7 The Show Isn't Over Yet

The Golden Gates opened as soon as they saw Acyon, the King's official transportation. As what she seemed to always do, Acyon swooped in and landed on a helipad-like area just between the Gates and the Palace.

Seeing the King, the royal guards formed a line and bowed before King Adamos. "Greetings, Your Majesty," they shouted in unison.

Acyon sat down as if she was assisting her passengers down to the ground safely. King Adamos went down first. Then he reached out his hand to Evie as an offer of help.

Evie drew in a deep breath, as she was really not used to other people helping her out. She would always refuse them. Always.

'But it is the King, and he is respected here,' Evie muttered to herself as she observed the royal guards' heads, which were still bowed down. There must probably be thirty of them. And they were not moving at all.

Evie extended her hand and allowed the King to help her. But she didn't do it in a ladylike manner.

She put her thumb over his and pressed it hard before she quickly jumped from her seat to the ground. Then she dusted her palms off and fixed her leafy dress.

The royal guards' jaws dropped at Evie's gesture. Simultaneously, King Adamos' lips pressed together in reaction.

"Keep an eye on her," he announced to the guards, which also looked like the ones in the forest.

"Yes, your Majesty," the royal guards shouted in obedience.

Meanwhile, Evie stiffened as she saw how the King reacted.

She was expecting her to be dragged since she appeared like an invader in their land. But he hasn't dealt with her harshly.

Somehow, she felt at ease that she would not be harmed, even though she knew she could fight for herself.

Still, she was cautious. She didn't know how everyone would react to her presence in their land.

True enough, two characters came to the scene and expressed their opinion of her openly. They seemed of nobility as they walked toward their area with grace and sophistication.

"I didn't know you had such a strong sense of fashion, Your Majesty," one of them reacted after he bowed down, his gaze on the King's jungle outfit with his gloved fingers on his chin.

He was wearing a sophisticated black suit, which made his platinum blonde hair stand out all the more. Then his attention darted to Evie, making his face glow up.

"Do we finally meet the legendary Hyouka?" He interjected with a ridiculous smile on his face. His silver-gray eyes were twinkling with excitement as he clapped his hands together.

On the other hand, the lady beside him looked ethereal with a gold-plated headpiece on her long flaxen hair and gold accessories accentuating her pearly white flowing dress.

But she was emotionless, as she eyed Evie from head to foot. She wasn't saying anything, but her gaze was flitting from Evie to King Adamos. Then back to her again.

Despite that, Evie stood still, indifferent to both of them. She knew she appeared outlandish and dressed freaky compared to them. But she will not stay long in this land anyway.

What she was curious about was the mention of the word "Yuka" again. 'Who is that and why are they referring her to me?' Evie pondered while feeling a knot in her belly.

"I will leave as soon as possible," she muttered as she bowed down in front of them in case they thought she was a nuisance.

"Oh. But why would you do that? Edin has been waiting for you since the beginning of the world," the nobleman's shoulders dropped dramatically.

"And King Adamos, too," he quickly added with a wink at the King.

To Evie's surprise, he began to sing a melodious song that is of an unfamiliar language while prancing around the hall.

Evie's body tensed up as the royal guards started to sing too, together with the nobleman. Strangely, when the other servants heard it, they also sang with them.

'Ugh,' Evie wanted to vomit at that moment. She felt like she was in a musical drama where she was the female protagonist.

Still, while all that was going on, she thought about what the nobleman said. 'King Adamos and Edin are waiting for Yuka, whomever she is.'

She stepped forward and was about to tell them that she was not who they think she was when King Adamos spoke up.

"Silence!" King Adamos' commanding voice thundered throughout Paradis that even the birds held their breath in obedience to the King of the land.

"That was a splendid entrance, Duke of Thurelis. We don't even know about her identity yet. I have got to talk to the Royal Ministers before we conclude anything," he said to the nobleman, making him press his mischievous lips together.

Then he stood back up and made a serious stance. "The show is over. Go back to your posts," he commanded as he waved his authoritative hand in the air.

However, just then, the duke whispered to the King, "I think the show was just extended, your Majesty."

Another bird was flying down to where they were. And one of its passengers was a lady who screamed while furiously waving her hand, "Ms. Yang! Oh my gosh, Ms. Yang!"

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Change is scary.

But you know what's scarier?

Allowing fear to stop you from growing, evolving and progressing.