The King's Crest

Chapter 15

I walked the long, winding road up into my chambers, but before completely going up I made sure to sneak around on my own looking at the surroundings. This was the first time I was really alone since I arrived at the castle. It had only been a couple days, but enough had happened to enable me to feel as if it had been months.

I snuck around the servants' quarters knowing they always had the best information and were known for gossiping about all the great events that happened around their kingdom. I knew that if I were to be caught I could blame it on not knowing where I was going seeing as I was new here. However, I knew I should not bring attention to myself if avoidable. I crept closer to the wall and the decorative chair of delicate gold base and light pink cushions. The furniture matching the chair crowded the area, but my small frame allowed me to squeeze between the small spaces.

I held my breath as I listened, trying for complete silence so I could hear people a few feet down the way. I strained my ears, leaning as close as I could and was able to make out a brief, "the lady is pretty, though she does not remind me of a typical lady from Temari," I heard a man whisper back to the ladies comment, "I could not agree more." I heard them talk more and more about how I didn't seem to fit in. They were impressed with the courage I had to come. I smirked as I heard them happily talking about me.

After listening for a while, I was about to go back to my chambers for the rest of the night when the conversation abruptly changed. "I heard they were carrying a trunk with an artifact from Vezana..." but the voice trailed off too quiet for me to hear. Desperate, I peered around the corner. To my surprise, I saw Prince Alexander with a kind, elegant lady with bright red, tied back hair, hiding near the servant's chambers, leaning close to her. I audibly gasped before I turned and quickly ran the other way.

I heard footsteps thudding after me as a quickly ran and sneaked behind a hallway in hopes that he would not see me. After hearing Alexander walk away, I looked both ways, and tired of skulking, I finally started walking normally back to my chambers, for real this time. I finally made it to my chambers and opened my large door leading to the outside waiting chamber with books and chairs. "Amelia, are you in here?" I cautiously asked, suddenly afraid of what could be lurking in the shadows of my room.

There were candles though and I figured she had to be. I finally heard her squeaky voice reply from the distance, "Yes, Lady Grace. Is there anything I can do for you?" as she came around from the bath section of my chambers. She looked at me curiously as I stood in the entrance awestruck at what I had just seen. It was all processing now, and as my brain turned I suddenly realized why Prince Alexander didn't want his father choosing Lady Suzanne. I must have been sitting there for a while with confusion on my face because I heard Amelia question again, "Lady Grace?"

I suddenly snapped out of it and her saying that again, and shaking my head slightly to clear the fuzziness of everything going on in my mind, I answered, "Sorry, Amelia, it has been a long day. I would just like to get to sleep now. I know it is only just now dark outside, but I'm exhausted from a long day of work. Would you mind helping me dress for bed?" I asked looking at her again with a smile flickering onto my face as I realized I had given her a fright before swooping in in such an obscure mood.

"I'd love to Lady, but I cannot," she saw my face look at her shocked so she quickly continued "the king is expecting you at dinner in an hours' time. They have another guest here for a few nights and want you to greet her. I was given orders to ready you for tonight."

I sighed and looked at her, my eyes pleading with her to let me just rest and be alone, but I knew I had to go for me to get close to the royal family and get the king's crest back. Instead of complaining, I took a deep breath and said, "Alright, what am I to wear this evening?" I inquired. She gently touched my arm to indicate that she wanted me to follow her, so thudding along, too tired to care how unladylike I was around Amelia, I went to the armoire, and curtain for a place to dress.