Castle

Those middle-aged men entered the magnificent whitestone-made castle. One of the guards who shielded the enormous entrance gate escorted them inside to the great grand hall.

Vacated behind and disregarded, Celeste clipped her long hair tightly and strolled her gaze over the castle. The entire castle lit with potent flames. Every nook had at least a guard shielding it.

"Should I just climb and sneak into the palace?" Her passion swirled into alternate grumpiness in an instant. "If I do, will I be sentenced to death?" She crossed her arms, resting chin on her knuckles.

"Only if you don't die after a few attempts of climbing." Amelia's voice chimed in.

She was right this time. The walls of this Castle were built so big and ominous. Even to the nearest window, the height would be about 7 m which was almost impossible to climb upon.

Celeste drew a long sigh before she shifted her stare to Amelia and discerned her skirt's devastating living portrait. She could confide confidently that her best friend was already exhausted.

Amelia was perfect in each and every possible way until her potbelly popped up in between. "Maybe we can get to eat delicious foods inside." She incited her and succeed in an instant.

"We can enter through the servant quarters." Amelia beamed as she let the hem fall on the ground and swam her gaze around. "There." She pointed her finger at the saltbox house beside the castle.

The vast saltbox house that adjoined the castle was used for maids room and kitchen staff. Amelia's mother and elder brother both worked in the royal household. Though it was restricted to the kitchen and cellar, they at least had the 'royal' tag before their job title.

"Let's go." Celeste grabbed Amelia's hand and fled, running at a fast pace towards the saltbox.

The wooden door was roughly locked from inside. Sliding her hand inside the ring knocker, Amelia jerked it twice on the door.

A woman wearing a waist petticoat, hair neatly tied in a bun unlocked the door and peeked from the slightest open gap. "What brought you here at this time, Amelia?" It was indeed surprising since never ever in her life she had visited her mom in the middle of the night.

Amelia enclosed the awkwardness with a gentle smile. "I have an important message for mother to deliver, Miss Kyle." She paused and sneaked a glance at Celeste about whom Ms. Kyle could be curious to learn. "She is my best friend, Celeste."

The woman gave a slight nod before she swung the door open entirely and moved aside. "Come in."

Celeste stepped inside the chamber behind Amelia and were welcomed by the hustle households who seemed even busier at the moment.

Even the servant quarter looked so beautiful than she could ever imagine. It was dimly lit by the fire in the fireplace and chandeliers that were adorned with candles. At a corner, there were a vast couch and an antique table with flowers vases above it.

"The household is so busy today. Your mother is no exception. She will be here once she is done with work. Please take a seat. I will tell the maids to serve you some sweets." said Ms. Kyle.

Amelia nodded. "Thank you."

"Who is she?" Celeste's voice rose after the woman left.

"She is the butler." Amelia responded to her curiosity and sat on the couch. "It is so comfortable. Come and sit."

Celeste didn't bother. Her eyes had been trailing at the crew who were heading towards the doorway that led to the castle.

Shortly a server came up and she placed a tray filled with fruits and deserts on the table. Amelia rode her hand to the tray but before she could grab a goblet, Celeste leaned and seized the tray up.

"Follow me." letting out this much, Celeste made her way to the doorway.

"Are you serious, Celeste?" Amelia retained herself from shouting and followed her best friend quietly. She didn't realize the plan was still alive in her head.

"Just go around like a servant." Celeste said as she walked through the long corridor without any reluctance.

Past the corridor, they found the askew door and landed on the grand hallway.

Both of them froze, jaw almost dropped.

The intricately carved stone walls, gold gilding and grandiose paintings of its vaulted roof and ceiling were extremely high with the dipping lamp chandelier in the center. The vast curved ornate stairs wrapped with colorful red and golden mattresses attended the indoor balcony of the second floor that was overlooking the entire grand hall. Next to the great windows, the hall had a beautiful water feature, sculptures and numerous portraits that she could watch at for eternity.

"Oh my goodness!" Amelia covered her parted lips in awe.

"Wow. You really didn't use your filthy words!" Celeste chuckled, couldn't believe her own words.

Amelia glared and slapped on her arm. "It's dangerous."

