In Shen Courtyard.Rory is going back and forth at front of Reenste"s room. Looking at the sun setting down from out the window. He was informed earlier about the time they should arrive, but because of what has transpired. They"re already late for the given time. Now they must make haste as it would be an embarra.s.sment if they arrived after the Emperor. It is always the Emperor who should arrive last to start the banquet.
"Done!" Ava shouted inside the room and then Rory immediately went inside.
Ava and Eva is at the side, looking and admiring the lady in front of a silver mirror. She"s wearing a long red dress with colorful lilies and roses on the long sleeves and the hem embroided. In her waist is a yellow goldish belt embedded with some tiny shining crystals. Her long black hair is neatly combed and still slightly wet which causing a glossy look.
"My lady, we must hurry." Rory said and bowed down. Reenste then turned around. Her skin is fair and despite not having make up, her cheeks are flushed giving a glow and her lips is luscious by the color and shine it gives. Her eyelashes are long and curled perfectly enchancing the beauty of her eyes and its carefree yet mysterious looks.
Reenste yawned as she move out her room. Despite the beautiful preparation made to her. Reenste is listless as she just woke up.
"Your ladyship. I"m worried you might be punished by Master Zuo or worst Master Zuo might remove you from the selection. I"m so sorry because of my negligence this happened." Rory said as he bows continuously while they walk. Reenste raised her hand and Rory bowed down more thinking he was about to be hit by Reenste yet she only blocked her yawn then she saw how Rory was almost groveling to the ground.
"Just what are you doing, Rory?" Reenste asked after she yawned. Looking at Reenste"s hands, it was wrinkled and pale.
"I-I thought you"re going to... anyways my lady, the carriage is here." Rory just said and opened the carriage door for Reenste which she just nodded before getting on the carriage.
Eva and Ava boarded with Reenste inside while Rory and the triplets are on the front to guide the horse.
"My lady, your hands are all wrinkly." Eva said looking at her hand.
"Your grace, Rory said that you should at least eat this as we go on our way. Since you didn"t eat lunch earlier." Ava presented Reenste a bowl full of red violet grapes that are fresh. When Reenste saw this and the bowl, her sleepiness vanished then she laughed.
"That"s gold!" Reenste laughed as she received the bowl then took one piece of it and start eating.
The two sisters looked at Reenste. Without a doubt, she is the most beautiful and elegant lady they have ever seen, she couldn"t even lose to the high cla.s.s lady from other prestigious clan and family. But her oddity and carefreeness makes them wonder about her.
For example, they are only setting out now because of what happened earlier despite the early preparation they made.
Reenste dozed off in the tub.
They we"re waiting for over two hours when they thought something might have happened to her, but then when they were panicking she woke up from their voices and started scolding them about panicking first before thinking. After half an hour of lecture, Reenste was told that she"s late then they immediately moved.
"Uhmm.. My lady, aren"t you nervous?" Ava asked then Reenste looked at her.
"If it"s meeting the Emperor, not really. I mean, I haven"t done anything wrong for me to be nervous. Ah! Well, besides that I"m late, but it happens so still not really." Reenste said and smiled then looked at outside looking at the rising moon over the river. It was full and showing a beautiful white glow. The moon reflected to Reenste"s eyes showing calmness and despite being young physically there"s a hint of maturity in her looks.
"Then if you"re asking about being in the banquet... I don"t know. I"m just really more concerned about meeting the Emperor. I just heard about His Highness and read a bit, but nothing more. I"m really curious about His Highness.." There was a bit of antic.i.p.ation in her voice. Reenste still think that if she was wed to the Emperor, he would then be her family here. The idea of having a family in this new world she was into is a comfort to her lonely heart.
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"My lady, we"ve arrived." I heard Rory said from the outside and the carriage stopped. The trip here to Zenith Palace and from Shen Courtyard is 30 minutes. The sun has set down and the moon is almost completely at the sky shining above the Zenith Palace. The door opened and then Eva and Ava got out then me, a.s.sisted by Rory as I went down then I looked up to the Palace. It is really majestic and beautiful. The way it dazzles with the moonlight is mesmerizing. The cla.s.sy red walls and silver and gold designs. Plus how well mapped and the architecture are amazes me. This sure is fit for the Emperor.
Anyways, I better tell the kids to go back first. I would rather have them be at the courtyard than wait here, since they wouldn"t allow servants as chaperone to the Banquet.
"Rory, take everyone home and have dinner. After that, then you can go back after two hours, okay?" I smiled then Rory was a bit hesitant yet he nodded. I made Rory get up to the front as the girls and boys sit at the back and go back. I saw them leave till they"re far enough then I started walking towards the door. There were guards and they looked at me shocked.
