The King’s Courtier

Chapter 4 - The Magical Castle

  The beautiful castle was made out of pure gold. She wasn't sure if every square inch was made out of gold, but she knew for certain that all the parts bare to her eyes were. He walked forward, signaling her to follow him. He walked towards the most luxurious set of stairs she had ever beheld and walked up to a room guarded by 6 warriors. They immediately opened the door for King Sulfur, allowing him to walk in, Aurelia tracing after him.

The room was as big as her entire school in Oblivion. Unlike the rest of the castle, it was not golden or made of gold. It was jet black. Every single wall was black. In the middle of the room, there was a huge bed colored wine red. She could faint just at the luxury of it all. She could see multiple doors in the bedroom, probably to a bathroom and two separate wardrobes. 

Everything was decorated with such class that she felt her world completely shift. She knew she had to act up to par if she wished to make an impression - and if she ultimately wished to one day change the world. 

"Usually my escorts stay in their own rooms for the course of their visit, but oh I'm tremendously excited to see how you'd punch me. You will be staying in my room. Your luggage will be placed in your personal wardrobe room on the right and meals will sometimes be brought to your room. Other times, you are required to accompany me to the grand hall for the meal. I also have a very special rule just for you. I want you in lingerie at all times inside and outside the bedroom. Do not embarrass me and wear the best you can find, the servants will help you get ready. Only lingerie inside the castle." He grinned, his eyes showering Aurelia with a hidden threat and a hint of amusement.

"Thank you, your majesty. It's an h-" She tried and tried but she simply couldn't say the cursed words 'it's an honor'. So the rumors about lying inside the castle were true then. "Thank you." 

His grin broadened as he realized what happened while he walked out the room, moving so smoothly that a trail of respect and power remained in the room despite his exit. 

Aurelia let out a sigh as she took in her surroundings. The room was beautiful. She could not believe the king hadn't killed her on the spot, but she knew well that the king had a taste for slow, torturous deaths. Perhaps he was simply planning to make her regret ever being alive instead.

The door opened, bringing attention to the two servants that brought up her luggage and put it inside the wardrobe room without a second glance. She walked inside the wardrobe room, taking in every beautiful inch of the long hall filled with women clothes and empty space for her own outfits. The hall was as big as a masters bedroom on its own and it held the most beautiful gowns she had ever seen. They sparkled and shined with such elegance that she couldn't believe her eyes. Gowns of every color and every length were stationed there, and they all seemed to be exactly her size. 

The realization hit her like a brick: King Sulfur has endless wealth. She couldn't brain the concept. Endless? How much is that? He could buy every single thing she desired from a sole island to an entire continent and not stain his wallet. 

She walked deeper into the wardrobe and saw a button she couldn't help but press. The button opened up a changing room filled with 10 full body mirrors, allowing her to view herself from every single angle. The wardrobe suddenly started moving, the outfits circling her through the electronic technology. She had almost forgotten how further advanced Sulfurasious is as compared to oblivion.

She watched as each gown was matched with the most fit shoe and supporting jewelry. Was this all for her? The load of questions she had were slowly giving her a migraine. 

She had never witnessed such extensive luxuries. She was favored in the oblivion, so all the best outfits and best teachers were hers. She had the biggest room in her school and the most attention from all staff, but little did she realize all the luxuries she was privileged to have would pale in comparison to this. 

It was a big surprise to her, seeing that none of the former escorts who were kicked out of the castle mentioned the advantages of living here. The king's words echoed through her head 'usually my escorts stay in their own room'... perhaps none other witnessed the extensive luxuries of the King's room. Or perhaps the door also made them forget the great privilege. 

She had so many questions with no one to answer them, and as she stepped out of the wardrobe, she realized just how alone she is. She missed Iliyus. Missed his charming smile. Iliyus was almost as beautiful as King Sulfurus. 

They resembled in many traits. They both had sharp jawlines and dashing cheekbones, but Iliyus was a brunette with emerald eyes while King Sulfur was blessed with eyes colored like honey and the sun. She didn't dare look at King Sulfur's body, but she was sure it would be as fit as Iliyus's. In all honesty, their personalities appeared to be similar in some ways too. Except the fact that King Sulfur was a monster while Iliyus was an intelligent beauty wasted away in the oppressed Oblivion. 

