Chapter Seven

3 days. 

Thalia had been locked up for three days now. 

Things were starting to look really serious and she was starting to panic more than before. Talking to Lily made her not lose her mind though, it kept her sane, which she was grateful for. 

The bread they served that morning and yesterday in the prison wasn't bad so Thalia had eaten some of it. Now she was just staring at a spot on the wall while sitting next to Lily who was doing the same.

Suddenly, the creaking sound of heavy footsteps approached, and the clanging of keys grew louder. The cell door swung open, revealing a grizzled prison guard.

The guard looked at both her and Lily, then redirected his stare to Thalia, "Hey.. you," he gestured gruffly to her with a careless flick of his hand, "Stand up and follow me." 

She wanted to ask why but the guard didn't look like a person that had the patience to answer her questions. He looked bored and straightforward.

Thalia mustered her strength and stood up, her heart pounding in her chest. She looked back at Lily who was staring at her with a smile. Lily nodded at her as if to say go on, she was free now. 

Thalia didn't want to leave her new friend. 

Maybe she wasn't even free. 

Maybe they issued her death sentence! 

With her heart in her mouth and sudden cold sweat on her forehead, she followed the guard through the damp dark corridors until they reached a small chamber where she was faced with the sturdy back of a man. 

When he turned her heart started to pound even harder if that was even possible. He was the second guy that'd been with the prince when she was arrested. He still stared at her distrustingly but now Thalia noticed there was a mixture of curiosity in his eyes too.

"Why," he asked.

Thalia looked down at the buttons on his shirt, unable to meet his eyes. He was so intimidating, "Why what?" She blurted.

"Why were you in the Prince's room?" 

She didn't know what else to say so she just said,"Curiosity."

"Curiosity?" His brows scrunched up. 

"Yes," Thalia said, squeezing her clothes tightly. 

Before the prison guard led her here, he'd handed her some clothes. Though she was still wearing the prison clothes underneath, she was glad to have something of hers back, it gave her comfort.

"There's no place for curiosity when it comes to royal affairs," he said with that disapproving stare that was starting to get on Thalia's nerves. She wanted to ask him if his face was like that permanently. "You are fortunate that His Highness has shown leniency after the investigations." He spat. "And for your information, Curiosity kills the cat."

Investigation? 

"Investigations?" Thalia asked. 

He didn't answer and just stretched out his hand. He was holding an envelope. A beautiful envelope, "His Highness wants to meet you, this is a dinner invitation."

The royal envelope emanated an aura of elegance and beauty only something royal and very expensive could have. It was crafted from exquisite leather. The envelope was as smooth as satin, adorned with intricate embossed patterns. A delicate wax seal, imprinted with the nation's emblem which Thalia recognized, secured its contents.

After spending some time in prison and making some friends, Thalia had learned about the nation

While listening to Lily's lectures and stories about the country, she realized she knew the history of this place. She'd never been a good history student but this particular country had caught her interest in school and having studied it so much, she was sure she knew it like the back of her hand. That was why she recognized the emblem too. 

 Holding the envelope felt like holding a piece of history. It was something that you could only find in a museum in 2019.

"Follow me," The rude guy said. 

He led her outside the prison buildings but they were still inside the walls. 

"Wow," Thalia whispered under her breath as she spotted a palanquin. 

Mr rude face led her to the palanquin and gestured for her to enter. 

It was like a scene Thalia had only read about in books and seen in movies. A real palanquin with palanquin bearers.

The palanquin exuded elegance. It was adorned with intricate golden material and it's  pretty velvet canopy, dyed in regal hues was absolutely beautiful. 

As Thalia stepped into it she gasped at the inside too. Silk cushions decorated it and offered comfort fit for royalty. After staying in prison for a while it was a very welcomed comfort. She was alone in the palanquin when the bearers lifted it. He didn't enter with her. Thalia looked through the window and spotted him walking beside the palanquin.

To her surprise, she breathed a sigh of relief. No matter how rude and standoffish he was, she preferred him over the unfamiliar faces of the palanquin bearers. 

After a while, the palanquin stopped. Thalia opened the window again and saw the now familiar palace. She was led to a room inside the palace by the rude guy whose face was still in his infamous, pinched expression. 

Thalia was once again awed by the room. It was smaller than the Prince's room but just as beautiful and royal. She'd noticed it was in the same passageway as the Prince's room. She was so good with directions but she was able to recognize the passageway which they had escorted her through when she was arrested.

The first thing that caught her eye was the bed. First, it was beautiful. Absolutely beautiful. It was a princess canopy bed. Adorned with silk bed covers. It was so pretty.

Seeing the bed made Thalia realize how tired she was. The mat in the prison hadn't been very comfortable at all so she hadn't slept well for once. Only a few minutes at a time. The bed was practically calling her name and she just wanted to collapse on it.

"I'll leave you to rest," the guy thankfully said all of a sudden. His voice startled her because she totally forgot he was there. "Someone will be sent to you in the evening for dinner." 

"Okay, thank you," Thalia replied. "Can I get my bag now though?" She asked.

"What bag?" 

"I came with a bag."

"I never saw a bag," He refuted curtly, opened the door, and left. 

Thalia sighed. She couldn't really think about much or ponder on her escape plan because the moment she lay on the bed her eyes started to droop. 

But that wasn't before making sure she locked the door.