"H-house of Demi-Monde?" Oriana stuttered, her face now ashen with shock. Bessie, who was standing close to her, recognized the inn, and she stiffened.
Adric nodded with a broad smile, "I love the name too, very unique."
Sophie walked to stand beside Adric, "What is this place? What happens here?"
"Oh here? Your sister would be in a better position to tell you than me. Go ahead, explain to the Crown Princess," Adric encouraged.
Oriana bit her lips, looking back and forth at the inn, then at the Crown Prince, before her gaze finally settled on Sophie, who was eagerly waiting for her to explain.
"This place is um... A house where... entertainment comes alive..."
Adric clapped his hands together, "Brilliant, I wouldn’t have explained it that well."
"Sounds like a fun place to be in, let’s go in then," Sophie smiled; finally, they were done walking, she needed to rest her legs. The older Princess sighed internally.
Oriana walked closer to Adric, whispering so that he would be the only one to hear.
"This is your... unconventional experience?" she questioned, her voice laced with disbelief.
"Indeed," Adric said, a glint of amusement dancing in his eyes. "Consider it a crash course in the underbelly of Orion society. Far more interesting than dusty old museums, wouldn’t you agree?"
Oriana sighed deeply, her stress level subtly increasing; she didn’t know who the tour guide was anymore, she or him. "You know we shouldn’t be here,"
Adric nodded, "But I forgot something here a few days ago, it’s not so important to me, but I want to take it.
"If it’s not so-" Before Oriana could voice her vehement objection, Adric had pushed open the creaky inn gate, ushering her inside.
Oriana gritted her teeth, hiding her face so nobody would have to recognize her. Last time she came here, she looked totally different from how she is now. Now she looks more like a Princess, that’s fine nobody would have to recog-
"Oriana!" One of the women who had registered her that day waved at her with her broad smile.
Oriana had no choice but to wave back, "I see you too," she forced a smile.
Sophie turned to look at her sister, "Seems like you’re popular around here, they even call your name without acknowledging your title, and what did you come here to do?" She asked walking closer to her sister.
"Well..." Oriana bit her lips, trying to figure out a perfect lie, "This is a house that helps maidens who find it difficult to adhere to their etiquette lessons." She wasn’t far from the truth though, Oriana nodded to herself.
"That’s nice then, I’ll like to enroll. Even though they look a little.... too much? Especially with their make ups" Sophie said, moving her finger mindlessly in the air, while carrying her chin up to show that she was still superior.
As they walked inside the inn, patrons turned to stare, their faces a mix of curiosity and amusement at the sight of royals openly gracing an establishment like Demi-Monde, which had a reputation. Sophie felt a flush creep up her neck, self-conscious under the scrutiny. Thinking that people revered her presence, she waved at them with a smile.
Oriana who noticed what her sister was doing, closed her eyes in shame. Adric, however, seemed to revel in the attention, his eyes scanning the room and everyone in it.
As they walked in further into the inn, Oriana couldn’t help but wonder where exactly this Crown Prince was taking them. She decided to speak up,
"Your Highne-"
"Well, well," Oriana paused when she heard a woman’s singsong voice. The woman now approached them with a smile, she knew was directed to Adric. Oriana threw him another judging glance, the man was really popular around here.
"Look who finally decided to grace us with his royal presence... again. Your Highness," the woman said, hugging Adric briefly and giving him an airy kiss side by side, with a broad smile lighting up her face.
Adric returned the hug, "You never seem to age Madame Rosalie," he complimented.
Oriana gaped at the woman standing in front of her, the same ruler of the inn? This is the Madame she was told about. The woman in front of her looked very young, with her black hair left loosely dancing on her waist that was properly carved out because of the slim gown she wore accentuating her hips.
"Your sweet words are timeless, Your Highness. Today you seem to have brought... unusual guests." The woman’s eyes scanned the two princesses. And when her eyes landed on one, who she somehow recognized, the smile on her lips broadened.
Oriana noticed the woman staring at her, she tried to look elsewhere but the woman didn’t move her eyes. The princess took up the challenge and stared back, locking her gaze without blinking.
"Is anything on my face?" Oriana asked.
Madame Rosalie waved her hand, "You look very familiar, have you worked here before?" The woman asked, raising her long painted nails, she tapped it thoughtfully on her lips.
"Oriana has worked in a place like this?" Sophie asked, looking around the place which didn’t fit anywhere in their class. And if not because she wanted to please Adric she would never be found in a place like this.
Adric stepped in, "I doubt, maybe someone who looks like her. This is Crown Princess Sophie of Orion, and the other one is the youngest princess Oriana." He introduced.
Oriana turned to look at him, why did he cover up for her. What was he playing at right now. She narrowed her eyes, looking at Adric suspiciously.
Madame Rosalie bowed low, "Forgive me for not recognizing you quickly. It must have been someone else who looked exactly like the princess." The woman apologized, giving Oriana a knowing smile which shows that she recognized her.
"Let me take you to your room, and don’t hesitate to let us know if you need anything." The owner of the inn walked them down to their room.
A small suspicion was beginning to rise in Oriana’s head. The path to the room looked very familiar, he was not perhaps trying to go back to the room where he had met her before was he?
When the door opened, and they were ushered in. Oriana’s heart dropped to her stomach. It was the same room. She turned to look at Adric who was also looking at her.
Sophie coughed slightly on entering the room, smoke hung heavy in the air, the smell of stake ale assaulting her nostrils.
"Do you think we can stay here?" She asked, trying to fan herself with her hand.
Adric moved towards the bed, "We’ll be leaving soon."
Then why did he bring them here? Oriana asked the frustrating question in her head. Just to remind her about their last meeting?
"I lost something here the last time I visited," Adric walked casually inside the room, searching for something. "Found it!" He raised the necklace up, blood drained from Oriana’s face and neck on seeing what the Crown Prince was holding.
Sophie squinted her eyes, "It looks familiar," she turned to look at her sister. "I’ve seen something like this on your neck before, right Oriana?"
"No, that’s not true. It looks like it but no." Oriana explained, this was it. She would literally just push this man down a cliff without even blinking.
The Crown Princess nodded, "That’s right. Your necklace can’t possibly be in a place like this." Then to Adric she said, "Why did you have to go through so much just for something that ordinary."
Oriana nodded in agreement, why? And if she knew the necklace was left here that day she wouldn’t have written any letter.
"That’s my exact question, why did I have to go through so much. I mean I could just snap the beads and watch it scatter, disappearing on the floor." Adric drawled. "I was going to forget about the necklace after leaving it here, but then I was suddenly summoned making me come back for something so.... unimportant. Now my interest is piqued, and when I bite, I never let go."
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