Chapter 4: The Serf

MIRASOL MCCAIN

Lord Theodore's right hand, Webster, gave us good greetings. While Lord Theodore himself remains standing in the midst of the great chamber. He seemed nice; his look is not scary unlike to what my companions were saying.

Just earlier, he learned to smile at all of us, he also gave us a hand shake which is pleasing to a Lord like him. We are all in silence. Right now, no one dares to speak because the Lord is now talking to Webster. I can barely hear the conversation, but I was able to know it when Webster approached us and says…

"Lord Theodore is inviting you to join us in the dining hall." He said in the manner that only the right hand of Lords could do.

I want to deny the invitation of Lord Theodore and Webster because I am already tired and my body is needing to feel the comfort of bed. Well, I already assumed that they would make us stay here for a while, while everything is not yet explained to us.

"You must be weary after your initial experience in the labyrinth, so I am the Lord—the King's hand, politely inviting my guests to join me." Said Lord Theodore.

I am expecting that Amadeus would answer him on our behalf but instead, it was Orion who took the moment to speak. "We could accept your invitation, my Lord. But aside of food and water, we also need roof to stay tonight."

"You don't have to worry about the roof, I think my castle has enough chamber for my guests tonight and for the following days." He said. Again, he smiled before turning his back and began to walk in another chamber.

His receding footsteps echoed in the enclosed room.

Webster, on the other hand, spread his arm to guide the way after Lord Theodore. I looked at my company, and they are in silence until now. Only Orion is the one who has smile on the face, which I think one of his genuine reactions because of the Lord's invitation.

When Amadeus moved his head as a que to walk after the Lord, we began going in the other big and enclosed room.

After few minutes, Webster stopped, so we also need to stop behind him. I can't help wandering my eyes in the most outstanding interior of the castle. I thought there were just few people in here, but the other people dressed like a servants showed up, holding different trays of dishes.

I would not deny how much mouthwatering these foods are. The smells of candles were overtaken by the sumptuous meal. And I can't wait to taste them.

I am really starving.

Lord Theodore is standing beside his chair. Our eyes unexpectedly met, and in just a matter of seconds I felt something weird in my body.

"You may choose your seats to take." Webster told us because the Lord is waiting for us to take our actions.

Amadeus and Georgia took the seats beside the Lord, while Amanda sat beside Amadeus. While I choose the seat beside Jacques after he takes his. The long dining table is too big for us to fit, but nonetheless it's too comfortable to dine within.

I thought we were all ready to eat, but I suddenly took an urge to follow the Lord's eye to see who he was looking at. And there where I just realized that Orion is still standing out of the table, as if he was waiting to a signal or something.

"What's bothering you?" The Lord asked him.

"Hey," I called Orion's attention, but he just looked at me back without saying anything.

Webster also told him to sit, but nothing happens.

A moment later, he sighed deeply. "My Lord, I am just a serf." He then admits.

I was surprised to know that he is just a serf. I caught him looking at me at exact time he said his confession. He just had fun as the Lord invited him here, but now he is suddenly embarrassed and sad just because of his level.

"I came from a family of serfs, and I was taught to distance from people who is not in my same level."

Orion is indeed, good-looking. But his clothe speaks that his different, but it doesn't mean that he has to feel ashamed. Wherever he belongs in the society, it's not a reason for me to degrade a guy who helped me.

"The invitation is for you and for the rest of your company. You are here because I told so," Lord Theodore speaks again.

I didn't waste a time to stand up again and pull Orion's hand to settle on the seat beside me. "The luck is on your side right now," I whispered to him.

"Thank you for being there," he caressed my hand.

"Perhaps to all the serfs, you are the one who didn't look like one." I just want to lit up his spirit after he admitted his status.

"That means a lot to me, Mirasol."

--

The food was served on the table once we all settled to our seats. Two of the servants started to fill the silver goblets of wine on the upper right of our utensils. The berries and earthy scents of red wine mixed with the food, and it's wonderful for me.

I want to taste it already, but the rule is, we have to wait for the signal of the Lord before we touch any of these.

The Lord then held his own fancy goblet before he was able to drink its contain. We follow his actions until I had a chance to taste red wine for the first time. I saw that some of my companion grimaces on the taste of the wine itself, but for me it's so good. The certain aftertaste of berries is what made my liver happy.

On the following moment, I enjoyed the food, from vegetables to big amount of meat.

I don't know, but there is something that I suddenly felt, something awkward because I realized that among of us, only me and the Lord are happily eating the food in the plate. The rest we're in silence.

I met Georgia's eyes when she was secretly watching me on the other side. "How could you eat like we're not searching for answers?" she asked me.

She made me feel small after that query. I slowly put my utensils down and says, "I am sorry."

"That was not appropriate, young lady." Lord Theodore said to Georgia after he heard me apologized.

Georgia sneered, "What is inappropriate here is, you not telling us what we're doing here! I am not sorry for not addressing you properly, but I think right now, you have to start explaining everything to our faces." Georgia almost got up from her seat as she speaks.

She was suddenly alarmed when Webster is about to approach her, but Lord Theodore put his right hand up to stop Webster from walking. The old man finds his spot to stay and to say this to short-tempered lady, Georgia. "You have to respect the Lord with all you might, Lady Georgia."

"Let me handle the lass, Webster." The Lord sighs.

The usual peaceful face of Lord Theodore came back before he talks to Georgia again. "There is always a time for everything, lass. However, the food will have gone cold if you don't even touch it, and you for sure will remain starving for the rest of the following hours, so I suggest to please eat first before we have our formal conversation."

She was stunned and just kept quiet at that time.

"I apologize for what she said, Lord Theodore." Orion said. "Forgive her language,"

At my first impression, I thought Lord Theodore would not be so kind to all of us, but he remains talking as if he's just a normal person. He dismissed our day by telling us to rest which made us breathe in relief. Although we'd expected to know the reason why we're in the castle of North, we still have to wait for another sunrise to set all in formal way. Besides, he tells us that there's two other people that must join the conversation, but they weren't in the castle right now.

Webster once again, gathered us in the main chamber. A group of six young and old ladies formed a line beside him. The ladies were all wearing a same color of dark mauve tulle dress with gold color belt.

After some thinking, Webster finally introduced them to us. "They are the assigned handmaidens for all of you. They will help you on living here, name whatever you needed and they will provide it."

"On living here?" I reiterated.

Webster just nodded to me.

"How we suppose to live here?" Georgia asked in disbelief.

"The Lord and the two other participants will explain everything in the meeting tomorrow, now you all just have to rest." Webster replied.

No one speaks again after Webster.

"The rule is, the old servants will take the lads and the young servants will take care of the lass. You may proceed to your own bed chambers." He dismissed us again.

The handmaidens slowly approached us. As what Webster said, one young and beautiful servant takes me.

"I am Hattie, Lady Mirasol." She introduces herself to me.