Iliyus was bound to be called to the castle sooner or later. He was the same age as her so his turn was in mere weeks. She couldn't wait to see him soon despite the empty look in his eyes when she last saw him. 

After she decided that she had overthought enough, she grabbed her towel and walked towards the bathroom.

The walls of the shower were pitch black just as the rest of the room, but in the middle laid a big golden jacuzzi. The shower looked far too advanced to be from Elexia. Shower heads filled every inch of the room, but no handle was in sight. 

She undressed and walked in, deciding that she can find a way to turn on the shower later. Just as she walked in, water of the perfect temperature with perfect pressure damped her in the places she had sweated the most. The technology appeared to detect just where water was most necessary and set the pressure of the different shower heads accordingly. It was a very efficient technique. Upon her entrance multiple packets of soap, conditioner and shampoo were expanded to her reach for her to choose from. There were so many options and so many alternatives, so many shower scrubs, facial toners and conditioning soaps to choose from. She couldn't help but wish to take hours and hours in that shower.

After she exited the walls of the grand shower room, a sudden high pressure blow was exerted on her. It was drying her head to toe, with the most pressure being exerted on her hair. She was completely blow dried by the time she walked further out to put the towel around her. 

As she exited the bathroom and walked towards the wardrobe, she heard a servant walk in.

"The king has requested for you to wear a very specific outfit today. The wardrobe can set it out for you when you press the button but a hair dresser will soon come in to style your hair." The servant didn't take a second glance as she walked out the door.

Aurelia walked towards the wardrobe and pressed the button to find the most dashing gown be paired with a perfect set of shoes. Aurelia had brown eyes and brunette hair, so the completely white outfit really outlined her features. The shoes were white high heels, curling and swirling around her legs up to her knees. The white gown was knee length, a slit going down until directly below her breast, showcasing her beautiful body. The cups sparkled and brought the perfect amount of attention on her cleavage while it was tight and fit in all the right spots to show off her muscular and flat stomach. 

Two more ladies walked in: the make up artist and hair dresser. Her hair was straightened with the bottom being curled into beautiful swirls. Her makeup was simple but elegant. Her cheekbones were highlighted and wine red was used to color her lips and serve as eyeshadow. Her cheeks were blushed with a beautiful shade of red rather than pink, and her eyeliner brought out the yellow in her eyes. As the two ladies stepped back to look at the finished product, they were speechless.

"Beautiful." They mumbled simultaneously, unable to speak.

She let out a genuine smile and bowed slightly as they took her hand and guided her outside. She was guided to the balcony to await the King.

It was close to 8:00pm, so the moon was in view despite the exteriors not being completely dark. She looked down at the beautiful kingdom and silently prayed she wouldn't have to leave anytime soon. 

As she looked down at the beautiful landscape, she heard elegant foot steps from behind her. The immediate surge of power and energy was enough to prove that it was to King Sulfur she was now turning.

The king's jaw slightly dropped as his pupils dilated, a change no one would've noticed. He looked her up and down a couple of times before he was finally able to speak.  "Satisfactory." 

He smirked at the shocked look in Aurelia's face. Satisfactory? Satisfactory! She could not believe her ears. "My lord, are you displeased by my appearance?"

"Of course not. It is rather above average." Above average? She was the most beautiful woman to have walked Elexia in decades and he seemed to not even notice her beauty. She couldn't help the little sting of hurt, but she concealed her features regardless. He needed to know she cared little about what he thought of her considering she despised him. A cruel monster, that's what he truly is, and she was now realizing just how right she was.

He was unable to lie in the castle, but perhaps he could omit and down play. She prayed to the gods that this was the reason he called her merely satisfactory, because if he truly felt that way, her entire life was a lie. 

She was prepared for drooling men, and she had seen many servants and guards drool as she walked by, but for some reason, the king held a very neutral expression, and if her beauty moved him, he didn't let it show.

"Follow me." The king said with authority, as Aurelia walked up to him and took the hand he held out for her. His hand was no longer gloved, so she could see the many rings, all made of pure diamonds and jewels. The king was very tall while Aurelia was a rather average height, so she felt very small as she walked alongside the king hand in hand.