ARRIVAL

The car parked and arrived at the main Palace at sunset. Aurora's eyes opened, she had just gotten to the car, why? She had just closed her eyes briefly and she arrived at the Palace. She looked out the window, and this wasn't the place she was the last time. This one was different.

It had really long stairs. She would get tired from those long stairs, she thought... The castle of Nuland was just beautiful and now she was a fairytale Queen, the warm painting was cosy, the windows were small, and each window was either dark or had a light shining through, she could as well, see people walk through from her distance they looked smaller. She wondered how many rooms were built, it was beautiful and unimaginable.

Impatiently, she opened the car door, and stepping out, a sound escaped her mouth, "Wow!" Her eyes shot wide at the beauty standing firmly in her front.

Looking around, she spotted a green garden, so beautiful, she could run into and play all day, why was this so perfect, she had an image of a shabby palace, but this was beyond her imagination. The garden seemed to have ponds with ducks, and their babies.

So many royal maids and guards stood in white uniforms, she assumed. They awaited her arrival. Beside the maids and guards, an elderly woman stood with them, she was different, in a piece of expensive green cotton fabric, her hair made in a clean bun, she had her brows craved slim, the lady was light-skinned, she wasn't fat neither was she fat. Her eye colour was brown, make-up just the right touch with a faint smile on her thick nude lips. She could tell that she was royal to be dressed that elegant, but who was she exactly?

"Your Highness?" Delia — the maid who had followed her in a different car, whispered, walking behind her with her head bowed.

"This is really amazing" she whispered referring to the palace and looking at Delia. "Right?" She asked.

The door opened, and His Majesty— Liam stepped out, immediately all the maids bowed and the guards lowered their heads. Aurora's face fell at his presence.

A bald short man walked up to him, "Sire, it's good to have you back" he told him.

Liam turned to her, and her heart twitched at the evil yet charming smirk he had on his gorgeous face. His hands were placed in his pocket and she returned a fake smile.

"Thank you, Samuel" he replied, Samuel then moved aside.

While Liam approached Aurora, Liam had his hands stretched out, and didn't forget to add a smile as he walked closer to her. On the other hand, Aurora wasn't buying any of that, she returned his charming warm smile with a cold death stare.

"My Queen" he spoke, her heart skipped just again at the sound of his voice.

"I am not your Queen" she replied, instantly and boldly. Even when she knew she was, this was something she wasn't going to accept.

He nodded, and leaned closer, "But you are," he said, moving even closer, trying to cover the gap between them, Liam pulled her closer to his body.

Aurora gasped, and placed her hands on his chest, stopping herself from getting too close. Her breath quickened, and her eyes danced around his handsome face.

Liam placed his hand over hers, gently taking her hands off his chest, Aurora didn't wait for him to finish and pulled her hands away from his.

"We should head in," He said, smiling at her flushed face.

Aurora stared at him speechlessly, as he walked the stairs.

"Oh," he turned back to her, "I won't be with you tonight, I have to work... Make yourself at home," he said, Aurora's brows furrowed

Behind him, Aurora's gaze caught someone who stood beside Sania, he had his head down, and his hands folded at his front but despite that, he looked familiar.

"Your Highness?" Delia whispered, Aurora blinked, and looked back at Liam, he turned to the direction she stared in seconds ago, looking at Sania head to toe.

"Sire," the woman in royal robes called, Aurora looked at her.

"Thank you for doing..."

"You should see to other things, I would take care of her," She said, interrupting.

"Who is she?" Aurora whispered to Delia, staring at them, they seemed too comfortable to her.

"That the Grand Queen, Her Grace" She explained.

"Grand Queen?" She looked at her with confusion flashing her eyes, "You mean, my superior?" She said with her brows raised.

"That's disrespect" Tracy— the Grand Queen/ Liam's grandmother said, Aurora looked at her.

Her hands found her dress, tightening her grip at her side.

"Hi?" She said, the maids raised their heads, shocked by her response, seeing their eyes focused on her, Aurora gulped. "What?" She asked, grinning.

"She's the Grand Queen and Liam's grandmother" Delia whispered, Aurora's eyes met hers, and she seemed upset with her response, immediately she managed a smile.

"Your Highness?" She asked, confused.

"Your Grace" Delia whispered, Aurora looked at Tracy, head to toe... If she was Queen why did she have to bow to her?

"Even a baby would know who I was, how could you be so reckless and disrespectful?" Tracy asked, Aurora scoffed, and her eyes darkened.

"Maybe because I didn't want to be here at first" she replied, rolling her eyes, and sighing.

"What did you say?" Grand Queen asked, Aurora looked at her, and rolled her eyes again.

"Why should I repeat myself?" She questioned, leaving her speechlessly.

Delia grabbed her arms, Aurora stepped forward avoiding her touch.

Queen Tracy scoffed, nodding, "Anyways, this is your servants," she said.

"Why should I need a servant? What year are we in?" She asked, looking at the servants, although she agreed, her goal was to be disrespectful, maybe they would toss her out soon.

"Heads up," Queen Tracy said, ignoring her words, Aurora looked away, folding her hands and leaning on a leg, sighing over and over, frustratedly she began to bite her nails. "Soon-" she paused, staring at Aurora who didn't care about her. She cleared her throat, Aurora looks at her.

"Is something wrong?" She asked, "I just want to go in," she said.

"These are your servants, they would help you with whatever you need, you would get to know them, and they would introduce themselves," she said, giving a head sign.

"I'm victor," one of the guards said, Aurora yawned.

"I'm Rico, I'm Stanley" the rest started, the introduction continued, but Aurora stood there exhausted and not interested in what they had to say.

Aurora stared at the guy with black long hair, this man had his head down, even when the others had their heads up, he was different and she was curious to know who he was, as he looked so familiar.

"I'm Sania, and I am going to be your right-hand maid," Sania said, Aurora faked a smile, with her eyes glued on the guy who hadn't taken his head Despite it being his time.

"It's your turn," she said, "And you are?" She asked, tilting her head to catch a glimpse of the young man.

"I'm Alex," he says, with his head lowered.

"Alex?" Aurora whispered, the familiar name was the same as her ex-boyfriend, and begging her gods he wasn't the one, she stepped further to catch a glimpse to satisfy her inquisitiveness. "Could raise your head?" She ordered, "at least I would like to know my guard," he said, giggling and hoping she didn't sound too suspicious.

Time stopped and they stared into each other's gaze, Aurora could never believe he was the one standing there in the armours about to be her guard, this man who was the love of her life, was going to be a servant, she froze staring at him, expressionless, her eyes glinted with unbelief.

"Alex?" She whispered, staring at him.

"What's wrong?" Queen Tracy asked, Aurora turns in her direction, stupefied, who could tell her he would be in the palace, she thought hard for a reply but her chest hurt ten times more, remembering Alex once told her, he was schooling and not working, all this while how did he spend her money. A loud sigh escaped her lips, and Aurora gulped.