Chapter 11: The Palace - Part 2

Sarah could not believe her ears. Was it not common courtesy to at least offer a drink to the person who came of help? Let alone help, she would offer a glass of water to anyone who traveled this far. It took them an entire day on foot and the sun was almost setting. It bothered her to think that Jake would have to return all the way back in the dark.

"Phileas, look, I know you hate him, but it's getting dark - "

"He knows his way," he looked at her with his black orb of eyes, "I thought you would think highly of him. He can return just fine. The palace is no place for outsiders who have no business here".

He turned around coldly and began to walk back towards the palace. His words pierced her. Surely she thought highly of him. Sarah took a look around and realised that for a large palace, there was no one in the vicinity. It creeped her a little and the odd feeling from looking at the disturbing emblem began to return to her.

"Phileas, why is no one around?"

"I have made sure that no one comes to escort you or deal with you while I am here. The longer everyone is unaware of your identity, the better".

"So how many people know? I am guessing the guards know".

"They don't. Brave asked for Adam at the gates. Adam is my attendant. Only he knows for now. Everyone else here shall know you as Sarah, my guest".

She scoffed a little. As if anyone would believe he would get guests. Who does he think he is.

They entered the large palace with high ceilings and decorations in every wall. Everything looked so antique and beautifully restored. Every metal was polished, every vase looked new. Almost as soon as they stepped in, a group of young girls in maid outfits with long skirts approached them. They bowed graciously, just like how Jake's father had bowed to her. She bowed in return. When she stood up straight, the maids seemed to be in discomfort. Phileas looked at her and shook his head. Oh right, a head tilt should have been enough in this case. Phileas asked them to escort her to a guest chamber and prepare a bath for her. Then he headed off in another direction through the endless hallway of the large palace.

The guest room was more spacious than the room she had stayed in at the Ankur village. The bed was larger, and to Sarah's discomfort, softer. There was a fireplace at one end of the room with a small sitting area arranged around it. There was no television in this place, instead on the walls hung massive paintings of scenery. The entire room was carpeted, and above them hung flower lights.

One of the maids pulled at the string of her vest making Sarah recoil and tug back at them.

"My lady, allow me to help you disrobe for your bath is at the ready," the maid requested.

"No, no, there is no need for that. I can do it myself. Just please show me to the bathroom and give me a towel," Sarah replied shyly, her face turning red.

"If that is what my lady wishes, then do pray follow me," the young maid held out her hand towards another large door in the room motioning for her to follow.

The door, again with the emblem on it, opened into another large room which seemed to be a private bathhouse. I guess it's normal for bathrooms here to be as big as public bathhouses, she thought to herself. She found a room divider on her left and quickly ran towards it. She pulled off her clothes and wrapped herself up with the towel, the young girl had provided her, and walked out to step into the bath. The water was clear, she had no clothes on, and the young maid seemed to have no intention of leaving. She fidgeted for a while until the young maid took the hint. She smiled a little with her hand covering her mouth, and turned around. Sarah made sure to finish this awkward bath as fast as possible.

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Phileas sat patiently at his study, finally immersed in work now that he did not have to worry about bringing the princess to the palace. He found it hard to decide whether to send clothes or jewels as gifts to Brave for his hard work, when Sarah entered the room looking stiff in a gown.

He took a good look at her, then nodded, "yes, now this is fine".

"Now?"

"Earlier you looked like a man".

"Excuse me?"

The young maid who had escorted her giggled. Sarah shot her a cold look and she stopped smiling.

"Anyways, we have a lot to cover," Phileas motioned for the maid to leave.

"I am feeling very uncomfortable".

"You have to get used to it. This is the proper attire for this place and for your position. Wear anything else and you either grab too much unwanted attention that screams that you are not from our realm, or you make a fool out of yourself".

Phileas gave it to her straight, "You will have to learn a lot of etiquette starting today. You have to study about the royal family's affairs," he tapped on the piles of paper stacked on his table, "and try to fit in as fast as possible".

"Does this mean I can't go back any time soon?"

"Rhea, you didn't come hear for a short trip. You came here to find yourself. There is no going back until things are sorted".

"But what about school and my friends? They will ask where I am".

"See, it's difficult for magic to last outside this realm. Anyone born with a magic core is eventually forgotten when they leave the human realm. Your teachers and friends will eventually forget you existed".

"But I remembered you when you left".

"You were not born human, Rhea. You are different. This is why no one knew where Brave was when he left the human realm".

And no one remembered the flashy entrance Phileas made that day either, Sarah thought. But does this mean that her parents would forget her too? Would she forget them after living here for too long? Only time would tell.