Rahua's POV
The man with the Cloak simply smiled at me, with mischief, drawn on his lips. "Don't be afraid, my lady," he said softly. "I was expecting to be summoned by you, but it seems you have forgotten about me ."
The door was still open I could just run and call for help, but if was that simple, wouldn't he just easily block my way?
I turn around closing the door behind me, unsure if I should trust this mysterious figure. But something in his demeanor calmed me, he didn't seem like he wanted to hurt me.
It seemed he could easily do it if he wanted to, so I straightened myself.
"I thought it was optional, I don't remember having been given a specific time to do so. " I say, to be honest I am sure there's something fishy about him, no one offers help to uncover "truth bombs" without wanting something in return. "And also you never gave me your name, how could I have summoned you?"
He didn't seem bothered, even though I couldn't see his face completely. "You understand that I possess the information you need, time is critical, you may not have any other chance to uncover the truth behind this kingdom."
I walk forward to sit at the table before him. As I sit down I gesture him to take the sit on the table so we can talk.
"You make it sound as if I am the one who needs you, but in reality you might be the one who needs me, I just want to know why?" I ask calmly, trying to maintain my composure despite the unsettling feeling in the pit of my stomach.
The man's smile widened and he finally removed his hood, revealing a face that was both familiar and unfamiliar at the same time. "My name is Esdra," he simply said we. "And I belong to a group of people, an organisation that wants to bring the hidden history of this country to the light, but for it we need your help."
I know he wants something from me, but he still doesn't say what, he keeps giving me half answers, to think he is not alone, and there's a group of people in the kingdom, taking action behind the scenes, it is kind of unsettling.
"I see, what if I say I am not interested,
and I don't want to be apart of this, and I don't want to know the truth? "
I could see his expression change, he had put the proposal in a way that sounded, like it was my choice, that I needed more than him, but it isn't like at all.
"I am must to warn you, my lady" he began, his voice low and urgent. "There are those who seek to undermine this kingdom, to seal away it's real history, at the end you will have to choose a side."
I felt a shiver run down my spine, his words felt heavy, as if an imminent war was verge of breaking. Could it be true?
"Who are those people who seek to do that, to seal the history? You say things to the half and expect me to fully trust you. It doesn't work that way mister. " I lean forward, a sudden confidence coming over me.
"If you want my help, if you want me to be a part of this, you need to be transparent with me. Tell me everything, don't hold back any information. Only then will I consider joining your cause."
Esdra looked at me for a moment, shocked with my demands, he looked flustered as if he was weighing my words. Finally, he nodded. "Fair enough," he said. "I will tell you everything, but you must promise to keep what I tell you a secret. There are forces at play here that are much bigger than you or I, and knowing the truth could put us both in danger."
I nod, but I feel like he is still just leading me on, I will share with Damion once the the coronation is over.
Suddenly he stood up, "is not totally safe here I will come to meet you later. "
"What do you mean is not safe here? And later when, I have other things to do I can't wait on your wish..." Just before I finished someone knocked on the door, as I looked away to the door and back at him, he had disappeared.
"My Lady are you ready?" One of the maids spoke.
I sight in frustration. " Yes, I am." I am feeling stressed, I have no base of reference of this group, I don't remember anything of the sorts in the original story. I may have influenced so much that the story went into some crazy conspiracy route, completely unknown. I don't like this at all.
*
"Kira, Mother, Father. You are here, I am so happy to see you." I say hugging them.
"Big sister, you look so beautiful. " Kira says.
"You also look beautiful, wha... How.. I mean .."
"Your Highness sent us these clothes for us." Mother said, she was in a beautiful light blue gown, her hair was arranged in up, adorned and braided with a golden silver thread, she looked stunning. Kira had a green dress that contrasted her with skin tone and her light reddish brown hair.
Father had a very simple but elegant suit.
And the twins were dressed to match, it was really cute. They looked like they belonged there, indeed clothes make the people.
"He did?" Damion really surprised me this time, I couldn't help but to smile. To think that few months ago we were on the verge of starvation.
"He did. He's really doing everything he can to make sure that our family is taken care of," Mother said with a smile.
I couldn't help but feel grateful for Damion's generosity.
We make our way to the coronation hall, I spot lady Vilahna entering the garden, she graceful enters, her father besides her. As they walk in they greet the people who come to greet them. She then makes eye contact with me. She smiles, making my heart skip a beat, she looks divine.
As she makes her way to me, I can help but to feel nervous, this is my opportunity to put in practice what I learn in my etiquette lessons, and make Lady Vilahna and Damion proud.
She stops to greet me and bows her head. I feel everyone eyes on me, I take a deep breath.
"Lady Rahua, Good day."
I greet her back, "Lady Vilahna is such a pleasure to see you." She smiles and winks at me.
Other people started to come to me and greeted me as well, and making small conversations. I managed to navigate with class and the standards necessary to earn some respect.
The ceremony was about to start as we walk over to witness the moment Damion would be crowned the King of Arrentela.
Finally, we enter the grand hall, I can see that it's filled to the brim with people. Everyone is dressed in their finest clothes, and the air is filled with the scent of perfume and cologne.
I couldn't help but feel that something was off. It's as if the air is thick with tension, and I can see that everyone around me is on edge. I didn't know the why such tension was building up, was everyone so worried about Damion becoming King?
Despite that the ceremony itself is quite beautiful. Damion is crowned King amidst cheers and applause, and I can see from where I am sitted, Esdra, the man I had been talking in my room, he was present, he looked somewhat too focused on Damion, I could see him advancing through the crowd.
My heart was beating with uncertainty, he stopped as our eyes met, he looked at me and then at Damion's direction. Right then, just as the ceremony was about to end, something strange happens. The old King, Damions's father, starts to tremble, his eyes turn red, and foaming from his mouth, and suddenly he collapses.
Everyone around me starts to panic, and I can see that they are all shocked, the man looks at me, as if he knew it was going to happen, and starts to flee. I could see Damion was standing frozen, next to his father collapsed , before I could make sense of what was happening. I was running after Esdra.
As I ran after him, I see other people and the knights pushing their way to see the King and to assist him.
I could see him running, and dodging the maids who were going in the opposite direction, he knew the Palace too well, even in my heavy dress I kept running after him.
As I was almost at the grand stairs that led down the strange path, I had find myself there before, when I was in a strange daze. Now he was standing before those stairs as if waiting for me.
Then I realized, he wanted me to follow him, if he really wanted to escape he would do it easily like he had done before. I was too stupid to rushly follow him. As I try to run back I am sorrounded by other men in cloaks who take me down, the strange stairs.
Before I could scream, my mind starts to fade into black.