'Knock' 'Knock'
Marlowe stirred grumpily in bed. Her limbs ached excruciatingly due to her untreated wounds and bruises from yesterday.
'Knock' 'Knock' 'Knock'
This time the banging came louder, therefore stirring her completely up in an instant.
Marlowe yawned sleepily. With her eyes closed, her body went rigid for a moment before they were immediately fluttered open. No trace of lethargy detected in them any longer.
Her breath quickened instantly. "Last night…" it seemed her voice had recovered a little from the rest, as it trailed off, her eyes widening gradually when reality slowly dawned on her.
"Last night, the man with red eyes—" she halted when another knock echoed on the door.
Marlowe clutched her head between her hands in a hardened grip. Closing her eyes she shook it with franticness.
"No, it must have been my hallucination," she thought aloud.
Maybe she was too hurt by the guard, Lothan's betrayal that she had even begun having dreams of his peculiar eyes.
Wrong. Nightmares.
'Knock' 'Knock' 'Knock'!!! Came the sonorous knocking again, making her groan in exhaustion.
Marlowe sighed before moving, attempting to go open up, but was rendered immovable by what came next.
"Your Majesty!" a voice called, followed by another banging. "Your Majesty, please open up,"
Marlowe blinked, a sudden realization dawned on her and she remembered…
"Oh no," she gasped.
Her gaze immediately darted to scan her surroundings, making her instantly go weak in the knees.
She forgot, she's right now in the Royal Castle of Valcresh! In the Royal chamber!
S—she…she has been married to the cursed, tyrannical Vampire King!
"Your Majesty!"
Confused, Marlowe was uncertain of what to do. Her heart raced in turmoil and a feeling of uneasiness seeped deep into her.
"Your Majesty, I know you're awake, please for heaven's sake, open the door." this time, the voice wasn't as calm as before. It was laced with a certain tinge of frustration.
Marlowe fretted, almost hyperventilating, she descended the bed and ran around in search for a different route out.
Her hefty gown which she still don, did nothing but get in her way.
A frantic expression masked her face when she couldn't find any possible way out, as if she was about to sob.
The knocks echoing on the door were not doing anything to make her feel any better. Instead, it made her feel like she should run. Escape.
Marlowe let her body listlessly slump on the mattress again, her fingers ran to her mouth as she bit anxiously on them.
"Your Majesty!"
"Your Majesty!"
"Your Majesty!!"
The voices were not growing tired, but her ears were.
Choiceless, Marlowe hesitated, before clumping over to the door. Her footsteps filled with reluctancy.
Once she held the knob, a furrow met her reddish brows and her fingers shivered from clinging on to it.
"Your Majest—"
Marlowe scurried backward in astonishment from seeing a dozen maids almost falling in when she had opened the door.
Her large saucer eyes couldn't hide her surprise as she skimmed them continuously.
"Good morning, Your Majesty," they lowered themselves, greeting with respect and what she perceived as relief in their voices.
Stunned, Marlowe grazed them in passing before prying her lips to stutter, "M-morning,"
"How can I help you?" she queried, noticing they were not going away even after she had responded.
"It's morning, Your Majesty, and we're here to attend to Her Majesty's needs," one spoke.
There they go with the title again!
Marlowe suppressed a disgruntled sigh.
Needs? Does she need anything?
Before she could even let out a word, they stood in rolls of six on two columns before intruding with a bow.
Marlowe could do nothing, but watch them with mouth agape when she spotted the last maid with a bucket exhuming steam.
They led towards the bathroom and filled the fine alabaster tub with hot sizzling water before mixing some nice scented oils and rose petals in it.
Marlowe watched in astoundment and awe.
One came towards her as she vividly followed the maid's figure going to her back. She was confused, until…
Cool air bathed her raw back.
Marlowe instantly spinned around with her hands holding the loose garment to her chest.
Her eyes wide with shock and her lips parted with lack of words.
"What are you doing?" she finally mustered a statement.
"Taking off your clothes, Your Majesty," replied the maid, innocently.
Just like earlier, Marlowe knew they intended in giving her a bath.
"I can do it myself," she murmured, her voice betraying her, giving out her timid nature.
"We're sorry, Your Majesty, but we can't let you do that," the same girl who had intended in stripping her without her permission spoke.
A subtle wince escaped her throat. How she ached to tell them to stop addressing her with that title.
But it's as impossible as them letting her have a bath by herself—she had learned that the hard way when she was locked in that huge room with the other ladies.
Immediately after her bath, she was donned with another set of hefty garments that screamed luxury and royalty, accompanied by beautiful accessories that made her feel like she wasn't herself any longer.
Even her normally laid down hair, was now styled and designed in an updo, with different colors of shiny pins holding it in place.
One look at the mirror in front of her, and Marlowe could not believe she was the one seated there.
From her facials to her physical appearance, everything was transformed and she thought herself a stranger.
One thing remained though. Her timid demeanor.
Those glittering emerald eyes that shone of innocence, tinge with a glint of nervousness.
"This way to the hallway, Your Majesty." curtsied a maid as she pulled open the door.
"Where are you taking me?" Marlowe questioned, with cautiousness. To be prepared for whatever may be next in line.
"For a tour in the castle. We will show you around, Your Majesty," the maid responded.
Fair enough. Marlowe thought as she let the maid lead the way, while the rest followed behind her.
They passed through the first hallway that led to eclectic rooms.
Marlowe couldn't help but be marveled by the grandeur and grace of the replenished walls and high ceilings.
For the first time, her worry was put aside as she let herself indulge in the astonishment that set in by everything she saw.
"We will first visit the library," the voice of the maid resonated, but she was too in awe to acknowledge what she said.
They took a prompt turn as she kept on glancing around, but then, all of a sudden, the maid in front halted, almost making Marlowe bump into her.
"Greetings, My Lady," they all chorused at a time, garnering Marlowe's attention.