JiMina Collection

More Than Gold ~ Part 5

      If the castle was pretty on the outside, it was gorgeous on the inside. Mina had never seen a place so bedecked with jewels and other precious metals. The floors were so pristine, they sparkled under the light of the crystal chandeliers hung high above their heads. The tour started with a quick peek into the vast throne room, before they were carted off to look at the rest of the castle. It was so big, Mina's feet were starting to hurt only halfway through the tour. 

      Although it was very impressive, it began to get old after a while. The entire tour was basically saying to them; Here is where more money lies, and by the way, this is also very expensive. As Mina found herself becoming more distracted, the girls around her grew ever the more interested. Mina stood at the back of the group, and so she had a clear view of how the girls habitually fixed themselves up. Now that they knew just how wealthy the royal family was, it was suddenly even more important to look good for the prince. Correction. The richest guy in the kingdom.

"I'm going to have all the money I want. Just think of the linens I will buy!"

"You?! I will sweep the prince off his feet with my beauty. I will have all the gold in this castle!"

"What beauty? The only thing you can sweep off its feet is a toad."

"You take that back!"

"It's the truth!"

"Girls, girls. Stop fighting... We all know I will be the one to marry the prince."

     Mina scoffed as they continued to bicker. She was trying to be positive earlier, but now the prospect of an entire month listening to their whining and fighting might actually drive her insane. That is, if the castle itself didn't get to her first.

     As gorgeous as it was, Mina couldn't help but feel that something was...off. Each room was vibrant and sparkled like the stars in the night sky. And yet, it felt cold and lifeless. There was no emotion within these walls. There was only the need to look more expensive. More rich. More valuable. She shivered as a cold draft breezed by her. Was this over yet?

     As if to answer her unspoken question, the Duke called out. "Ladies, we are approaching the end of our tour. Just a few more rooms and we will escort you to your living areas."

     The others giggled. "Oh, I do hear the bedrooms are spacious. I need enough room to practice my singing and dancing. The prince will not be able to resist me."

"A toad sings and dances better than you."

"Why always a toad?!"

"Because it's true!"

"I do hope the beds are sufficient. I can only sleep on pure imported silk."

"I need to bathe in Chrysanthemum scented oil every night. They better have more here."

     The group wandered through a couple more corridors before coming to a stop. "This concludes the tour.  Up ahead are your rooms. To your right is the music room, and to your left is the royal library. These rooms, as well as most of the castle, are available for you all. We ask that you make yourselves feel at home."

     Barely a second after he mentioned their rooms, all the girls rushed forward squealing.

"I found mine!"

"I bet mine is the grandest!"

"They're the same size!"

"No! Mine's bigger."

      Mina could barely pay attention. Royal library? She was suddenly so excited. Now, instead of being with the other girls as they bothered the prince, she could hide out in there! Feeling better already, Mina headed off to find her room. Once again, hers was the farthest down the corridor. What a coincidence; she had been at the back end of everything today. But Mina didn't mind. It wasn't as if she was up to getting friendly with the others just yet anyways. Mina looked to her left. The neighbouring corridor was quite different from the one she'd just walked through. It wasn't as well lit, as the torches were few and far between. Reminding herself that she would have all the time to explore later, she turned her gaze to the door. Myoui Mina was carved into a golden plate hung up on the front of the wooden door. With anticipation trembling through her fingers, Mina opened the latch and peered inside.