The castle 2
The king's men arrived at the Denvers mansion. The servants were so scared but the butler mustered enough courage to meet them at the door.
"Hello, how can I help you?", He asked politely.
"We have the permission of the king to bring the sick maiden", the captain of the men said.
The butler looked so confused, "there is no sick person here. You must be mistaken".
"Allow us to search", the captain said and the butler opened the door wider for two men to enter while the rest surrounded the mansion making sure nobody escaped or went in. After some time, the men who entered the mansion came out and reported to the captain, "only the maids are inside and we also asked if there was a girl named Janielle and they said she left this morning".
"Oh, if it's Janielle, her mother already took her back to her village", the butler interrupted, "but why if I am ask are you looking for her?"
"We are following the king's orders and disobeying us will mean disobeying the king. So please tell us the name of the village", the captain ordered not minding the butler's question.
The butler immediately bowed, "the village of Jimal".
"Thank you for your cooperation", the captain said and led his men out.
*. *. * .
After lunch, the king led his guests to the court room to have a discussion with them.
"You may be wondering why I asked to have lunch with you", Tyler started as he sat on his throne and motioned for them to sit down.
Zoe blushed hoping he'd ask for her hand in marriage.
"It's been a long time since we spoke like cousins", Tyler said to Duke Denvers, "I just hoped it would help us with a get together gathering".
Duke Denvers knew that he was lying and Tyler knew he knew. Tyler just gave his usual dashing yet annoying smile.
"My family and I are so grateful that the king remembered us. If that is all, I'd like to ask for permission to leave", Duke Denvers asked.
But his wife interrupted, "your highness, I'd like to ask for permission to have a tour around the castle, it has always been I and my daughter's dream to do it".
Duke Denvers frowned and looked at his wife with annoyance.
"What effrontery", Tyler commented at what Kathryn said, "I'd pretend I didn't hear that".
Kathryn bowed her head in shame, she didn't do anything, why would the king be this heartless.
The king then turned to Duke Denvers, "why do you want to leave this early? I suggest you all wait for the 'sick' maiden". Tyler emphasised on the word sick. They of all people knew it wasn't a suggestion but am order.
"Yes, your highness", Duke Denvers bowed.
"In the meantime, I already assigned servants to take you the guest palace", Tyler stood up and left them.
Immediately they were alone, the look of horror were on their faces.
"What are we going to do now Jonathan? You were the one that lied about her being sick!", Kathryn said angrily.
"Don't raise your voice", Duke Denvers hissed angrily, "you were the one who chased her out of the carriage".
"That's not even the issue here. Why is the king so interested in that wretched idiot", Zoe hissed angrily.
"Quiet Zoe, now is not the time to be jealous", Duke Denvers reprimanded her.
"Jealous, are you trying to say Zoe's Jealous of that...", As Kathryn was talking, a servant entered and bowed.
"I've been assigned to direct you to the guest palace", the servant said.
Duke Denvers sighed and stood up to follow the servant followed by his wife and daughter. He was so stressed up. He didn't know if he should already go and confess to the king before Janielle arrived. It looked like the king already knew but he would surely face the punishment of lying to the king.
*. *. *.
At the guest palace, Duke Denvers and his wife were assigned a room while Zoe had a room to herself.
She was thinking of going to tell the king the truth, "if I tell the king, he'd see me as someone he could trust". She seriously wanted to please the king.
After thinking for a while, she decided to tell the king the truth and tell the king that her father was lying to him earlier.
She quietly left the room and was walking towards the door of the palace hoping to find the king in this vast castle that she knew nothing about.
Meanwhile, Kathryn and Duke Denvers were thinking of what to tell the king when Janielle arrived. They already expected Janielle to have arrived. They wondered what was taking their time.
"I hope she won't have run her mouth to those silly king's men before they arrive", Kathryn said angrily.
"We should just tell the king that she wasn't looking too well this morning and then we left her to rest", Duke Denvers suggested.
Kathryn's eyed lit up, "yes, that's right. But isn't it too lame?".
"Then thinking of something better than running your mouth", Duke Denvers retorted.
Kathryn frowned, "I am thinking, you're just dumb. I'm going to Zoe's room now".
*. *. *
Zoe already left the guest palace and was unknowingly heading to Stella's palace. The guards ignored her knowing she was the king's guest. While she entered Stella's palace, she saw some gold like jewelries used to design a door post behind the door. It was just too pretty for her to take her eyes away and then she found herself stealing it and putting it in her gown not knowing Stella was seeing her.
Immediately Stella shouted, "thief! Daddy!"