Unmasked

Chapter 33

-unedited-

Chapter 33:

There's nothing wrong with going for what you want. But isn't that how I got here in the first place?

I follow her pace but stay just enough behind. It felt like we had an argument even thought we only spoke for a little while.

Still, it feels like she's angry at me.

"We're going upstairs," her voice is distance, nothing like the playfulness she had earlier. She's not the same girl that laughed at my blushing face.

I only nod in response. It felt like there was a warning to her telling me but I decided not to look into it.

We go a different route than usual and she leads me up a staircase I've never seen before. It was much smaller than the main ones.

"Listen," she stops halfway up the staircase and turned to face me, "we're going somewhere you've never been before, in fact, only a few have and I need you to take this seriously."

"Of course," there's an uneasy feeling in my stomach, "where are we going?"

"To serve the king-" she begins

"The king-?" The uneasy feeling in my stomach spreads.

"-as he is in a meeting," she finishes.

My throat tightens and I only nod in response.

"It's a meeting in a dinner like way, we're only serving them, nothing else," she explains, "nothing you haven't done before."

I nod and inhale deeply. Nothing I haven't done before.

"Come then, I'll get you ready," she continues her way up and I follow. We go through a series of halls in a maze like manner until we finally come across a set of doors.

"They'll arrive soon," Mariah informs me as we enter the dim lit room, a large empty dinner table in the center with only two other maids here, there was another room connected to this one. It was like a small kitchen, in there was their meals already ready, along with two large wine bottles.

"Just remain calm," she tells me, probably being able to hear my anxiety.

"Do you happen to know what exactly they'll be discussing?" I ask, hoping to distract myself.

"Nope," she grins. Why must she makes it so hard?

"Why is the room dim?" I manage to think of another question.

"Along with the dinner, it provides a calm atmosphere so there's isn't a declaration of war."

"W-what?" My breathing begins to shorten.

"There's only meetings in this manner when it's a serious discussion, the majority of which the whole royal family is present, including the prince!" She smiles at me.

"The prince?" Oh no.

"The entire royal family!" At her cheerful tone I suddenly realized her motive.

"Did you-?"

"It's beginning," her cheerful tone is gone, replaced by her serious, cold self.

The doors open and the King and Queen walk in, arm and arm not saying a word, their son following right behind him.

I try my hardest not to stare. I've never seen them all together with such serious expressions on their faces. They all take their seats close to each other, the King being seated in the middle of the Queen and prince. I look down as they sit.