"Wake up, we're here," Papagalino called out to me anxiously.

I groggily opened my eyes, trying to figure out where I was and what time it was. Unfortunately, it wasn't a dream or a figment of my imagination, like I used to convince myself throughout my childhood.

"How are you?" he asked.

"Can't you see for yourself?" I grumbled. Then I softened my tone and said, "Better than Rosso."

Papagalino made a strange noise, something between a chuckle and a groan.

I glanced out the window, feeling a slight dizziness in my head, but I steadied myself and looked down. The forest had given way to endless fields stretching beneath the carriage, adorned with various colorful flowers or grains, reminiscent of Dutch landscapes with their tulip fields. In the distance, a castle came into view, and a wide courtyard further away resembled a helipad.

"Everything will be fine!" Papagalino hesitantly patted my shoulder.

"You're just saying that to calm me down." My throat felt dry, and Papagalino handed me a flask.

"Exactly, I won't deny it."

"What is this stuff?" I grimaced after taking a sip.

"Some fancy booze. Maybe you should change your clothes. You look great in those tight pants like a stableboy, but maybe wear something from Rosso's wardrobe," my new servant said.

"No way. I'm not changing in front of you."

He shrugged. "If things go south, can you use this flute like yesterday?"

"I have no idea how it works."

"Everything will be fine. Everything will be fine. Awesome." Papagalino covered his face with his hands.

***

As I stepped out of the carriage, I finally got a good look at the horses, or rather, parrots: something between a hippogriff and a paradise bird. I flinched when one of the birds made a horrible sound resembling a pterodactyl.

"Don't run," Papagalino said.

"I wasn't planning to."

"Yes, you were."

"You're right."

"There are a lot of guards here."

"I don't see them."

"Here they are."

"Oh, darn." It was only now that I noticed the so-called heli-carriage platform was teeming with guards. I would never have noticed them; they simply blended in with the trees lining the perimeter.

"Don't panic, or you'll give yourself away," my servant said. "You're like a walking target in that outfit. Just agree with everything, nod, and be polite," he instructed.

I listened with half an ear. I don't know what struck me more — the absolutely fantastical landscapes around me, as if I had joined the Fellowship of the Ring, or the fact that there were so many unfamiliar people around whom I wasn't used to, or a billion other things that couldn't settle and find a place in my head so quickly. Under normal circumstances, I would take a long time to adjust, trying to distract myself by reading books or endlessly watching series.

Opposite us stood two carriages: one black, without a single ornament — like a monolith, and the other white and airy, like a wedding cake.

Almost simultaneously, two women stepped out of the carriages. Their doors were opened by two of their servants, just like Papagalino, except one had blue feathers on his head, and the other had feathers as yellow as egg yolk.

I was breathless at the sight of the two women. Rosso, rest in peace, looked like a simpleton compared to these ladies.

The one who emerged from the black carriage was like the night itself: a long black dress, curly black hair cascading like a lion's mane, and ebony skin glistening gold every time she turned her head. The second woman was like her color counterpart — a white dress as airy as a cloud, white hair, and the fairest skin, Snow White.

"Is that the Queen, the Dark Lady?" I whispered to Papagalino.

"No, quiet, shhh, those are two other concubines," Papagalino replied in a hushed tone.

"How many concubines does she have?" I blurted out.

"Who is she?!" The White Concubine suddenly shouted, pointing at me. "I know Rosso, and that's not her! What did this girl do to Rosso?!!"

Give my older wlw novels a chance 😅🫡

More chapters on my personal Patreon page

New updates:

The cover belongs to ©treepipit

No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, without written permission of the publisher.
This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents either are products of the author's imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events or locales or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.

All rights reserved
© treepipit 2019-2024