The fuss over us continued until we arrived at the castle. The crowd was packed shoulder-to-shoulder, but the path before us was always clear. I’d never seen anything like it. We had been greeted in Fatna, too, but the scale was totally different. It just showed how much the people had been looking forward to the Cristallo Sacro being cleansed, but I was still surprised.
Even once we got through the castle gate, things didn’t change. Since only certain people were allowed to enter the castle, you had to show your identification at the gate. I had given my uniform back, but I still had my ID. Inside were uniformed attendants, guards in their armor, knights and Academy students in their uniforms, and researchers in their robes — everyone who was authorized to enter the castle lined up by rank to see us. Though we didn’t see lower servants, it was probably because they were either working, or went to see us outside of the castle.
We didn’t get off of our horses until we got to the entrance. I’d never seen anyone get the same kind of greeting we did, so I felt uncomfortable. To think that I’d be greeted like that before seeing it happen to someone else...!
While I was flustered, Miss Maria and the others were all confident. Hiding her usual expressiveness, she looked prim and proper, with her slender chin tilted up, looking just as you’d think a Sacred Maiden would. Though she’d been wearing dresses that were easy to move in since Vatis, she’d changed into the elegant dress I first saw her in for her triumphant return. It looked beautiful, and she matched Prince Edoardo, who was escorting her, well.
Following them were Sir Agliardi and Lord Reynard, with Sir Celes, Eric, Sir Gaius, and myself behind them. The exaggerated greeting line continued into the castle. I-I want to just run and hide! Glancing at the others, I seemed to be the only one overawed by it. How were they all acting normally!? Was it because they’re used to it!?
While I tried to hide my panic, we turned a few corners before stopping in front of one room. As Miss Maria and the prince approached the door, the knights standing on either side of it saluted, opening it for us.
“Welcome back, Your Highness, Sacred Maiden. I am glad to see you’ve returned well.”
Inside was an elderly butler. His pure white hair was tied back neatly as he bowed before His Highness. The prince had his ‘Crown Prince’ face back on, briskly giving the butler orders.
“Yes. Take Maria and the others to the baths, and have them dressed. Prepare a light meal for us, as well. All of them are my companions, the Heroes of Purification. Be sure to treat them as such.” He turned back to us. “Well then, I’ll go report to my father. You all should wait here.”
After taking Miss Maria’s hand and dropping a light kiss on the back of it, the prince quickly left the room. As soon as he left, the palace attendants waiting behind the butler split into two groups and came to us.
“Please, come this way.”
Because the men’s and women’s baths were separate, the attendants showed each group to different doors. But as they did it, I could feel their suspicious gazes on me, making me worry about if I should go along with them. I really don’t belong... Of course they’d be suspicious when the group returned with more people than they set out with.
Noticing my hesitation, Miss Maria linked her hand with mine.
“Let’s go, Lucia! I’m not letting you stay behind! You’re my best friend, after all!” The attendants looked between us, surprised, after Miss Maria’s announcement. “D’you have a problem with that? She’s my best friend. What’s wrong with her coming with me?”
“Nothing at all, Sacred Maiden. Please, come this way.”
Just as palace attendants should, they immediately smoothed things over, leading us towards the door. We walked towards them, still hand in hand.
As I passed Sir Celes, he lightly brushed my hand with his. When I looked up at him, his sky-blue eyes looked at me gently. Even without words, I was happy to know how he felt.
✦ ✦ ✦
Though the bath felt wonderful, I was incredibly uncomfortable the entire time.
We had bathed in an extravagant palace bath back in Fatna as well, but my level of discomfort was much higher here, since I could recognize a few people. They may not have known me, but I noticed a few I’d seen walking through the halls. I really had no idea what I should do. It would have been much worse if Miss Maria hadn’t been with me.
But after that, we were separated.
After we were led to different rooms once again, one of the attendants with me handed over my familiar laundrymaid uniform. “You must be Lucia Arca. Put on these clothes before you return.”
“We have other jobs, so we’ll be leaving.”
Once they gave me my uniform, they turned and left, jobs done. They must have been busy getting everyone’s rooms ready, or preparing for us to see His Majesty.
“...I kind of missed this.”
After being left alone, I put on the gray apron-dress that I’d worn every day until I left half a year ago. If they were giving it back to me, would that mean that I’d been given my job back? Or maybe they just wanted to dress me in something familiar. Whatever the case, I had no problem with it.
After getting dressed, I stood in front of the large mirror on the wall and fixed my hair. With a retying of my hair with the flowered ribbon that Sir Celes gave me, I looked just as I remembered. I felt more like I was about to go do laundry than see the King.
“Are you ready? The others are waiting, so hurry up.”
They must have realized I was finished as another attendant came to get me at the perfect time. I guessed we were meeting up again before our audience with the King. Maybe it was because I was wearing something familiar, but the discomfort I felt before changing was gone, and I headed back to the room where the others were waiting.