He smiled slightly. "Well, I kind of have to." He replied, slightly teasingly, with a slight shrug.
The servant came back, slightly pale. "S-sir, the rooms are ready."
Soren nodded, and offered Celeste his arm again. He had been raised a gentleman, which meant offering his arm to a lady that he was going to be walking with. She, of course, could refuse it if she wished. "Now, I do have to warn you…" He said slowly. "The rooms they're placing you in are technically for, well…they're designed for my fiance. Er, not mine specifically, but for the fiance of the king. So there is a door between the rooms." He bit his lower lip very slightly. "However, that door is in possession of three locks, two of which are on your side. Not I, nor anyone else could get in from my rooms unless you let us. However, if even the presence of said door between the chambers unnerves you, you can be moved to the third floor, though I must warn you that those rooms haven't been in use for years, and are thick with dust and age." He cleared his throat. "I also give my solemn word that even if I could get through to your rooms, I would not lay a hand on you."
Celeste didn't hesitate at all this time as she slipped her arm through his, though his next words gave her pause. The fear shone in her eyes at first, slowly easing as he continued to explain that she had full control over the situation. That was a first. She had never had full control over any situation like this before, practically none at all, in fact. Slowly, she gave a nod, indicating that she understood, and was fine with it. She didn't quite trust her voice not to shake or give out completely if she spoke.
Soren gave a small smile. "Alright." He looked at the servant. "Lead on." He said.
The servant bowed, and started walking.
They went upstairs. There was a hallway with windows on the left, and a door on the right. The servant opened the door, revealing a set of gorgeous rooms, decorated in shades of crimson, accented with a few touches of deep blue, and gold. The bed was large, with canopies that were drawn back. To one side there was a door with two locks, both of which were locked. There were two large windows, which were both slightly open to allow for fresh air. There was also a fire in the hearth. There was a bowl of water near the fire for Pluto, along with a second, empty bowl for food.
Soren smiled slightly. "What do you think?" He asked her.
"Holy-" Celeste caught herself last minute, her eyes wide as she took in the rooms she could see. Just the main room they had walked into was about the size of the kitchen and living room of her cottage combined. "They're gorgeous." That was a good alternative to swearing in front of the King and one of his servants, right? Pluto wasted no time in squeezing between them, heading straight for the fire place and the bowl of water. He turned his head towards Soren, letting out a small boof. "He says thank you. And so do I."
Soren smiled. "You're quite welcome." He answered. He looked at the servant. "Is there a maid who can serve as her lady's maid for while she is here?"
The servant nodded. "Of course there is, sir. I shall go fetch her." He left the room.
Soren turned back to Celeste. "If you ever need to take your wolf outside, simply go out into the hallway, go to the opposite end of the one we came in, and there is a door. Through the door and down the stairs, and then you shall be out in the garden. There will be guards posted in the hallway, but they won't bother you. One might follow you, to protect you, but they won't bother you."
"Is-are you sure all of this is necessary? A maid? A guard following me?" Celeste asked, frowning slightly in worry. She filed away the knowledge that his smile existed like that, and the small part of her that was aware that she sort of liked it. Instead, she focused on the fact that all of this made her feel…special, more special than she was. Or at least, more special than she thought she was.
He sighed. "The maid is customary, but if you don't want one, that's okay. The guard is…well, I'm sorry about this, but because of being housed here in the West wing, it will turn you into a target. I'm sorry about that. The guard is to help protect you, although they're mainly stationed in the hallway to take care of me." He gave a wry smile. "You're here as a guest of mine because of King Lin. That association with both Lin and I makes you a target. Again, my apologies for that."
"I would…appreciate not having a maid. That feels like a waste of someone's services, waiting on me, when they could be taking care of more important things." She did that a lot, referring to almost anything as more important than she was. It didn't even really seem like a conscious choice. Her gaze was drawn to the floor, as she quelled the build up of panic in her chest. "I'm not unused to a target being on my back. The warning is nice, though."
He watched her for a moment. "Miss Sovanna, most of the maids here would welcome being a ladies maid for a bit, rather than cooks or whatever they are." He winced as he remembered how many times he had dismissed a guard because they took advantage of one of the maids. There wasn't anything he could do about the nobles that did it, though, much as he wished he could. "But if you truly don't want one, that's fine."
The servant came back, leading a small, shy looking young girl. She was probably about sixteen, with a plain dress on and her hair back in a neat bun. "I'm here to serves you, if'n you wants me, miss." She said softly, giving Soren a curtsy, then giving Celeste one as well.
The male servant handed Soren a letter.
Soren took the letter, but didn't open it.
Celeste's words stopped on her tongue, before she could let the girl down. For a moment, she searched the girl's face, and her own turbulent thoughts, before nodding. "I-er-would love some help…drawing a bath? I've always had trouble figuring out faucets and things in unfamiliar places." She shrugged a shoulder, slipping her arm from Soren's to trace the dreamcatcher on the back of her neck.
The girl gave a tiny, shy smile. "Alright then, miss. Right this way." She slipped into the bathroom, and started drawing up a bath.
Soren opened the letter, eyes scanning over it. He looked at Celeste. "I shall take my leave of you, then, miss Sovanna." He said with a small bow. "If you need anything, send the maid to find me, or do so yourself, if you need to." He gave a small smile.
"I'll keep that in mind. Thank you, your Majesty." Celeste's thanks definitely carried weight for more than just the offer of help if she needed anything. "My luck is with you and your endeavors, should you need it." That wasn't just a slightly strange saying, if the power behind the words was any indication. She bowed slightly, not a curtsy, but at the waist instead, and gave a small wave to Soren as she followed after the girl.
