Chapter 3.9:

We walked through several hallways that seemed identical and entered random doors that didn’t seem to have any distinctive features. I quickly lost track of the way we came.

How does he know where to go?

I tugged at Paul’s shirt and he looked back at me as we continued following the guard.

“What?” Paul whispered.

“It feels like we’ve been walking for a while… Are we still in the palace?” I asked while trying to hide my panic.

“I think so. Dad told me before that we actually aren’t moving very far. The hallways are just enchanted to disorient us.” Paul answered as he faced the front again.

I looked around the hallway and tried to remember specific details, like the color of the moldings on the floor. That’s when I spotted a tiny off-colored patch in the carpet at around the middle of the room.

I tried to keep that thought in my head.

But the moment we passed through the door, I forgot what I was trying to remember.

I looked at the back of Paul’s head and tried to recall what I was thinking about.

Wait. What was I trying to remember?

There was a nagging feeling at the back of my brain, like something important had been erased.

I jogged closer to Paul. An eerie feeling started taking over me.

The guard suddenly stopped and brought out his pocket watch. He touched the side of the hallway and shook his head.

“Something the matter?” Abram asked with concern.

“N-nothing, sir. Everything’s fine. Should be close now.” The guard said apprehensively.

The three of us looked at each other and anxiety set in.

The guard saw our worried faces and he immediately reassured us.

“No, really, sers. This is perfectly normal.” The guard said with obvious forced confidence. “It’s this way.” He opened a door seemingly at random and plunged into the darkness inside.

We hesitated to follow until his head popped back in the doorframe. He had a huge grin on his face. “Follow me please, this is it.” He said with an easy smile.

We passed the threshold and immediately a bright light blinded us momentarily. We were suddenly in a gigantic hall twice the size of the previous one.

There were servants moving around the tables filling drinks and serving food.

Nobles and retainers were seated by cities apparently.

“Sorry we doubted you, my good man.” Abram addressed the guard apologetically.

“No apologies necessary, sir.” The guard replied. He gave us a salute and returned through the door we came in.

“So, did I imagine that he seemed as lost as we were?” I asked unsure.

“He sure fooled me. But he got us here, so I guess it doesn’t matter.” Paul said cheerily.

I looked back at the door that the guard passed through but it was gone.

“Wait, the door’s gone.” I pointed to the bare wall.

“Hmm? What door is that, son?” Abram replied casually while he surveyed the tables.

“I… What were we talking about?” I said. My mind started getting fuzzy again.

Paul shrugged and pulled me in the direction Abram had gone.

I turned around one more time. The blank wall seemed to be staring back at me.

I’m sure there was something…

Eventually, we made our way through the tables and found Lord Chase and Lady Vela already eating.

“My lord, my lady.” Abram greeted with a bow.

Paul and I did the same before we took our seats.

“What took you so long, Abram?” Lord Chase asked while sipping his wine.

“Apologies, Lord Chase. We uh… Inquisitor General Laya Ruby was in charge of the registration for the retainers’ hall.” Abram said, clearly discomforted.

“Ah.” Lord Chase set down his glass. He clapped Abram’s shoulder and snapped his fingers at a male servant that was offering wine around the room.

“Say no more.” Lord Chase passed Abram a glass of wine. Abram gave him a nod of thanks and downed the contents in one gulp.

“Who was this lady?” I whispered to Paul.

“I’ll ask Miss Lily the next time we see her, I bet you anything she knows the story.” Paul whispered back.

“I always liked her.” Lady Vela remarked with a small smile. “She knew how to handle herself.”

“Ahahaha…” Abram laughed nervously.

Lord Chase shot Lady Vela a look of reproach and she turned away.

“Um… where’s Lady Mina, Lord Chase?” Paul said as he looked around the hall.

“She wanted to look around. Could I ask you to look for her? It won’t be long now before the event starts.” Lord Chase replied absent-mindedly.

“Of course.” Paul stood up immediately. “Let’s go, Adi.”

“I-yeah.” I was a bit startled.

I followed Paul around as we circled the hall.

“Best to move near the wall, that way we can avoid bumping into these nobles.” Paul advised.

I nodded my head.

I can’t recognize anyone.

“There she is.” Paul pointed to the desserts table.

I looked in the direction he was pointing to and saw Lady Mina standing beside a small girl in a red dress who looked like she had been crying. In front of them were two noble boys on the ground.

“Something’s wrong.” Paul said with some alarm. He dashed towards the group and I followed suit.

Soon we were in earshot.

“You! You’ll regret this.” One of the boys said angrily at Lady Mina while rubbing his cheek. It looked slightly red and a little swollen.

The two boys got up and turned tail.

Lady Mina turned to the girl in red. “You should stand up for yourself.”

The girl just continued sobbing quietly.

Lady Mina patted her head a few times. She looked like she was feeling awkward about the whole thing.

“Lady Mina.” Paul greeted her.

Lady Mina turned around and tilted her head slightly. “Oh, hello. Looks like you guys made it.”

“Ah yes. We actually just got here.” I replied with a slight bow. “What happened?”

“Nothing much. I was just helping… Sorry, what’s your name?” Lady Mina addressed the girl who was sobbing.

“Vanya… Vanya Safyre, my lady.” She replied in a small voice.

“Ah, you’re Lord Stilton Safyre’s only child. A pleasure to meet you, my lady.” Paul remarked with a small bow. “Paul and Adi Finch, apprentice to Master Abram Finch, from North Haven.”

I copied his bow and offered a small smile to the girl.

She seemed to be overwhelmed by Paul’s introduction. She quickly hid behind Lady Mina.

Paul took it in stride and backed off. “No need for alarm, my lady. We were just here to fetch Lady Mina.”

Lady Vanya nodded her head but remained in Lady Mina’s shadow.

“I’m sorry Lady Mina, your father is looking for you. We need to head back.” I addressed her.

“I see. Well, I should get going.” Lady Mina turned to the other girl. “Come find me later after the ceremony.”

Lady Vanya gave her a small nod and scurried away.

“Did you make a new friend, Mina?” Paul said after Lady Vanya had gone.

I looked at him in shock.

He can say her name so casually.

“Mhm. I believe so.” Lady Mina replied. She took a small cupcake from the table and started to head back. We walked behind her.