bChapter /bb65 /b

Valencia

I prayed I would see someone who could guide me through the castle before the feast was over. Thankfully, I did see a servant cleaning the bstairs /bband /bimmediately rushed to him.

“Hello, I am lost. Can you take me to the royal court?”

I asked, and he looked at me from the ground where he was scrubbing at the several balusters and dropped the cloth in the bucket of water.

“Are you talking to me?” he asked, and I nodded.

He looked me up and down and got up, wiping his hands on the back of his shirt.

“Oh yes, pleasee along.”

He said, and I was relieved to walk with him. However, he kept ncing around nervously every few seconds.

“Is there an issue?” I asked after we crossed a floor and descended through a flight of stairs.

He shook his head nervously.

“We aren’t allowed to mingle with the royals. And…you are wearing red. So you are some courtier’s wife or mistress.”

He observed.

So red really conveyed status here.

I was neither, though.

“I am just a guest at the court.” I supplied, and he nodded.

“Ahh, makes sense. I just dont want any court member to use me of befriending a high noble.”

He said and subconsciously scratched the back of his head. He was wearing pale white clothes that were more yellow than white.

They were worn out just like his expression, and when I looked back at his neck, I saw a scar disappear behind his cor.

Maybe he had gotten hurt there a while ago..

I gave him a reassured s,mile.

“Dont worry, nobody will think that. Prince Killian knows me.”

I said because I was neither Killian’s wife nor his betrothed. I wasn’t sure what I was to him.

He rxed upon hearing Killian’s name.

“Oh, the youngest prince. That is great then”

He said, and I saw the smile that blossomed on his face when taiking ab

Killianb. /b

“How is he?” I asked.

“He is too good to be surrounded by these filthy people.” He said and then realized he had insulted the court, so quickly amended himself.

“I meanb, /bhe is a very nice person.”

b1/3 /b

I nodded and agreed. “He is indeed a good person. But people are known to put on masks for their own benefit. The royals are like that, bI /bbheard /b

I pressed on.

If he had been working here for long, he could tell me more about Killian. Because I wasn’t going to ask Martin or his other wretched siblings about bhim/bb. /b

Mary often painted him in a good light, but I didn’t know if that was a singr case.

The man didn’t answer my question framed as a general statement and only motioned for me to take a left.

I had not even asked him his name yet, so I did.

“What is your name?”

“Samuel. I work as a cleaner in the castle.” He said, avoiding eye contact with me.

“You work hard to earn your living. There is nothing to be ashamed of.” I said, but he didn’t reply to it.

He led me through a few floors and then, when the silence began to grow too awkward, he added,

“This is the point till where I cane. I am not allowed beyond that door.”

He said, pointing at the huge doors that were in front of us. The doors were ornate, covered in intricate floral motifs and were even studded with colorful stones. They were huge and were almost from floor to ceiling.

I looked around and realized we were at the ground floor.

“So the royal court is held at the ground floor while

th

King and the family’s chambers are upstairs.”

Samuel nodded, “That is correct. But I will take my leave now, miss. I don’t want anybody to use me of befriending a noble.”

“No, wait,” I tried to call after him, but he hurried away after stealing a nce at the guards that were standing outside the doors, guarding the entry point.

iWhen /iihe /idisappeared behind the walls, I turned around to look at the door.

I was dressed like a royal, and I had to invite from both Killian and Sir Nichs. I was also approved as the Blessed One by the Crone.

I was going to be finei. /i

With that thought in mind, I made way towards the door and stood outside the door. I meant to raise my hand and knock on it but one of the guards stopped me.

“I am sorry, missb, /bbut iyou /ican’t go inside without a royal invitation or a noble who can vouch for you.”

The guard was in his uniform, and I also saw a sword sheathed and hanging from his waist.

“I am Lady Valencia, the Blessed One, and I have been invited here by Prince Killian.”

That made the guard look at the others.

“There has been news of the Blessed One’s arrival, but we need proof that bit /bis really you and not someone pretending to be one.”

Fair.

He was just doing his duty.

But then how would I prove my identity to him?

13:16 Sat, 23 Aug

Chapter b65 /b

b“/bIts easyb. /bYou can go in and ask Prince Killian toe outside and he can take me in?

The guard, however, shook his head.

“We are not allowed to disturb the royal court unless there is an emergency. You can either go find the youngest prince yourself or wait here buntil /bhis

arrival.”

Fuck.

I could run back to the temple, but I wasn’t sit her

there.

I was wondering what to do when a voice called out to

from behind.

“Lady Valencia, I almost didn’t recognize you.”

To my disappointment, it was Fabian, thenky prince I thought to be a nice one but who turned out to be just a coward.

The guards immediately bowed to him, but he ignored them and looked at me.

“Red suits you”

I didn’t want to have a conversation with him, but I also didn’t want to stand outside the door stupidly, so I acknowledged him..

“Thanks”

He took a step closer and muttered, “I take it you

need

ian /i

entry to the

He said and offered me his arm. I wanted to p him for his behavior

royal court. Allow me to lead you inside.”

Seranthyne but couldn’t do so in front of the guards.

biat /i/bollime. The guards opened the door, and I walked inside a massive hall filled with richness and /li/ol

I looked at his arm and linked mine through it as he smiled abundancei. /i

It was just like in fairytales and even grander than I had imagined it to be.

There were the courtiers or nobles dressed in long velvet robesb, /bclinking their sses and talking to each other. They were all seated across a huge dining table that almost stretched from ione /iend of the hall ito /ithe other.

I noticed there were more men than women, and thedies were all wearing red but the men chose ck. Maybe this was the dress code for men and women for attending the royal court.

Nobody bothered looking at us as me, and Fabian entered the room.

biAD /i/b

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