34: King's Guest

I hid a smile when I arrived in front of the Holland Palace, it's already the second dawn since I've left the escape house.

"Good morning, King of Holland." I greeted him and I hid a smile when he flinched a bit because of my cold voice

"You're playing around right now, aren't you?" Zairo asked me and I pursed my lips to stop myself from smiling

"Queen of Astrae," he greeted and I removed my hood

"I didn't know you'd be back immediately." He said and I smiled under the cloth

"How did the delegation go?" I asked him and sat on the chair in front of his table

"The Queen Trinity, I beg your pardon, I mean Lady Trinity Ezra had invited every one of the nobility apart from the nobles and the royal family of Arcadia." He said and I nodded

"I see, that is to be expected." I said

"The Dowager Queen Katrina seem quite delighted to see the Earl's first son, did you tell me to bring him for a certain reason?" he asked and I smiled while nodding

"The Earl's first-born is a married man, isn't he?" I asked

"Yes, he's already married which is why I thought of bringing the younger brother who is about the same age as the Lady Trinity if you didn't tell me to bring him instead." He said

"He has a son, does he not?" I asked again

"How did you know, Queen of Astrae? Are you interested in him?" King Skylark looked surprised

"No, I just happen to know a nasty little secret." I replied with a smirk

"And does that nasty little secret involve the Earl Rondsten?" he asked

"Not particularly, just his first born, the future Earl David Rondsten." I answered

"Then, is he somewhat connected to the Dowager Queen?" the King of Holland asked

"At some circumstance, yes, he is somewhat related to her." I answered

"And oh, I figured that it's about time that we prepare for the war." I said and removed the cloth

"However, I am yet to set an appointment with the Arcadian king." He said and I nodded

"Then you wouldn't mind my presence here as you wait for their reply, would you, King Skylark?" I asked and he shook his head

"Of course not, Queen Patrice." He said

A knock interrupted our conversation and a man, I assume is the Holland's royal messenger, arrived.

"Your majesty," he bowed down to his king

"What is it?" King Skylark asked and I looked at the paper the messenger is holding

They really did act according to plan, I see. It seems that they really did send the letter upon arriving back at Arcadia that morning yesterday seeing that the royal messenger is holding a letter with the seal of Arcadia.

"A letter has arrived from Arcadia." He said and stood up

I can see how he stilled upon noticing my presence once he looked up, I did hide my presence upon his arrival after all. He placed the letter on the table and immediately bowed down again.

"You may leave." King Skylark said and he stood up and left

"Have you contacted Arcadia beforehand, Queen Patrice?" I shook my head

"No, I did not send any letter to Arcadia, it's risky." I replied

Besides, who would need letters if you basically live with their king and prince under one roof?

"I assume you're tired from your journey, your majesty." He said

"Indeed, it has been an exhausting journey." I agreed

"Then I shall ask the maid to prepare a room for you." He said

"You may regard me as Lady Vielle to avoid the information of my presence here in your palace leak outside." I said

"As you wish, your majesty." He said and took a bell and shook it

I remember what that is, that's a magic bell that can only be heard by specific people who wear a specific item. It took a couple minutes before several maids arrived and went inside then bowed down.

"Prepare a room in the Silk Palace." He ordered them

"Yes, your majesty." They said and stood up and left the room

"Is there any reason why you asked me to refer to you as Lady Vielle?" he asked

"Nothing in particular, actually, I just find it unique." I answered

"I see, then when exactly are you planning to move and start the war?" he asked again

"As soon as our allies arrive, we shall move and begin." I answered and he opened the letter

He seem surprised by the contents of the letter but I can see how he had suppressed it immediately, that's good, it's good to have an ally who's capable of masking his expression, it's advantageous in front of enemies. However, it's also disadvantageous as I cannot clearly know what's running in his mind, he might be planning to betray me, if there wasn't a magic contract signed by the two of us.

