CELESTE
I stopped a few steps away as I watched those two men walk into the white castle.
One of the guards standing at the massive front gate followed them inside. They didn't look back. Thank Goddess.
I tied my long hair up in a tight knot and let my eyes roam over the castle. Flames lit every corner, dancing on the walls and making everything look golden. Guards stood at every turn.
"Should I just climb and sneak into the palace?" I muttered. "But what if they sentence me to death?" I leaned my chin on my fist.
"If you don't die trying to climb in the first place." Amelia said behind me.
I rolled my eyes. "Fair point."
She was right. This place was a beast. The walls were giant and scary. The lowest window had to be at least seven meters up. There was no way I could climb that.
I sighed deeply, my shoulders drooping as I turned to look at Amelia. Her gown looked like it had survived a war with mud stains, grass tears, and swamp water in it. And she looked absolutely exhausted though she was perfect in almost every way. At least, until her little potbelly peeked out proving how obsessed she was with food.
"Maybe we will get to eat something good inside." I offered, trying to trick her.
Her tired eyes lit up at the mention of food. Bingo. It worked like magic.
"We can enter through the servants' quarters." she said, scanning the area. Her eyes stopped at a building to the side of the castle. "There. That saltbox house."
It was a long saltbox-style house attached to the side of the castle. That's where the kitchen staff lived and worked their asses' off. Amelia's mom and older brother worked there.
"Let's go." I whispered, grabbing her hand and running toward it.
The door was locked from the inside. Amelia reached into the ring handle and knocked twice.
A while later, a woman peeked out through a crack. She was dressed in a plain waist petticoat. Her hair was tied in a neat bun.
"Amelia? What are you doing here at this hour?" She asked, sounding confused. Of course, anyone would be confused. It was past midnight.
Amelia smiled sweetly like she always did when she was trying to cover something up. "Miss Kyle, I have a message for my mother." Then noticing the woman's gaze flick toward me, she added, "This is my best friend, Lorelei Celeste."
The woman gave a small nod and stepped aside. "Come in."
The warmth hit me as I stepped inside. It was dim, lit only by the fireplace and candles hanging from a small chandelier. In one corner was a big couch and an old table with vases of real flowers on top.
Everything was busy. Maids walked fast. Pots clanged. People talked in whispers but moved like time was chasing them.
"The household is quite busy tonight." Miss Kyle said. "So is your mother. She is busy doing the dishes right now. I told her about your arrival. She will be here soon. Have a seat. I will ask someone to bring you some sweets."
Amelia smiled politely. "Thank you."
As soon as the woman left, I leaned closer. "Who was that?"
"She is the butler of this Palace." Amelia answered.
"She is the butler?" I wondered. "She looks like someone who runs the whole castle."
"She kind of does." Amelia said, plopping down onto the couch. "Come on, it's comfy."
But I didn't sit. My eyes were glued to the hallway, where servants with trays and baskets kept walking in and out. That door….through that door they were heading straight into the castle. It was the entrance.
Sierra wiggled her tail. She knew what I was thinking.
A moment later, a maid brought us a tray full of fruits and desserts. Amelia reached for a sweet, but before she could grab it, I took the entire tray in my hands.
"Follow me." I said.
She blinked. "Are you serious, Celeste?!"
I was already walking.
Quietly, she followed me. I guess she hadn't realized yet that the plan inside my head was still very much alive.
"Just act like a servant." I told her as we passed through the corridor.
The corridor led us to a crooked wooden door. We pushed through it and we froze in the spot.
We were in the grand hallway. The walls were made of carved stone, every inch detailed with gold and art. The ceiling was so high I felt dizzy looking at it, and from it hung a chandelier of dipping glass lamps that looked like frozen stars. The wide staircase curved upward, draped in deep red and gold rugs. There were sculptures, water fountains, and huge portraits along the walls.
"Oh my goddess." Amelia gasped beside me.
I laughed. "Wow. You didn't even curse. That's new."
She smacked my arm. "It's dangerous."
"Yeah, this chandelier could fall on us," I joked and handed her the tray.
"Bitch, it's not funny! This place is dangerous. We should go back!"
But I was already walking up the stairs. She followed, sighing in defeat.
Luckily, no one paid much attention to us. Everyone seemed too busy to care. Maybe the tray was helping. Or maybe we looked like we belonged.
Just as I reached the top step, a voice echoed cold and sharp from the nearby hallway.
"Didn't you get a voice? Damn it."