The Royal Agency

♕~Chapter Five~♕

Every room Hazel walked into at the Besamor palace seemed so much bigger than everything back home at Avaehan had. The royal dining hall was no different. When she had walked downstairs to the entrance hall, it was swarming with people— most in black-and-white servant uniforms, some in fancy dresses or suits, and a few (about seven, by her count) dressed like her, in plain polos, pants, and padded vests, although the colors ranged a bit.

Julia found her in the crowd. "Dining hall's this way, Hazel."

Hazel followed her governess to another corridor, then through a few sets of doors until Julia pushed one open marked "Dining Hall C".

Inside was a large square room, with cream-colored walls stretching above their heads, decorated with red drapes. A stage was at the front of the room, with its velvet red curtains closed. On the stage was a wooden lectern. Two large speakers stood at either end. In front of the stage was a long rectangular table with eight seats, and the rest of the room was filled with circular tables. Each was covered with a white tablecloth with silver embroidery.

Julia led her right to the front to the rectangular table, where Hazel saw that each of the seats had a name card on the table.

Prince Evan of Dymphna
Prince Hunter of Cabrini
Prince Maximin of Isidore
Princess Jordan of Erasmus
Prince Chase of Bakhita
Princess Christine of Kostka
Prince Darrell of Besamor
Princess Hazel of Avaehan

"Hold up." Hazel said, pausing at the sixth name. "Christine?"

Julia nodded, then pointed at the last seat at the table. "That one's yours."

"Where will you be?"

Julia pointed at a circular table a few yards back. "Right there. I'm not going anywhere."

More people began to stream into the room, so Hazel sat down, trying to look as much like a princess as she could under the circumstances, although she had to admit the uniform was much more comfortable than any royal gown.

Nervousness bubbled up inside her each second that passed. She had no idea what was about to happen.

The sound of a chair scooting out caught her attention. She didn't dare fully turn her head, but out of the corner of her eye she saw a boy sit down behind the name card reading "Prince Evan of Dynphna".

It was hard to definitively make out the details of the prince, but from what Hazel could gather, he had dark skin, curly dark hair, and was wearing a dark orange polo shirt. Like her, he sat ramrod straight in his chair, not daring to move a muscle.

The next to arrive at their table was Princess Jordan of Erasmus. She was tall, with pasty freckled skin, green eyes, and red hair. She sent both Hazel and Evan a smile and friendly wave. Hazel waved back subtly, but Evan didn't seem to move.

Next was Maximin of Isidore and Chase of Bakhita. Maximin was skinny and frail-looking, with pale icy blue eyes and sharply cut blond hair. Chase, by contrast, looked like he could squish Maximin with his pinky finger. He had coppery skin darker than Hazel's, dark eyes, and equally dark hair.

Hunter of Cabrini was the sixth royal to arrive at their table. He had tanned bronze skin, hazel eyes, and chestnut-brown hair that he kept brushing out of his eyes.

A few minutes later, Hazel heard a gasp from behind her. Despite her trying to remain calm and stoic, she turned around and was met by a familiar face.

Princess Christine of Kostka stood there, dressed alike to Hazel but with a purple top. She looked like she was about to say something, but then her brown eyes glanced upwards to the stage, and she remembered where she was. Nevertheless, she shot Hazel a look that meant We are totally talking about this later, then went to sit between Chase and the last empty seat.

The last one to arrive was Darrell of Besamor. Hazel was a bit surprised that the blond-haired grey-eyed prince was the last one, since he presumably lived at the palace, but she didn't have time to question it before the royal guards flanking the stage raised their long trumpets and blew a fanfare as two more guards opened the grand door to the dining hall. Everyone in the room rose to their feet, including Hazel's tablemates, so she stood as well.

A middle-aged man, tall, dressed in royal regalia with a resemblance to the prince next to her, entered the room, escorted by more guards. As he passed each table, the guests bowed their heads in respect. The elderly woman Hazel had met in the gardens, Lady Carol, followed him. She was dressed in the same ivory dress and cardigan.

The man reached the stage and made a motion for them all to sit, so they did so. Hazel assumed he was the king. Lady Carol sat on a chair behind the lectern.

"Welcome, my friends, to my country of Besamor!" The man said into the microphone at the lectern. A polite round of applause went around the room. "I am King Erik, the king of Besamor, and head of the Royal Agency."

Hazel subconsciously leaned forward in her seat. Perhaps now her burning questions about this so-called 'agency' would be answered.

"I thank you all for traveling to Besamor for our annual welcoming of new trainees," King Erik went on. "This year, eight new young royals will begin their training to become a part of the agency. Their training starts tomorrow."

The king's eyes landed on Hazel and her tablemates. "Trainees, if you please, when I say your name, stand up. Prince Evan of Dymphna!"

The curly-haired prince stood rigidly, his face still emotionless, and a small round of applause rose.

"Prince Hunter of Cabrini!"

King Erik went down the table of trainees, giving each a warm smile as the rest of the room clapped. In no time, Darrell had sat down, and there was only one Royal at the table left. Hazel.

"Princess Hazel of Avaehan!" King Erik called.

Hazel sucked in a breath and stood, her fingers moving to instinctively fidget with the cloth of her dress—only tonight, she didn't have one. The same welcoming claps reached her ears, but she also heard barely audible murmurs. Something to do with Avaehan. But she couldn't quite tell what exactly was being talked about at the tables close to her.

She sat down, releasing the breath she didn't realize she'd been holding until now.

Please, she prayed to whatever being held the universe in place. Let that be the most awkward part of tonight.