Caught in Time

Chapter VII: The Challenge

In the cold early dawn in the capital city, pretty much everyone was still sleeping. With the exception of the fish market down at the docks not far away from the Royal Palace that sit atop the Khmary Hill. The Royal Palace itself was as quiet as a library, Rosa was almost always the first to wake up to help clean and tidy the palace, waking up the other maids, and prepare the breakfast for everyone.

After all that, time for her favorite part of her daily routine, waking up her Princess. Watching her Princess' cute sleepy face every time she woke up and hearing her say her first 'Good morning' of the day was enough fuel to keep her running the whole day.

Today, Rosa was woken up by someone knocking on her door. She almost can't believe it, she thought she had overslept and it was one of the other maids trying to wake her up. When she approached the door, she heard a whisper calling out for her. It's a voice she can never mistake for someone else's. Rosa immediately opened the door.

"Lady Irina, why are you already awake at these hours? And why are you in your adventure gear?", asked the surprised Rosa.

"Shh keep your voice down, Rosa! People are sleeping!", Irina whispered loudly.

"Yes they are, Lady Irina. Then why are you already awake and waking me up?", asked Rosa in a whisper.

"Right hehe, let's go out and buy you an adventure gear like I promised you yesterday", replied Irina quietly but excitedly.

"Please forgive me, Lady Irina. But not a single store in the whole city are open at these hours, so you can go back to sleep for now", said Rosa quietly.

"No, I've sent a letter to this armorer just a few blocks away from Victory Square to inform him that we will be visiting his store at these hours. So don't worry about it and let's get ready", said Irina with a bright smile.

"Are you serious, Lady Irina? Why at this hour?", asked Rosa who was now confused.

"Well, because I know you'll have to start cleaning, cooking, and all that from very early in the morning. So I want to go 'shopping' with you when you're not yet busy with maid work", answered Irina.

Rosa was so happy with what she heard she was blushing and had to stop herself from smiling from ear to ear.

"Ah look at you blushing! So I assume you want to go? Hehe", Irina added.

"Shh... not too loud, Lady Irina. Please wait for a moment", responded Rosa as she closed the door slowly.

She quickly changed to her uniform and opened the door again.

"Let's go, Lady Irina", she said.

"Okay, don't fall behind Rosa!", Irina took off running.

Rosa ran after her, Irina jumped over stair railings, sofas, and other furniture. Rosa wasn't sure what to make of what she saw. Once they got out of the palace, Irina continued jumping over things and running across the courtyard towards the front gate of the palace. 

"Your Highness, what are you doing out here? And Rosa, you too?", asked the guard.

"Mister Dmitri, we had to go to the armorer's shop just over the Victory Square. Lady Irina suddenly felt the need to go there", answered Rosa.

"I see, well, I won't further ask why you need to head there. But at least please go with some guards, it's not safe to go out at this hours", he said.

"Please wait here while I call someone to accompany you", he added as he walked towards the guards' barracks.

"Rosa, we don't have time to wait. Let's go!", said Irina as she opened the gate and then starts running outside.

"Wha- Wait for me, Lady Irina!", shouted Rosa as she followed her.