Kingdom of Snakus - Castle of Snakus - Prince Bryne's Room - 17:50
Big, spacious, beautiful, and clean. The color of the room is a mixture of blue and white. One clear glass window is near his big blue bed. He walked before me and held out his right hand because he had the sword in his left hand.
"You're so dirty, Garelle."
I didn't hear what he said because I was stunned by his closeness. His face is heart-shaped partnered with golden-brown hair that is side-parted. He has sugar-grey eyes and thick flat eyebrows. Thin reddish lips, a pointed nose, and a small mole on the left side of his eye. At first, I didn't see it but when he came closer I noticed it.
"Mesmerized?" His smiling lips reached his eyes. I looked away and stood alone. Mesmerized in his dreams. I just find him new to my eyes and nothing else.
"Excuse me, where can I take a shower?" I asked hesitantly because I didn't know how to act in front of the prince.
"You have your room there," he answered and pointed to the left side of the room and saw the white door there.
"Why so close?" My eyebrows raised a question as I approached the front door and grabbed its knob. I turned it and opened it. It's a small room with a few things.
The interior of the room is a mix of yellow, white, and black. The bed is for one person and next to it is a simple wooden table and chair. On top of the table is a lampshade near the bed. The floor is carpeted, in the center of the ceiling is a small chandelier, and there is a cabinet on the left side of the bed. There is also another door and maybe the bathroom is there.
"You're my personal maid so I need you every time I need something or call someone," he answered again and I even stepped back because of his closeness. "Take a bath and after that see me in the library," he said before walking away and exiting the door still carrying the sword.
I went inside and put the stuff on the side of the door. I closed the door and locked it. Security is needed, I'm still with a man even if he's gone. I know what I look like but men are men, no one can stop their sexuality unless they have self-control, nevertheless, men are still men.
I walked to the other door and opened it. The hanging mirror immediately appeared so I could see my dirty face and dirty clothes. At the bottom of the mirror is the small sink. I turned to the right. There is a bathtub made of interlocking large stones. It's a banded iron formation. I finally went in and took off my clothes. For several minutes I examined my upper body in the mirror and touched my thick, dry, messy hair. I tilted my head and stared into the lifeless eyes.
Who would want to look at me? My hair is blown out, my face is still dirty, and it's sickening to look at my dead eyes. Suddenly a scenario entered my mind that stunned me.
"You need to stay here, Garelle. He will keep you safe," my father told me in a gentle voice and touched my cheek. "I can't let you be with me. I'm sorry. I can't let them see your eyes like that."
"W-why?" My voice trembled when I asked my father.
"I'm sorry, Garelle. I can't tell you right now," the father sighed and smiled sadly. "Please stay alive, my dear. I'll see you soon."
Library Room - 18:31
He looked all over me and returned his gaze to my eyes with a smile. I don't even have to guess what he's thinking because based on his gaze, he's telling me that he's belittling me.
"You look damn poor," he said directly and tilted his head a little. "Poor with dead eyes."
I looked away and let his teasing go on. He is just like his cousin, Aurum, they are arrogant and shameless. I couldn't even look at him because I felt a pain in my heart and it became even more numb. I can't say anything because what's the point if he's right. I'm wearing a faded red dress and my hair won't change its state, nor do I intend to comb it. I was also barefoot because I was only inside the castle and the floor was clean.
"Are you sure this is your final look?" He raised an eyebrow but the smile never disappeared. He was trying to annoy me but my heart didn't have the feeling to feel what he wanted to make me feel. He's a useless annoyer.
"I don't have any other clothes besides this," I admitted because the Wallender men never bought me new clothes. It will only be given to me if it is dirty and no longer used by their mother.
"Okay," the prince said curtly and started walking to the left and into the middle of the towering books.
"What am I going to do here?" I asked while following him.
"Read," he responded kindly.
"May I read?" I raised my eyebrows and he turned and nodded.
"Yes," he answered quickly and smiled even more. "Read anything you want."
"Okay, thank you." That was quick.
I broke away from him and started looking for a book to read. I didn't even feel hungry anymore because I lost my appetite. I feel a little better because I drank some water in the bathroom. That's where I got my strength from. I moved to the other shelf and read the titles on the book covers. I was only stopped by something that caught my attention. I picked up the book and read the title again. Kingdom of Snakus.
"What have you got?" I heard the prince ask and came a little closer to me. "Oh, inside of that book is the information about our kingdom."
I know, it's obvious. I wanted to say that but I didn't. "Can you summarize the content of this book?" I said instead. I speak out of my self-control. Good thing he didn't pay attention to my tone.
"Why not?" There are still traces of joy and sincerity in his voice. I don't know why he was like that. "The first chapter of the book is about the places in our kingdom and to whom those places belong. The second is King Balleh, the first king of the Kingdom, and why he became King. The third is the time of King Balleh. four--"
"Hey."
