NINE

Una had studied the medieval era very well, but she had never for once come across the kingdom of Slosalia. It was strange to her.

This was probably a bad dream, and she was sure she would get over it once she slept it over, so she climbed into bed and covered herself up with the warm blanket.

Before she could tell herself to go to bed, she fell into a deep sleep.

"Your Highness," Irkal said.

She had fallen asleep shortly after she saw Una finally go to bed. She has for a moment forgotten that the princess she served was no longer a part of the living world but now dead.

Una stretched in the bed as she wiggled her legs. Irkal had gone to inform Xisuthra about Una and how she reacted. Xisuthra informed the Emperor, who was going to come see her immediately after the morning readings.

"Una, you need to wake up now," Irkal said, correcting herself. She moved to the bedside and tapped Ina gently on the arm. Una stood up and rubbed her eyes gently.

She had been awake for a while now but refused to admit the fact that she might still be in the year 1505 after all. Opening her eyes, she met the same girl she met when she last opened her eyes.

The ceiling and extravagant decorations still litter the whole room. The candlelights and lamps still hung in place. Una wanted to scream, but from the information she had that said that the princess was dead, she rather not draw attention to herself in the palace. She might not find a way to make it out alive.

She could not begin to understand why her mind was getting comfortable with the fact that she time-travelled. No one had ever made ur successfully between worlds and time stamps.

People have tried time travel for years, so how was it possible that in her case, without a machine or technology, she successfully went to a time stamp where nothing was her business?

If she did know how to travel, she would have gone to the day when her parents were killed and ensured she brought them to safety; after all, she was well aware of what happened there.

"I need to dress you up and adorn you with the clothes and jewellery of the princess before the Emperor comes to see you," Irkal told her.

She did not want to believe that she was going to serve any other person than the princess.

"Can I not meet the Emperor this way?" Una asked lazy and weak from the information she had just gathered all on her own.

"No one is allowed to greet the emperor wearing sleep clothes," Irkal said in an exasperated voice.

It felt like working with a child who was just learning to talk. Everything felt difficult for Irkal to explain to the strange woman.

"Okay, I would get changed then," Una said, standing up.

"Please do us a favour and act like the princess," Irkal asked before going out to call the dresser that normally attends to the princess to prepare her for the day. 

Soon Una was dressed in elaborate cotton and adornment. The headpiece given to her was so heavy that it was making her neck crack.

The girls began to put on makeup for her. She did not like the way the powder tickled her face, but she might as well cooperate with them if she wanted out of this place.

Someone here would surely have answers to why she appeared in this timeline and how she can easily leave this place before she affects anything in the future.

"Irkal, do I need to wear this?" Una asked, tilting her head to the left.

"Yes," Irkal answered without turning to face her.

"You did not even look to see what I was talking about," Una said, frowning.

She could get the vibe from Irkal that she did not like her. Was it because of her many questions? Of course, Irkal would not understand. Imagine being pulled out of your family and thrown into a world that doesn't have your technology and that you can barely recognize. You would ask questions.

One only asks questions because they do not know the answer to them. If she knew why and how she got to come here, she would not bother to disturb her all night with the many ridiculous questions. What was the reason that she came here?

"The Emperor is entering," Dauizi screamed from the door.

Una was unsure of the protocol, and so she did not know what to do, so she stood and tried to steady herself with the heavy headpiece right on the bedstand. She smiled and waited to be greeted and graced by the emperor.

Dauizi was the king's bodyguard. He was in charge of protecting the Emperor and announcing his appearance.

Irkal and the girls moved to the edge of the room and bowed their heads. She looked at Una standing there. If it were the princess, she would know the right way to greet the emperor. Instead, Una stood confused as to why Irkal reacted that way.

The door opened and the Emperor entered. Una looked at the man intently as he entered the room, and the people in the room bowed down. The girl who had helped her to dress, Irkal, and the two men bowed down to their faces and shouted in chorus.

"Long life, the Emperor; the blessings of the gods be on the kingdom of Slosalia," they said, and they all stood up.

"Leave us," Asalan Enlim says, dismissing them all.

They filed out, leaving the room without turning their backs to the Emperor until they reached the door frame. They now again and leave, closing the door behind them. Silence engulfs them in the room as Una takes in the features she has not yet seen in the room. The intricate designs and pieces laid out across the room made no sense to her at all.

"Are you the emperor they speak of?" Una asked, taking steps down the bedstand to stand in front of him.

He might be the emperor here, but she was not from this timeline. She knew nothing about her at all.

"What year are you from?" The Emperor asked her.