Help from the OtherSide

42. Duchess's Task

Deccan's POV

Our friends got down their carriages and jogged to where we were standing. From their pleasant faces I assume their trip must have gone less excruciating.

"How the ride guys?" Amelia smiled from her experience. Liam, Yumiko and I shared a glance.

"Simply beautiful." Liam muttered 

The duchy had a gothic look. Unlike Hellga's this was more neat and sophisticated. We climbed the dark shiny steps and went into the manor. It was empty and spacious with dark curtains draping the walls and a bright chandelier illuminating the hall and the floor was filled with brown and white square patterns.

In the middle of the hall stood the Royal couple with who I assume to be the duchess.
"We've arrived." Killian announced rather too loudly for an empty hall.

The duchess peeked over the King's shoulders and excused herself from their company. She slowly sauntered, looking at each one of us carefully. I was baffled when I got a better look at her. 

"Welcome children." She curved her lips in a delicate smile. Her eyes fixed on to me and gave a knowing smile.

"Deccan . . . you're staring." Grant nudged me from my daze. 

"Do you two know each other?" Killian frowned.

"No--"

"We met during Prince Telsin's anniversary, just before the charm wore off." She looked at me pointedly.  "Please freshen up. Your task will start soon." She said softly and spun on heels and strided.

Killian stared at me and walked away, with Hex trailing behind him. Dora muttered something to herself and followed them leaving the five of us near the entrance.

"What's going on? What did she say about the charm, how does she know?" Yumiko looked at me suspiciously. 

Quite a small world isn't it?

"We'll talk inside." I closed the doors behind us and set foot in the duchy.

Our temporary rooms were located in the ground floor, which meant we have a relatively better chance to escape if things went haywire. Our floor had three rooms, while the Royal couple and their children were assigned a grand suite for them in the floor above. Surprisingly Dora and her right hand made the VIP list.

"How do we go about it? Who wants to stay here?" Liam stood in front of the room and asked.

"Girls together." Amelia pushed me aside and pulled Yumiko with her into the room.

"Either the three of us stay together to avoid excluding anyone or someone must volunteer to stay in the other room alone." Liam sauntered to the rooms beside.

He made staying in a big room all by yourself  sound sad. 

"I'll go. You two can have some time to catch up." Grant chuckled.

"Hey! You're not exempted from our bromance sir. " Liam pouted. Grant playfully pushed him inside the room and went to his room. 
The vertically huge window let in powerful rays of sunlight, making the place a little lively. I put my bag on a chair in the corner and put a pillow on top to hide it, for Glowy's security.

Liam visited the restroom and praised their shower system. Once we both were ready we closed the door and headed in the main hall.

We waited for everybody else in the hall. Once the five of us were together, the siblings approached us. We made small talk and attempted at getting an acknowledgement from the oldest.