers. " Charles snarled, very subtly asking them to know their place. They ignored the warning.
Despite the pleasure that rose within Mio from Charles's annoyance, Mio couldn't bring himself to speak, and there was little to say of value. So Juno just averted his eyes, instead focusing on the beautiful interior and garden.
He was taken aback by the various gardens that extend as far as the eye can see. Stones and trees he's never seen before flourishing from the earth as great in width as his arms.
He was only brought out of his wonder when Charles spoke again, the voice never wavering despite the cold that seeped from the open doors of the main hall.
"Besides this, there is another wing where you can shower in this building. This one is for men." They walked through the hall into an open space where a washing room resided; it was similar to a communal bathhouse with faucets sticking out the tiles and many steaming baths, and around it, many bathroom doors.
They walked out again but did not walk into the third building this time.
"This is where the three consorts of the king reside and some concubines. Off-limits for everybody except a handpicked few maids and the king himself" Charles gestured to his side, uninterested as if he's done it thousands of times before.
He seemed so unimpressed with the establishment that Mio felt anger rise in his chest. Snobby bastard! He thought, annoyed.
Mio took a steadying breath and focused on the wavy black hair bobbing before him. He wondered what type of person Juno was and what he thought of the ruling class.
They were finally dismissed after getting their schedules from Charles. They walked back into the servants' house and plucked themselves down onto one of the thousands of wooden benches, reaching for their potion of bread and oatmeal. Many were staring at them curiously, but they were not approached.
"It seems like we don't have much time left of our breakfast; let's speak when we get back to our rooms," Mio said, walking away before Juno had the chance to speak.