Red

Chapter 4

The Castle

The room was empty except for my backpack and the map that I set on the ground. On the map, there was a big red circle drawn that I imagine was the Maggisbury Manor. 

I put the map inside the backpack and left it by the window. I walked for a bit less than an hour until I found a huge building which was probably the manor. In front of it was a carriage, a man came out of it and greeted me. "Miss Lei, I was ordered to take you to the royal castle." I guess the Joker did have everything planned...

I settled in the carriage all alone. As the day went by my boredom grew as I had nothing to do but just sharpen my knives.

Nearing the end of my trip, I look outside the window and gasp in shock. The castle stands high and mighty in the sky as if looking down on me. Guards walk here and there with sharp eyes and calculated steps. By the looks of it, I can tell why it's the most secure place in all the five kingdoms.

Dark grey stones adorn the walls, stacked one over another. Ivy hung low and high on walls and small plants decorated the dark stones. The giant metal door stood tall and proud, shining in white with symbols carved on it by skilled hands.

Three towers raising above all the buildings could be seen from afar. Similar to the castle walls, the towers were made of stone, but they were stark white. Everything was so huge and dominating, that the power of the castle was palpable.

Fresh bright grass settled everywhere around the castle. Suddenly, the carriage moved right, onto the dry brown path. Other carriages were also making their way toward the pathway.

Looks like I'm not going to be all alone after all.

The carriage stopped at the end of the old pathway and the driver rushed over and opened my door.

I stepped outside and averted my eyes to a petite girl standing before me. She appeared to be in her mid-twenties too early thirties. Her smooth skin and beautiful dark brown, almost black eyes narrowed while looking upon me and her blonde hair shone like the sun. She could make any girl insecure without knowing it herself.

"What are you wearing!" she shrieked. I looked down at my shirt which now had splotches of dirt everywhere.

She grabbed me by the arm tightly, almost painfully. She might be small but sure as hell ain't weak. She ordered the driver, "Take her trunks to room 232," and pulled me towards the entrance, dragging me to my room.

Hurriedly, she took me to room 232 and pushed me straight to the bathroom. Ugh, she's so annoyed about the dirt that she won't even let me admire it.

The bathroom itself was bigger than my room back at home. The tiles were pure white and in the corner sat a giant white tub.

All the walls were a pastel pink but the ceiling was a soft white. On one of the corners sat a large mirror.

The girl started turning the tub on. She tugged on my shirt and I froze. Did she want me to undress in front of her?

"Do you want me to turn around?" She asked politely. She did just that while I undressed and went into the tub. The warm water hit my skin. I was used to cold showers, not this.

When the soapy bubbles covered me entirely, she turned around to face me.

"Could you please tell me what's going on?" I asked her. I had no clue why a stranger was standing in the bathroom while I bathed.

"Well I'm a maid requested to accompany you for your stay here, Miss Maggisbury. You were way too dirty for a lady and wearing pants." She babbled. Then mumbled "So unladylike," under her breath.