The Outsider (Outsider #1) ✔️

Chapter 63 : Continental Plaza Hotel

After dinner, Dusk and her companions were taken to Continental Plaza Hotel. Susco and Mellow were given a room on the 22nd floor. Susco, an Officer of Court, had the option of getting a separate room as she had in her previous visits. However, Mellow was uncomfortable staying in a separate room, never been in such a luxurious hotel before.

Dusk, on the other hand was given a room on the top floor, the 37th floor. She had never seen such a large hotel in her life and never been inside of such a luxurious facility other than the Hotel Ship in Ci'gazze. She was highly apprehensive and would have been happier sharing a room with Susco instead. The last thing she wanted was some disaster which would be projected on Holovision for the next entire week.

Catherine had got approval from her father to spend the night at the hotel. She was, as usual, skipping in excitement. The hotel offered her a separate room next to Dusk. However, Catherine looked at the room card and saw Dusk had a suite, so she said she will share the suite with Dusk instead.

Seeing the pleading look in Catherine's eyes, Dusk had no option but to agree to let her stay in the same room. In fact, Dusk was happy because it meant that she would have someone to guide her. She felt sure that Catherine had stayed at the Plaza before. They went to the 37th floor, accompanied by security guards and 4 of Catherine's attendants.

When the elevator doors opened, Dusk was stunned. There were 3 elevators opening to that portion of the 37th floor. It opened into a lavish lobby, better than anything she had seen even in Holo-Novel projections. There were scattered coffee-tables, big soft chairs and sofa scattered throughout the lobby. The lighting was amazing and there was a massive chandelier in the middle. There were autovat machines, a small pantry arrangement for preparing and serving food and ... to Dusk's surprise, there was a butler! A live real human butler, who was on duty when they came in, well past midnight!

The butler bowed low to them and welcomed them, "Welcome to the Exclusive Suite Floor of the Continental Plaza Hotel, Princess, Your Ladyship. We are in block C. Tonight, apart from you, only one room is occupied, but I assure you the occupant will not disturb you. May, I take your bags?"

The butler took the 2 small bags that the Maids were carrying. Dusk suddenly realized that they were carrying her bag also and felt mortified. After all, they did not work for her and making someone else carrying your bag was obnoxious (unless you were the princess, she corrected herself).

The butler opened the room door on the extreme right side. The security guards entered first behind him and scanned the entire room before coming out and nodding to them indicating they could go in. Such level of security was new to Dusk who felt that if she had to be with the Princess for long, she would go mad.

"I will be on duty tonight, so if you need anything, I can get it for you. If would like to anything to eat or drink, I shall arrange for it immediately." The butler added, as he bowed and waited for their instruction.

Dusk shook her head, "No. I do not think we will need anything as such. You need not wait here for us. You may leave. I am sure you need to sleep too."

The butler looked at her strangely and Dusk noticed that the maids also seemed to be turning to look elsewhere, either embarrassed or trying not to laugh. The butler bowed again and said, "Your Ladyship, I am on duty in the night shift, till 9 am when I will be replaced by another butler. Please do not worry about that, it is my duty to serve your needs tonight."

Dusk nodded. She felt foolish, but she was not used to these things.

"Which room would you be using, Princess?" one of the maids asked. The butler was also waiting with the answer with both bags in his hand.