"I believe there might be an alternative," I spoke up, my reluctance to enter the king's room unmistakable. It didn't sound like a wise path, and avoiding trouble seemed like the best course of action. Why did it have to be me, of all people, sent to the king's room? "Maybe we can explore a different solution, one that doesn't involve me going to the king's room."
Mistress Eleanor fixed her eyes on me for a moment before delivering a stinging slap across my face. I cradled my aching cheek, tears brimming in my eyes, and shot her a defiant glare. "Keep your eyes down, woman!" she barked, and reluctantly, I lowered my gaze. She gripped my arms firmly, her nails digging into my flesh until it felt like they might draw blood.
"Listen carefully," she hissed, her tone dripping with menace. "I'll ensure you receive the beating of your life if you disobey. I won't hesitate to end you even before the king has a chance if you dare to question my orders again. Do you understand?" I simply nodded, knowing that arguing further would be futile.
Mistress Eleanor took a deep breath before continuing. "Now, take this drink to the king's room. These guards here will accompany you. Fortunately, there are no guards posted outside his room, so you should have no trouble entering," she added, her grip on my arms intensifying to the point of pain."
"You know, I've spent a boatload of zens on you, so you'd better work your magic on the king, even if it's your last act," she warned, her words making me clench my fists in frustration before I reluctantly nodded.
Now that I found myself stuck in Ronoki, I had a brand new mission that went way beyond just trying to escape this miserable planet. My newfound goal? To make sure that wicked Mistress Eleanor paid the ultimate price, whatever the cost might be. I wasn't exactly someone who had a history of, you know, ending lives, but from what I'd seen of Mistress Eleanor, she seemed to fully deserve it.
Silently, I followed the guard, my feet trembling with each step, and my heart pounding in my chest. The thundering music from the party gradually faded into the background as we ventured down a dim, silent corridor. I couldn't help but wonder, what was with this spooky, quiet environment? Was their king some kind of ancient demon or what? I had a gazillion questions on my mind, but honestly, what was the point of asking any? All I'd get in return was probably a swift slap.
I strolled down the eerie corridor, not a soul in sight, until we finally reached a massive door. The guard I had been following turned toward me and shrugged, saying, "You are on your own from here." He glanced around cautiously and leaned in closer to add, "Oh, and if the king decides to ask you questions about how you got here and you mentioned my name, just remember, I will be the one personally escorting you to your final act." Another threat to add to the collection. Why did it always seem like everyone in this place was out to get me, expecting total compliance without a hint of complaint? It was undeniably frustrating, but I had to accept it as the unfortunate reality.
I nodded, acknowledging the guard's not-so-friendly advice. He made a subtle hand gesture, urging me to enter the room, and then stepped back, positioning himself at a watchful distance, clearly waiting for my next move.
I stood there, my lower lip caught between my teeth, balancing a tray of drinks in one hand, and hesitantly knocked on the door. After the first knock went unanswered, my hand trembled as I slowly pushed the door open, creating a faint creaking sound, and cautiously peeked my head inside. The room covered in darkness, with only distant bursts of fireworks and lanterns outside providing a small light.
Summoning my courage, I swallowed hard and walked further into the room, gently closing the door behind me. The tray of drinks wobbled in my unsteady grip as I let out a "Hello?" My voice quivered as I strained my eyes, attempting to make out any signs of life in the darkness, but it was useless; the room remained covered in pitch-black.
Sweat slid down my forehead, and the thick tension in the air did little to help my unease. I resumed my habit of biting my lower lip and took another step forward into the chilly room, my efforts to see in the dark fruitless.
Who in the world actually enjoys this kind of darkness? It was starting to seem like my suspicions were right. There was a decent chance that their king might just be some sort of monster or perhaps even a demon, one who took pleasure in lurking in the shadows.
In that moment, I had a strong urge to turn on my heel and make a run for it, consequences be damned. I wanted to sprint away as fast as my legs could carry me, but I knew all too well what awaited me if I tried to escape. On the other hand, if I stayed, I might just meet my death. What on earth should I do in this situation? Questions swirled in my mind.
"I... I... I'm here with your drink, K-K-King," I stammered, my voice wavering. King? Was that really the best term for addressing someone here in this strange kingdom? I had no clue, but those were the only words that managed to escape my shaking lips. The room remained silence, intensifying my nerves.
