Kingdom of Arzialla by Marilyn Arias (story reading txt) 📕

air entered. All that was at the other side of this door was the alley that was behind Mila’s house. I was expecting this but I couldn’t help but feel a bit upset…
“Disappointed?”
I jumped from surprise and automatically slammed the door shut without meaning to. Mila was standing behind me, staring at me. She was wearing her nightgown with her gray hair braided into two low buns. She was holding a lit candle that sat in a handheld holder and I wondered how I didn’t notice the candle light.
She’s stealthy.
I acted like I opened the door for some other purpose. “Nah, I thought I heard something outside and I went to check what happened.”
“That’s not what you’re eyes tell me,” she said smiling with an eyebrow arched. “They tell me that you feel let down, embarrassed. Why on earth would you feel that way if you’re only checking outside?”
She’s not stupid, that’s for sure.
“Who did you meet?” she asked, not really waiting for an answer to her previous question.
“Nobody special, obviously,” I said, gesturing at the door.
“I asked who. Not what is she to you,” she said.
I sighed. “Just some pretty girl at the shop that Orde and I went to.”
“Did you feel a pull from her? Like you wish to know her?” she asked.
I shrugged. “Not really.”
“You’d have to have a strong connection with her the moment you lay eyes on her. But in this case, you were just attracted to her by her beauty,” she said.
“Well… yes, I guess you can say that,” I said scratching my head. It feels odd having short hair like this. It feels good but I’m so unused to it that it feels like I’m naked without my long hair.
“What’s you’re ideal woman?”
“Huh?” I wanted to be sure that I heard her right.
“Do you have an ideal woman?” she said.
I hesitated. “Well, I guess.”
“What do you like in a woman?”
“I don’t know. A girl that’s completely different from all the rest?”
“How different?”
I wasn’t sure how to answer this. I never gave much thought into what kind of girl I’d want.
She saw how I haven’t answered and somewhat changed the subject. “Do you believe in love at first sight?”
“Do you?”
“To be honest, no,” she smiled. “I actually hated my husband when I met him.”
“How did you both end up happily married then?” I asked.
“Frankly, even I don’t know. Love works in mysterious ways,” she told me. “But I find relationships more of a romantic love story if it’s ironic like that. Because it proves that even enemies can fall in love and that tells you that they have to really know each other and slowly but surely get along to fall in love.”
I still wasn’t sure how enemies can fall in love but I didn’t question about it.
“Well,” Mila sighed. “Let’s go to bed. It’s late and we need to have our rest for tomorrow evening.”
She escorted me to my room and told me goodnight. Just when I was going to shut the door, she said, “You’ll find her eventually. Don’t lose faith.”
I hesitated before closing the door.

The night of the annual military ball arrived and I was ready for it. I think…
Mila made sure to fold my clothes in lavender and other herbs to make it smell good. I spent most of the day trying to polish my boots and make them look stunning. When I thought it was enough polishing, I checked the day outside the window and found it to be afternoon. I took a bath and made sure five times that I’m not forgetting anything. I felt like I was but something told me to see if I’m missing anything so I checked for the sixth and last time. If I forget anything then oh well. That’ll be my problem.
Shirt and vest. Check.
Pants with belt. Check.
Boots. Check.
Hair is combed stylishly. Check.
Money. Check.
Key to the house. Check.
That’s all I could think of that would be necessary or useful but I just couldn’t think of anything else that I might need. I looked around but didn’t find anything worth taking. Except for a small knife that I got myself a few months ago. I walked over to the counter that it was lying on and picked it up. I stared at the beautiful designs and the shine the blade made. I took my finger and brushed my skin against the edge. It’s extremely sharp. I gave thought to whether or not I should take it.
“Zelimir?” Mila called for me from another room.
“Coming,” I said, quickly throwing my boot off and sliding the knife into its sheath before tying it onto my ankle. I slipped my boot back on and hid the knife into it. It felt a bit uncomfortable but I managed.
I ran out my room, still wondering what I’m forgetting. I met Mila in the living room. She wore a green dress with long sleeves along with a shawl over her shoulders and her hair down. The braids she wore overnight left some waves, giving lots of texture in her hair.
“Ready?” I asked her.
“Yes,” she replied.
Cally came around the corner and gave out a meow.
“Did you feed her?” Mila asked.
That’s what I forgot!
I go into the kitchen with Cally following me and pull out some leftover chicken. I took a chunk of it and placed it in her bowl. She eagerly watched me lower the bowl down to the floor and immediately started eating it. She gets hungry easily so we serve her something twice or three times a day.
There was a knock on our front door and I knew who it was. Mila opened the door and thanked Orde for inviting us to this wonderful evening.
“It’s a pleasure. Besides Zelimir deserves this and I believe you should enjoy this event with him,” he said.
I rush over to the door and I smelled body powder on Mila. I glanced at Orde and found him to be wearing the admirable gray leather armor. He wasn’t in such a high rank so he never earned a cape to proudly wear. Capes represents someone important in the city, even though the military in general is something that’s always been looked up at. If you were in rankings such as Private to Sergeant Major of the Army the uniform would be a gray armor. Warrant Officer to the fifth rank of Chief Warrant Officer, the uniform is a red armor and gray cape. Uniforms for ranks that range from Second Lieutenants to General of the Army would proudly wear a jet black armor and red cape. My eyes looked past Orde and found a man dressed in a military red armor and silver cape. A royal guard. You’d have to be the best to be a soldier in the palace and better than the best to be the king’s personal guard. Royal personal guards wear the same thing as a regular royal guard but with an addition of a silver sash.
I look past Orde and found a carriage and horse.
“Well, we need to go,” Orde told us. “Here’s your invitations. Don’t lose them on the way over there.”

