A Legacy of Shadows

The Royal Event

Elara’s POV

The queen’s birthday celebration was in full swing. The grand hall was filled with guests, all dressed in their finest attire. I stood nervously in the grand hall, surrounded by the other serving staff. We were all dressed in our finest attire, our uniforms immaculate and our manners polished. The guests were all seated around different circular tables. At the far end, were two chairs reserved for the king and queen on an elevated podium. Soft musical melodies were emanating from a group of men sitting in an open space just in front of the podium.

My eyes scanned the crowd to see if I could catch a glimpse of my mother. I had not seen her since the kitchen staff whisked me away. I miss her already.

Occasionally, I will pause to look around to see if my mum will show up by chance.

As I served the guests, I felt a sense of pressure to do everything perfectly. I poured wine, served dishes and smiled politely, all while trying to keep my nerves in check. But despite my best effort, I couldn’t shake off the feeling that I was being watched.

Suddenly, a woman appeared beside me, her voice low and critical.” You are handling the wine jar awkwardly,” she said. “You might spill it on the guests.”

I looked up and saw a tall slender woman with piercing green eyes. “I’m sorry ma’am." I managed to mutter. She looked at me closely as if she was noticing something on my face while I kept staring at her scowl until another servant tapped her. The woman turned back to the servant, her expression still stern. The servant’s voice trembled as he spoke. Your attention is needed, um…at table five. “Out of my way!” she said, hurrying towards the table. I let out a sigh of relief as I watched her disappear into the crowd.

“Who is that?” I asked the servant standing beside me. “That’s lady Victoria, "she replied, her voice barely above a whisper. “She is one of Queen Elizabeth’s attendants.” "She is very strict and expects everything to be perfect.” “Perfect indeed,” I muttered to myself. Soon all these will be over, and I will be back to my house, I thought, consoling myself. I may not get to see my mum till the party is over. “You and you, come with me,” another servant said to me and the other serving girl instructively.

Not again! He ushered us to a secluded table that was set close to where the king and queen were seated. I had been so busy that I didn’t notice the entrance of the king and queen. “This table is strictly for the king's court men,” he said, handing us a jar of wine.

As I began to serve the table, I noticed the king and queen sitting close to each other. The queen was whispering something to another servant, while the king's eyes seemed to be fixed on me. I was uneasy and confused. Am I doing something wrong again? Why is he staring at me? Maybe he is staring at the beautiful lady sitting beside where I’m standing. As I raised my face, our eyes met, and I struggled to maintain my composure. The wine jar slipped from my grasp.

The wine bottle teetered on the edge of the table, and I felt a surge of panic. In my confusion and fear, I accidentally used my magic to catch the bottle, holding it in place. Luckily, no one seemed to notice, and the guests continued their conversations, oblivious to the near-disaster.

But I was terrified. I didn't know what to do or how to process what had just happened. My heart raced, I felt like I was going to lose control. I turned to the servant beside me, trying to compose myself. "I... "I don't feel good," I stammered. "I think I might throw up." "I need some air."

The servant looked at me with concern. "Are you okay?" Do you want me to get Lady Victoria?"

I shook my head frantically. "No, no, I'll be fine, I just need some fresh air."

Without waiting for a response, I turned and hurried out of the hall, leaving the servant looking worried behind me. I didn't care about protocol or what others might think. I just needed to get out of there and figure out what was happening to me.

I walked out of the grand hall, the cool night air a welcome respite from the stifling atmosphere inside. I looked around, trying to find a secluded spot where I could be alone. I spotted a dimly lit corridor. I made my way towards it, my footsteps barely making a sound because I didn't want anyone to know where I was.

As I turned a corner, I found a small alcove, partially hidden from view. I sat down on the stone bench, taking deep breaths of the cool air. The dim lighting made it difficult for anyone to see me, and I felt a sense of relief wash over me.

I closed my eyes, trying to calm my racing heart. I couldn't believe what had just happened. I had used my magic in front of people, and no one had noticed. It was both a relief and a terrifying thought. I can’t begin to imagine what would happen if someone had seen me using magic.

As I sat there, trying to collect my thoughts, I felt a sense of unease. I couldn't shake off the feeling that someone was watching me, even though I was alone in the alcove. What’s going on? Did lady Victoria follow me here?

And then, I heard the sound of footsteps, light and deliberate. They were getting closer, and I could sense a presence approaching. My heart skipped a beat as I realized that I wasn't alone anymore. I hastily held my stomach to feign ache or constipation.

The footsteps stopped right outside the alcove, and I saw a shadow loom over me. I looked up, and my heart sank as I saw King Alexander standing over me, his eyes fixed intently on mine...