The sun was setting, casting the whole sky orange. Although it was quite hot during the day, at night it was starting to get chilly. "Here you go, Your Highness," Helga said, wrapping a scarf on Evie's shoulders. And then she picked up a big, covered ceramic bowl, gulping as the aroma hit her in the face. She didn't know how her mistress came up with the idea to break the bone and then cook it. She was also shocked at how she roasted the vegetables directly on the fire before adding them to the broth. At the end, it became a clear soup with a great aroma, which had all the servants gulping.
"It's starting to get chilly," Evie commented as she walked in between two sets of maids carrying lamps, illuminating the whole path. One thing that fascinated Evie in this era was the lamps. As a maid, they had a metal triangle-shaped lamp, which she now knew was basic since she became a consort. The lamps were of different shapes, and each had intricate patterns. Each pavilion had its own, and the lamp at Moonlight Pavilion was a cathedral-shaped lantern, which was small and upright, shaped like a narrow tower with a pointed roof. It gave her a sense of warmth and calm stillness.
A few days ago, she stood in front of her servant quarters room looking at this side of the palace, which was illuminated and jubilant. And now she was walking on its path as one of them. But instead of that thought making Evie happy, it made her sad. Maybe she would have been over the roof were it not for the edict she found.
The closer they got to the Supreme Pavilion, the more illuminated the palace became. Even the smell in the air changed. Evie inhaled, closing her eyes; there was a hint of the smell of sandalwood and cinnamon. The road path in front of her disappeared. She looked up and gasped, putting her hand on her mouth. She thought Rose and Moonlight Pavilion were grand, but the sight in front of her shattered that thought. The European-esque castle before her was huge, the gates bigger than any she had ever seen before. The stones were cool, transparent like limestone, each block carved with lifelike, intricate patterns. The most prominent feature was two large statues of a Silver Frost-Wolf, which looked lifelike. It was truly a palace within another on its own.
"Your Highness, let's go in," Lila said, waking Evie from her reverie.
"Yes, let's go," she said, walking to the door, and the guards lined up at the door opened, letting her in. The inside of the pavilion was even grander than the outside. So they walked, stopping at the gate of the Emperor's study. Oh, here we go, Evie thought, rolling her eyes mentally, looking out, standing there, looking at her with a sour look on her face, was Hillary.
Evie ignored her looks and addressed her respectfully. "Good Evening, Hillary. Can you announce my arrival to the Emperor?" she asked, because from the looks of it, it was clear Hillary had no intentions of announcing her presence.
"Good evening, Lady Elara. The Emperor is in the company of Lady Isabella and cannot see you," she said.
"Are you the spokesman for the Emperor?" Evie said, taken aback by Hillary's shamelessness.
"What do you mean?" Hillary said, looking at Evie confused.
"I said, since when are you the Emperor's messenger?" Evie snapped.
She had spent lots of effort on her bone broth, and she wanted the Emperor to have it when it was warm, but Hillary was delaying her with her antics. She had little patience to begin with, and none of that was reserved for Hillary. So she turned to one of her muscular-looking maids. "You, announce me," she said, and the maid walked up to the door. "Your Royal Highness, the Moonlight Pavilion's lady, Her Highness Lady Elara, is seeking your presence," she said, her voice bouncing back and echoing throughout the Supreme Pavilion's walls, and then dead silence for a minute. Evie stood there, playing with her nail.
What if he returns me? she thought, biting her lip. What am I going to do?
"Come in," a loud voice boomed from inside, stopping Evie's thoughts and breath altogether
"Your Highness, go," Helga said, moving the ceramic pot in Evie's face. "Your Highness, give me the scarf and go," she urged again.
"Hmm," Evie said absentmindedly, removing the scarf from her shoulder and placing it on Lila's outreached arm, and then she took the pot, which instantly warmed her cold fingers. She took a step forward and into the open gates of the study, but not before looking at Hillary and going "Hmm" with a triumphant look on her face.
Evie walked, looking around the study, and once again she was floored. The room smelled of ink and paper. All the interior was wooden and warm-colored. The many lamps placed at every corner and above each shelf illuminated the whole room, turning the scene dreamy in front of her. The Emperor sat on a chair, wearing a white nightgown with its sleeves rolled up, showing his muscular arms, his fingertips dark with ink and his long silver hair resting at his shoulder. In the table in front of him, papers were strewn all over the table. Seated on a chair further away was Isabella, who looked like she had swallowed a whole fly. Their eyes met, and Evie could see the glow of fury in her eyes. Ooh, she is furious. This is going to cost me, she thought.
"Why are you here?" she heard a deep voice that made all her senses tingle, for she didn't know whether it was out of fear, excitement, or other feelings.
"Good evening, Your Highness. Good evening, Lady Isabella," Evie said, bowing to both and looking down at her pot, unable to look the Emperor in the eyes. "I come to see you, Your Majesty," she continued, "and I made you some soup, as it has been getting chilly these past nights, and I feared you might catch a cold." She said forcing a smile as her toes curled in her shoes, cringing at her own voice.