Just One Last Dance.| J.JK

10.

Aera's Pov

"Well, here you are. I've been searching the whole palace for you both. You both need to follow me." She exclaims as if she's in a hurry to take us wherever she wanted to. 

 I watched her tapping her right foot impatiently as she examined us from head to toe. Meanwhile, I tried to remember who she was as I recognized her voice from the past.

Then it clicked. 

She's the she-devil Sunwoo hid me from. What was her real name he told me? I have no clue but definitely, her nickname suits her. She looks even scarier in person.

I didn't realize that I was just gawking at her like an idiot instead of following her order.

"Are you both deaf or something? I said follow me." She almost screamed, annoyance laced in her voice.

"Yes, ma'am," I and Hobi answered in unison. Before following her I gave a quick bow to the princess and started following her, going opposite to the staff's quarter.

I felt footsteps following us so I turned my head to see Namjoon and Seokjin behind us. She-devil seemed to notice too as she turned around to glare at the boys.

"Do you want something?" She asked somewhat calmly.

Okay, that's a first.

They both shake their head as a no.

"Then why the fuck are you following us?" She yelled.

"His Majesty ordered us to take them to the staff's quarter and explain the rules and regulations of this place. We have to brief them about the schedules too." The Namjoon guy calmly explains.

"All the staff in this Palace works under my supervision so it's my job to brief them about everything so you lowly asses don't have to worry about them. Another thing, it's the Queen's order so you better back off. So rather than sticking your nose in my business, go make yourself useful." She stated with a smirk.

Both of the boys looked unfazed as if it was common for her to speak so lowly of them. 

They just gave me and Hobi a last worried look and turned around, moving towards the gate leading to the main hall.

She glared at us as a warning not to utter a single word and follow her.

We walked in silence and reached what looked like a shed beside the stable at the backside of the palace.

We cluelessly followed her into the shed and the sight made goosebumps appear on my skin. There was no possible explanation as to why she brought us here.

Many horseshoes and saddles were lying at the corner with a man sitting near a furnace, heating some kind of metal rod with a weird shape at the end.

 As I observed the metal rod on the furnace, the blood from my face drained as I realized that it was a branding iron.

It seemed like Hobi recognized it too as he quickly pushed me behind him and glared at the woman sitting on a chair with a smug look on her face.

"As Paul right here is preparing his magic stick I shall introduce myself. I am head and supervisor of the staff's quarter and you shall call me Madam Shin or Ma'am." She straighten up and crossed her hands in front of her chest.

"Every class or event will be scheduled and you can't be late for it. Each mistake will lead you to severe punishments so I suggest you watch your backs. Don't try to move around without permission or order. You will be given a room that you both have to share and meals are handed out at the scheduled time so if you miss it then you'll obviously have to starve. No unnecessary contact with other staff and most importantly you mustn't leave the premises. Your every moment will be supervised, so don't try to act sly here." She explained.