He was interrupted by Aurum getting our attention. When we looked at each other, she looked straight at me with arrogance again while her arms crossed in her lower chest. She started walking towards me and grabbed the book. "You're not allowed to read the book if you're not a royal blood."
"I didn't read it," I quickly defended.
"Liar, it's in your hand so you're planning to read it," she said abruptly and pushed me sideways so I crashed into the shelf. She turned to the man beside me and the simple smile returned to her lips. "Cousin, you need to eat. The food is already served," she reminded the prince politely. Prince Bryne nodded and followed the departing Aurum.
I'm still debating with my inner self whether to follow them or not. When the two turned around, a woman came in dressed as a maid. She smiled when she saw me and took my hand to pull me.
"Hi, I'm Marijel, Lady Aurum's personal maid," she introduced herself as we followed behind the two rich men and went out of the room after them.
"Gakane, Prince Bryne's personal—"
"Yes I know, Lady Aurum already said," she cut me off. "You will eat with the other housemaids, I'm just letting you know."
I nodded in response. Hopefully, someone will tell me what I need to do here. I don't want to be evicted right away because I haven't saved any money yet. After all, the Wallenders haven't given me even a little bit. When we got down to the first floor, we parted ways with the cousins and went to the left of the end hallway. While walking I couldn't stop looking at the beautiful furniture, paintings hanging on both walls of the hallway, some small statues, and big vases made of gold.
After reaching the servants' room, I noticed that it was not only small but also the size of the prince's room but the difference was that on each side of the wall, there were beds. In the middle of them is a long table.
"The fifteen maids are first to eat because seventeen are still serving the royal," Marijel told me. "Let's eat, shall we?"
I didn't ask but I just nodded and sat down with the others. Some were looking at me, some were talking, and some were silent. They stopped what they were doing when Marijel stood up and slammed the table to get their attention.
"We have a new companion, Gakane," she spoke and pointed at me, the other maid smiled but the rest didn't. "Prince's new personal maid, what can you say before we eat?"
Is it necessary to hear bits of advice from whatever businesses the Prince has or does? I don't care about him. I just want money to earn and leave this castle after.
"Girl, you need to be careful of him!"
"I hope you stay here for a long time."
"Don't scare her!"
"Why are you ugly?"
"Which family are you from?"
"Why does your hair look like a neglected child?"
"How did you become his personal maid?"
"The prince is very handsome, isn't he? You're lucky to wake up in the morning and see his beautiful, flawless face!"
"Lady Aurum said that she just met Gakane at the Market and was looking for a job, Valora just left," Marijel explained. "Gakane, do you know that no one can last long with the prince? Even though he's handsome, you can't handle his true nature!"
"Valora said, the prince almost killed her," said the person next to me. Really?
"Tell us before you leave, huh?" The person in front of me said with a smile. As if we are not friends to tell her my stories.
"The prince is nice," I commented on what they were saying. "The prince is smiling when I see him in his room," I added when they stopped and focused their full attention on me.
"He doesn't give you a bad first impression?" Marijel asked in surprise and I nodded. "Congrats, you've captured his majesty's good mood."
"You're just lucky today," said the person next to me.
"Whatever, let's just eat," Marijel declared and sat down at the end of the table. She looked at me with surprise but immediately averted her eyes.
Mastery Academy - Hologram Room - 4 hours earlier
"Moran."
"Yes, Headmaster?"
I looked at the many holograms in front of me before I spoke. "How many days left?" I asked and started to walk slowly. I waited seconds before she answered.
"Hours, Headmaster. 17 hours before the announcement of the opening of the school."
"25 students."
"Master?" She asked confusedly.
"Only 25 students in each of the Kingdom are allowed to go inside of this school."
"Why is that?"
"You'll see."
My eyes were focused on one hologram showing what was going on in a kingdom that I'd been watching for a long time. I zoomed in one place and grind the teeth together. How could they do that?
"What do you want me to do, Headmaster?" She said with a serious tone. In my peripheral vision, I knew she was looking at what I was looking at.
"Do nothing, less work. Let them receive what they did not receive."
"Are you sure?"
"I'm sure, Moran."
I sighed. No matter what I do, it's pointless and useless. For now, I'll let karma decide their punishment. I will just stand and watch them suffer. No help from me. No sympathy from me.
Moran's Point of View
I looked at him with admiration. No meaning. The Headmaster is older than me. He was so strong and even though we were together, I had no idea about his identity. He was a secretive, mysterious, and silent person. He would speak if necessary.
I only know him as Headmaster and nothing at all. No name, just headmaster.
"Moran," I got back to reality.
"Yes, Headmaster?"
"Be careful," that's all he said before he left.
I will, Headmaster. I will.