Chapter 12

"Would you perhaps want to come with me?" I asked Willette, for it was the day I had to go see the king of Duskwick, or the one she called the imposter.

"That's not a good idea, Tara," she answered, folding a few of my clean clothes.

"Won't it be a bad idea for you not to accompany me to the palace? Remember I told Sir Walton that you were my all-time companion. If I leave you behind today, it wouldn't be so technical of it."

"Alright! Alright! But I have a bad feeling about this, Tara."

"If anything happens during our visit to the palace, I promise to get you back here safe," I reassured her.

"Okay then. I will go get ready."

I wasn't a girl looking my age. I was tall, perhaps looking like a twenty-year-old with very thick eyeballs. Black long hair that, among all girls, mine was kept in a ponytail. I always went around in mostly black clothes because they gave me comfort and bravery; after all, black was my favorite color.

That day, on our way to the Duskwick palace, I wore a pair of black inner pants that I had barely shown anyone, with a long-sleeved button dress that had a slight slit on the front. When Willette caught a glimpse of it, she flirted again.

"You look dazzling in the glittering outfit," she stated.

"Thank you." I couldn't compliment her back because she wore a very ugly pair of beige pants that looked large on her, an oversized striped long-sleeved shirt that she held together with a pair of brown suspenders. Around her neck was a black bowtie, and at her feet, she wore a pair of big brown boots. "You look, um... the same," I said, blinking to see anything I could judge to be looking good on her.

"The word is funny, Tara. I look like an old man who worked tirelessly to make his retirement money, and all he could get are these outfits," she joked, having both of us chuckling at the specific imagination. "Just a pair of baggy pants and a farmer's shirt."

"Well, I better keep you close to me, retired old man," I said timidly as I walked out of the bedroom, sloping down the stairs. I found Mr. Edward, who had worn a very gentle-fitting butler suit.

"He's going with us?" He asked, and I responded.

"He is coming with me, Mr. Edward, and you will stay to take care of the villa," I answered with no quiver at all.

"Are you serious, Miss Lyle? You don't want me to come along, and you're taking Simmons dressed like that. Like a farmer?" He fumed, as Willette and I forced to keep our laughter on the inside, for he had recognized it to be what we were talking about upstairs.

"Of course, Mr. Edward. I will be taking my farmer companion along with me. Benedict knows the city very well. He will get us to the palace. Isn't that right, Benedict?"

"For sure, Miss Lyle. I can, as you wish."

By permission, I took my seat before Simmons could, and later on, she joined, seating right in front of me.

"You look nervous, Maximus," I said, not to pick Benedict's attention.

"Of course. It's been so long since I last visited home. But I can't help getting terrified," she answered.

We went along conversating and whispering about stuff. It was notably a very long journey to Duskwick palace, but luckily, we had arrived at the place, and Sir. Walton was waiting to see us on the inside.

"Greeting, Miss Lyle," he greeted, showing us inside. "The king has been expecting you. Young Simmons."

The palace was fully packed with soldiers and villagers being trained. They, though, had their eyes on us as we came in with Sir. Walton. It was in the afternoon, and we were very punctual to have lunch with him. He was seated at the very end of the dining table when we were shown in to seat even further.

"The popular heiress of Flynn Lyle," mentioned he with a smile on his face as I bowed down to greet him.

"Your majesty."

"And who is the young man?" asked King Joseph.

"This is my personal companion Maximus Simmons," I answered, showing Simmons to a seat.

"Is he dining with us on my table?" asked the King, bothered.

"Yes, of course, your Majesty. Thank you for the invite."

"It's rather bothering for sure, Miss Lyle. But go on, go on. Feel comfortable."

"Thank you, your majesty. And to what do I owe this invitation at your table, your majesty."

"As I had written before, your father and I were very close allies, and he was helping me find my missing Daughter Willette Duskwick. He was surely getting somewhere before the news of his death came to my ears. Now I was wondering, just as you're taking on your father's responsibilities, you would assume to take that along with you. He always said that you too had a talent as his."

"My father talked to you about me?"

"Yes. He was so proud to talk about you," he answered, and I turned to gaze at Willette, whose cheeks wore a tough shape.

He then, in the slight run, rang his bell for the food to be served.

"Yeah. My father was really proud of me."

"I believe this will be one of our very first feasts working together," he stated.

"I hope so, your majesty. I hope so."

It wasn't in a while when his servants started serving us the food he said to have asked for just the occasion.

"We would love to have you stay here for a while, Miss Lyle, if you don't mind," suggested the king.

"It's quite a request, your highness, but I wouldn't want to leave my work at the villa to pile up. I'm still coping up with everything at home.