Three days passed quickly. I kept to myself and always hung my head low when walking on the deck or past the men. I was with Verbena whenever we went out to the deck which is why the men didn't comment on anything. Verbena ignored me, ordering me to dress her, bathe her, and accompany her to the deck for some fresh air, by the end of the third day, she had also become quiet and I liked that. I was brushing her hair for our arrival when the captain knocked on the Royal suite.
"Come in," Verbena answered.
The man entered and smiled, "Good news, your Highness. We will be arriving in 15 minutes."
I saw Verbena grin in the mirror, "Good." she said waving away the captain who bowed to her and exited the room. "I was going to go insane on this dreadful ship. God, how does father travel to faraway lands?" Verbena muttered to her and then started humming.
"Collete," she said finally, turning around.
"Yes, Your Highness?" I replied, taking a step back and keeping my head low.
"Let me give you a little advice before we arrive." she took the brush from me and set it on the vanity table. "Always do as you're told, or else I'll have to go to extreme lengths to make you obey and, you've grown on me, Colette. I don't like punishing you."
"Yes, Your Highness."
"I like that you're clever, it's just I'm not cruel, but people like you need to know their place. If you do as you're told, then maybe I'll reward you with a handsome nobleman in Waedal and you can live a life of luxury."
"Yes, Your Highness." I squeaked, and everything happened so suddenly, Verbena got up and slapped me across the cheek, making me look at her in surprise.
She looked angry, her cheeks red, her eyes furious. "Stop acting like a robot, you fool. I need you to speak, to show them that you and I are close." her slap stung my cheek, and my eyes watered. I nodded.
"Good, now grab your clock. God, why do I have to explain everything myself." Verbena grabbed her cloak from the hook and draped it over herself. I did the same, wiping the tears on the sleeve of my black cloak.
Outside, the ship blew its horn to signal the arrival of the princess, I could see multiple knights, dressed in Waedal's uniform ready to greet us and an old woman, dressed in a dark blue dress, with intricate patterns of flowers, and animals I couldn't make out.
The ship anchored on the deck and the makeshift wooden plank was opened out as the princess and I walked down slowly. Behind the knights, two carriages waited, gold and white, and a crowd had gathered to watch the show.
"Welcome to the Empire of Waedal, Your Highness." The woman bowed, "My name is Emiline, I am the head court lady. I was also the lady in waiting of the late empress."
"Thank you, Emiline, I have heard a lot about the empire though this is my first time visiting the land. This is Colette, she is my attendant."
I bowed to Emiline, the woman had a kind face, gray eyes, and tanned skin, and her hair was gray.
"Welcome to Waedal, Colette. I hope your stay here is comfortable."
"Thank you, Ma'am."
"Come on, let us not wait the emperor much longer." Emiline guided us to the gold carriage and she took the silver one. I was about to sit with Verbena when she stopped me.
"Ride with me, Colette. It's palace formalities." her voice was so kind and soft that I smiled at her and was about to sit inside the silver carriage when Verbena opened the door and called out. "Colette, please don't leave me alone. It's a little scary riding alone." Verbena was great at acting because right now her innocent face was far from real. I looked at Emiline and then at Verbena.
"It's alright, go with her Highness. It's her first day in a foreign land. You should be together." with that Emiline went inside the silver carriage and I sat with Verbena.
"I told you to stick with me." she sneered the moment I closed the door. "Don't get fooled by those kind words and soft eyes. Everyone here is our enemy, not until I become the empress. Understand?"
"Emiline said it was palace formality, i thought it would be right to follow their rules." the carriage started.
Verbena scoffed, "It's called being clever, Colette. Besides, why should I follow their rules when I am representing my kingdom? These people are barbarians, Colette. The only thing they are good at is war. They don't have this." she pointed to her forehead.
"I understand, Your Highness," I replied. There were curtains on our windows, so I couldn't look out at the streets and the people but I heard people laughing, chatting, running, and clapping.
The carriage halted and I heard iron doors creak open and the carriage resumed again. We were inside the palace grounds, I thought. I noticed Verbena clutching her hands, her face appeared calm but I knew she was also worried. Suddenly the carriage stopped and I saw her exhale. The coachman opened the door and said, "We are here, your Highness." he offered Verbena his hand which she took and gracefully got off. The coachman offered his hand to me and smiled, I smiled back taking my time to get off, because of the cloak. When I stepped off I saw Verbena staring at me, her lips pursed. Behind us, the silver carriage came to a halt and we both turned to see Emiline exiting.
"Follow me," she said walking ahead.
The weather in Waedal was hot, and I was sweating in my cloak. The Palace was huge, it stretched out to the forest behind where I could see another house in between the trees. The walls were made out of glass and stone, with paintings of the flag and victorious moments from the battles. Bright colors were prominent in the palace, red yellow, blue, and green i saw a little purple and orange but mostly there were blue and yellows. Probably because of the emperor's robe and the knight's uniform. We walked inside the corridor and everyone stopped to bow to the princess.
"You should take off the cloak," Emiline instructed Verbena who did as told and handed me the cloak, I followed her and took off mine as well. Already parched from the ride.
We stopped in front of the throne room which was guarded by two tall knights. They weren't wearing any armor, but only a blue cape embroidered with yellow patterns on the borders. The only thing they wore was a blue vest and black trousers. Many people in the palace wore little clothes, probably because of the weather. The women wore dresses which were made of light fabric, their arms bare, hair tied up and sweat gleamed on their back and neck as they went off their day.
The knights opened the throne room and one of them announced our entrance.
"Verbena Astoria Dawner, Princess of Kralen." Verbena entered, Emiline walking beside her and I walked behind her. The floor was made entirely of brown wood, nobles were gathered on either side to watch the princess, and the throne was set in the far end, four black steps separating the nobles and the emperor.
Verbena bowed, "It is a great pleasure to be in your presence, Your Majesty." her voice was polite and ladylike. Her head was low and that's when I suddenly pictured the fantasy. Verbena bowed to me, and I sat on the throne, beside the emperor. But it was just a fantasy.
The emperor was handsome, and tall, wearing a crown on his black hair, his jaw sharp, his eyes dark, and to my surprise he was shirtless. Only wearing a robe. He sat as if he was forced to attend this meeting and he looked tired and lazy. I raised my head a little and blushed at his toned muscles, his skin was tan like the people. On the edge of the steps, to a little left stood Helios, the emperor's brother, and Verbena's soon-to-be husband.
He had a shaved head and had the same features as his brother. He was tall, toned body, dark eyes, and a handsome face. But unlike the emperor, Helios smiled.
"Welcome, Your Highness. I hope your journey wasn't too tireful." The emperor spoke, but there was no enthusiasm in his voice, it almost made me laugh. It was fun to watch someone talking like that to Verbena, I'm pretty sure he is the only person to talk to her like that and not face the consequences.
"Of course not, Your Majesty."
"Welcome, Your Highness," Helios said with a nod and Verbena only smiled at him, turning her attention to the emperor.
"There will be a dinner to celebrate your arrival and we have set the wedding date. You don't mind." the emperor looked down at her, challenging her to speak. Verbena was clever.
"As you wish, your majesty," she replied.
The emperor turned to Helios who spoke, "It's on the 20th, which is next week. It's the perfect time for the King of Kralen to visit us and for you to get accustomed to the palace culture and the weather."
I noticed her lips twitch, "I think that's perfect, your highness."
Helios turned to Emiline, "Show them to their rooms." Emiline bowed and turned around, our cue to exit the throne room.