Who is Halston?

Chapter 7

Alina slowly opened her eyes, revealing the vast ceiling of her room. She was surrounded by gold, silver, and diamonds woven into the bedcloth. Alina had the impression that she was still dreaming, especially given the odd softness of the bed she was sleeping in. When a figure appeared on her face with a black cloth covering her entire head and face, Alina would have closed her eyes again.

Alina froze in surprise and awoke immediately, holding her blanket. The more Alina viewed her lovely chamber, which was unlike the one she was in now, the more she recognized the wedding that had taken place, the fact that she had fallen down the abyss, and the man who had married her.

"W-who are you?" Alina asked, surprised, to the woman who was dressed but had a scarf covering her entire face.

The court lady of the palace greeted Alina with. "Good morning, lady of the house. I'm Nala, the waitress who will keep an eye on you and educate you how to behave around the palace, but first, you must eat breakfast; do you want me to bring your food here or are you already in the palace dining area?" the woman politely inquired.

Alina couldn't make up her mind, especially when she was still dazed. "Is this true?" she couldn't help but question the woman in front of her instead of asking Alina about her ideas. With a shake of her head, Alina expressed her dissatisfaction with the situation. "Can you tell me where I am?"

"Can you tell me which king you're referring to?"

The young girl in front of Alina gently replied. "King Halston."

Alina was left staring at the waitress in front of her, unsure why she was wearing a face mask or whether it was the fashion at the time. Alina thinks if she should also cover her face.

"Perhaps I'll just have breakfast in my room," Alina reasoned, assuming the waiter would be irritated. These things aren't new to Alina, especially because Dawn's servants are the same way.

"Just stay there and wait a minute," the waitress said as she walked away from Alina.

Alina looked around, still unable to comprehend what she was seeing. Alina raised her hand, revealing her purity ring, which acts as her link to the king, according to the waitress. She didn't care about him because she was elsewhere, but Alina couldn't help but be concerned about people she had left behind.

When the door opened, Alina noticed two guys entering with freshly prepared meals in a pram, and they, like the young waitress, wore a black cloth over their entire head and face. The young lady approached Alina and gently lifted the blanket from her shoulders.

"Your breakfast is ready," she said, pointing to the food on Alina's round table.

Alina nodded, smiled awkwardly, and walked up to the round table to take a seat in front of it. Alina was embarrassed, so she looked at the young lady who was watching over her before she began eating. She started with the bread, which tasted different than the bread she had at the palace and later at Dawn. Alina then ate the hot soup, oblivious to the fact that she would consume everything that had been prepared for her, particularly the pomegranate fruits. Alina finally stirred the tea for her, which was not bitter at all. Alina didn't care for the tea, especially the way it was combined with Dawn, but she felt she could drink it every day because it was made correctly.

Alina smiled and turned her gaze to the young lady. "Thank you so much for breakfast," says the narrator.

"Nothing, lady of the house," says the court lady

"Can you tell me what you were saying earlier?"

"King Halston, have some instructions."

"How are those, say that?"

"You can't see the monarch at night; you will see him in daylight if he wants, especially since you can't see his face either..."

Alina grimaced as she listened. 'What exactly does she mean?'

"You can only be with the king at night, especially when he has a need as your wife," says the monarch.

Only then did Alina realize she was married, which meant something unexpected would happen like husband and wife thing.

"The king has given you orders not to speak about your history or former life before you married him; all you have to do now is give life and look after the palace while he is away."

"Can you tell me where the king is now?"

"To a place where mortals like you don't want to go, but it's also where they're heading when they rest, but it's no one's fault; they don't realize that by the time you reach there, you'll be suffering---permanent pain, especially if you became a sinner while still alive."

Alina was horrified by the court lady's response, which included rising her feathers on her nape and arm while still facing forward, and because she couldn't see the emotion on his face due to the mask, she stayed silent.

"Halston isn't simply a king in this castle and kingdom; he can't be dubbed the king of darkness if he can't govern on his throne beneath the ground."

"Below the ground?" Alina said again in hushed tones.

"To the underworld."

Alina's eyes widened as she realized she was married to a strong being that reigns over the dead and punishes the guilty souls in the hereafter. Alina took a deep breath to calm her before asking Nala if she was indeed cursed to marry Halston or if she had truly spared the kingdom of Dawn by obeying the marriage.

"Am I truly set to marry him? I know it's customary in a king's country, but I'm curious as to how many other wives he have before me? Is it true that if I violate his command, I'll die?"

"Are you afraid?" Nala inquired abruptly.

Alina can't deny that she is becoming increasingly afraid, and the king it isn't just of the man she married.