Chapter 14: Dungeon Newbie
I walked my way upstairs to the Breeze hall. I didn't pause since I was afraid Victor might crash on me again. Finally, both of us were there on the top floor of that princess's palace, named Breeze hall.
The sculpted pillars had been reaching for the sky from there. The four sides of the hall were not protected with walls, but instead, it was only a concrete balustrade that was only around three feet tall. From there we could see the view around the palace. The top of the hall was covered with a rooftop which was balanced on the pillars. Not only that, there was a small stage-like structure in the middle of the hall. This was also not a room with walls. Instead of walls, there were white curtains. Also, on the way to this stage, there were a lot of curtains dropped from the rooftop. Maybe this hall was designed for a special kind of dance or sport. Overall, it looked beautiful. The curtains moved to the breeze making it a splendid view. I understood why it was called the 'breeze hall'.
When Flora showed me around the palace, I only took a glance at this breeze hall. Also, it was nighttime so I couldn't have a proper look. Now I could see how peaceful and beautiful this hall looked. I looked around the building and stepped forward. Before I could reach the curtained room, I almost tripped on my long dress. These dresses could look fancy but they had their disadvantages. I heard Victor beside me so I thought he was going to help me from falling. I immediately steadied myself and showed him my palm.
"No need!" I jabbered.
He walked past me before looking at my face once with a frown.
He was not going to save me! The truth struck me. I had successfully made a fool of myself, again.
I stood straight with embarrassment watching his back before averting my gaze to one of the curtains.
'What a fool I am? Why did I even expect that he would save me?' I thought as I bit my lip once and then shook my head.
When I turned to Victor once again, he was already standing on the stage. He was looking at me from there.
The curtains beside him moved to the breeze and got stuck to his blue tunic. All the other curtains moved to the melody of the breeze as it made the whole scene splendid.
He looked good standing on top of that stage covered in the curtains. Victor now looked down and effortlessly took that curtain off him. Then looked at me once again.
I immediately rolled my eyes as I clicked my tongue in distress. Then again I looked at him.
He still looked handsome. 'These imaginary people!' I grumbled inside my head as I walked towards him.
"What game are you playing, Victor?" I asked him once I got on the stage.
He pouted as he said "I'm not playing anything"
I still looked at him dubiously. "Why did you join the royal guard team?" I asked.
"To help you! It would be better for me to serve you by staying next to you"
"Then why did Nilo join you here?" I frowned again as I tilted my head.
This time it was his turn to be taken aback so he looked at me thoughtfully for some time. He must be thinking about how I know about Nilo being his assistant. After a few seconds. he spoke again.
"Is there anything Your Highness doesn't know?"
"Since you know about me well, why don't you answer my question first?"
"I thought Nilo would be of help!"
"To learn the top secrets of Astrana?"
"To guard Your highness!"
I immediately remembered him not even trying to save me from falling a moment ago. It was funny that he wanted me to believe what he said.
"I don't need your protection Marshirider. Don't try to outsmart me!"
"I wouldn't dare to, Your highness. I know you are the smartest here," he said as he smirked a little.
He was mocking me. But I couldn't continue to argue with him on this so I went back to the important point.
"Victor, what's your plan?"
"I don't have a plan, Your Highness!"
It was obvious that he was not willing to let me know whatever his purpose was. It could be related to Astrana's top secrets or sometimes related to Flora.
"You can have your plans, Victor. I wouldn't mind it as long as it doesn't block my way," I carelessly told him as I moved to the next subject.
"How do you know about the shaman?" I asked.
"My subordinates," he replied. Ofcourse, he had his spies almost everywhere in Astrana. It was believable.
"How did you convince him?"
"There was no 'convincing'. Only 'threatening'," he replied.
I nodded. "Do you know how the shaman convinced the queen into appointing you all as my guards?"
"The shaman had told Her Majesty that the princess should be surrounded by the people with some special astrological combination. Then he introduced us to the queen."
That made the queen sound a little gullible. She was indeed one when it comes to these astrology facts. I shook my head looked at him once again.
"Does this mean I get my freedom back?"
"Yes. The shaman had strongly instructed the queen not to follow you around since it may anger the spirit that resides in you," he told me with so much mockery in his eyes.
I didn't know whether to laugh or cry. Although I felt ashamed I tried my best to hide it and averted my gaze to one of the curtains beside him.
At that time I understood one thing for sure. As long as I have the shaman under my control, the queen will automatically be in my favour. With this, I can stop the already arranged coin giving event and prevent Edward from meeting Flora.
"Bring him to the Eastern dungeon this evening," I said as I brought my gaze back to his face.
He just nodded. His eyes still showed doubt but I didn't mind it at all. I went back to my chamber afterwards. I had to spend a few more hours in my chamber waiting for the evening. Victor had already left to see the shaman. My three guards were standing by the door. I had asked Flora to provide them with chairs. It's not like they have to stand the whole day at my door.
Then I ate my lunch prepared myself for another trial.
In the evening, when I've gone to the dungeon with my three guards, I was so sure that no one was following me. Once we've reached the dungeon area, I've told Henry, Merlin and Nilo to wait by the entrance of the dungeon and went inside.
When I reached the underground dungeon, I could see that Victor or the shaman was still not there. I was there early since I was excited about the whole freedom thing. I walked to the end of the dungeon. When I reached the last cell, I could see three people tied to their respective chairs.
Two of them were familiar faces, but I had no idea who the last one was.
I went to Arlo first and asked him a few questions from him.
"Arlo, did you like Astranian food?"
"Yes, Your Highness!" he replied.
I then moved to the inn manager. Ofcourse I hated him for being a traitor so I skipped him and moved to the new face.
"Who are you?"
"My name is Conrad"
"Nice to meet you, Conrad, now explain why are you here?"
"Your Highness, I'm a scholar who came to meet His Highness."
"Ok?"
"Two of Your Highness people came to me and gave me a piece of paper and a scroll"
I frowned.
"They've told me that they can't read or write so if I could help them with understanding what was written on the paper and scroll"
'Crap!,' I thought.
"They've given me the scroll first so I read it out loud for them. It said ',eet me in my chamber this... night'," when he said this, his ears turned red for some reason. I could see what he understood by my message. I frowned.
"Continue!" I said.
Then they've given me the paper. In that paper, it was written to hand over this scroll to the guy who was staying in lotus inn room number twenty one" he paused and looked at me. "Below that, it was written, not to read the scroll!" he told me with fear in his eyes.
I closed then opened my eyes in dismay. I had indeed thought they would understand what I've written and will not read it. Though I was not worried about them reading either. But now that they've already read the scroll before the paper, my soldiers must have thought leaving this scholar outside will ruin my dignity and brought him and tied him here.
I didn't know whether to appreciate them or scold them.
As I was wondering what to do with this mess Victor came down together with the shaman.
When Victor reached us, I could sense the fishy gaze of the scholar falling on both of us.
I turned to him immediately and told him "Don't let your imagination run wild Mr Scholar. It's not good for you!"
The man looked a bit scared and lowered his head in apology.
When I turned to Victor, his eyes were looking at me with an unknown kind of look. It was something in between appreciation and awe. I chose to stick with awe judging from the possibilities and ignored him.
I now concentrated on the shaman who was looking at me in clear awe.
"Can we start talking business now?" I asked him with a smirk.
"Yes, Your Highness!" I got an immediate reply.
Gifts
-- Gift
received Weekly Power Status
-- Power
Ranking 
-- Power
stone