"Go and take your shower and then, once you're rested, a guard will be waiting outside to give you a tour of the castle," said Zephara before leaving the room.
I looked at the room I was in, it was huge with a huge bed that had red silk sheets and black pillows. The room was rather plain, with only a few paintings on the walls and a fireplace in the corner. There was only one wardrobe and a dresser, and it was only now that I realised I hadn't brought any clothes with me.
I opened the wardrobe and saw that there were lots of clothes inside, all of them in different styles and colors. There were dresses, skirts, pants, shirts, jackets, and even some accessories.
I was actually still wearing the dress for Zara banquet. I grabbed a towel and headed for the shower. I was going to have to shower with a bucket of water again, like I had done before.
I opened the bathroom door and was shocked to see that there was a shower system almost exactly like the one in my old life, except that it worked with magic. There was a metal pipe that came out of the wall, with a shower head attached to it. There was a blue button and a red one on the wall, with temperatures available.
I guessed the blue button was for cold water and the red one for hot, and I turned on the water, making sure it wasn't too hot. I adjusted the temperature until it was just right, and then I stepped under the shower. The water felt amazing on my skin, washing away the dirt and sweat from the past hour.
"It feels so good to have hot water," I said, enjoying the feel of the hot water. But still no soap or shampoo.
After the shower, I took a towel and wrapped it around my waist before leaving the bathroom. I approached the wardrobe and opened it to see far too many clothes. I had no idea what to choose, since I didn't know what the occasion was. Was I supposed to dress casually, formally, or somewhere in between?
"What am I going to choose?" I muttered as I looked at all the clothes in the wardrobe. I tried on a few outfits, but none of them seemed right. Some were too flashy, some were too plain, some were too tight, and some were too loose. I wanted something that would make me look good, but also comfortable.
After at least 5 minutes of reflection, I finally opted for a simple light blue dress. It was similar to the one I had worn before, but shorter and with a round neck. It had some white lace on the hem and the sleeves. I put it on and looked at myself in the mirror. I liked how it looked on me, it was simple but elegant.
I opened the door and saw the guard waiting for me. He was a tall and muscular demon, with red skin and black hair. He had two horns on his head and a tail behind him. He wore a red and black uniform, like the other guards, and he had a sword at his side. He looked at me with a neutral expression, but I could sense some curiosity and disdain in his eyes.
"Are you ready?" he asked me in a gruff voice, and I nodded. I followed him out of the room, wondering what the tour of the castle would entail. I
The guard led me through the castle, showing me the different rooms and halls. He didn't seem very enthusiastic about his job, and he spoke in a monotone voice, as if he was reciting a script. And it was so fast can we call this a tour.
"This is the throne room, where the queen and her subordinate hold their meetings and ceremonies," he said, pointing to a large room with two thrones on a raised platform. The room was decorated with red and black banners, and had a huge chandelier hanging from the ceiling.
"Can I see them?" I asked, curious about the rulers of this realm.
"No, they are busy with important matters. You are not allowed to disturb them," he said, moving on to the next room.
"This is the dining hall, where the royal family and their guests have their meals," he said, showing me a long table with many chairs and plates. The table was covered with a white cloth and had some flowers and candles on it. The room had a fireplace and some paintings on the walls, and it smelled like food.
"Can I eat something?" I asked, feeling hungry after the shower.
"No, you are not allowed to touch anything" he said ,before leading me to another room.
"This is the library, where the royal family and their scholars keep their books and scrolls," he said, opening a door that revealed a huge room filled with shelves and books. The room had a few windows and lamps, and had some desks and chairs for reading and writing. The room was quiet and peaceful, and it looked like a place where I could spend hours.
"Can I go there later?" I asked, feeling interested in the books.
"No, you are not allowed go their without her majesty agreement," he said, closing the door and taking me to another room.
"This is the ballroom, where the royal family and their guests have their parties and dances," he said, showing me a spacious room with a wooden floor and a stage. The room had some mirrors and curtains, and had some instruments and magic speakers on the stage. The room was empty and silent, but I could imagine how lively and fun it would be when there was a party. It looked better than the one in Zain castle.
" Don't look at it to much now we have to move on." he said closing the door before we got to somewhere else.
"This is the dungeon, where the royal family and their guards keep their prisoners and enemies," he said, opening a door that revealed a dark and damp room with cells and chains.
The room had a few torches and rats, and had some screams and moans coming from the cells. The room was depressing, and it smelled like blood and rot. I felt a chill run down my spine. I wished I hadn't seen this place.
Was it really necessary to show me around this place? I wondered. And I had the impression that the guard was just reciting words without taking the time to explain things properly. He didn't seem to care about the history or the culture of the castle, he just wanted to get this over with. He didn't even bother to answer any of my questions.
"Now there are just a few places left to visit, first the demon queen's office and then the kitchens," said the guard, and he accelerated his steps, so fast that I had trouble to follow him.
He walked as if he was in a hurry, or as if he was trying to avoid something. He didn't look back at me, or at anyone else. He just kept his eyes on the floor, and his hand on his sword.
"Could you walk slower please?" I said as I tried to catch up with the guard, but he hadn't slowed down at all. He ignored me, and he continued to walk at his brisk pace. I felt frustrated and annoyed, and I wondered why he was acting like this.
I was so focused on catching the guard that I stopped looking around and ended up bumping into someone and we both fell. I landed on the floor with a thud, and I felt a sharp pain in my elbow.
I groaned, and I looked up to see who I had collided with.
"You can't be fucking careful," said the demon, as he pushed me off him and got up. He dusted off his clothes, and he glared at me. He looked familiar, and I realized that I had seen him before. He was missing an arm.
"What are you doing here?" said the demon, as he started to back away. He looked scared and nervous.