Déjà vu

Chapter 3

When Alice Unef woke up this morning, she knew that it would be one of the longest day of work of her entire life. How could she even know that the King was dead? Maybe by watching through her window; but she didn't do this. She thought that her day will be long because someone would forget to send an important letter or something like this. She didn't imagined for one moment that she'll have to be all in black due to the national mourning.

And this is why she came at work in her prettiest pink dress with a big ribbon on her head.

Alice was known for being the funniest secretary of the Minister of Education – her work place, but sometimes being funny is not always helping, particularly on days when a king dies. That's why she ended up hiding herself in the toilet of the 32nd floor's bathroom in the Ministry's building from her screaming colleagues which surrounded her at the second when she walked in the building.

She hoped that hiding herself would help her to find a solution, but her head was full of chaotic thoughts. She knew that if she won't resolve the problem she might lose her job. She loved her job: she had responsibilities, many vacations, a good wage. Her colleagues were detestable, but you can't have a perfect job, especially if you work for the government.

She needed to think, to invent something. She couldn't get out from her hiding place, but the only possibility to get new clothes consisted of going out from her hideout. While she was thinking about how desperate was her situation, she heard the door of the bathroom opened and someone entered. Alice held her breath, hoping that the person would go out quickly.

"Alice, I know that you are here." said the one who came.

The hiding girl immediately recognized this voice. It was Monica Slender, her best friend, coming to help her, or laugh at her. Or even both.

"Monica!" screamed Alice happily. "You need to help me. If I go out from here, everyone will kill me for sure!". Her voice was full of reassurance.

Suddenly, something heavy felt on her head from the ceiling; she gave a little scream, half of fright and half of surprise, which became a scream of happiness when she understood that it was black clothes.

"I was sure that you wouldn't hear the news, so I brought this, just in case." said Monica with a tired yet gentle voice. "You can wear them but you need to give them back to me tomorrow."

"What will I be without you?" answered Alice when she came out from the cabin, wearing her friend's clothes.

"A jobless woman, I guess..."

Alice's answer was a pat on her best friend's head.

Monica was younger than Alice, but she was much taller than her. She was one of the members of the Ministry of Education since last year and Alice was her secretary. They liked to work together and Alice liked to help Monica in her career. The oldest one preferred to help her friend other than having a big career and the youngest was thankful for this.

"We need to go to work now." started Monica. "We have a lot of things to do since we are in a big crisis due to the absence of a descent for the throne..."

Alice nodded, she knew that hard times would come one day, she just hopped that it would not been today. She went to her desk while her friend started to do her duties. Everything seemed to be okay to start the day until she saw a golden envelope on her table. Golden envelope were always used by members of Royal Family, and her surprise was big when she understood it. She looked at Monica's desk and saw the same kind of letter on it. Without waiting one moment, Alice opened her mail and read it.

Dear Alice,

As a friend of mine and Rachel's, you are invited to dinner at the Royal Palace tonight at seven o'clock. You don't have to bring anything except your usual kindness.

Warmly yours,

Lily Krowen

When Alice finished reading her letter, she immediately looked at Monica, who was sitting on her desk, reading hers. She completely forgot that during her military service – which were an obligation for all the inhabitants of the kingdom – she was in the same dorm as two members of the royal dynasty. Usually royal people made their service apart from other people, but Lily and Rachel weren't directly related with the King. Monica, the royal cousins and four other girls were in the same dorm with her and they became very close friends until they finished the military service which duration was six months.

"Do you think that she invited the other girls?" asked Monica to Alice.

" I guess so..." answered her friend. "We were a great group, but I don't understand why Lily is inviting us. We haven't seen each other since the service's end."

"Maybe she wants to have some fun since what happened."

"A royal member who wants to have fun when a member of her family died? Kind of weird, don't you think?" retorted Alice. "She probably has some strange idea in her mind, or some kind of plan..."

"I don't know what to think about this." sighed Monica. "Do you think that we should go?"

"Are you crazy?" screamed Alice. "Do you really think that we may not accept an invitation to the royal palace?"

"Who is going to the royal palace?" asked a colleague who heard the oldest one's scream.

"No one!" immediately answered Monica "Alice, you should speak even louder!" she aggressively whispered.

"Sorry." After looking a last time on the letter, the loud girl hid it in one of the desk's drawer. "Let's spend the day pretending that nothing happened. We can go together to the palace at six hours."

Monica nodded and went back to her seat, wondering about what would happen tonight at the dinner.