Chapter 3
A Date With the Emporer
Inei woke up to the sound of knocking. Sleepy eyed, she tried to roll over into the pillows to bury the sound. She lay there for a minute, more than half asleep, when she realized her sheets felt much smoother and softer than usual.
Inei jolted awake, remembering now her trip to Anuenue and her predicament that had amazingly ended up with her staying at the royal palace. The large plush bed was more than too much for her to be comfortable with staying here.
The knocking resumed.
Inei looked down at her rather revealing nightwear. Anuenue was humid and hot, even in the night. "Oh, uh...I'm not dressed!" She called.
"I am a handmaiden sent by the Queen to aid you in dressing!"
Inei stared at empty space where the voice was calling from. Did she really need such a thing? Still slightly embarrased, Inei pulled up some legging before permitting the handmaiden's entrance. "Come in!" She called.
A dark-haired girl with an overly bubbly attitude burst in the room. "Good morning! I hope you slept well?"
Inei simply nodded her response.
"Well, breakfast is almost served and I'm supposed to have you ready. So let's get you bathed and-"
Inei stared at the girl. "Oh, but I-"
"Now come, you can't expect the Queen to have dirty guests! Not today of all things."
"Today?" What was going on today? So much for a simple trip.
The handmaiden was already helping undo her top.
"AH!" Inei shrieked and jumped back.
"Well if you don't WANT me to do it you had better hurry up!"
Inei rushed into the bath room and drew a bath, undressing as the water ran. She stepped into the tub and was amazed that the water came with natural white, puffy bubbles. And it smelled wonderful, the fragance of fowers now filled the room. She started looking for the soap when the handmaiden opened the door.
Inei squeaked her surprise and hid under the bubbles.
"Now now, I will wash your hair and you can bathe yourself in the water."
Inei nodded, but she was still blushing.
The handmaiden left with a 'Please be quick about it!' when they were finished.
Inei emptied the tub and wrapped herself in a towel, and left the bath.
Her handmaiden practically attacked her with all sorts off frills attached to cloth. "Now you'll need to wear something nice..." She muttered to herself.
"Ah, how about something simple?" Inei managed to interject.
The girl paused for a moment, thinking. "Ah yes! Be right back!" She handed Inei a comb. "Brush your hair. It needs drying."
Inei was thoroughly confused by the statement, but automatically she started combing out her wet hair. To her great surprise, by the time she was done her hair was completely dry, and it felt thicker and smoother.
Her door swung open again, and Inei looked at the girl that entered quizzicaly. "How did...?" She started, pointing to the comb.
"Well it's enchanted of course. Most things in the palace have some sort of magical quality."
Inei almost scolded herself for forgetting. Anuenue was not only the most beautiful nation, but it was also the home of the most gorgeous flowers, the famous library of magic and a school of magic. "Of course..." She sighed.
"Now, lets get you dressed!"
Inei blushed. She had put on the undergarments that were left on the bed for her.
The other girl swung around a protected garment on a hanger. She ripped off the paper to reveal a rather elegant red silk dress. The shoulders and skirt were decorated with real flowers, leaving a wonderful aroma in the air. She unzipped the back of the dress and offered for Inei to step in it.
Inei, rather cautious of the situation, slipped her foot through the material and bent over to pick up the dress. She adjusted the shoulder straps to fit her comfortably, and the handmaiden zipped up the back for her. The girl then seemed to disappear behind her and magically reappear with a pair of formal red slippers.
Inei slipped them on, and immediately hands were running through her hair, combing it and pulling it into an elaborate hairdo.
"Why are you doing this?"
"Queen Corellia insisted! You are a personal guest of honor! Travelling with Emporer Lyude must be a fulfilling task."
Inei frowned. "Me? Travelling with-" She stopped. Of course something like that had to be said. "Um...right. He really is an intersting person." She was afraid that she may have to leave with him too, when she was hoping to simply leave the palace now. How long was he planning on staying here?
"Oh, my and handsome too!"
"Ah, well...that's..."
The hands stopped tugging on her hair. "Oh? That's what?"
"Rather obvious, isn't it?"
"Hm. It would seem so. Do you hold any personal interest in him, or are you simply on business? They didn't tell me what your position was."
Inei inwardly cursed at herself. She wasn't even an active citizen in Alfard until recently. This womans questions were getting her very flustered.
"I...of course I wouldn't have any personal interest! Me and the Emporer...I could hardly believe it if it happened."
"Hm? You know, I've never really heard of him before he became the Emporer. He seemed to appear out of nowhere."
"He came to Alfard's leaders with knowledge and wisdom. They thought he would be a good temporary, but the people took a real shine to him."
"Is that what happened... Many believe he had bribed his way, but I guess he has done alot of good for the country."
Inei frowned hard. "I doubt he is that kind of person."
"Yes, after meeting him, I would agree." She paused. "There, all done!"
Inei looked in a mirror. Her hair was twisted in curls, flowery extensions blended with her dark and red locks, which were now loosely braided and twirled around in flowing segments of hair.
"Pretty, isn't it?" The overly bubbly girl said. "Now you'll be late if you don't go straight downstairs!" She gave one more smile and flounced off.
Inei stared at the empty space left behind, unsure of what to do. "Ok Inei. It's just breakfast. You can handle breakfast." Breakfast with two of the most important people in the whole world! Inei relaxed and took a deep breath. She would have left already if these officials didn't keep insisting that she stay. How do you refuse a leader? She took one last breath, put on her most polite face, and exited her room.
Breakfast was not easy to find. The palace was huge, and the smell of food was everywhere. A meal in the palace was like a party, food was brought out piping hot at steaming on silver platters and sent to various rooms all over. The servents even ate well in their own dining hall. She managed to find where she had to go, thanks to a particular nice butler. She was led to a smaller but fabulously decorated dining hall, where Corellia and Folon were sitting, Corellia at the head of course, Folon to her left and two readied places on her right.
