Chapter 12: Down in Troubleville

The sun bled into the darkness of the sky, dying the clouds a shade of orange and pink as the birds roused themselves from their sleep with the harmonious, albeit annoying to some, birdsong. Irene was one of the former who enjoyed listening to them as she sat by the window to have her breakfast. Her parents hadn't woken yet and she didn't want to disturb them, especially her father who had just returned from work.

However, none of these plagued her little mind as she was focused on how all her wounds were miraculously healed! When she hopped out of bed, not a single ounce of ache bothered her and even Momo was surprised. Although it felt a bit unusual seeing how severe the injuries were previously, even Momo couldn't deny that Irene was all healed.

Irene sipped her hot chocolate patiently. She coaxed the hot liquid to cool with small, puffy breaths before taking the meekest sips. It was a lengthy process, but one that she doesn't mind.

Even though everything felt right, something within Irene felt sad and uneasy. It had been a niggling twinge of pain in her chest, like a thorn stuck in her finger a couple of months ago. No matter how much she pinched, it wouldn't come out until someone pulled it.

As her hand rubbed her chest, her thoughts drifted to Ayu, who occupied her consciousness more often than not. It was strange because she always felt a flutter away. There were more times than she liked when she turned around to expect to see her, but she was greeted by thin air. The disappointment rang hollow in her heart, but she was never to cower from an adversary.

"Momo, I'll be going out, okay?" she placed the empty mug on the table with a soft clink.

Momo's face scrunched in worry. "But young mistress, you were so injured just a few days ago. Wouldn't it better to stay in?"

Absolutely not.

Irene was going mad from staying cooped up. Her restless limbs itched for something to do. Her insatiable sense of hunger for something adventurous urged her to commit a crime that she would hopefully be forgiven for...

"But Momo," she whined as adorably as possible, "I'll be bored. I promise I'll be safe. I'll come home in time."

Momo, although a veteran, wasn't immune to such incontestable cuteness, so she surrendered with a sag of her shoulders.

"Yes, alright," she sighed wearily. "Leave a note for the lord and the lady, alright?"

Irene's head bobbed in excitement. She left the room in a trail of pink frills. Not a moment later, her pretty head was ducked beneath a cloak as she trotted off towards the palace, retracing her previous path in hopes of encountering her new friend.

X

The entryway to the palace was the same as before, unguarded and secluded. Irene popped in and out without a problem this time, she learned from her previous mistakes and even brought a little towel to make it easier for her to open the doors. She tucked her towel into her embroidered pouch by her left hip as she stalked through the gardens as weary as ever.

She slightly dreaded meeting the awfully scary soldier again, but even after closing in on the palace, there wasn't a shadow of another person around. Irene's taut shoulders unfurled on themselves, she even greeted the statue she saw last time.

"Hello your majesty," she beamed, "I'm here again."

The statue remained impassive, perhaps it was the trick of the light that made him look softer around the edges this time. His stern face no longer looked so unwelcoming, Irene could even spot a hint of a smile at the corner of his lips.

"What am I doing here you ask? I'm here to see my friend, her name is Ayu. But I don't know where to find her..." Worry knotted her brows together to form creases on her forehead. "I think she must be staying in the palace somewhere, but the palace's so big. Maybe I could ask one of the nice guards to lead me over, once they know I'm not a threat and I have something very important to tell her."

After all, Irene withheld her end of the bargain by asking her father. Whether she understood whatever he told her was a different matter, as long as the message was passed, she believed she has fulfilled it.

"I'm off now, I'll see you again soon. Bye, your majesty!"

Irene turned on her heel to resume her adventure. Somehow she just knew where she was supposed to be headed, there was a firm, but not forceful tugging sensation in her mind that urged her to keep going and never stray from her path. It made the whole ordeal feel less daunting. She braved through the last bits of the forest and entered a dirt clearing with rocks on the side to separate the road from the forest.

With a sweep of her eyes, she decided to make a run across the clearing and enter the first wooden door she saw. In her mind, it didn't matter which door she used to enter the palace. As long as she was in, she'd be able to navigate her way around eventually and meet Ayu, who would surely be exhilarated to hear about the good news.

What didn't occur to her was the history of the palace that was built during the times of war and had been around before Irene's ancestors were even born. The palace was a maze of twists and turns, it was in a way, a precaution towards unwelcomed guests.

Little Irene disappeared behind the door with a pleased smile on her face. The stone hallway that she found herself in was rather dark, but nothing she couldn't handle. The stones almost shone beneath her feet, she thought it was a neat touch.

"The palace is so cool," she whispered with a giggle.

X

"Your highness?" interrupted a voice.

Ayu broke from her reverie, causing the spoon of soup in her hand to shake and drip back into the bowl. The soup had long gotten cold, but it mattered nought. There was something coming.

"What is it?" Ayu asked before slurping down the remainders of the soup rather loudly.

"... It's nothing. I hope you enjoyed your meal, your highness," answered Megat cordially. He was but an ordinary servant and had no business in the royal family's matters, but after waiting on Ayu for nearly 30 minutes with a good majority of the princess's time occupied mainly by her glaring holes into the hearth of the fireplace, he thought it was his duty to shake her back to reality.

It seemed to do good as her highness resumed eating with such vigour.

Ayu got off her seat soon after, her scaly tail sliding off it a moment later. She hastened out of the dining room and started pacing towards the strange pulsing sensation that led her to the east wing of the palace, where she wouldn't normally go. Her room was situated on the west wing of the palace and her parents were on the north. The east wing mainly consisted of ballrooms for social events, which currently aren't happening as winter would be nearing and many of the lords would be required to remain in their fiefs for preparation.

Her heart thumped in her ribcage and sweat was starting to perspire on her forehead. What's going on with her?

X

Irene languidly made her way down the hall with a soft hum in her throat. She kicked a pebble that had come loose forwards along the path, and the clatter of the pebble against the floor echoed loudly in the hall, keeping her entertained. It wasn't until Irene felt a gust of chill wind that blew back her hood did Irene notice her current predicament.

"Who goes there?" muttered a low baritone.

"Eep!" shrieked Irene.

Standing toe to toe with her was a dragon with a pair of menacing azure eyes that held the torch of bloodlust. The intensity of it caused every neuron in Irene's body to be lit with fear.

"Speak. You are in the presence of Everett Monkshood, and I do not tolerate your lack of answer," he barked.

Oh, what did she get herself into?