Rayah locked herself up in her room.
A beautifully decorated bedroom, the color scheme predominantly white and earth tones, she sat on the furry carpet that was right in front of her luxurious bed hugging her knees. Rayah refused to believe what the Queen said.
[Maybe the picture fell off his pocket on his way to.... wait, come to think of it] Rayah thought within herself.
[Father didn't exactly say the name of the kingdom he travelled to]
****
"Daddy will you come back before my birthday celebration next year?" Rayah asked her dad. She was putting a blue cloak while King Almond had on a royal vest.
The King had a dirty blond hair with eyes green. Rayah got the same eyes as her father's while she took after her mother beautiful features and silver hair.
The King chuckled "Of course I will, I have two hours remaining before I leave." "where is pearl?" king almond turned to both sides.
"Probably stealing sword skills from soldiers in the training grounds" Rayah shrugged "You know how she is dad." She added with a smile.
"Hmm you're right, but she has to come say goodbye to me before i set out for my journey" King almond smiled
"I'm sure she'll appear any moment from now. She definitely would not miss your departure"Rayah said
"what is the name of the kingdom you'd be traveling to father" Rayah asked the king
"It's a faraway kingdom."King Almond gave a simple answer
"Right, but what do you plan to achieve that takes you somewhere that is so distant from our kingdom." Rayah pressed to know more.
"Sweetie, I have to take this trip because it'll do good to Montis our Kingdom and most especially to you my princess." Her father tried to explain
"me?" Rayah was surprised to know she was part of the reason her father would be partaking on a journey to somewhere very far away infact.
****
Rayah felt tears rolling down her cheeks, not because she believed the king her father is dead according to the Queen's belief but because she was worried something or someone might have stopped her father on the road somewhere since he didn't come back for her 21st birthday last year, he assured that he would return before it. Rayah just realized that her father never gave even the tiniest details pertaining his journey. She didn't know the name of the kingdom nor his reasons for partaking on that journey going to two years now. So now she could only hope to see her father celebrate this year's birthday with her this time.
[Father couldn't send letters because he said it was an undercover journey]. Rayah thought as she let out a sigh .
A knock on Rayah's door brought her back from reverie "Rah you dare not try to skip lunch today unless I'm gonna make you eat times two during dinner and if you're also thinking about not coming out for dinner then that will be times three when it's breakfast tomorrow and if you dodge my breakfast punishment, then I'll make sure you eat times four during tomorrow's lunch." Pearl rushed it all at once. She couldn't come in because Rayah locked her door from inside.
Rayah's eyes widened where she was, hearing pearls rant. [Pearl would you take a breath?].
Rayah didn't come out for lunch or dinner that day, she didn't really take what Pearl said about food punishment whatever seriously. When the night came Rayah took off her dress and put on her nightwear, she found it a bit stressful and hard because her dress corsets were a bit hard to loose, nevertheless she managed to get it off, she didn't feel like seeing anybody so she didn't bother to call for the maids. They knocked on her door earlier so they could come in to prepare and help her with her regular night baths but Rayah said she wouldn't be needing it .
The next morning, Rayah yawned as she opened her eyes with a view of a silhouette standing by her bedside with arms crossed looking down at her like a predator.
"Ahhhhh.. Rayah screamed and went further away on her bed before she fell off on her butt. "Oww..." Now she could see clearly that it was her sister.
"Geez" Pearl helped Rayah up on her feet. "Do I look like a zombie for you to scream that way" Pearl spoke
"How were you able to get in, the door was locked last night." Rayah remembered the maids from last night couldn't come in which confirms the door was locked. So Rayah really wondered how her sister came into her room.
"I came in through the window" Pearl said "You lock your door but forget to lock your windows. Who does that." Pearl rolled her eyes.
"You didn't have to take such a risk climbing a window Pearl, do you need to see me that much?" Rayah perceived aromas of freshly-cooked food which wafted so close to her nostrils as though she was in the kitchen.
"Come let's have breakfast, I know you must be hungry" Pearl said as she walked past her towards a small dinning set at the corner of the room. A full course breakfast was displayed on the dining, there were items such as bacon and eggs, bloaters smoked, salted herring, chickens, chops, cutlets, sausages, steaks, vibrant arrays of in-season fruits, baked apples and much more.
Rayah was bewildered, so Pearl was definitely not joking when she said she'd make me eat times three if I didn't come out for dinner.
"Pearl this is too much or are some people going to be joining us?" Rayah emphasized.
"Right here in your room?" "Don't be silly, dig in" Pearl had already stuffed her mouth with food.
"Just look at you Rah, eating like there won't be tomorrow. You just decided to starve yourself yesterday huh." Pearl said
"I don't know, I think I lost my appetite" Rayah replied a little bit gloomily.
The place was quiet for a while, both princesses had some thoughts going on in their heads. Pearl was wondering if Rayah had accepted the reality of her father's death or if she was still in denial. Pearl sighed, well if she's yet to accept it, then that will not be good like a psychological trauma.
"Rah have you prepared your farewell speech for father's funeral tomorrow, I had already prepared mine.
Rayah suddenly dropped her fork which made a clang sound on the plate causing Pearl to stop eating .
"Do you and Queen mother want my father's death so much to the extent where you both pronounce him dead and even decide to hold a funeral !" Rayah lashed out at Pearl.
Pearl widened her eyes in shock for some seconds then she stood up like she was done eating.
"I didn't mean to...." Rayah realized what she just did and tried to apologize
"It's fine." Pearl wiped her mouth with a napkin and dropped it back on the table.
"I think you need to be alone, the maids will come clean up." Pearl said after which she turned around to leave the room.
Rayah stood and called out to her sister. She could sense Pearl was hurt.
"Pearl I'm sorry I didn't mean what I said earlier." The door made a bang sound. Pearl already left.
Maids came in soon after to get their respective jobs done. The first thing Rayah noticed about them was the hand gloves they wore. The first two maids that were assigned to tidy up the room and the other two that would help her get dressed for the day. All four maids were wearing black gloves and they didn't put on their regular shoes or sandals, they were barefooted.
It was a culture in Montis that people of the kingdom put on a major black apparel and walk barefooted in honour of a royalty's death. The castle's servants chose to put on black hand gloves since they were not provided with black uniforms.
Looks like Queen Mother had already declared Father's death. Rayah said within herself.
"I'm sorry for your loss your highness" A maid named Triliana said. She could speak up due to the fact that Rayah and herself usually works together in the kitchen anytime Rayah was sent over there by the Queen as a punishment.
Princess Rayah took a look towards the pretty girl who was brushing her hair by the large ornate mirror with a floral design and sighed frustratedly.
[I can't possibly prevent everyone from speaking on the king's supposed death now can I].
"Why do you say so" Rayah replied
The young maid looked confused for a moment.
"I'm referring to His Majesty's demise your highness." Triliana had not met the princess's gaze since she bagan brushing Rayah's silver locks.
"Oh that's right. Everyone believes my father is dead." Rayah shaked her head.
The maid stopped what she was doing for a brief second before she continued brushing her hair. She was baffled.
'Her highness is at a refusal stage, it's obvious' Triliana had already understood what is currently happening to their princess. She could only hope her highness gets better.