Content warning: Mention of a death
The royals were generous and invited the guests early so we could be given a tour of the garden, and watch performances in the theater before the banquet! In the middle of a performance, there was a knocking noise, but it couldn't have been from any props that were on stage. No actors were knocking on anything. The noise wasn't part of the act, but the actors kept the show going.
That was when we crossed paths. I expected that Renegade Eminence would've been here, but not late, and not looking like she was worrying about something. It was for only a few moments that I saw her look worried, but long enough that I suspect *something*. I had many questions to ask her, but they'd need to wait until the show was over, but before the banquet. I pulled out a notepad and jotted down the questions that I want to ask her. There was just enough light to write these down. I'm not sure how much of a window of opportunity I'll have to ask them, but I should try to enjoy the show...
Paige put the notepad away into one of her pockets on her uniform and continued to watch the show. Before she put it away, she glanced over and saw that Eminence was sketching something in a sketchbook before she put it away in the purse she brought with her.
The show went on, and everyone applauded after the finale. As the audience picked up their things and left their seats, they were gathered in the room for a few more minutes.
Paige approached Eminence. "I have some questions to ask you and this may be the best time."
"Are you interviewing me?" Eminence asked with visible excitement.
"I'm officially here to interview the king and queen, but I was also hoping to interview you." Paige whispered to her.
"This isn't the time for idle chatter." Galvani sternly told them.
Ugh... The royal military police are so stern. I'm here only on official business, but they're not letting us have that window of opportunity to talk. It's frustrating, but that's the worst *I* have to put up from them, but for Eminence, she could've had worse experiences. If not her, the senior Renegades do, and have suffered... The between them and the military in 1879... The battle that cost Chels-- *Ainsley's* life.
"This way to the banquet hall. Everyone, single file." Galvani ordered.
Paige, Eminence and the other guests followed the order, and got in a line. Galvani walked to the open doorway, and the first in line followed. Eminence stood behind Paige near the middle of the line. A few more people got out of their seats and made their way to the end of the line.
There were a total of eight guards that accompanied them. One in the front, one in the back, and the other six walked beside the guests. Eminence and Paige were nervous that one of the guards was within earshot, and the guest behind Eminence would be too, but if they quietly talked to each other, this may be their best chance.
"Since you got here after us, were you late or did you get lost in the palace?" Paige quietly asked Eminence.
"I didn't see any of the guards when I was in the lobby so no one led me here." Eminence quietly answered.
"Sorry for butting in, but someone should have." A woman said who was directly behind Eminence. She appeared to be around her late forties and had long dark gray hair that was tied into several braids, and was wearing a light blue and white puffy-sleeved gown with crystal earrings and a riveted necklace with a crystal hanging from it. Some of her family was line behind her.
"You're one of my rebellious daughter's colleagues, aren't you?" She asked in a tone that sounded more concerned rather than disdainful.
"Yes, Mrs. Fontaine." Eminence confidently said. "We're a good team!" She said.
"Oh, that's good!" Mrs. Fontaine said.
Their conversation with each other was polite and they talked a little bit about classical art with each other, but they kept it short. They would've enjoyed talking about with each other in more detail. They shared appreciations for classical art styles, but had to hold back to avoid the controversy between Felicity the "rebellious daughter" and the rest of her family. What they think of her choice to pursue "outrageous" art?
The Fontaine family are some of this country's most famous contemporary architects! The royal family commissioned them to design the lobby of their palace, and they made some of the furniture that I saw in the hallways and lobby. They're masters of these classical styles, and there was an uproar about someone in the family moving towards "outrageous" styles from the future that the nobility don't like, and I was paid to report on that!
I looked at her portfolio for research, and the furniture she designed reminds me of Art Nouveau mixed with Dada, Art Deco and Memphis Design! They weren't so outrageous by the end of the last timeline, but oh, I remember when these were new! Hahahaha... Thanks to other nobles' complaining about these "outrageous" styles, the common people had much more of an interest in them and earlier than before!
That daughter who Eminence said was one of her colleagues could be one of the Renegades! Wow... I could have a field day with interviews, but I can't this time. Ugh... Guards are watching so I can't jot down more questions.
"You looked worried when I saw you. Did something happen on your way here?" Paige quickly asked Eminence.
"I had to get here on my own and was afraid I missed it." She said.
One of the guards was within earshot. "My apologies. Our Majesty invited you, but I didn't see that you were on the original guest list, so you weren't included in the group." He apologized.
"Thank you, but it wasn't just that I had to get here on my own." Eminence said. "When I walked through hallways, there were traps! I had to avoid trap doors that opened to spiked pits, and dodge lasers that came out of the walls!" She loudly said. Everyone in line stood still for a few moments that felt like several minutes from the awkward silence.
