Property of the Palace

Seira instinctively put her hand on her hair. It was sticky and rough from dry mud. She rips the lower part of her dress and covers her hair; tying the excess part of the cloth below her chin. Thankfully, she wore pants in the house before their unsuccessful escape, hopefully just for her. It covers her legs as she rips almost half of the dress. She then picked out the cut, gashes, bruises on her body—it was unsightly and a small glass bottle with green liquid on it.

Hannah takes notice of Seira's attention on the bottle. She picked the glass bottle "This is a medicinal liquid that can heal some deep wounds and will make your body feel less pain for a short time. I used it to you as soon as the guards threw you here, I'm sorry if I did that but I can't stand your state earlier"

"No, don't be sorry. I—I am really thankful for what you did. If not for you, I might be…dead right now with those injuries" Seira sincerely recited. It must be the reason that she can move gradually without so much constant spinning sensation and intense pain. If she would look back to the damage her body received in the forest plus to the woodland a while ago, the chance of her body giving up was higher. She was really thankful for the woman's kindness.

Hannah glanced at her and smiled "By the way, are you from some kind of wealthy family?"

"N-no, no. No, I'm not" she shook her head.

"Right. There's no way that you're here with us if you have affluent blood in your veins" Hannah dismisses the thought that came to her. Nobles or some high-class families always have distinct characteristics. Beauty, posture, and an unexplainable aura came from them. She met a fair number of high-class persons and she can tell right away if she met one and the woman beside her has the same air around her. But her appearance doesn't do well in what she thought the woman might be.

"I guess my sixth sense is now dissipating," she murmured.

Seira looked at Hannah out of the corner of her eye that was now talking to the man near her. She brings her knees close to her chest and puts her head on it; hiding the side of her face using her hands. Her hands were still cold. She was caught off guard by the question Hannah threw at her. Luckily she managed to mask her nervy expression.

After almost an hour, the train stopped. The people in the room started to stand up one after another. The room became tense as the minutes passed by that no one was opening the door.

"What is happening?" Seira put her hand to the wall and pushed herself up to her feet.

"We have already reached Herstings. We are about to enter Arcadis"

Seira turned to Hannah who also looked anxious. Her heart hammered against her chest; her hands started to become clammy. The moment she steps outside the vehicle, her life will surely be messy. She was going to enter the place she escaped from and worst was setting foot in the palace she swore she will never try to enter again and for a lame reason at that. A misunderstanding. Taking a deep breath, she waits for the door to open.

The loud clattering sound of metals coming in contact echoed in the compartment. The bright sun rays hit them at once. Seira blocks the lights using her hand.

Guards dressed in gray-colored uniforms, paired with black boots, and a scabbard placed on their waist entered the compartment.

"Listen up! You are all now a property of the palace. You have no right to speak and demand anything. Fulfill your duties as new servants with allegiance and loyalty!" the voice of the guard boomed.

No one dared to make a noise or a protest. Everyone nodded as fear filled them. Seira mentally rolled her eyes. There was no way that she would give her loyalty to the people in the palace or anyone in Arcadis.

"Now line up!" the same guard shouted.

Seira along with the people in the compartment line up. Hannah was in front of her while a middle-aged woman was in her back. They walked outside with their hearts pounding.

The blue sky was dotted with white clouds as the midday sun shone relentlessly on the road of Herstings. Seira looked up briefly at the sky. She would love to stare at it the whole day but she can't do it today when the start of her doomed life was right in front of her.

Seira frowned when a group of people was waiting in the station. They have the same downhearted expression and worn-out clothes.

"There are others also aside from us?"

"The nobles are demanding also for servants, that's why there's many of us here" Hannah replied.

Realizing that she said it aloud, she nodded in understanding even though Hannah can't see her.

The travelers, onlookers in Herstings look at the servants walking with their heads facing the ground with disgust on their faces. Some scoffed and yelled insulting words at them while others turned away, feeling pity for the misfortune of the servants.

Seira gritted her teeth as she walked on the rather hot ground of the town. She was barefooted and the land was hot due to the scorching sun of midday. Not to mention that her toes were wounded.

"Ouch" she hissed when she stepped on a pebble again for the nth time since they entered the gateway of Herstings. Dust and dirt covered her feet.

"Can you walk faster?"

The woman next to her murmured irritatingly, enough only for her to hear.

She wanted to answer back and tell the woman that she is trying her best but again, she pushed back the thought. There's no use justifying herself. The guards will definitely beat her and the others if her pace becomes even slower. The gap between her and Hannah was getting larger.

With a groan, she hobbled briskly towards Hannah and the others; trying to ignore the pain climbing up to her leg to every step she did.

The heavy metal of the gate opening resonates to the place. Fear consumed every servant as the gate slid upward. When the ringing sound came to a halt, their fear doubled as the guards signaled them to walk.

Seira ignored the pain from her palm as she pressed her nails into it to suppress her shaking and stopping herself to collapse. Terror mounted on every step as she gets nearer inside.

Closing her eyes, she passed the gate. The hot concrete surface hit her feet. She slowly opened her eyes. A road made of bricks is the first thing she saw. She slightly peeks to her left with her head still facing down. Trees and grasses were on the side not so far from the road. Is this supposed to be like this? Aren't they in Arcadis but where are the houses?.

Suddenly, a memory of a silver, large gate flashed into her mind. A forest was also on its side. Then, the realization hit her. The metal gate was not the real entrance to Arcadis. It was actually far from it.

As if on cue, one of the guard's voices bellowed out an order "Halt your steps!"

They instantly followed the order; still looking down. Seira craned her neck. It was starting to ache. The worst was her head throbbing in pain.

"Climb off to those wagons!" the guard ordered again. "Faster!"