"Ah, here at last." Corellia stated.
Inei bowed. "I'm sorry, I got a little lost."
"It's quite all right. Please, sit."
Inei took the further seat on the right of Corellia. Folon eyed her from across the table. When she had saw him on the yesterday he had been wearing a strange type of imperial armor. Today he wore red, black and gold ambassodor clothing.
"Good morning." Inei said nervously.
"Lyude got impatient and went looking for you." He stated bluntly.
Inei felt her face get hot. "He-he didn't have to do that."
"Say that to him, then." Corellia interjected.
"Say what to who?" That damn angelic voice again. The three turned to see Lyude appear at the doorway of the dining room.
"I was telling her how you went to track her down." Folon said smugly.
"It is a large palace and she is not accustomed to such things."
"Oh? And here I thought you just wanted to see her alone for a bit."
"Wh-why would he want to see me?" Inei shouted abruptly, startling the others. Immediately she realized that she had outburst, and her face again turned red from the awkward embarrassment. "Ah...I-I'm so sorry...I uh..."
"No, it's all right. After all, we were talking about you." Lyude gave Folon a stern look. He deflected it with a roll of his eyes.
Lyude turned to Corellia and bowed. "I apologize. I did not mean to cause a problem."
"Please don't worry about it. Now Inei, what is it that you do again?"
Surprised at being adressed personally, Inei stammered. "I er...um. I review...documents."
"Documents? For what?"
"F-for Emporer Lyude." Inei didn't know what else to say. She didn't know what information was safe to give out or what she should keep to herself.
"She has really only provided one task for me thus far." Lyude added, seeing Inei's nervousness take over. "Officially, she is my personal assistant and secondary bodyguard."
Folon and Inei both stared at Lyude as if mushrooms had begun to sprout from his face. It took Folon everything he had not allow his jaw drop or have his face contort in laughter.
Inei, completely taken aback in surprise, simply stared at him, wondering what the hell he was talking about. Personal assistant? Bodyguard? What made him think she would just do that?
Corellia just nodded in approval. "How fitting."
How did this happen?
Inei found herself in a carriage alone with the Emporer. He seemed more than eager to want to talk to her. For the first five minutes they simply stared at each other, Inei in the rear facing seat of the carriage, and Lyude across from her. Then, he spoke.
"I'm sorry I put you on the spot like that."
"Don't worry about it." Was all she managed to put out.
"You are uncomfortable around people?"
"I stammer."
"Your communication skills are lacking."
"Yes."
"It wasn't a question."
"Sorry."
There was a pause. Inei had shifted her gaze, but Lyude continued to stare at her. Finally, she spoke again. "What?"
"I apologize. Do I make you uncomfortable?"
"You're too nice."
Lyude looked bewildered. "I'm what?"
"People annoy me..." She muttered. "You're too nice. And your voice...it bothers me for some reason."
"Oh..." He looked dissapointed.
"Oh, no it doesn't bother me in a bad way!"
Another confused face.
"It just sticks out in my mind. Like I should be thinking about it or something. You, uh...you don't annoy me or anything."
"I certainly hope not. I'd like to work with you for awhile."
Inei nodded, and turned away again. Another minute passed...
"Why are you looking at me?" She asked.
Lyude frowned. "Huh?"
"You're staring at me..."
"Oh. I'm sorry."
"Why?"
"You...that outfit looks good on you."
Inei now stared at him, her face turning red. "I said you were too nice and I meant it."
"But it's true." He smiled, and Inei thought she had never seen a more sincere and beautiful smile.
"So. Where are we going?"
"To a festival."
"What? Why?"
"So we can enjoy ourselves. We've spent all day in the palace going over paperwork and tomorrow we pack for Alfard again."
"It's a short trip."
"Still, Alfard is still in need of much help and work. Right now it is a stressful place to be."
"That's true..."
"So tonight we will enjoy one or two hours away from paperwork and worries."
"Is this why you come to Anuenue every month?" Many of the people in Alfard had noticed the Emporer's leave at least once a month.
"Yes. It is how I keep myself fresh to continue working for our nation."
The carriage stopped, and the door opened. Lyude exited, and offered his hand to Inei, who accepted. The misty night air felt like a comforting blanket, and the two walked into a building that Inei couldn't recognize. "Hm? Where are we?"
"A museum in town. But it's closed."
"So where are we going?"
"You will see." He said with another smile.
Inei remained silent, walking side by side with him. They walked two flights of stairs, and finally reached a balcony overlooking a massive party in an open garden.
"Wow...there's alot of people."
"Of course. This city is usually thriving."
They sat down in chairs, watching the people below mingle and dance.
"You don't really join them do you?" Inei asked him.
"I have once or twice. But I find it more stressful than relaxing. It's better to sit up here and enjoy the view. Unless you'd like to go down?"
Inei laughed. "Right, and stammer my way into trouble for sure. No thank you."
Lyude gave an approving nod, then asked, "Are you hungry?"
Inei paused a moment. She was slightly, but it would be an inconvenience on him. "Not really, thank you."
"I could call for Folon to bring us something. He's right downstairs."
"Huh? He doesn't want to come watch."
Lyude made a sympathetic face, much to Inei's surprise. "This...isn't really his sort of thing."
"Oh...I'm sorry."
"Don't worry about it."
They were interrupted by a loud BOOM from the sky. Inei twirled around to look. "What in the world?"
Another BOOM went off and bright lights filled the sky. "Fireworks...?" She questioned.
"Another reason I like these seats. A great view." He smiled.
"Thank you."
They watched the show together, lights dancing in their eyes.