"Here"s my invitation." I put it up and showed it. They looked at each other hesitantly but then nodded and opened the door. I just smiled at them before I entered the Palace.
The lights was all lit and the huge gla.s.s windows has it"s curtains opened. The light of the lamps inside the Palace and the moonlight makes the corridor really serene and peaceful. I am the only one walking here, because I am late. I just hope, they wouldn"t notice it when I entered. I know it would be impossible to stay low profile when we"re about to be introduced, but at least when I entered the hall I hope no one would stare at me. I might be a bit embarra.s.sed.
"Ahhh.." I looked at the corridor parting ways. Dang. I forgot to ask how to get to the hall.
I looked at the left and saw it being just a long hallway then to the right same as the left corridor being a straight hallway.
Okay. Let"s look for clues here, there"s a lot of people there so I just need to see where there seems to be a lot of footsteps on the floor or sounds of like many people gathering. If that didn"t work, then I guess I"ll just go back to the entrance and asked the guards for directions.
I looked at the floor of the left hall and see a lot of footsteps. I didn"t looked dirty, I was just really looking at the floor. Then to the right I hear sounds like people talking. So which is it?
"I should just probably go back to the entrance and asked." I said to myself after trying to look for clues and listen to the sound to identify where should I go.
"Aahhh---!!" I screamed short, but then covered my mouth when I realized it"s a person. What shocked me, rather kind of scared me is that he"s standing not so far from my back. Plus he"s wearing a red and black mask covering the upper part of his face. So it really freaked me out. Also the fact that I didn"t hear him walk despite really trying to hear the surroundings.
"H-Hi..." I said after I composed myself. I looked at him trying to atleast make up his face on my mind, but it"s kinda hard with the mask on. Then I checked he"s outfit. It"s a red and black robe with dragons and exquisite patterns of embroidery in his clothing. It really matches his mask. His hair was tied up to a neat bun, but that doesn"t make him any lesser of a man. Infact, I think the norm here in this world is that it"s normal for the guys to have their hair long. So it still looks good on him, in fact it really looks good on him. It shows his neatness to himself, yet the mask adds mysterious effect to his look.
Then I realized I was staring to much when I saw him stared at me back. For a second there I felt like I was some weakling ready to be devoured from the predator when he looked at me with his dark eyes as the lamp"s light glisten.
"I"m sorry about suddenly screaming... and also staring." I said and awkwardly laughed. I looked at him, but he just stares at me as if I"m monkey talking.
"By the way, are you also on your way to the banquet? If so, can I tag along. You see.. I"m a bit lost. Don"t worry, I"m no one suspicious!" I said and showed my invitation. He looked at it then me before nodding and started walking to the left.
I knew i! I should have gone to the left as there was sign of people recently walk on there. Well, at least I"m not the only one who"s late.
"I"m Reenste Ermyntrude. To be honest I was a bit worried being late, but now you"re here. Although I probably shouldn"t be glad that we"re late, because it is a bad etiquette, still it"s pretty comforting to not be alone." I said as we walk. I started hearing music and people talking. We"re close to the hall! Thankfully it"s getting fun in there so we"ll probably won"t be noticed.
"It seems they"re already getting started to have fun with all that music and people talking. Which is great! We won"t be notice much when we enter!" I said almost too happy then I saw him looked at me before turning his face back to the front.
Well that was embara.s.sing. He must think I"m a complete dork with me being happy not being noticed. Plus why is he so quiet? Can"t he atleast tell his name, I mean I told him mine. If ever, he"ll be the only one there I"m acquainted. Also, he really smells nice. I"m not intentionally smelling him, it"s just that I"m a bit besides him so I can somewhat smeel the
"You--" I saw pulled back to reality when I heard the guards on the door greeted but was stopped by the guy at my side by raising his hand as a sign. The guard just nodded and tapped thrice to the door. Nice thinking. By that we would get less attention.
"Hey, thanks for guiding me here. You really saved me back there." I said and laughed. I saw the guards turned to me horrified as they look at me. I want to turn and look at my back to see what it is they"re looking when I heard him spoke from the first time.
"Then, enter with me inside." He said as he lift his arm and faced the door opening. I looked at him and there"s a little smirk in his lips. I shrugged then held onto his arm.
"Sure, it"s not a big deal I guess..." I was in my mid sentence when I heard the announcement.
"His Majesty, The Emperor of the Great Empire of Aether!"
The door opened and we both walked inside.