"What are our plans now?" Leah was lying face down on the round bed, swinging her legs back and forth as she fiddled with the bed curtains.
Sybella stood in the middle of the grand room, holding her arms up in an arabesque stance, ''I want to explore the palace.''
Sybella and Leah decided to share a room even though Lady Juliette had arranged two for them. Despite Sybella's reluctance after Leah's drooling session in cruise, Leah clung to her till she agreed.
Leah paused and then rolled her eyes, ''Your aspirations are too small.''
''Does this palace look small to you?" Sybella broke her position and walked towards the bed. She picked up a towel and wiped her sweat as she spoke, ''I have had a thing for castles since I was young. I used to think that if I ever got a chance, I would go looking into all corners, behind every painting and under every tile to find secrets that nobody found before.''
''I didn't say the castle is small...'' Who were they kidding? They were in the capital of Monteluna right now, Montelo. And Montelo itself was like a lavish getaway. The royal palace spanned across acres, its sprawling wings and towering spires stretching out as far as the eye could see. And if Leah did not remember Lady Juliette's words wrong then this castle is a high renaissance marvel, designed by some of the greatest architects of that time.
"But weren't you talking about encountering some duke or prince? What happened to that plan...''
''Oh, that was for you so you can move on,'' Sybella shook her head, ''I don't really think I have any affinity with royalty.''
''Says the one who is friends with this princess,'' Amara strode in. She had changed into a black dress and in her hands, she was holding a bouquet of roses.
A soft smile bloomed on Sybella's face, ''You are an exception.''
''Hmm? Are we going somewhere now?" Leah sat up slowly.
''We will be on our plans starting tomorrow. But for today, I need your help with something,'' Amara's voice turned solemn as she said it.
Leah and Sybella exchanged a glance.
''Why do I have feeling it is not anything good?"
''It is... slightly risky,'' Amara confessed, ''A little more than that. Dangerous, even.''
Sybella's eyes sparkled—'adventure'—stamped all over her face.
''Snap out of it. It's not happening,'' Leah crossed her arms in front of her chest as she looked at both the women who seemed anything but sane, ''Guys, this is our first day here in the palace and I have already been announced inelegant by Lady Juliette. The way she looked at me the whole way was almost like she wanted to make me go through all etiquette lessons in one sitting. Not that I am the one to be ruffled, but it's hard maintaining a thick skin against such strong glares. That still is okay...''
''This...'' she pointed at the two of them, ''...isn't anything good. I will be beheaded or worse things will happen if I get on the wrong side of the royal family.''
''You will not be beheaded,'' Amara said with confidence.
''Are you saying worse things will happen?" Leah shook her head, ''That's not reassuring at all.''
Amara hugged the flowers a little closer to her body, ''In fact, we were supposed to take a private plane to Monteluna this time but I had to reach here today. I didn't explain to you why before, did I?"
10 minutes later.
James knocked the door of the room where Sybella and Leah were staying.
The door opened and through a small gap, Sybella's face peeked out.
''My apologies for bothering you,'' the man said politely, ''But is princess here? I had been summoned by the head of royal guards when we arrived here and when I came back, princess was no longer around in her room.''
''She is here with us. We were trying on the outfits for tomorrow. Is it something urgent?"
''Yes, princess is being summoned by His Majesty.''
The door opened slightly and James could see Amara's back as she stood at the edge of the bed, holding a few long dresses in her hand.
''Give me five minutes. I will be there after getting changed.''
James nodded and retreated.
Sybella closed the door.
''Fuck! That shit was scary,'' Leah pulled down her wig and slumped on the bed. She locked her phone so that the Amara's voice recording would not go about playing randomly, ''Luckily, I grabbed a few clothes for extra security. I was afraid he would recognize me from my back.''
Sybella remained silent.
''What now? We didn't get caught, did we?"
''James was never the issue,'' Sybella softly whispered.
''Hmm?"
''The King summoned Amara. You said five minutes, but what will happen after five minutes?"
Leah's body bent like a withered flower. Good grief, was this karma from her past life? She thought breakup was the worst already but now she would be beheaded for deceiving a royal family on her first visit here?
So, eventually, 30 minutes later when there were no believable excuses for the constant delays made by the princess left, the whole palace descended into chaos.
The princess is missing.
...
Near a secluded grove on the grounds of the royal palace, two elite royal guards stood in front of a grand archway. The archway led to massive wrought-iron gates, with delicate, curling designs worked into the metal, showing scenes of Monteluna's history through ancient paintings.
'Meow Meow'
The consistent meowing of a cat broke the tranquility in the air.
''How can there be a cat here?" the guard who spoke had youthful air about him, ''If it ends up coming anywhere nearby, it will lose its life....'' As he spoke, he had already moved away, ''Let me check this way. You go that way.''
The other man was older than him and with a calm face, he nodded.
Amara walked out of her hiding place, pausing the cat's audio. She bent in front of the archway and pulled a golden key from a hidden spot behind the rocks before unlocking the gates.
Amara treaded inside the place with great familiarity while holding the bouquet closer to herself.