At Your Service

Chapter 27- Aria's Second Narrative

It's been about two months since everything with Baker happened at the palace. Things around here have been, quite frankly, hellish. After all of it happened, the queen insisted that Felix and I are to be wed as soon as possible. The date she decided on was July 30th, which happens to be next week. It also happens to be Felix's birthday. I'm trying my hardest to think of any possible way to escape this marriage. I'm not really sure how Felix feels. Ever since Baker left he's been different. He's a lot more distant, and he's almost always in his room. Poor him, I feel horrible. He loves Baker, so this is killing him.

I'm at a wedding dress fitting in the wardrobe when the queen walked in with Mila. "Aria! You look simply stunning!" she exclaimed.

"Thank you," I responded.

"I'm so excited. I'm so happy you'll be my son's wife. You'll officially be in our family," she beamed. Why is she so happy about it? She's the only one actually looking forward to it. "Mila, stay with Aria while she's getting fitted. I have matters to attend to," she exited. 

"Yes your highness," she fake smiled. The second the queen left her face went back to normal. "She's so irritating," Mila groaned. I laughed. I haven't seen much of Mila lately, the queen's been having her do nearly every job in the palace.

"How have you been?" I asked her. She sighed, gripping her head, stressed. 

"Stressed the fuck out," she groaned, "The queen has me running around the whole palace doing everything she can think of."

"When is Kiyoshi arriving? I'd love to see her again," I asked. Felix's aunt Kiyoshi is supposed to arrive today. Since the wedding is next week she's staying here until then. I want to see her so bad. I simply adore her.

"Any minute actually. She just landed I'm pretty sure," she responded. The dresser adjusted the veil, stepping in front of me. I rolled my eyes. Why am I doing this? The sound of a pair of heels is echoing through the corridor outside of the wardrobe.

"Is that the queen?" I asked. Mila looks just as confused as I am.

"I'm not sure."

"Do not associate me with that woman," a voice says. In stepped Kiyoshi. She was dressed in a designer jumpsuit. It looked custom. She wore a pair pf black heels, her hair was slicked back into a high ponytail. She wore a pair of sunglasses. It was like she just left an event. She was absolutely stunning. 

"Kiyoshi! Hello!" I greet her, excited. I stepped away, to hug her. I'm overjoyed seeing her. 

"Hello Aria! It's lovely to see you again," she greeted me. Mila is smiling, Kiyoshi's presence just lights up the entire room. It's so nice to see her again. After everything going down at the palace, we need her to keep things on a somewhat positive note. "Mila, you look fabulous! Have you tried the rose petal face mask I recommended?"

"Every night! My skin is so much more clear!" she exclaimed. 

"You know you should try your hand at modeling. You would be absolutely perfect for it," Kiyoshi complimented.

"You think so?" Mila asked. Kiyoshi nodded her head, turning back to me.

"How have things been over here?" she asked. Mila and I both exchanged a look of dread, with a hint of surprise.

"Did you not know?" I asked her. Kiyoshi looked confused. She had no idea what I was going on about. "The queen found out about Felix and Baker... ." She clasped her hands over her mouth, her eyes widened with concern.

"Felix... he never told me," she said. My face sank, trying to find the correct words to explain.

"Felix, he's been different. He almost never leaves his room, and he really talks to anyone anymore. He's been like this ever since...,"

"Ever since what?!"

"The queen had Baker executed." Kiyoshi's face dropped like a sac of marbles. She could hardly process the information. She adored Baker. "Luckily, Felix and I helped him escape before he could be executed." Mila looked at me wide eyed and surprised. 

"Wait, Baker's still alive?!" she exclaimed.

"Yes, but to the knowledge of the queen and everyone else in the palace he is dead. Understood?" I respond. She nodded her head in understanding. "He's out somewhere in the forest. We haven't seen him in months."

"Oh my... this must be heavy on your mind. Especially with the wedding approaching and all." I don't reply immediately. There's a lump in my throat. What I'm about to say, is going to go against what everyone wants me to do. The queen would still be in denial. My family... I'm not even sure how they would react.

"I don't want to marry Felix," I forced out. There was a silence in the room. Not an uncomfortable silence, rather... uncertain. I don't know what Mila and Kiyoshi will say. Kiyoshi starts toward me, she had a soft look on her face. It was a comfortable look. She pulled me in for a hug, embracing me, like how a mother would her child. The kind of affection that my blood family rarely provides. I clutched her hard, teardrops fell to the floor. "I... I'm sorry," I cried. She stroked my hair, comfortably.

"Don't be sorry. You're a strong, smart, gorgeous lady. You shouldn't be forced to marry at such a young age, you have your whole life to find love."

"But the queen... she'll never let us call off the wedding," I sighed.

"She's right," Mila chimed in, "Especially after what happened, she's dead set on marrying those two."

"Well then, we'll just have to find a way to get the wedding cancelled," Kiyoshi stated.

"I've thought of everything, the only possibility is for me to... run away," I said. 

"Where to?" Kiyoshi asked.

"I haven't thought that far yet. I can't go back to Po'fei."

"Perhaps I could give you one of my houses. I have one in Milan, Paris, Tokyo, London, and a penthouse in New York," she offered. That could actually work, but there's only one problem. I'm going to be heavily guarded the whole night.

"I need someone to help me escape," I stated.

"Kiyoshi and I can't. I'm with the queen all day, and Kiyoshi has to come to all the day events," Mila explained.

"Well who else is there?" Kiyoshi asked. The wheels in my brain turn. They turn quickly, rapidly. The formation of an idea began to form.

"I know the perfect person."

. . .

I entered Felix's room, which we currently share. He was at his dresser, getting ready for something. "What are you doing?" I asked, suspiciously.

"I'm going out tonight," he responded.

"Where to?" He doesn't answer. "Hello? Felix?" Still no answer.

"Nowhere important," he answered finally. I'm well aware that he's lying. I don't care, to be frank. I'm happy he's leaving.

"You've been depressed in this room for months. I'm glad you're finally going out," I chirped. 

"I must," he replied. "I don't know if I ever will again after next week." He exits the room, slamming the door behind him. He doesn't have to tell me where he's going. I know very well where it is. And with any luck, he'll lead me there as well.