What on earth was I supposed to do, and was this king intentionally toying with me? If there was someone or something lurking in the shadows, could it please make an appearance right now? It felt like my thoughts were being heard because, suddenly, a deep voice said from behind me.
"Who are you?" I let out a startled scream, and the tray of wine I clutched slipped from my hands, crashing to the floor with a clatter. I didn't even dare to glance at the person behind me. Instead, I instinctively dropped to my knees and scrambled to collect the scattered golden cups, trays, and jugs. Desperation drove me to use the hem of my clothing to mop up the spilled wine from the floor, all while my mind raced.
"I'm so sorry, I truly am," I stammered, the words tumbling from my lips as I frantically tried to rectify the mess I had caused. But it was becoming painfully obvious that I'd need more than just the hem of my attire to fully clean up the floor.
What if this old, monstrous, or demonic King of theirs decides to end my life simply because I made the mistake of spilling wine on his floor? Is this how it all comes to an end, Moon? Is this truly my fate? I was ready to confront death, and perhaps, if I did meet my death in this unfamiliar universe, maybe my earth body, which might be in a coma or deep sleep, would finally wake up? If I wasn't in a coma, could me dying in this universe be the ticket back to Earth?
The once dark room suddenly bathed in light, yet I dared not lift my head to behold whatever scary creature stood in front of me. I continued to use my clothes to clean the floor, all the while offering apologies in a scared voice.
"Rise," a deep voice commanded, abruptly putting an end to my frantic cleaning. I nervously bit my lip, wrestling with the fact that this might spell the end of my life. Questions and fears raced through my mind, leaving me unsure of how to escape this situation.
Slowly, I began to stand, my clothes soaked with spilled wine and clinging uncomfortably to my skin. I kept my head lowered, fixing my eyes on the wine-soaked floor, unable to gather the courage to look up.
"Raise your head," the voice urged with more insistence.
I clenched my fists in an effort to steady my nerves. Was this truly the moment of my death? It felt ironic that someone who had once wished for death now faced it in such a scary manner.
With cautious steps, I lifted my head, prepared to confront whatever fate lay in store for me at the hands of this potentially monsterous old king. As I met his eyes, I couldn't help but wonder if he was, indeed, the king. It was the first question that crossed my mind.
"Who are you?" he asked once more, his tall frame towering over me.
I swallowed hard, drawing a deep breath before stammering, "I... I... I... My name is Moon." Although he hadn't asked for my name, it was the only response I could muster in that nerve-wracking moment.
I fidgeted with my clothes, attempting to maintain eye contact with him, but his presence was overpowering. Not only did he exude a cold and intimidating aura, but he was also astonishingly handsome. How could he possibly be their king? I had expected an elderly, wrinkled ruler, not a man who looked like he could have been carved by God himself. Get a grip, Moon, your life hung in the balance, and here you were, marveling at the king's appearance?
"I didn't ask for your name," he stated icily, his gaze traveling up and down my figure before settling on my face and then focusing on my hair. What was it with these people and my hair?
"Mistress Eleanor," I stammered, finally answering. "I'm from Mistress Eleanor." He remained silent, his focus on me. The discomfort in the room escalated, making me bow my head, unable to sustain the uncomfortable stare any longer. Why was he studying me so intently? It was becoming increasingly unsettling.
"Take off your clothes," he ordered, breaking the silence that seemed to stretch on forever. Honestly, that was the last thing I expected to hear. I had prepared myself for many possibilities, but this request caught me off guard. Did this mean I had unintentionally seduced him? And if I had, did it also mean I was now to be intimate with him? He was undeniably attractive, but did I truly want to become intimate with this strange king? The answer was a resounding no; I did not.
With trembling hands, I cautiously reached for the straps of my attire, ready to peel it away from my skin. Yet, something held me back, a hesitation I could not explain. I nervously bit my lower lip and then blurted out without thinking, as I often did,
"I am not a harlot," I lied, I guess. I noticed the somewhat puzzled look on his face as soon as the words left my lips. "I don't engage in such activities. I'm here to serve you wine, but I accidentally spilled it, and I deeply apologize for that," I hastily added, bowing before making my quick exit from the room. Thankfully, he didn't try to stop me or say anything further. Did I just manage to escape that nightmare?
At least I hadn't met my end at the hands of the king, but I couldn't shake the feeling that someone else might take issue with the lie I had just told.
One thing was certain: Mistress Eleanor was not going to let me off the hook for this.
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