The Dead And The Risen

Chapter Thirty Five- The Dinner

I put on my best tux, making sure there wasn't a stain, spot or piece of lint to be found.
I did my hair, messy but perfect.
Standing in front of my mirror, I made sure I looked as best as I could.
This was as good as it was going to get...

I left my house, taking the shortest route I knew to the castle.
Of course I wasn't going to be welcomed with open arms as I had once been, so I was going I have to find a way to get to Clarissa before she got to dinner.
The castle- being a typical castle - was huge.
There were several wings, but I had a good idea of where Clarissa's room was.

••••••

I carefully opened Clarissa's flower-covered window, revealing a very purple room.
I heard chattering voices, and pulled at the purple curtain slightly.
Three girls were crowded around Clarissa, adorning her hair with flowers and making quite a fuss.
My conscience was telling me to leave- just get out.
My face began to turn bright red. I felt the need to leave only because Clarissa was standing in only her lingerie as the girls made finishing touches on a very fluffy purple dress. I crawled back onto the short balcony, breathing hard. I slumped against the large window.
I waited about fifteen minutes before the chatter dissipated and I heard a door close.
The sun was sinking in the sky, and I quickly went back into Clarissa's room.

"Clarissa?!" I looked around the room, searching for her.
A voice called out from behind the cracked open bathroom door.
"Valor? Is that you?"
How could I respond? She was looking for her fiancé, not me.
"Uh...no"
I made my way to the bathroom door and peeked in.
Clarissa stood in front of the mirror, fixing a final flower into place.
She saw me in the mirror, and her face changed into a look of surprise. She spun around and held up a knife.
"Who are you!? Why are you in my room?!? Who let you in?"
She looked at me as if I were a rat that had just crawled out of the woodwork.
"I-I'm so sorry... I- um I..."
"Get out!!"
I looked at her sheepishly.
"GET. OUT!"
She threw the knife straight for my head as I reflexively slammed the door.
Breathing heavy, I bolted out of her room through the window, flying towards the palace gates.

••••••

Standing in the kitchen, I surveyed the final dinner preparations.
"Valor? How does the soup look? I'm about to have it sent out to the dining room" A chef called out from across the kitchen.
Striding over, I peered at the boiling pot of miso soup.
I sniffed the steam.
"It smells delicious, madam"
The chef smiled as I left the kitchen, calling to one of the maids to begin placing food on the table.

••••••

I landed at the palace's heavy iron doors.
Two guards stood at their posts, ready to kick out anyone who didn't belong. Instead of cowering, I bowed.
"I would like to request entry to the royal dinner"
The guard on the left spoke first, his voice gruff and muffled from his iron helmet.
"What business do you have at the royal dinner?"
"I have to..."
I thought of a believable excuse to get let in to the castle.
"I am a knight of the royal court. It's part of my job to be at these kinds of things."
I put on my poker face, hoping that the guards wouldn't realize I was lying.
After a moments pause, he answered.
"Alright sir, enjoy yourself."
The guards opened the huge doors, and I strode forward.
Step one: check.

••••••

I puckered my lips, putting on a final coat of the reddish-purple lipstick that I had begun to love.
I did a once-over in the mirror, making sure my fluffy, purple dress was perfect, all my butterflies and flowers in place.
I tidied up my bathroom counter, and headed out of the room, down to my homecoming dinner.