Hallelujah

Dinner - Gracie

"Four-thirty? Already?" Moving up from the desk, I saved my work on my computer then moved to the dresser, where William, the strange butler, said formal wear would be given throughout my stay. The dresser itself was more of an armoire that was built into the wall. Ample space was given inside for clothing, shoes, undergarments, and bags that no doubt were expensive. 

The Kingdom, from what I had read, was very rich a few years ago, but with other countries pulling from a peace treaty, in turn pulling from trade routes for farmers and merchants to earn more coin, the Kingdom had turned more towards a poorer lifestyle. If I didn't know that fact, I would've called bullshit on it. Everything in here was designer brand. Brands that truly only relied on their name to mark the prices so absurdly. 'Note to self: ask about financial crisis' another mark to add to my many ongoing questions that I've been compiling for the past few hours. 

-

I didn't know what to expect, but I'm sure it wasn't this. Everywhere inside this castle screamed riches and endless funds with the portraits on the walls, red carpeting on the ground, big banners that flowed with invisible wind, it was all so much more than I had expected. Much more was the dining room.

There was always the possibility that I stood out, I knew that on the plane over here, but holy shit. This dining room outdid every form of luxury I ever expected to have. The first thing that caught my eye was the polished marble floors, so different from the wood that ran throughout the rest of the castle, and the tall vaulted ceilings that had depictions of angels with wings flying from tile to tile.

"Do you enjoy them? They are hand painted," the woman, oh god the woman was striking. I softly bowed my head, moving slightly to perform a courtesy. My feet didn't work. Instead of a courtesy it was a half attempt at saving myself from falling, stumbling instead. "There's no need for that," she waved off my gesture, moving to stand up. Her red hair glistened against the green and gold crown on her head, almost overpowering the small green gems that were sprinkled around the golden bands that came together in a soft arch in the front. Her heels, god her heels, they looked as if she would break her ankles any moment. The woman before me wasn't just a woman, she truly was a Queen. "I-The mural is gorgeous." I fumbled for the correct words. A soft, and breathy laugh left the woman's painted red lips.

"I do think the artist could've added some more detail around the clouds, but I suppose that is what I get for having a man do a woman's job," she frowned, as if contemplating getting a latter and doing it herself. "I am Queen Amelia, King Christopher is my husband." She gestured towards the chair next to her. This wasn't what proper protocols were. Wasn't I suppose to sit at the other end of the table? Give her space and have to yell across the dining table? It was definitely big enough for something of the sorts. "Don't be shy. You are my guest," Queen Amelia grinned, roaming her eyes down my outfit, then back up to my face.

I snapped out of whatever daze I was in, moving quickly from the spot between the archway that led back out to the Grand Foyer. The table was a beautiful dark wood, the chairs complimenting the white and cream walls better than the table however, with their metal framework and soft cream padding on the front and bottom of the chairs. The table seemed to have been stained recently, some spots seemingly lighter than the rest of the table as I walked over. More quickly than I had time to walk around, I made it to the chair I was gestured for, Queen Amelia still standing up. Now being face to face with her, she was so much taller than me. Maybe it was the heels, but even without the heels she would be at least five or six inches on me. "Make yourself comfortable," she gestured once more to the chair right next to her own, the one below her more padded but also more designed for longer dinners. No metal framework could be seen on this one, cream leather wrapping around the handles and feet of the elegant chair, more green gems adorning the top.