HER CHAMBERS

"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.

"What?" Aurora blinked severally, Grand Queen looked at Alex, he lowered his head, and Aurora cleared her throat, directing her attention to her, "Your Grace?" Aurora calls with a lingering smile.

Despite the chest pain, Aurora managed a smile, this was the best for her, to ignore him, at least she could do that for the time being. What was he doing here anyway? She battled with her thoughts.

"That's enough introduction for the night, you should get some rest," She says, Aurora nods. This was perfect she needed to be away from him, and her limpid eyes caught a side glance, Alex was doing just fine acting like he didn't know her, even if she wanted that, she was hurt the more.

Aurora took the hand of Delia was headed into the Palace, the door opened. Aurora wipes her blurry eyes. The beauty of the palace had directed her attention.

The palace was shiny, there were large stairs at the centre of the wide hall. And the walls are decorated with different pictures, but she recognized just one, King Liam's picture. He looked so handsome and unhappy, a faint smile brushed her sad face.

Other maids walked around, and the guard was still in a position.

At the side, there's a set of gold chairs sitting arranged and facing each other. At the centre, there's a table. A tall shelf decorated the small room.

At the centre of the palace, there's a fountain, designed as a mother with a child in her arms, water flowing down her hair. She seemed like a goddess. And this amazed her.

"Wow" she spat, Delia smiled, as they walked together.

"This way, Your Highness," Delia tells her directing her to the gold stairs.

"I love-," she paused, looking at Delia, Aurora shook her head, that was one word, she never thought she would say. How could she love it here? When she was forced into a lifestyle she didn't want. She held tight to Delia's hands as they started up the stairs.

"I have to say, I am a bit impressed," Aurora said, looking back, the only maids that followed her were Sania and a dark-haired lady.

The King was a rich one, she was impressed, most King wasn't as rich as this. The lighting was perfect, Aurora looked back at the stairs and realized the stairs had their light. She imagined how they would be in the dark.

The passage is painted white and beautified with dim yellow light leading through. Aurora's cheeks flushed.

Delia lets go of her hand and opens a door, Aurora took a step, walking in... The light came on, and she looked around, Sania had turned on the light.

"Wow!" Aurora screams, wiping her eyes she rushed to the bed bouncing on it, "it's so big!" She says, Sania giggles enjoying her reaction.

Aurora breathes trying to catch her breath, staring at the ceiling. Breathing in and out. Looking at her side, she finds a brown wooden table beside her, and there's a lamp standing on it.

There's a brown wooden door closed, she looked away, and a white curtain covered the window. Sitting up, Aurora meets a tinted glass door. She suddenly felt Delia and Sania's presence, she cleared her throat, staring at them, while walking over to the door. Aurora pushed it open and that was the bathroom.

She swallowed and looked at them closing it. That was the most comfortable bathroom she had ever seen, and it was coming to her, how comfortable they wanted her to be.

"What's that?" She asked, they all watched her walk closer and grabbing the lock, the door opened. Aurora gasped, the space was filled with clothes and shoes. The side of the wall was covered in bags, and in the middle a long dressing table sat, Aurora looked back at Delia.

"The King personally had them arranged," Delia said.

"He did" she whispered, looking back at the curtains

"It's a gallery," Delia said, Aurora continued till she opened the door, a cool breeze blew against her face, and she stood there, frozen.

She sighed heavily.

"Is something wrong? Do you not like it?" Sania asked, Aurora stared at the magnificent palace from the magical gallery, never in her life did she smell such luxury, a tempting one. This hurt her pride so bad.

She grabs the chair closer, falling into the soft chair with a loud sigh. Was this what her mother saw and decided to sell her off? How much did the King give her? She thought, hurt and betrayed.

The starry night sky was beautiful and she could stare for hours, the breeze was cold and covered her skin with goosebumps.

"Your Highness, you're gonna get cold," Sania says, Aurora looks back at her, and she was the only one standing with her, Delia had gone, along with the other maid. Scanning her, Aurora saw her legs shake, was it the cold?

She looked up at her, she looked just fine... Sania then twists her legs, "Have a seat," Aurora said in a low voice.

