Chapter 5 Royal Council

"Are you done?" I heard Boyd ask from the outside and he knocked on the door. 

I almost jumped from the sudden sound. Hurriedly, I slipped in the dress he gave me. 

"Almost! One second," I answered while in a hurry. 

I picked the cloak from the bed as I rushed outside that small cabin. Boyd looked at me from head to toe then he sighed as his gaze dropped on the cloak on my arm. 

"Wear that and its hood. We will have a long walk. You wouldn't want anyone to recognize you, would you?" 

Boyd was helping me more than he needed to. I didn't waste a second and followed his words. When he was finally content, we began our journey. 

It was a few minutes walk out of the forest. Boyd walked a few steps ahead from me. He seemed to know this place very much as there was no hesitation with every turn he made. As we continued, the dense forest gradually thinned. With every step I took, the weight in my chest eased just slightly. I knew that I was getting farther from the place I once knew as home. Now it was nothing more than the place where everyone wanted me dead. It was not my home anymore.

The sky became clearer when the towering trees lessened. I looked up and pressed on my chest, remembering the stabs I received. I died and shouldn't be seeing this beautiful sky anymore but I was given a second chance. There's no way of wasting it. 

"That's the Velarius Palace, that's where we are going..." Boyd broke the silence between us. 

I looked ahead to what he was pointing. A small gasp escaped my mouth. The magnificent palace that was not that visible from the Howling Coast stood closer to me now. This was my first time seeing it this close. Its name carried a strong weight.

"It's beautiful..." I murmured. 

I saw him glance at me from my peripheral view. "Hopefully, it will give you a beautiful restart of your life."

A smile curved on my lips. Hope filled my heart even more. 

"Let's keep walking." Boyd resumed leading the way. 

As we got closer and closer, I was drowned even more in amazement because of the Velarius Palace. Its white stone walls shimmered under the warm sunlight. Countless banners bearing an embroidered moon and royal family crest fluttered gracefully in the wind. There were countless knights patrolling around the area. 

"Boyd..." The hesitation in my voice must be noticeable, he quickly looked at me. From the palace, I turned my gaze to him. "How could I enter that place? I shouldn't be there."

A ghost of smirk plastered in his lips. "Just follow me, I'll take care of it."

I stared at him and chose to believe him. I have nothing to lose anymore. Trusting him shouldn't be bad. When he resumed walking, I did, too.

The gigantic walls of the palace stood a few meters from us. We were already standing beneath the towering walls. I saw elegant carriages enter through its massive gates. People looking like nobles, wearing luxurious garments walked freely towards the pathway to the palace, guards and servants following them. 

I was so out of place. There's no way I could use that entrance to walk in there. 

"Come here," Boyd called me. 

I walked near him as he stood behind the wall. My brows furrowed softly as he held my hand. Then in a snap, we vanished into thin air. A sudden weightlessness swept my body. Everything was white for a second, I blinked. When I opened my eyes, we were already in a small old room. There was nothing there but a small bunk bed, a table and a chair, no window at all. 

Eyes widened, I looked at Boyd. 

"H-how..." I blinked. "We teleported?" Confusion and surprise was evident in my voice. 

The young boy smiled. "Yes."

"What? How? And why didn't you teleport us from the forest? Why did we walk for so long when you can do this in the first place?" I asked, genuinely out of curiosity and surprise. 

"My teleportation ability is still weak and limited. I can only do it at a limited distance." He looked around the room and looked at me. "This is a vacant servant's room. Stay here inside while I will look for my master. Don't ever go out, okay?" 

Before I could even speak again, Boyd vanished again. I pursed my lips then scanned the room. I pulled down the hood of my cloak and removed it from my body. 

I hope that he will find his master quickly. Knowing I was inside the palace without proper permission which means it was illegal entry, I became restless. I sat on the bed and squeezed my palm and fingers, trying to ease myself. 

Meeting his master would also be an honor for me because I am sure that person was my savior. I want to thank him, though I still have no way to repay him for his kindness. 

Minutes passed by, until it became an hour. Boyd was the only person I knew in this place and now, he's not here. I really hope I will not be discovered. 

But my fear finally happened. Heavy boots echoed right outside the room. Then I heard the doorknob turn. I caught my breath as I watched the door slammed open making a thudding sound. The creaking sound and the thud intensified the loud beat of my heart. 

A knight wearing silver armor entered the room. My breathing hitched and I tightly grasped on my skirt, my mind was racing. I was frozen in my seat. 

"Found the intruder." His cold voice thundered, it was like the announcement of my second death.

With big strides, he approached me then grabbed my arm carelessly. Sweat trickled down my forehead. 

"W-wait! I am here with Boyd!" I tried to reason out but he didn't listen. 

He dragged me out of the room. I saw other knights who were checking the other rooms in that long hallway then they followed us when they realized that I was already caught. 

"Please! I don't mean any harm!" 

But their ears were deaf for me. Of course they will only listen to the people with authority! His tight grip on me made my arm ache but that was not my main problem. I knew I would be dead meat because of this. 

I barely noticed the areas of the palace we passed by because my mind was racing. If Boyd is not coming to vouch for me, I have to save myself. But how can I do that when I am being surrounded by the mighty palace knights?

"It's her, Lord Karev. She's the presence you felt," the knight who was holding me said. He then pushed me down the marble floor. 

I fell on my knees. I immediately put my hand on the floor to support myself. When I slowly looked up, I saw an old man in luxurious clothing looking down at me. An overwhelming aura surrounded him. Embroidered to the chest part of his cloth was a familiar symbol. It was a roaring wolf with a balancing scale behind it.

I was familiar with the symbols because I studied this as I was expected to be the next Duchess.

That symbol is for the members of the Royal Council...

Before our eyes could meet, I immediately looked down. 

"Why are you here? You had the audacity to intrude on a Royal Palace?!" His strict voice roared. 

I closed my eyes tightly, his voice had this distinct feel, a powerful tone of authority that can't be heard from ordinary people. But this was expected knowing he was part of the Royal Council. 

My lips quivered in fear, my skin felt cold. I just escaped death... But being branded as intruded in the Royal Palace means sure death. 

His burning gaze etched on my skin. I could feel him studying me intently for a while. 

"Interesting..." he quietly said. "I cannot smell a wolf." His voice was chilling. 

I just knew danger was coming for me.