Chapter 4: I met someone

* Landed in Monied Kingdom at 2 pm. April 26, 2025.*

It was a beautiful afternoon at the time we landed. We were taken from the airport to the palace of the Mrithun in the North. The drive from the airport to Sasha’s palace took us an hour upon arrival. When we reached their place we were greeted by Sasha and her family. They said they were a day ahead of us so they already made sure the place is ready for visitors. I looked at the front door and it was gigantic. If a giant were to pay them a visit for a cup of tea and some cookies. It wouldn’t be a problem. I look again to witness the view of the ever breath taking palace and was mesmerized how big the place was. The garden in front of the house was so big that cars are needed if you want to go out or come inside. The garden also had a beautiful fountain where angels were spitting water. “I’ll make sure to help myself to a tour,” I said, promising myself.  It felt like I’m a princess. The maids took our luggage while Sasha and her family took us to the receiving room. Again every corner of this palace was spotless. I tell you that I at least saw 100 paintings from the door along the way to the receiving room. Paintings were what we commonly see like fruits, some were sceneries but mostly it was people. Maybe they were ancestors of the Mrithun family.

“I hope everyone had a smooth flight,” said by Mrs. Mrithun

 “Oh the flight was amazing,” mom said as she sits down “It was our first time to fly by first class.” My mom replied while my father agree with her.

Mrs.Mrithun asked “What about you, the Prasiers?”

The Prasier responded “Everything was perfect. Thank you for taking us here.” Continued to sit down.

“It is currently 3 in the afternoon. I hope everyone had lunch, I presume,” said Mrs. Mirithun while she looks at the butler.

“Yes Duchess. But Miss Freya slept through the flight so she had snacks and did not acquire lunch,” said by the butler

“I was still full from the food I asked for,” I said abruptly.

“Well, that’s good to hear dear,” she said

The families shared conversations on how the Monied kingdom was far more beautiful than in pictures while me, Sasha and Belinda talked about the wedding. We were secretly screaming because Sasha’s life is a Hollywood movie. I asked where Sir Michael was or if he will join us later but she sadly replied that Sir Michael was busy because he had duties to attend to. After the long talking, the butler came back and whisper. The Mrithun family stood up first telling that we should follow them so we can finally eat.

Dinner was a full course meal. First was an appetizer which was type of soup that I will probably butcher if I try to say the name. It was slight sweet and salty yet the taste was out of this world. For the main dish we were served a tender chicken that was marinated in different kinds of seasoning form around the world. It was served with gravy. As I take a bite from that chicken your mouth will start to water from the juiciness of it. As you savor it, your tongue will take on a journey to find what herbs and spices that was put into it. First guess was pepper then a salt perhaps cumin and thyme but the rest was still a mystery. When you eat it with gravy, you come to the realization the chicken went from delicious to heaven taste. It upgraded the taste of the dish. From mouth watering to heaven. When I thought nothing can top over the amazing food we just ate. The butler came and said the desserts name which was beyond my abilities to say the name but it was ice cream served with crushed crackers at the bottom. It looked like chilled cheesecake but no. The flavors comes bursting out, at first it tasted like water melon then it had strawberries but it also had a taste of mango. I know it sounds weird but the taste was out of this world. If only my shyness didn’t take over me, I would ask for a second serving or even a bucket full of that ice cream. Fortunately, I read in an article as I looked up Monied Kingdoms tradition, people who eats a second serving at someone else’s house it was portrayed you were a greedy person. I refrained from and simply told myself I’ll request it tomorrow if I can.

When the clock hit 8 pm. The ducal couple told us to retire for the night and sleep in our chambers. A maid was provided for each us. The maid that was assigned to me was Anna. She was charming and young. She was 16 years old just a bit younger than me. She took me where my room was and asked if I needed anything else. I told her to take some rest and just comeback by morning. She left after saying that I can ring her bell if I need anything. Well that was something new, a long rope was dangling beside the vanity which was connected to Anna’s room so she knows if I need anything.

I went inside the bathroom to try suppress the jet lag I got from travelling. I entered the beautiful shower being butt naked. Suddenly a person was in the bathtub taking a bath before me. I was so surprise that I ran outside and covered myself with a towel. Then a person came out the bathroom in a robe. It was a man.

“What are you doing here? This is my room!” I shouted at the mysterious person. I am currently standing near my bed close enough at the bathroom door. I backed out while he came closer then he flipped the switch to make all the lights on.

“Oh pardon me my lady, I am Eugene ET Blanc.” as he dries his hair with a towel.

