The King's Court

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Evelyn told me about the circular thing on the wall. Back in Visaris, our clocks were different. It wasn't hung on the wall. And the clock says it's already 6 in the morning. My eyes darted to Evelyn's door.

Why is she not out yet? Did she manage to sleep last night?

Leon has made himself comfortable on the sofa, lying down with his feet hanging on the end. Roylan, on the other hand, stood near the window, looking outside. If I hadn't known better, I would have thought he was standing guard, looking for any potential threats. But I know he's just very interested in what he's seeing outside.

"Electricity, was it?" Roylan said out of the blue.

Yesterday, Leon asked a lot of curious things to Evelyn even though the latter was still reluctant to talk to him. This world doesn't run on lamps and fire. It runs on what they call electricity.

"Fascinating thing, that is," Leon said. "That Markus guy had a lot of interesting things on that book he let me borrow. I stayed up late to read them."

My brows furrowed as I looked at him.

"You stayed up late?"

Leon gave me a knowing look. "Yes, brother. I stayed up late. I saw you enter Evelyn's room and come out several minutes later, looking disheveled. I happened to be resting when you decided to sneak last night."

I glared at him and he just ignored me.

"Anyway, this world has various sources of electricity. Some sources are easy to acquire. Some are made. Some are readily available in nature."

I squinted my eyes at him. "You seem curious indeed."

"Well, you know me and my love for science, brother. I would love to try this one out in Visaris. Visaris will become the only kingdom with electricity."

Before I could say something, Evelyn's door opened and she came out already dressed.

Roylan and Leon stared at her too.

I have no words.

The items of clothing they have in this world are entirely different from what we have in Visaris. In this world, they like to expose as much skin as possible. Not that I am complaining about it but it was just not something I was used to.

Evelyn--if I am going to describe her clothing--was wearing some kind of skirt that did not even reach her knees. But when I looked closer at it, I realized it wasn't a skirt. It looked like breeches but then was purposely cut to look shorter, exposing her legs. She was wearing some kind of tunic with colorful, intricate designs, and on her head was a kind of clothing I had never seen before. It covered to the top of her head with some kind of extension in the front. I was guessing it was to shield her face from the heat of the sun. 

She cleared her throat and my eyes went back to her face. Her cheeks tainted pink and I couldn't help but let out a crooked grin when I knew exactly why she looked embarrassed. I could feel Leon's gaze burning my back. 

"Let me prepare some breakfast, first," she said and immediately walked to where her kitchen is. She started putting the pan on top of the table and Leon was instantly on it, inspecting the technology behind the cooking mechanism. 

Evelyn finished making breakfast and we ate our fill. It was when we finished that she announced what we were going to do today. 

"We're going shopping and we're going to meet my parents," she said and I almost choked on the coffee I was drinking. 

"We're what?" I asked, still unable to believe what I just heard. I heard Leon snicker behind me. 

"I am going with you back to Visaris, right? I am going to let them know I'm going away," Evelyn answered casually.