As the line of maids reached the door. They entered one by one. There was a guard of some sort checking each dish that the maids brought in. Soon it was Athena's turn. She stopped just at the door, the guard looking her up and down before speaking.
"Have you forgotten what you have to do?"
The stern voiced guard spoke.
"Turn your apron inside out and same with your pockets."
Athena quickly nodded and rushed to turn her apron around to show the underside and pouch. She then flipped her maid dress' pockets inside out as well to show she had nothing on her. The guard then nodded and she was free to fix her outfit up once again as the guard opened the silver cover, checking the food with his eyes and hovering his hands above the food.
A small spark could be seen before strings of light swayed down to the food. It swayed around the roasted chicken along with the many vegetables lining the edge of the plate. After a few seconds, he covered the food once again and let began to open the door.
"Thank you."
Athena whispered as the doors finally opened and her eyes were blinded by the shine of the windows as well as the walls. The dining room had the same design as the hallways but with the large window at the front let a lot of light in. As her eyes adjusted, she hurried off to place the plate of chicken in the middle of the dining table. Many of the other maids began to cut and organize the food for the 3 people sitting in this large dining room.
There was still a slight chill in the room though. Barely anyone talked. Athena looked to the side to see the other maids lined up waiting for the royals to eat, so she went ahead and joined them at the side. She finally took the time to look at the three sitting at the table eating.
"Mother! Let me tell you, I've grown my aura once again"
A young man spoke, he had blonde hair and blue eyes. dressed elegantly yet had no elegance with the way he waved his fork in the air as he spoke.
"Dear, lets eat first."
The woman in front of him replied. She looked exactly like the young man who I presume is the prince of this royal family. She had long flowing blonde hair except her eyes were a deep ruby red. She had a energy of power around her and she had a feel of someone who knew she owned the place.
The two chatted about the prince's so called aura...
She should probably go to a library when she can..
Then there was a man at the head of the table. Didn't join the conversation in any way. He just ate in silence yet there was such a strong feeling about him. An aura of a king.. even more maybe. He continued to eat while they young man talked and showed off like he was a child, an obnoxious one at that.
"He is no emperor!"
BANG
A woman screeched as the doors slammed open shocking everyone, except the emperor. As guards ran quickly to both protect the royals and apprehend the woman, with a swift throw,, a dagger flew across the room towards the head of the table. Everyone gasped in shock as the dagger had a trail of red followed. Yet it did not shock the man, hell he kept eating.
Clang..
.
.
.
There was a small silence when the dagger hit the floor. it was like there was a wall that stopped the dagger midway. For a split second, Athena thought she saw a soft blue light where the impact could have been.
"Emperor !"
A knight shouted and ran over, yet seeing the emperor not even react to the dagger, he knew he was fine.
"Get rid of that thing. A subject living within the Gasuthia Empire going against the emperor has no right to live."
The emperor spoke in such a cold and chilling manner. Even though the words weren't pointed at Athena, something inside her felt shaken,, yet it wasn't her itself,, like the body was worried.
The traitor kept screaming profanities and shaming the emperor as she was pulled out of the dining room. As Athena watched the doors closed, she could see the same knight that checked the food she brought, raise his sword... swing and...
.
.
.
"Athena."
A familiar voice spoke beside her causing her to turn her gaze away from the knight and at the old woman beside her. She was speaking much quieter and distinguished.
"Come along."
The head maid started to walk to the side wall, there was a door that was presumably for the staff to use. A less grand exit compared to the entrance, though that entrance was only for the food, not the maids.
Following along, Athena watched as they ended back in the kitchen and the old woman cleared her throat.
"As you know! You were the last to awaken, so you must do this job."
She scoffed and pointed to the food trolley beside her. "
Take it to the second prince's mansion! Off you go!"
She pushed Athena towards the trolley as the girl looked back worriedly.
"But ma'am.. I don't know where that is."
She spoke gently, a small voice yet straight to the point.
"Why this girl !!... Do not try to run away from this! You've been here for a year you sure know where! At the back of the palace! Hurry off!"
The old woman groaned and turned her heels towards the small door to the dining room. Well she just hoped she wouldn't get lost in this place.
She took a deep breath and took the food out of the kitchen and walked down the hallway. Not exactly sure if this was the right way but she just needed to find the back.
.
.
.
"Where.. is it!"
Athena whined as she had gone all over the place. She had to ask so many people the direction yet she was just laughed at and not helped at all! She sighed before seeing a side door that looked as if it could be a exit way for the staff. She walked to the door and FINALLY! She was outside!
This was the way the maids would go to the back to hang the laundry outside. Seeing many white sheets cover the laundry line, that was the conclusion she thought off. She looked left and right and saw a small sanded path going further back from the main building. She thought about just how big is this land? Luckily while wondering about not sure where to go she found a library.
"I'll go there once I'm done here."
She whispered as she walked towards the path.
.
.
.
"ITS SO FAR?!"
She shouted as she kept huffing and puffing but alas, ahead of her was a mansion. That had to be it!
Last stretch Athena come on!
She nodded and hurried faster towards the building. She wasn't sure how this royal would be like, but at this point she just wanted things to finish so she could hurry up and make sense of this place!
.
.
.
To be Continued...