NINE: Sephora

After failing to locate the servants' quarters, I returned to Aiyana's chambers and found her being attended to by three maids as she dressed.

"Oh! Sephora, I was just about to send for you," she said cheerfully upon seeing me, then raised her eyebrows inquisitively. "Are you alright? You seem unsettled," she asked.

"Yes, I—" I cleared my throat. "I'm fine, I just stumbled upon something peculiar, but it seems my mind was playing tricks on me," I replied, noticing the maids exchange knowing glances.

Confusion and curiosity gripped me, as two questions nagged at my mind: Did they possess some knowledge? And if so, how could I extract information from them?

"You should also prepare, Sephora. Dori, please escort her to her chambers," Aiyana instructed.

"Yes, Your Highness," the brown-haired maid responded, approaching me.

"My chambers? I'm not sure I understand, Your Majesty," I stammered, glancing between the maid and Aiyana.

"Yes, you are to become a lady royal, are you not? And before you object, I've secured the king's approval, so please prepare yourself. We have dinner to attend," Aiyana affirmed, shifting her focus to the maid she had directed. "Dori, do ensure she's impeccably dressed, as she can be quite obstinate."

"But..." I began, feeling flustered as the maid guided me away.

-

The maid walked three paces ahead of me in silence while I observed her from behind. Her hair appeared silky, as dark as chestnuts and braided in a French style. Her attire seemed more refined than what servants wore back home, and her skin showed no signs of mistreatment. It was evident that servants were treated with greater care here.

My chambers were located in the left wing, away from the King and Queen's quarters, which struck me as peculiar. In Elysium, I always slept in a cramped room shared with four others near Aiyana's chambers, enabling quick attendance to her needs in case of an emergency.

The thought of Aiyana requiring my assistance while I was so far away unsettled me. I had never been separated from her by such distance before, considering the grand size of the palace.

As we reached a junction in the left wing, we veered to the right, but a sense of foreboding compelled me to glance back at the left wing. Though the hallway appeared empty, an eerie sensation of being watched enveloped me.

Dismissing it as fatigue-induced hallucinations from travelling, I quickened my pace to keep up with the servant girl. Eventually, we arrived at my chamber.

"The King has assigned me to assist you, so please don't hesitate to let me know if you require anything," Dori informed me, breaking the silence as we entered the room. How long exactly did it take me to search for the slaves quarters? Because it felt like a lot had occurred while I was away.

While it wasn't as grand as Aiyana's chambers, it exceeded my expectations. I gazed around in awe, feeling overwhelmed by it all. It was simply too much to absorb in a single day.

"Thank you, but I'll manage on my own from here," I replied, hoping she would take the hint and leave, as I wasn't accustomed to being attended to. However, true to Aiyana's instructions, she made sure to refer to the tasks assigned to her.

-

"Oh, look at you!" Sephora exclaimed as I descended the stairs. "I never knew you could be this stunning."

"I'm not sure if I should take that as a compliment or an insult, Princess - oh! My apologies, Your Highness," I replied with a light chuckle as she playfully smacked me. "I still do not understand why I am dining with the royal family."

"That's because you're part of my family now, Sephora," she replied, taking my hand and leading me with her.

"Family?" I muttered to myself. I didn't want to be seen as her family. I loved her in a way that wasn't familial. I dreamed of pressing my lips against hers, and often, In the dark of night when everyone was asleep, I pleasured myself with the thought of her.

The idea of her only seeing me as a sister shattered my heart. Yet, she was oblivious to my feelings, and I could never confess them to her.

The long table was already occupied by the king's brother from earlier, Igor, or so his name was. He glanced up from the book in his hand as we approached, a wide smile spreading across his face. He seemed quite cheerful.

"Good evening, ladies," he greeted us warmly as we took our seats across from him. The king hadn't arrived yet, and so did the third person whose table was laid. I assumed this person to be another member of the royal family. Possibly the person the king had stormed out in anger to find earlier.

"Good evening, Your Majesty," I curtsied as the butler pulled out our chairs. "I could definitely get used to this," I mused to myself.

"By the river's bed," Aiyana stated, catching Igor's attention with a hint of confusion on his face. "The book you're reading, I recognize the cover," she explained, prompting a look of realisation from him.

"Do you enjoy reading too?" Aiyana asked eagerly, her excitement evident. She always lit up when she encountered fellow fiction enthusiasts.

Igor replied, "Yes, very much. Do you?"

"Yes, it's just a shame I couldn't bring my books with me," she said, her expression falling with sadness.

Igor smiled reassuringly and reassured her, "Don't be sad. We have a state-of-the-art library here. It contains every book ever published. It's mine, but I don't mind if you use it too. It's rare to find anyone interested in reading around here."

"I would adore that, thank you so much," she said just as King Elrond walked into the room.

Awkward silence filled the air as he took his seat, his gaze turning to the empty seat next to Igor's. His brows furrowed in anger as he demanded, "Where is Cirdan?"

"I'm here" A voice interrupted, and we turned to see a man with deep black hair and dark attire walking in. His demeanour appeared cold, gloomy, and indifferent, but there was something oddly familiar about him that I couldn't quite place.

He took a seat opposite Igor and across from me, and I found myself gazing at him. He was undeniably attractive, but when he met my stare, I quickly looked away.

"This is my brother, Cirdan," King Elrond introduced. "Cirdan, meet my wife, Aiyana."

Cirdan glanced up at Aiyana and scoffed, casually popping grapes into his mouth.

"A pleasure to meet you," Aiyana said, her tone uncertain.

"The pleasure is mine, Your Majesty," he replied indifferently. Then it hit me.

His voice—it was what was familiar about him. He was the one playing the piano earlier.