"Could that have happened to any of us?" Mrs. Fontaine asked. She looked worried, and other guests in the room started to worry. The guards glanced at each other, expecting that someone will calm down the worried murmuring.
"That shouldn't have happened to anyone here." The guard that was standing next to Paige and Eminence said. "Those defenses should only activate when there are intruders, but there could've been a malfunction."
"Or sabotage?" Eminence questioned.
More silence that felt like it was for minutes before one of the guards spoke up.
"Was I on the original guest list?" Eminence asked, prodding.
"You weren't, but that was an error. General Gagliardi had the correct list and saw that you're on it, but we don't know if our Royal General received the correction. We apologize for that." The guard humbly said. "I'm also a general and have the clearance to inspect the security system for any signs of malfunction or sabotage." He added.
"That could be brought up in the interview, to hear it from the king and queen themselves." Paige said with curiosity.
The guards nodded. The other guests seemed assured enough that the guards ordered for the walk to the banquet hall to continue.
Can she trust that the guards will solve this? I wanted to ask Eminence this, but I can't ask it without anyone else overhearing it, and I can't write that question down. The guards and the Renegades have fought before. The truce is still fresh in everyone's minds.
I kept calm as I followed in the line, and took in the scenery. The halls had cream walls with elaborate gold trim, and each panel had gold decorations with floral and curving motifs on them along the borders. The wooden floors were polished. Patterns of different types of wood intermingled. I couldn't see the expressions of anyone in front of me, but they were quiet, but the body language of some of the people ahead seemed a bit tense.
When we exited the hallway, a large pair of doors closed behind us. We headed through the lobby again and through another hallway. The end of the hallway had an ornate pair of large doors, and two more guards were standing by them.
"Was there any trouble, General?" The guards asked. Their uniforms had plain sashes, and didn't have any insignia stripes on the sleeves. They may be new recruits.
"One of our honored guests was endangered by the security system in one of the hallways, but we'll inspect them after the banquet." Galvani announced to them.
"That's very unfortunate, General." The two guards said in unison, and opened the doors. Galvani led the group to the banquet room. The two guards at the door followed after everyone was in the banquet room, closed the doors behind them, and sat down to their seats at the table.
The guests and the guards that accompanied them were greeted by a massive dining room with several long tables. The walls were a delicate cream color, but had alternating light green panels that provided another splash of color. Each panel had curving, floral baroque decorations near their edges.
Ornate mahogany chairs were placed on the sides of each table. The chairs' frames curved into delicate shapes that held bold red cushions, and floral tablecloths in shades of green and blue with golden trim covered the tabletops. Tall windows lined the left side and the far edge of the room. Their blue curtains were drawn back with golden cords to bring in the natural daylight that remained.
Crystal chandeliers provided more light. Paige looked up to see them hanging from the ceiling. Strings of crystals fanned out from the center of each of the chandeliers and sparkled in their light. The ceiling was also a sight to behold! Colorful frescoes covered large portions of it, and each of them were framed with golden trim with floral and geometric patterns.
Suddenly when Paige was looking at the frescoes, a burst of confetti materialized near the ceiling, and sprinkled onto the guests and furniture below!
"Greetings, our honored guests!" A chorus of people announced, dressed in uniform and standing by each others' sides. The other guests were surprised but chuckled at the surprise that greeted them. Paige looked away from the ceilings to see who the people were. They were entertainers and wait staff. They were wearing fine suits and gowns. About half of them carried wands in one of their hands, and the other half carried music horns. The tips of the wands glowed.
"We'll show you to your seats." One of the entertainers said. She was in the middle of the line, and stepped ahead to greet the rest of the group. In her other hand, she was holding a clipboard.
She read a roll call from the list and the other people in her group led each guest to their seat at the table. Paige and Eminence were seated near the back edge of the room, and they were excited to get close to the banners that decorated the walls at the back edge of the room. They were long royal blue banners that bore golden floral insignia, and could be seen across the room.
Paige and Eminence walked away from the banners and to their assigned seats. All of the guests were now seated, but some of the chairs at that table were still vacant.
"Shouldn't the royals be next?" Eminence quietly said to Paige and Mrs. Fontaine.
"They should be. They wouldn't want to miss their own banquet." Paige said.
"I've been to a few of these events. They're usually like this." Mrs. Fontaine chuckled.
After a few minutes there was loud fanfare and the doors suddenly opened.
"Our Majesty has arrived!" One of the entertainers announced. He and the other entertainers that carried music horns with them stood to the sides of each other in two rows that faced each other, and by the opposite sides of the door.
Mrs.Fontaine and the other guests I briefly spoke with who've been to these events before agree on one thing; the royals like to be fashionably late, but this is their time! The banquet is about to begin!
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