As I sat in the elegant, cream-colored room, I watched Lora's expression change from calm to anxious. "Alex, Lora said gently, looking down. There's something I need to tell you." She turned to face me, a slight, unsure smile and sparkle in her eyes forming. She was about to cry.
I felt a surge of concern, but my emotions towards Lora remained unchanged. She was still the older sister figure I had grown up with, the person who had always been there to protect and care for me.
"No, you don't have to," I said, trying to stop her from crying.
"No, listen," she said, holding back her tears. "I'm sorry I should have told you sooner." She paused, collecting her thoughts. "Me and Tristan tried to give you a normal life, away from stuff like this."
I sat there silently, taking in her words. The soft, golden light streaming through the window highlighted the delicate patterns on the furniture, but my attention remained focused on Lora.
"It's not safe out there," she continued. "You're safer in these palace walls."
"Palace?" I said out loud, confusion etched in my voice. The word seemed to hang in the air, echoing off the high ceiling.
She looked me in the eyes. "I see Jasmine didn't tell you anything. We're no longer in Cape Town. We are in Unisonia," she said, "and this is the East Palace, where I was born. You've already met Jasmine, Princess of the South Wing."
As Lora finished speaking, the sound of footsteps echoed outside the room, followed by a knock on the door. Steven, the dark-haired man from earlier, walked in and bowed on one knee, facing down. "Miss Lora, the Emperor requests your presence in the Assembly Hall."
Lora's expression changed, and she stood up. "Steven, you don't have to be formal," she said, her voice gentle.
"I'm sorry, Miss Lora, but I must insist," Steven replied, his tone formal and detached. "I will escort you to the Assembly Hall."
As Lora exited the room, Steven turned to me. "Hello, I'm Miss Lora's personal guard, and you are Alex, right? Let me guess – you want to know where you are and how you got here."
I nodded, feeling a sense of unease. Steven's formal demeanor made me feel like I was in a strict, disciplined environment.
Steven's expression remained neutral. "Two nights ago, you and your group were attacked by some sort of fiend and sustained serious injuries. Well, at least they did. You were just exhausted. After the creature ended itself, Jasmine broke the rules again and brought you to our hidden kingdom, Unisonia, where you are right now."
He paused, studying me. "The kingdom is divided into five parts – four wings and a neutral zone. You're confused, aren't you?" he said, his tone still formal.
I nodded again, feeling overwhelmed.
Steven handed me a book titled "History of Unisonia" and a piece of paper with numbers on it. "Just read these pages," he said before turning to leave. "Good night, Alex."
As the door closed behind Steven, I sat there, feeling a mix of emotions. I looked around the room, taking in the intricate patterns on the furniture, the soft, golden light, and the silence. It was a peaceful, serene environment, but I couldn't shake off the feeling of unease.
I opened the book and began to read, hoping to find some answers.