IS IT FAREWELL MY KING?

CHAPTER 6 - The Blue Satin, Expensive-Looking Shoal

I

Princess Areza almost runs out of the bathroom after wearing her old clothes again. She does not want her sleeping garment to get wet. She was blocked by four guards outside, at which she was surprised. She did not see these guards when she entered the swimming pool room a while ago.

The first guard nearest the door grabbed her right arm. “Hey, why are you here young lady? This is a private place for the King. No one can enter this area unless with the King’s permission.”

“Let her go!” King Severo’s voice echoed all over the swimming pool room as he shouted those words.

Princess Areza looked at the guard with a raised eyebrow, “Did you hear what the King said?”

The guard immediately removed his hand from her arm. “Apology, young lady,” he murmured apologetically as he bowed his head.

“It is fine. I am getting cold already. Please move aside and let me return to my bed.”

With such words from Princess Areza, the guard felt embarrassed again and quickly moved his feet aside, giving the Carkas Princess a passage out of the swimming pool room.

Princess Areza walked briskly going to her assigned bed. Indeed, she felt cold already. Upon seeing that her place was actually a bit dark and the ladies seemed to be already sleeping in their beds, she decided to change her clothes right then and there. After putting on her white sleeping clothing, Princess Areza felt relieved. She sat on her bed and tried to dry her hair with a small towel that she had inside her sling bag.

After a few minutes, she laid her back on her bed and scattered her hair on top of her head, since it was still a bit wet. She got her blanket and let it warm her body. Just a millisecond and she was already pulled by sleepiness into that complete darkness. She had been tired the whole day, actually since yesterday, and laying her back on this soft mattress was like a great treat for her after spending overnight inside the dark dungeon.

The next day, Princess Areza was awakened by the three ringings of a bell. The Chief Black Eunuch and Lady Dianca were already inside the Andaruni waking them all up.

She saw every lady inside the room fixing themselves and changing into a comfortable dress, which she followed. Then Glena walked towards her smiling.

“Come on Are, it is time for our breakfast,” Glena said as she stopped in front of Princess Areza’s bed.

“Thank you Glena. I am okay now, so let’s go. I am hungry actually,” she said, smiling back at her newfound friend. They walked side-by-side going to the long table on the other side of this big hall or room called Andaruni.

Glena led her to the long table on the left side and on the farthest seat, “Are, since you are new here, this will be your place at this table for the meantime. That is the rule here,” Glena said, murmuring to her.

Then Princess Areza saw the unpleasant woman yesterday who asked her questions and tried to embarrass her around the ladies. She sat on one of the chairs at the round table in the center between the two long tables.

“Why did she sit at the center table?” Princess Areza asked Glena in a whispering manner.

Glena rolled her eyes secretly but Princess Areza saw it, “Are, that woman is Minara, the current favorite of the King,” she said in a very low voice that had hardly been heard by Princess Areza.

II

A bit of a scenario is getting clear now inside the keen mind of Princess Areza. “So, those three women sitting on the chair at the center table, are the favorites of the King,” she thought.

After the light breakfast, which was mainly composed of two slices of wheat bread, a soup, and a slice of apple fruit, the ladies one by one got out of the dining area and went in different directions.

“Are, you have to wait for Lady Dianca in your area. She will tell you what you will do today and the rest of your days here. I need to go. I was assigned to learn how to sew dresses.” Glena said, then immediately went away too, just like the other girls.

Princess Areza walked towards her lair and sat on her bed while waiting for Lady Dianca. Some of the ladies were sitting on the stairs doing their crochets. She stood up and approached one of the ladies.

“Hello, I am Are, I am new here,” she introduced herself as she approached a group of three ladies doing their needlework.

The three ladies looked at her and just nodded but did not utter any word in reply to her. “Were you assigned to do that crocheting?” she tried to ask again.

One of the ladies looked up and smiled at Princess Areza, “Yes, this is our assignment for a month,” she replied casually.

At that moment, the nasty woman named Minara passed them by and snarled at them.

“Hey, you, newcomer, do not disturb them, they are busy doing their work while you are just being nosy to them. Don’t you have work to do yet,” she asked in an arrogant way. The three ladies looked at each other and looked down again at their needlework while Princess Areza stood up and smiled at Minara.

“Oh, I was just curious about their needlework. I am waiting for Lady Dianca for my first assignment,” Princess Areza explained.

Instead, of replying, Minara however, just gave her a sullen look.

Suddenly, they heard the voice of the Chief Black Eunuch, “Hail, the King is about to pass by.”

All the ladies around stood up and formed their lines on the side of the stairs. Princess Areza followed and, unintentionally, stood beside Minara, who glanced at her with a raised eyebrow.

As King Severo passed them by, they all bowed down. He walked towards the lined-up Andaruni Women and looked at them one by one as if searching for someone.

The King’s feet suddenly stopped in between Minara and Princess Areza. Minara, still with her bowed head, immediately smiled and made a side glance at Princess Areza.

Suddenly, a blue satin and expensive-looking shoal was dropped at the feet of Princess Areza.

Chief Belevey and Lady Dianca who then arrived a few seconds before the King passed by the Andaruni, looked at each other mysteriously.