Victor kneels in front of Ruby, "Congratulations,her highness."
The king claps both of his hands with a smile, "Congratulations. You are really a princess Ruby."
Ruby looked at the emperor with a sharp gaze, "Thank you,your majesty."
The high priest looked at Ruby with a disdainful eyes. His eyes are full of disrespect and disgust.
The carriage again arrived at the palace gate. The king decided to celebrate the birth of a new princess after the counsil meeting.
"The king will be having a meeting with the nobles"
"I wonder if they will raise a issue out of me." said Ruby while looking at her new home or maybe palace.
"Don't worry princess. The king will handle the situation well." Darren soothe Ruby though he is also worried.
Victor comes with the head butler and the head maid. They both looks old but sturdy.
"Greetings,her highness. I am the head butler Jenkinson."
"This is the head butler. He has been working here since the day the former king was crowned." explained Darren with respectful eyes.
"I am the head maid,Lillith." the old woman bowed.
Both of them showed their utter respect to Ruby. Ruby however didn't felt happy. She is very suspicious about everyone in the palace. Even the king was suspicious. She didn't let her guard down.
After sometimes,Darren leaves the west palace since he is busy. The west palace is usually built for concubines but since the king doesn't have any concubines and is not interested in one,he decided to give the palace to Ruby.
"Lilith,can i take a tour around the palace?"
"That you can. But what about your personal maids?" Lillith give a worried look.
Ruby adjust her dress a little bit, "You can select them."
Ruby wasn't worried about her safety at all because Victor is always with her. He has become Ruby's personal knight now. As for having maids,she is a little bit oblivious about the fact that she needed some personal maids.
"Please come back safely."
The west palace is mesmerising though it is smaller than the other palaces. It has a lake,a garden,a resting place in the corner of the garden. Inside the palace was more mesmerising than the outside. The wall was wrapped with all kinds of paintings from famous artists. Some pieces are rare and are only owned by some specific people. Ruby recognised a painting which was painted by Bernard Munns. It was a painting of a lonely princess.
At the end of the hallway,Ruby stopped to see what the head maid was doing.
She was busy with some girls. They were wearing maid outfits. They must have been send by the king's palace.
Ruby knocked on the door, "Head maid."
"Princess,please come in." Lillith adjust one of the chair for Ruby.
"Will they be working at my palace from now on?" Ruby asked with a serious face.
"Yes,prin-cess." the head maid gulped at the sudden questioning.
"Well....then take care of them and give me two of the maids from here." Ruby stood up to leave.
"Yes,princess." Lilith answered while sweating.
...
...
...
It was night but Ruby was still wide awake. She couldn't sleep at her new place. She started remembering about the head maid. She was very afraid of Ruby. Perhaps,some people are still scared to get close with someone with red curse. Ruby looked at the mirror and brushed her hair. It was as red as her blood. The eyes were also shining like a red gem. She clasped both of her hands and started praying.
At the village,she used to go to church with her mother. Her mother would offer the church some foods,some hans or some cow meats. Due to her mother's influence,she also become a religious girl from her childhood.
Dear God,
Please let me live here peacefully. I don't want to suffer misfortune again. Let my life be full of happiness and pros-
A knock on the door stopped Ruby from praying any further. She takes off her veil which she was using for prayers. She opened the door curious to know who came to her at midnight.
"Princess." a soft echo reached Ruby's ears.
Standing before her was none other than Victor,her personal knight. He had a lamp in his left hand and on the other,he had a chessboard.
Ruby chuckled,knowing why her expressionless knight came at such a time.
"Did you really came at midnight for this?" Ruby grabbed a chair to sit,glancing at Victor.
"Is this not a good time?" Victor replied with a blank expression.
"You could get misunderstood by someone." Ruby teased Victor to get some reaction.
"What kind of misunderstanding?"
Ruby sighed unable to understand her knight, "How did you know i was awake?"
"A hunch." Victor answered.
"What if i was sleeping?"
"My apologies,i didn't think further. "
"Checkmate."
Both of them played untill the birds started chirping. The sun was shining but it was still cold. Ruby covered her face with the blanket. Victor left knowing he can't win against her. He really tried his best just to be defeated by Ruby again and again.
At dawn,a girl came to the room and adjusted the curtains.
Ruby yawned, "Who are you?"
"I am your maid Amelia." the girl bowed.
Ruby didn't ask any other questions due to her lack of sleeping.
A sweet smell came from the kitchen as the maids started running carrying plates and trays. The chief tasted the toast one more time just to be sure that the texture is right.
Ruby finished her toast taking one of the pie from the plate, "It's really good."
"Shall i tell the chief to make another one?" Lillith proposed.
"That's ok." Ruby takes the last pie from her plate.
"I heard from the maids,my chamber was getting prepared?"
"Yes,it has been decorated. If you want,i can take you there."
Ruby nodded.
The chamber was bigger than what she had in her mind. It was something she always wanted in her life. Ruby touched her chair and looked at some papers stacked up on the table.
"What are these?"
"These are the resume of some people for hirings."
Ruby sat on the chair taking one of the resume, "I need to choose from them?"
"If you want,we can change them." Lilith answered.
"Let me think. You can go now Lillith." Ruby glanced at the pocketwatch.