Soren smiled slightly as he watched her go for a moment, then he left the room, closing the door behind himself.
The servant girl looked up as she came in. "How hot do you wants it, miss?" She asked.
"You don't have to call me miss, you know." Celeste said with a smile, shaking her head as she leaned against the doorjamb. "Celeste works just fine. What temperature do you think would be best for relieving stress?" She asked, raising an eyebrow as she tucked her hands into her pockets.
The maid looked at her. "Miss-Celeste, I mean." She said slowly. "Uhm…a nice warm bath." She started the water running. "If'n I may ask, m-Celeste, what be you stressed about?" She questioned softly, testing the water temperature with her finger. Her voice was quiet and soft.
The better question would be what am I not stressed about. "Unfamiliar places, and…work things, I guess. If that's even what that is." The last bit was muttered more to herself than anything, and likely an accident. Celeste blinked, tilting her head. "I never got your name, I just realized. Er-it'd be nice to have something to call you by."
"I'm called Sue, miss Celeste." The "miss" part of her speech seemed to be automatic. She glanced up at her. "The bathwater is nearly ready." She hesitated, a blush blooming over her face. "Are you gonna marry the king?" She blurted, fidgeting with her dress. "I means, you is stayin' in the West wing, an' in the fiance rooms to boot, an'…I's just curious, you don't have t' answer." It seemed her accent got worse when she was nervous.
Celeste choked, pressing a fist to her mouth as she was torn between laughing, mostly out of nervousness and embarrassment, or blushing. It seemed both decided to happen, somewhat. "No, no, it's fine. I'm uh-not going to marry him. There were no other rooms available, and the King…offered these rooms. Chance."
Sue nodded. "Oh, I see." She said. She tested the bathwater again. "It's ready." She said, stepping to the side and smoothing out her skirts. "While you bathe, d'you wants me to unpack your bags an' put your clothes away? Or would you prefers I stays in here to help you with the bath?" She went to the cabinets, pulling out different soaps and shampoos and conditioners, setting them on the shelves inside the bathtub.
"I uh, really only have one bag." Celeste admitted, her fingers returning to tracing the dreamcatcher. It seemed to be a nervous or embarrassed habit, and she wasn't entirely sure when she'd developed it. Definitely after…her father's death, for sure. Weakness wasn't allowed when he was alive, and nervousness counted. "Everything else is in here." Her free hand tapped her pouch, where most of her important things were. She might've had a photo of her and her mother in her photo album she kept, but that was mostly full of pictures of her travels, and the people she'd met. "But if you really want to, unpacking that would be better than…you staying in here. Nothing against you or your abilities to help! I just-don't feel comfortable bathing with someone else in the room."
Sue gave a shy smile and a soft laugh. "I understands, Celeste. The bottles be clearly labeled as to what they be, but if'n you needs help, just call for me." She replied. "I'll unpacks the bag then, and make sure the bed's aired out." She glanced slightly nervously at Pluto. "Is the-is the wolf goin' to stay with you, or…?" She trailed off, one hand clutching her skirt nervously.
"Hm? Pluto?" Celeste turned to look out at Pluto, who was currently laying on the bed, watching them lazily. He perked up as the two looked at him, his tail wagging slightly. "Yeah, he is. I can't really eave my familiar at all, let alone while I travel to a different kingdom for who knows how long." She scrunched up her nose at him, and he responded with a soft 'boof', before she looked back at Sue. "He won't hurt you. Actually, he likes you, if his tail and the thoughts he's feeding me are any indication."
Sue nodded slowly. "O-oh." She stammered, and started to leave the bathroom. "Okay." She slipped out of the room, and opened the windows a bit more, checking the fire, then started unpacking the bag, putting Celeste's clothes in drawers.
Celeste locked the door quietly behind Sue, not out of fear of the girl, but more habit. She quickly set aside her things, such as her dagger and the pouch, before stripping and hesitantly sinking into the tub. Oh, wow. This thing is three times the size of my tub back at the cottage.
Pluto watched Sue, his head tilted curiously and his yellow eyes almost seeming to sparkle. They stood out against the dark grey of his fur, giving him a slightly eerie look, that would have been even worse if not for the puppy-like expression he had.
Sue kept sorting the clothing items into the drawers of the dresser. She cast wary glances at Pluto as she worked, not saying anything. She kept working, shaking out some of the clothes. Some of them she hung up, smoothing out wrinkles, and others she folded up for the drawers.
Pluto let out another small boof as he hopped down from the bed, like he was trying to get Sue's attention. He walked over to the bag she was pulling clothes out of, sticking his nose in to gently bite down on the photo album, pulling it out and setting it aside before grabbing a shirt and trotting over to Sue.
She stared at him, then took the shirt from him. "No, that's not… that's not a toy. Or f-food." She stammered, folding it neatly and putting it away in the same drawer she had out the other shirts.
The wolf huffed, and it almost sounded like a laugh. He went back to the bag, pulling out Celeste's spare cloak this time. He brought it over to Sue, sitting back on his haunches and waiting for her to take this article of clothing. His tail wagged slightly, like he found it amusing or something.
Sue took the cloak from him, and brushed a few stray bits of dirt from it, then hung it in the closet neatly. She watched the wolf warily for a moment, then kept unpacking the bag, hanging longer clothes and folding others.
Pluto continued to bring clothes to Sue, occasionally pulling something else out of the bag and setting it on the bed, such as a hair brush, a few old-looking books that had a powerful aura, and an odd looking stick with sigils carved into it. The door to the hall was pushed open without warning, as sounds of Celeste getting out of the bath could be heard, and Lin strode in as though he owned the place. You know, despite definitely not owning anything here.