“Mr. Eugene ET Blanc, if you don’t mind me asking. Why are you inside my bathroom?” I ask him while keeping my posture and calm face. If we were in my hometown I would have probably kill you by now. I would get that lamp then just throw it at you. Unfortunately, He said his surname was ET Blanc so surely he is a relative of Sir Michael. I shouldn’t make problems to Sasha when she is this busy. His face looks rather familiar, did I saw his face while searching online? If I don’t handle this problem then I will surely make more problems and even effect Sasha’s wedding. As I grasp at the moment to let it sit in my head on what is currently happening, He suddenly speaks again.

“The bathtub in my room is broken but I don’t like calling servants for small matters. My room is just up ahead then I walked passed by this room and saw the bath tub was working. I helped myself to use it. But I am sorry for surprising you, believe me I am more surprised to see you. People usually don’t meet each other naked in their first meeting” He explains his story.

I just got here and here I am flashing a random person with my body. “I just want to die”, I said to myself in a whisper tone while wishing the ground will eat me from this embarrassment.

 “I am sorry for surprising you with my body. I think you are done and maybe you can leave? I am freezing Sir Eugene” I ask him in a well-mannered tone still covered with just a towel. This was the only words I can speak of. Good thing is he agreed and left my room after taking his clothes with him.

“Goodness, I thought I was going to die. Someone saw me naked! Someone saw me naked! I just want my soul to fly out of this body and move on,” said by me while shouting through the pillows on my bed. Still bewildered on the situation. I am quite surprised I kept a poker face while all of that had happen. I guess all of that watching of dramas finally had benefits. Knowing if I continue to shout a lot of people will come and more people will know of this incident. Who knows what kind of story people can make with this encounter. Things like this do really happened in real life, I guess.

“Please let this incident just vanish from reality,” as I continued talking to myself. The fact that this happened was beyond acceptable but the other person being a relative of Sir Michael just made things worse. Well what a great start. I better finish the shower that I was planning to do. After showering I come onto my bed and took a rest subsequently someone knocked on my door.

*12 o'clock at night, April 27, 2025*

I opened my eyes to see it was 12 am and thinking what kind of person knocks at 12 am.  I dragged my feet to the door and opened it. It was Sir Eugene. “Good evening Sir Eugene” I greeted him by the door. Why is Sir Eugene knocking at 12 am? Can’t he call a maid or someone else if he needs something or maybe he wants to kill me because he can’t live while thinking some did that to him then I will die peacefully? As I rubbed my sleepy eyes.

 “I forgot to tell you before I left a while ago. Let this encounter be a secret between us. I don’t want for both of us to suffer to explain what happened.” He tells me with a stern look on his face.

I wasn’t planning to tell the whole world what happened too but I am glad he was also thinking what is for the best. “As you wish Sir Eugene. If that is all I bid you goodnight” I tell him in a sleepy voice. He nods then leaves. I immediately jumped onto my bed and slept peacefully throughout the night, I didn’t have enough energy to think of everything again moreover I let slumber take over me.

“What a beautiful flower this is.” I compliment the flowers that was blooming in the garden. The garden was filled with white and yellow chrysanthemums. The breeze of cold wind was refreshing after breathing the air of the polluted city. If one were to say heaven was a beautiful place then this place was heaven. Seeing the neighborhood made me calm inside and peace of mind I have never thought was something real. “I don’t ever want to leave here,” I tell myself, shocked by my own statement because the thought itself was selfish. This wasn’t my home, this was Sasha’s home so I need to respect her boundaries. Yet this place feels home. What does home feels like? I pounder to myself.

* 5:30 in the morning, it is April 27, 2025*

“Lady Freya, please wake up. Lady Freya it’s time to get ready. Lady Freya…Lady Freya…Lady” I opened my eyes it was Anna who was calling me. It was another dream. A beautiful dream indeed.

 “Good morning Anna. Please don’t call me Lady, I prefer Freya alone.” I tell her while rubbing my eyes.

“I can’t possibly do that Lady Freya. I will be scolded by mother if she were to hear it,” she said while fixing my bed. I didn’t pursue to make her change her answer. If that was the culture in here then I will follow. She tells I need to get ready for the Mrithun ordered them to tell us we will have a small meeting with everyone at 7 am. No wonder she woke me up much earlier than I expected.

 I proceed to the bathroom where Anna persisted to help me bathe but I stopped her because I didn’t need anyone to help me. I guess rich people also acquires help from maids to bathe especially if the bathroom is almost big as a house. I told her while she waits for me she can sit down and take a rest. After I was done showering, Anna was on her feet and was waiting for me. I looked at the bed and saw an outfit was laid down. I asked her.

“Did you do this?” she responded to me saying “Yes, I’m sorry if I didn’t ask permission to touch your luggage.” I told her “It was fine, I was just caught off guard”. She helped me get dress and fix my hair. The way she combined my pleated skirt with a cream blouse looked fancy. Funny story, both items have never occurred to me would match. Looking at myself in the mirror I am astonished at my outfit. I complimented her talent in having a keen eye to fashion. Her face flushed and asked her why. “Even my mother doesn’t compliment me like you, Lady Freya,” she tells while her face was blushing from ear to ear.

