The palace

Chapter 2

Courtney POV

   "Where...where..did you get this money??" Reena was staring at me eyes widened

    "Don't tell me you stole it" I cleared my throat and smiled at her.

"But you promised not to ever…"

"Reena,we need this urgently,so just take it and do the necessary things'

"But …"

"Reena just take it" she sighed and took the pouch reluctantly,she poured out the contents.

  

    "Where did you get this?"she was pointing at the invitation card

"Oh this,it was with the money I…"

"Gosh my lady,we are in trouble"she sound aggregated

"What is it?"

   "This is the invitation to the palace,noble ladies pay and do a lot of things to get this,getting it gives them 50% assurance of being the future Queen"she explained

    "Ok,so what has it got to do with me?"

"It has a lot to do,noble ladies do all they can to get it,even the mistress I work for is desperately looking for this"

"So It's a hot cake but even if they got in,only one person can be the Queen. Why go any length to get this?" I watched as Reena shakes her head

  "Even if they don't get selected, they will be compensated with 2 box of gold,clothes and Jewelries,so it worth it"

I sat up well,and my interest peaked

"What did you say? There's a compensation?"I asked shaking Reena taking her by surprise

"Yes" Reena was staring at me wondering the reason I was suddenly excited.

"But why are you excited?" I grinned and hugged Reena

"Our lifes is about change"I giggled while she looked at me in confusion.

  "This is our chance,let's go get the money"

"What money?"I smiled and elaborated

"We are going into the palace for the…."

"What!" She exclaimed

"Calm down,it not I'm going to be selected anyways I'm doing it for the compensation"she shaked her no

"Listen,if we get that compensation,our lives will change forever,we won't have to worry about what to eat,fear our house will be ruined or worry about money" I halted and watch her expression and she still seems reluctant

    "My lady, it is dangerous,what if you are selected?" I laughed at her remark

"Me? As a queen? Come-on Reena,you overestimate me" I chuckled,waiting for her to join me,but she looked serious

  "I'm afraid with this face you might have chosen" she was staring at me without blinking.

   "You are worried for nothing moreover those noble ladies are quite beautiful and…."

"You need to look yourself in the mirror,you might be poor but your Looks can bring about…."

"Reena stop exaggerating,who will choose a queen for her looks,they only chose the competent one" she nodded but still trying to refuse.

 "We are going into the palace tomorrow and that's final" I declared while Reena swallowed her words.

       I was dressed in a new gown. I bought the money I stole.

I bought two more clothes to take along,and shoes with a few pieces of jewelry, though it hurts me to spend the money but I need to spend it to get more money.

     We set to enter the palace,we got in with the invitation card.

"Wow the palace is very beautiful"Reena muttered loud enough for me to hear

We stared at the palace in awe.

   "My lady this way"A maid interrupted I and Reena's tour.

   She bowed respectfully to us and led the way.

     We walked for God knows how long and finally got to a big yard.

   "Mi Lady,Here you will be staying here with the other ladies for now,I hope it will be ok for now as time goes on you will all get a separate court" The maid explained cautiously

"It ok,I like it" I flashed her a smile while she nodded her head respectively

      

     "This way" she gestured and I followed her

She stopped in front of a room, "this will be your room for now" I grinned and noticed there are rooms around the courtyard.

    Which means all the noble ladies will be staying here for now

Well I don't mind as long as we don't get in each other's way

   "Thank you" I muttered and went towards the door

"Mi Lady allow me"Reena ran to the door and help me with it.

  She stepped back and I entered first

"Wow! This... this is magnificent,I love…."

"Mi Lady"Reena called my attention as I was losing my cool 

   I looked back at the palace maid and saw her staring at me in surprise so I composed myself.

  "Lunch will be ready soon" She bowed again and left.

   "Wow! Reena, did you see this,it's original,how much will this cost? If we are to sell it,Gosh we will be rich,oh my God we are……" I was screaming as soon as the maid left.

      I was touching everything in the room,from the vase,to the table,the decorations and cushion.

   "My Lady if we steal anything here,we are done for remember we came here to make money"

"That's true,I should focus." I stopped touching and sat down.

   "What should we do now? we managed to enter the palace,what next?" 

"We just need to fail whatever test there is then we can be withdrawn and compensated,simple right?" I replied and Reena sighed nodding

   

    "Milady,your lunch is ready" a timid voice came from the door.

 "Come in" I composed myself.

The door opened and a little girl not less than 15 entered,she looked tiny and kept her head down.

    She dropped the large tray she was holding on the table,and a pleasant aroma drifted into my nose.

   I drooled at the sight of food, swallowing my spit.it been a while I had such delicacies.

   There's chicken,beef,mashed potatoes,bread,jam,apple,and soup.

     The little maid slowly moved in reverse and I stopped her before she left.

"Hey,have you eaten?" I saw how she trembled when I talked to her

     "Hey,are you ok?Are you…."

"I'm... I'm fine...Milady…"her voice came out a whisper.

"I think you should eat,you can…"

"Thud" the sound scare me and moved back in fear

She was now on her knees,shaking with fear

   "I'm…. I'm... I'm fine"she whimpered.

I felt my heart hurt for her

"You should……"

"My Lady"Renna interrupted,I shifted my gaze to Renna

      She shakes her head no,telling me to stop.

    "You can go" the maid stood up still trembling

"My Lady,you have to control yourself,don't poke your nose into…."

"I know,it ok" I cut Reena off,I don't want to hear her nagging.

   "Eat to your fill,I will be back"

"Where are you going Milady"Reena drew my gown

"I will be back" I removed her hands from my gown and opened the door.

"MiLady,you…."

I shut the door and walked out of the court yard.

I hasten my pace so Reena won't catch up with me.

I can't help but think of the little maid,I don't know why I'm feeling for her when my situation is not any better

'Stop it Courtney,you came here for a reason, focus Courtney, focus,just get what you're here for and disappear with no string attached,you only…..'

  "Ahhhh!" My body went back at the impact of the collision and I can't help but yelp out.

It's like I collide with the wall and I can tell my nose is already bleeding and it hurts as hell.

    I raised my head up to see what wall I bumped into.

  Turns out it was someone's chest.

He's so tall that my eyes were on the level of his chest.

   He bumped into me and didn't even bother to apologize.

  "Shit, what the fuck? Are you blind? Can't you…." I choked on my words when I came face to face with the culprit.

My breath stopped,and my heart started beating very fast.

   'so handsome' that was all my thought