We rode in the carriage and went through almost the entire town to get to the palace. From afar, I can see the sky lit up from all the lanterns. The roads were filled with other carriages waiting in line to drop off their invitees and guests. Soldiers came in a bit easier however since they could come riding on their own horse. But for soldiers like Orde where they would rather be gentlemen, they’d come in with their guests if they wish.
After a few minutes, we’ve come close enough to see the front gates of the kingdom. The gates were twice the height of an average man with steel bars. Royal guards and soldiers patrolled the entrance. From a distance, I can see the royal guards ask guests for their invitations before letting them through. But as we come closer, I noticed how the guards would ask the male guests to empty his pockets, lift his jackets, etc.
“Are they checking to see that you’re not holding any weapons?” I turned to Orde.
“Yes. Any sort of weapon is an instant threat to the king unless if you’re a soldier and you know the consequences of holding one against him,” he replied.
I look away and widened my eyes at the window remembering the knife that’s strapped to my leg under my boot. I watch the guards check every guest as we get closer and closer. I tried to seem calm without making it obvious that my mind is actually panicking. I’d throw it out if it’s not such a nice knife. I’d tell Orde about it but what will he do? Wait… Didn’t he just say that a soldier can hold a weapon as long as he doesn’t use it against the king?
“Hey, Orde,” I said. “Do you have extra space for a knife?”
His eyebrow arched closer to each other. “What you mean?”
I reached my hand into my boot and unbuckled the sheath off of my ankle. I held it out for Orde to see and he took it.
“Why do you have this?” he asked.
I shrugged. “I didn’t mean to seem like a threat to the king. I just brought it for self- defense.”
“Don’t do this again,” he said. “I’m serious. I’ll let you slip this one but don’t bring a weapon. There’s plenty of soldiers in the palace anyways.”
He took the sheath and strapped it around his ankle under his pants. I sighed with relief.
Just then, we stopped and a royal guard opened the carriage door. He stepped aside and we allowed Mila to get out first. I eyed Orde and told him to go first but he insisted for me to exit before him since I’m the guest. They asked Mila to raise her shawl to show she’s not hiding anything. They didn’t touch her but when it was my turn, they checked my arms, sides, and legs to make sure I’m not holding anything. I’m glad I gave my knife to Orde since they asked me to remove my boots as well.
They saluted Orde but the fact that he used to be part of the military didn’t stop them from checking. But instead of checking, they asked him to just reveal all the weapons he’s carrying. He slightly lifted his sword from his sheath and took my knife out of his boot. They stared at his eyes, looking for any sign that he’s lying. Of course, he was being sincere so they let him pass with them.
We climbed 37 stairs before meeting the front doors of the palace. The palace doors were made of stained glass arranged around to look like a variety of people, animals, objects, and such. Many were of fairies performing their magic or playing pranks on villagers. Some were of just random designs and shapes.
We entered and were fulfilled with awe when we stepped inside. Glass pillars were leaning against the red walls as they held the ceiling up and stood on marble floors. Two sets of grand staircases that sat in front of us presented an elegant, welcoming display. In between the staircases was a room and at the top of the stairs was another room. They’re both full of people chit-chatting and having a good time.
Orde leaned next to our shoulders and whispered, “The room in front of us is the throne room. The room upstairs is the ballroom.”
“How familiar are you with the palace?” Mila asked him.
“Very,” Orde replied. “Why? You