The sun bled across the horizon as the chirpings of birds were being heard in the palace. The beauty of the weather was felt not only by humans but was also felt by the trees and birds in it. Lila is dressed in white gown which swept the floor as she walked, for maids in the lowest level are to put on white. Those that have been promoted put on blue and the highest of them wear dresses of any colour - this is where the head maid and the chief lady- in- waiting can be found. Hailey was actually the head maid.
Hailey signals to Lila from the centre of the garden. Lila runs up to her. Hailey silently turns and begin walking towards the head maiden court and without questioning she follows her from behind. As they walked she could sense the thickness of the air in the environment. Immediately they got close to the door, Hailey stepped back and allows her to go in first. Hailey looks around to make sure Lila wasn't seen by anyone before she moves in slowly, closing the door behind her.
At first Lila never thought about why she was invited into the head maid's room, but anyways she's just a servant and should obey. Hailey walk into her inner room and after a while comes out carrying a glass of freshly locally made tea and two small cups. She drops the cups on the table and fill the both with tea and signals to Lila to sit.
" What about Sult court? The…you know…the activities of Yue the emperor's brother? Hailey ask with a soothing voice and takes a sip of tea.
" I don't know much about the activities of Yue the emperor's brother. I was just a low maid that never got close to the court of the king". Lila replies calmly.
Hailey stands up and move briskly into her room and brings out a black chador and throws it to her. Suddenly a knock is heard on the door. Hailey walk to the door and peep through the tiny hole - it's prince Aiden. She quickly move to Lila, drags her up and takes her to her inner chamber. She tells her to remain silent and never talk.
She opens the door gives prince Aiden a warm hug. Lila walk closely to the curtains that separates Hailey's inner room from the sitting room. She tries as much as possible not to make any sound as she tip toe a. She holds the curtains and silently begins to watch them.
Prince Aiden closes the door and rubs Hailey's cheeks with his cold hands.
Prince Aiden
" How have you been coping my love? I wish I could just get rid of the expectations of the emperor… you know. I really love you. I wish you could be by my side someday".
-
Hailey takes hold of prince Aiden's cheeks, their and smiles back. Prince Aiden's gaze lingered with a promise. Lila peeps from the curtains as prince Aiden passionately kisses Hailey like it was their honeymoon.
" Let's go into your inner chamber so we can enjoy" prince Aiden tells Hailey with deep in him.
On hearing this Hailey pulls her lips away from his and smiles.
" You're a prince and shouldn't be seen with a maid like me". Hailey respond expecting him to leave, but prince Aiden's facial expressions change. Hailey notices the sudden change in his facial expressions and uses her hand to rub his chest calmly, but Aiden retorts
"You've not allowed me to get into since worked your promotion to the head maid. I did it so you can be mine"
" I'm all yours, my Lord, but I have duties to take care of…okay you know what…em…come in two days time and I will be all yours to enjoy. I promise to give you a night you will never forget" Hailey says as she hugs him.
Prince Aiden kisses her forehead and leaves. Hailey heaves a sigh of relief and calls Lila to come out.
Hailey
" When you smoke coming out from the temple tonight, put on this clothes and meet me at the temple. Do you understand?"
Lila nods in agreement and leaves for her room.
Night
Lila is dressed up in the black chador Hailey gave her. She paces up and down the room as she continues looking outside to know when the smoke is going to ascend from the temple. In her mind she is just confused. She thought - yesterday it was the dwarf, this night it's the temple. She turns again to the direction of the temple and here it is - the smoke begins ascending. She quietly opens the door and looks around before closing it behind her. She moves silently but with speed to avoid being noticed by anyone. Her heart beats faster as she draws closer to the temple.
She walks into the temple but it was empty. She froze. " Is this an assassination attempt?" She asks herself. Panic fluttered in her chest like trapped birds. Her heart begins to beat faster than before, her feet starts to shake. At an instant she feels a touch on her shoulders and immediately fear slithered down her spine like ice, she turns at a terrifying speed and it's Hailey.
Hailey tells her to make sure her face is covered and gives her time to recover from the panic she felt.
She follows Hailey behind as walk into the dark. The stillness of the night in the palace was a pin drop silence,. only the cry of insects were heard. After walking some distance, Hailey stopped and so does Lila. They hide behind a wall. A young lady dressed in royal robe was passing. She moved with the grace of a drifting smoke. Lila ask with curiosity written all over her
" Who's that?"
" She's Elena, the daughter of the emperor's only concubine, so she's a princess to say". Hailey clears Lila's curiosity.
Hailey drags Lila by the hand as they move through the darkness swiftly. They get to a quarter and stop. Hailey knocks at the door and speaks
" It's Hailey, open"
A man opens from inside. They go in and Lila looked, it was the dwarf, but this time he wasn't wearing a mask. From his face, Lila could tell that the dwarf was in his late 40's or early 50's. They all walk down a staircase that leads them to a tunnel underneath. Lila was amazed at the secret structure of the place as they went down.
They appear in a place that looked like a library. The dwarf kept secret informations in this place, not even the emperor knew about the structure. Lila's eyes glanced at someone - prince Istin. Prince Istin was already seated in the tunnel like someone expecting them.
They all bow before prince Istin. He stands up and moves close to Lila. Lila becomes nervous as Istin touches her cheek. She felt warmth at that instant, for Istin was the first guy to lay his hands on her cheek in a cold manner. Love was written all over her eyes, but prince Istin isn't here for that.
The dwarf makes them sit
" Many years ago before the massacre of the Sult province royalties, I served under prince Istin's father as a helper to the court's librarian and physician. When the Western empire came with its army to attack Sult province, Istin's father sent letter to Dushi, emperor of this Eastern empire requesting for reinforcement. The empire delayed, but Sult army was strong and fought with courage. At last the empire sent reinforcements led by his brother, Yue. But something happened. … The empire army pushed back the Western army. At night,. while everyone slept, Yue and his army massacred the entire Sult court. Yue took ascended the Sult throne and we all expected the emperor to imprison him for his wicked act, but he instead named him regent of Sult province"
He pauses and looks at their faces. He moves to his shelf and begins searching for something.