They had arrived outside of the castle and against Akilah’s best wishes Adara had chosen to follow along with her into the castle. This was Adara first time entering such a big castle, although according to Akilah she had once lived here in her past life. However that is not something that she remembers. Thus she had decided to follow Akilah into the building, partly because she didn’t wan to be tricked by Akilah again but partially because she wanted to see the inside of the castle. A servant of the castle guided them to stay at the lobby floor until someone comes to escort them. Akilah went to sit down on one of the chairs while Adara decided to look around.

Adara looked around in awe, she had never seen such a grand and beautiful house before. Everything decorated in the pretties and most expensive furniture. Although she wasn’t keen on interior design, she could see feel the feeling of luxury radiation from around her. Feeling overwhelmed by everything she deiced to take a seat next to Akilah.

She placed a hand the armrest of the chair she was sitting on, she had never sat on anything that was a comfortable and soft as this, much softer than her own bed which she had until this moment thought was the softest possible piece of furniture she had seen.

“Comfortable” Adara says, quietly.

“Indeed” Akilah says in agreement.

The relationship between them was still very awkward, they had not regained the closeness that had before all of this erupted. Silence filled the room and Adara went back to looking around the room.

Adara’s thought were interrupted with the entrance of a servant, he asked them to follow him to the kings court. Adara and Akilah followed along, meanwhile Adara was simply amazed by the grand halls she walked through. For a split second the thought struck her ‘This was mine…’ before she quickly shook her head, wanting to shake of her thought along with them. Akilah gave her a glance, presumably asking her what was wrong, Adara just smile back at her, assuring her that nothing was the matter with her.

The servant stopped in front of two giant white doors, embellished with gold accents. The servant the turned facing them.

“Mister Akilah Vengraif is to attend this meeting and mister Vengraif only, I’m afraid your companion has to wait outside” He says and looks at Adara.

“Oh yes of course” Adara replied

“Well then” He said and pointed at opening across from them, it was a small room furnished with a row of chairs and tables “The lady can stay in the waiting era over there”

“Understood” Adara says and head over to the area while the servant and Akilah entered the room and close the door behind them.

Adara was of course nervous about the meeting but decided to keep her mind focus on other matter as to not riled herself up to much.

She looked around the great hall she was in ‘Such luxury’ she thought, feeling a mixture of amazement and disgust. The king was quite literally sitting on such luxury while his people were struggling to make ends meet. After the coup the new king had promised that he would be better and not live as lavishly, but Adara could now see that he was not better than his predecessor, a man who lives for himself and not his country.

Adara’s thought were once again interrupted by the sound of a familiar voice.

“We meet again I see”

Adara turned towards the direction of the voice to see who it was, and to her shock it was the man from the other day, the one she who’s room she had snuck into to see Akilah’s fight. Adara froze for a second the realization of what she had done had dawned upon her now. She had snuck into another man room, noble man from the looks of it, and she had unapologetically done so.

Adara could feel her cheeks flush from the delayed embarrassment of what she had done. She simply wanted to hide away, but from his approaching footsteps she knew that that wasn’t an option, she just bowed her head down, covering her face behind her hair, hoping that he would not notice her flushed cheeks.

“What’s this now?” He when he had reached her “Are you hiding yourself from me”

Adara let out a sigh, realizing that there's no point in trying to hideaway now, she inhaled deeply before looking up at him. He didn’t say anything but instead just looked at her, before a smirk crossed his lips

“What’s this” He said and reached out to touch her cheeks “Blushing when you see me”

Without even thinking about it Adara slapped away his hand before he could touch her

“That’s not why” She said before tucking a piece of hair behind her ears ‘No point in hiding my face now’ Adara thought.

The man softly caressed the hand that Adara had slapped jokingly

“Ouch” He said with a playful tone “First you break into my room and now you slap me, how many offenses is that now?”

“I didn’t mean to slap you…It was just a reflex” Adara said feeling slight annoyed that she had to justify her action yet again to him “And besides, it’s ungentlemanly to touch a woman without her permission”

He snickered before nodding “Indeed you’re right. It was ungentlemanly to not ask permission” He said and pointed at the seat next to her

“May I sit?” He asked

Adara glanced at the seat next to her before looking back up at him “Well it’s not like I’m going to stop you” she replied.

He sat next to her and jokingly said “Well I asked for permission this time” and leaned back into the chair.

Adara didn’t reply to his comment.

“So you did know him” He continued.

“Who?” Adara looked at him confused before understanding that he was referring to Akilah “Oh you mean Akilah. Yes, I told you I did” she said proudly looking at the looked door in front of them, but then stopped and thought about what he had just said.

She quickly turned to him again “How did you know I was here because of Akilah?” she asked

“Well that’s why I’m here” He stated “I’m a part of todays meeting, that’s also why I was attending the fight” he said with a smile.

Adara didn’t reciprocate his smile instead she became a bit worried “Well why aren’t you going in, aren’t you going to be late?”

He laughed softly again “No they won’t start the meeting without me”

Before Adara could ask him what he meant by that, the doors in front of them opened and the same man that had guided Adara and Akilah here exited. Adara noticed that he looked a bit startled when he looked at them.

“Ah don’t worry old man, I’m coming” he said and waved him off before he could even say anything.

He got up from his seat started walking towards the entrance “I was just speaking to…” He stopped and looked back at Adara

“That’s right I never got your name” he said “Miss what’s your name”

Adara thought a bit about if she should say her real name or not and decided that it was okay since Akilah had used hers.

“Adara” She said “my name is Adara” she figured it would be better to leave out last names since that could be bothersome later on.

The man smiled and turned around towards the servant at the entrance “I was speaking to miss Adara” and started walking towards the entrance.

“Wait” Adara said.

The man turned around, this is the first time Adara had seen him looking anything other than calm and collected, he looked at her with bewilderment.

“Aren’t you going to introduce yourself to?” Adara asked.

The servant at the door was about to say something but the man lifted his hand to silence him, he had quickly regained him calm and collected demeanor.

“Of course” he said, “My name is Kasimir”.

He continued “It was a pleasure to meet you again miss Adara and I hope to see you again” he said with a smirk before turning around and entering through the doors.