"Yes. It can fall and shatter. Help me." Celeste said as she handed her the tray and walked towards the stairs.

Gawking on the tray in her hand, Amelia snorted. "Bitch, what I meant to say is it's dangerous here. So, we should go back."

Celeste didn't seem to heed, she plodded up the stairs. Defeated, Amelia followed her, didn't want to leave her alone. Fortunately, the guards were not giving them enough attention because of the food tray.

"Didn't you get a voice? Damn it."

Alongside the throne and music chambers, an icy voice echoed from the council hall.

Celeste stopped limping forward whilst her best friend went numb behind hearing the sudden commotion. "It's the Prince who has been never seen outside the castle, isn't it?" She had queried.

Amelia swallowed a gulp and nodded. "Most probably." The elder Prince was in the castle most of the time of his life. He barely showed himself up in front of the commoners. Hostility or perhaps his superiority would be blamed.

"You better stay here," Celeste warned before she stretched her back against the wall and leaned forth to peek from the chasm of the long wooden door that was slightly open, accessing the council hall.

She blinked her gaze encountering the entire hall occupied by six men on either side of the longest council table surrounded by antique chairs.

Beyond the long table, a tall man's back faced them all including Celeste. She assumed he was the Prince, discerning his gorgeous navy blue tunic designed with golden stones.

"I just informed my wife about it... I am really sorry I didn't know, Milord." The grey-haired man Celeste met earlier trembled in fear.

The Prince didn't move a muscle. "Stay in the dungeon tonight and inform a guard to bring your wife tomorrow. Is that clear?"

"Yes, milord." The man's face had paled. Celeste wondered what so grand mistake he had done informing his wife about something that led him to the dungeon along with her.

"No... one... I repeat no one should know about this meeting. That this castle is hiring headsman if you don't want to risk your life." The Prince spoke again. Celeste whined at the thought of imprisoning an innocent for such a ridiculous reason like this. Risk? Who caused that? Wasn't it him right now?

"And also, I want everyone to be present tomorrow without letting anyone know." He added, merciless.

"Milord. I mean no disdain.. but I don't have any capability to be an executioner." One of the men stood and stuttered. He looked so scared.

To be exact, in those bunches of strong faces, there wasn't a single smile or expression of ease except for fear and terror.

Celeste's eyes enlarged and she held her breath as the Prince turned around and slammed his hands against the table hard. "You will never know what you are capable of until you loosen the ties of your capabilities from your resistance and fear."

It was the first time Celeste had seen him so far. Before, she probably hadn't bothered about the handsome Princes and even the king–such hot topics in women's gossip. Her life had been limited to her recklessness in the little land of hers until today. "God! He is so hot." She mumbled underneath her breath.

He was certainly a man of any girl's dreams, having thick, tousled dark hair combed behind by the touches of his nice fingers, a few strands that stroked across his forehead made him look even hotter. His soft moist lips that had been drawn thin were so alluring in their way.

In the light of bright torches, his defined chins and jawlines conveyed the features that looked like they were chiseled from granite. But his eyes! Those were enough to mesmerize anyone's mind. She swallowed a gulp of hysteria and lost her focus in one of his metal eyes. Dark—the lenses were so black to the point they seemed unnatural and the white in them almost concealed.

"I apologize, Milord." The man divulged shame and it got Celeste back to her sense. She snapped.

"It's all about blood and blades. However, if you still can't do this, I can assign you to be a food taster." This time, the Prince's voice sounded gentle as the tension on his muscles released.

"I-I heard, the last food taster died a few hours ago." The frightened man retorted.

"That's all that matters, human?" He sighed. "There are about a hundred antidotes. As long as you can choose the right one for yourself and are lucky enough, you won't die." The Prince had asserted and at that inhuman dark gaze, Celeste found herself shell shocked as well as extremely confused.

"A hundred antidotes? Blood and blades? What the hell is he talking about?" She mumbled.

With a soft smirk, the Prince dipped his head down and slanted his hands onto the table. "We are talking about royal household jobs." He said.

Celeste's face washed blank. With whom he was talking? She wondered and the next second, she stiffened when she realized she had voiced out aloud.

"May I ask if you have your passions in slaughtering, lady?"