"I can't," Sania said, Aurora nods.

"Well, it's just us and I am your Queen, so you should," She said, exhausted.

"Really?" Sania asked, covering her mouth with her palms.

"Of course," Aurora replied, pulling the other chair closer.

"Thank you! Your Highness," She said with a wide smile, sitting beside Aurora, looking at her, she felt joy lit her sad heart.

Aurora sighed deeply, resting on the feathered chair. She turned her face to Sania and then continued with the sky.

"Sania?" She called, softly.

"Your Highness," Sania replied, sitting forward.

"Would you be my friend?" She said in a low voice, slowly turning to her, Aurora made sure to have a smile but Sania's smile had disappeared. "You could call me that when no one's around" she added, staring into her eyes.

"Your-"

"Aurora Dan," she said, stretching her hands to her, Sania lowered her gaze to her hand and reached out for hers.

"I wouldn't dare, Your Highness," she said, quickly getting up from the chair, Aurora looks at her, and her smile faded.

"Do you know how lonely I would be? I don't think I am asking for much" she said, saddened, blinking slowly.

After a moment of silence, Sania takes a deep breath, lowering her gaze, "Sania Gale," she said. Aurora's smile widened.

"Wow, that's a nice name," she praised, excited.

"Yours too," Sania said.

The door opens, and Delia walks in with the other maid—Kera, beside her

"Your Highness, the king is almost here!" Delia said and her voice echoed around the room.

Aurora sighs, frustratedly, closing her eyes briefly, Sania chuckles.

"My Queen?" Delia called.

"Oh my! I forgot!" Sania covered her mouth, gasping. Aurora opens her eyes, confused by her reaction.

Delia walks into the gallery, seeing her sitting comfortably staring at Sania.

"My Queen, you should have a bath... His Majesty would be here soon" she urged.

"I don't want to" she replied, without thinking.

"Are you going to sleep like this?" Sania questioned, Aurora looked at herself, band swallowed. Her face was already itchy, and her body was sweaty. She tightened her lips, slightly embarrassed.

"I would-" she cleared her throat, blinking severally, "Just because I am not comfortable like this, not because of the King" she clarified, getting up.

Minutes later, Aurora steps out of the bathroom, covered in a white bathrobe and a white towel wrapped around her hair.

"Wow!" She exclaimed, looking back at the bathroom. "That was quite a bathe," she praised.

Aurora paused, staring at Sania and what she had in her hands, a white see-through nightdress.

"You want me to wear that?" She questioned, as Sania was about to speak, Aurora sneezed, sniffling, she gently raised her brows at her, "in this condition?" She asked.

"It's what the king wants," Kera said, Aurora looked at her, she hadn't heard her speak and wasn't interested in her, but now she was.

"What's your name?" She asked, Kera looked at Sania, and looked back at her.

"Kera," she replied.

"Hmm," she looked at Sania and the dress, "Kera alright? I would handle what I wear tonight, so I don't need you to worry," she said, placing her hands on Kera's shoulder.

"His-" Kera tried to speak.

"I guess you understand me," she said, moving away from her and approaching the closet.

"Yes, My Queen" She replied.

"Drop it and leave," Aurora said, Sania and Kera looked at themselves, "Leave... goodnight I would take care of my things," Aurora said, moving closer, she grabbed the gown and tossed it into the closet, leaving it on the floor. "How would I put on such..." She shook, irritated by the thought of it.

"Your Highness?" Sania calls, staring at her with sad eyes, gaze enough to change her mind.

"You too," she looked away, "I want to be alone," she said, turning back to the closet. "Close the door on the way out, Thank you!" She said.

Aurora picks out purple night trousers, with matching tops, and made sure to add a black singlets inside, after she had dressed, she packed her hair in a ponytail ready for bed.

"Alex" she stopped, placing a foot on the bed.

Quickly, she rushed, pushed the lock open and looked outside, the passage was empty. She had just a guard at her door.

"Is something wrong, My Queen?" He asked.

"No," she replied, heading back inside, she shut the door, leaning on it and holding her aching head.