"The King of Arcadia requests to visit, Queen Patrice." He informed even though it's rather unnecessary

"Then you should allow them." I said

"However, that would be dangerous if it were to reach the knowledge of the Astrae's current ruler." I added and he nodded

"Arcadia had always been a trading partner of Holland." He said

"What do you think you should do then, King Skylark?" I asked

"You tell me, Queen Patrice, this is your plan." He said

"You are now acting like a puppet, you can decide on your own, I suppose you do have an idea on how to welcome them into your palace without raising suspicion, don't you?" I asked and he seem taken a little aback

"Yes, I do have a plan in mind." He nodded

"Arcadia had always been a trading partner of Holland, if we were to say that it is a meeting regarding the trading of goods, then no one can suspect." He said

"Sounds like a good plan, King Skylark." I said nodding

"Well then, I will start writing a reply to the King of Arcadia." He said

"I shall take my leave, King Skylark." I said and stood up

"I will ask a maid to escort you to your room then." He said shaking the magic bell once again. It took a shorter while now before several maids arrived.

"Assist the Lady Vielle to her room in the Silk Palace and see to it that she is to be comfortable on her stay here." He told the maids

"Yes, your majesty." They said and bowed their head

"Thank you for your hospitality, King Skylark." I said

"It's a pleasure to work with you, Lady Vielle." He said and I smiled

"This way, my lady." One of them said and assisted me out of the king's study

They all have a bracelet, I assume that it's where they hear the sound of the bell.

"Are you hungry, my lady?" another one asked while we're on our way to wherever I'll be staying

"Not really." I answered while shaking my head

One of them opened an umbrella for me while we walked along the pathway to what I think is the place King Skylark called the Silk Palace, I contacted Zairo to inform him that the letter has arrived.

"Are you still with the king?" He asked

'No, I am now on my way to rest.' I answered

"Where will you rest?" he asked again

'He ordered his maids to prepare a room for me in the Silk Palace, I'm on my way there.' I answered

"The Silk Palace?" he asked

"We're here, my lady." They said and opened the double doors and we went inside the palace

"This way to your room, my lady," another one said and I followed her to the room

"Would you like some snacks, my lady?" another one approached me while holding a tray with cake and tea

"I'm not –" I wasn't able to continue what I was saying when the tea suddenly spilled on my clothes and the cake hit my clothes

"I'm sorry, my lady." She apologized

"Would you like to have a bath, my lady?" another one asked

"A cold bath would be nice, please prepare it for me." I answered coldly and they headed to the bathroom

I stared at the maid who intentionally spilled the tea on my clothes. I am aware that what I am wearing is nothing that would indicate my status in the nobility but I did not expect to be treated this way. I am still a king's guest, no less.

I waited until they finished preparing the cold bath, I asked them to step out the moment I entered the bath and closed the doors. I froze the top of the water and turned it into mist by sublimating it, and then I went inside the tub and started cleaning myself while the mist floats above my head. The water falling from the cloud of mist washed off the hair dye masking my gold streaks, after completing washing of the hair dye, I touched my gold streaks, the streaks that I've once was always proud of and I would always show to everyone.

After taking a bath, I wore the undergarments and went out of the room after putting dye on my hair. I doubt they would even recognize me as the former queen of Astrae even if I didn't dye my hair, maids are hardly allowed to step outside the palace, more or less receive information about and from other kingdoms unless necessary.

"We have prepared your clothes." A maid said and bowed her head

I looked at the off-shoulder dress laid out in the bed, it's still the summer season so clothing like this would be very refreshing to wear. There are only two maids here and the both of them assisted me in wearing the off-shoulder dress. They were both quiet in assisting me and one of them is very gentle in combing my hair, the dye doesn't stick on anything else that comes contact with my hair so I was a bit complacent even as they fix my hair.

"Thank you." I said

"Would you like to have some snack, my lady?" one of the two asked

"No, thank you, I'd like to have a stroll instead." I said

Some designs of the palace took my attention so I'd like to have a stroll as I might find some interesting things around her.

"As you wish, my lady." She said and I stood up from facing the vanity mirror

They led me to where the garden is and the stares and murmurs of the maids as we passed by took my attention, it seem that they were surprised of my arrival, not that it's actually questionable as I did arrive without further notice.