 “Anna, if I may ask why are you serving the Mrithun family in a very young age?” I curiously ask her because back in Colandria it was unacceptable to have a 16 year old work as a maid in a big place. 16 years old usually work only in the summer but it was strictly forbidden to work full time to avoid child abuse in the workplace. “My mother is the Head house maid of this establishment. You must have met my father. He is the butler of the Mrithun Family. I also don’t work here. My mother asked if I could be your maid for 2 weeks and I agree because the house was short staffed and I knew the basics of being a maid.” she replied.

No wonder she resembled the butler in the way she walked and do the job. Another maid knocked on the door telling it was time for breakfast. I told the maid I was going then Anna persisted to finish my hair first. She made sure no hair was falling off. She took me where the dining room was and help me seat then told me she was going back to clean the room and if I needed anything then just raise my hand and a maid will come to me.

I was the third person who was seated. Sasha’s family was already seated and waiting for others but Sasha was not with them. “Good Morning Duke and Duchess. I am sorry if they are taking their time,” I greeted them feeling sorry for having such slow poke people. “Good morning to you too dear. I’m surprised you’re awake at this hour. Seems like your family and the Prasier’s are still tired from the travel. Please don’t be sorry for them being late. I understand since you just came here,” Mrs. Mrithun said to me with a pleasing smile. After 15 minutes one by one they come. In a blink of an eye everyone has gathered. 

The breakfast was a light one. We all ate pancakes and you can choose what syrup you want to top it. They even served some blue berries and other kinds of berries and fruits. The drinks were a cup of tea but I requested for some black coffee to wake me up. I raised my hand slightly to signal the maid close to us. The maid made its way to me and ask what I need. I tell her that I want a black coffee with sugar and a bit of a milk. She replied with a question on what kind of milk would I prefer but I didn’t know there were kinds of milk to start with. I just said whatever they had then she left. In about 3 minutes the maid came back with my cup of coffee.

“When we finish eating our breakfast. I ask everyone to follow me in the Receiving room. I have somethings to announce. We will take our leave first to get ready. Enjoy your breakfast everyone,” said by Mr. Mrithun then stood up. Left the dining are with his wife. When the Ducal couple left. My eyes started to wander. I just kept a straight face when we were alone and exchange a few sentences on how was school for me and the three of us.

Taking a look on the place. The table was definitely long. I thought it was mere imagination yesterday and this morning. Seeing how many people are sitting and still have room left. The table could at least fit 2 more people.

 Sasha was not with us because she went to the ET Blanc residence early in the morning to arrange something about the upcoming wedding. We immediately went to the receiving room after we ate our food.

* 9 am, in the receiving room.*

“As you know, we are the Duke and Duchess of this fief. We are one of the highest person in power and we can assure your safety while you are here. When someone ask you who you are or think you are in danger please use our names to shield you. Even thou the Monied Kingdom is a safe place but it’s better to be safe than sorry. Everyone will also have to attend a week of lesson about proper manners and language to present yourselves when you meet the King and Queen. All of this of course were already discussed before we went here. If you want to explore and tour around just tell me and I will arrange some people to come with you in addition if my schedule is free I will gladly tour you around. The teachers will come by 10 am and all of you have their own respective teachers. Does anyone have a question?” said by Mr. Mrithun after explaining the things we needed to do and remember what we have talked about before. Everyone answered none then advised that we go back to our chambers because the teacher will come. It was already 9:30 in the morning so we just had enough time to prepare ourselves.

I went back to my room after moving in circles I asked a maid to help me out. When I entered Anna was waiting. I asked her if she had breakfast yet, she gave me a nod the proceeded to dress me in a beautiful dress. The dress was a light pink shade with a little volume at the bottom, embellished with little embroidery in the sleeves and hemline. I got this dress when mom saw it at the mall for 50% half off. “Do I need to wear this dress?” I ask her. “Yes, my lady. Because the teacher that will be coming will know you are a guest of the ducal couple so they will assume you’re also a noble. Do you not like this dress Lady Freya? I can get you a new one” she replied with a furrowed brows to see if I like the dress or not. I told her the dress was beautiful. In reality, it was my first time to wear it since mom bought it. She put it on me after a while someone knocked on the door. I finished dressing up then Anna opened the door. Revealing a middle aged woman. It seems like she was angry from the moment she went in.

 “I am Freya Aurora. Pleased to meet you mam,” I introduced myself.

“Please to meet you too. I am Miss Welching, your teacher for the week,” she replied while looking down and up on me. “Oh we have a lot of work to do,” she murmured.