Qassadia wrote:''Stragers In A Strange LandAt The KitanThe journey to this hotel that the customs woman spoke of took far less time than the small band of Cassadians had originally thought, and while that was a welcoming change of things compared to what Cornelia had had to put herself through when she and her husband had to go through that port-of-entry checkpoint.
How unseemly and rude those people were, I never had to put up with such annoying scoundrels before, Cornelia mentally noted to herself as she replayed that scene on rewind in her mind again.
Indeed, maybe I was too harsh on Kassadnya. The princess mentally deliberated with her consciousness.
The rickshaw was nothing to admire, especially in that its craftsmanship of it's exterior could not hold a candle to the Royal Carriages and those of the Court, which took part in the opening and closing ceremony that marked the beginning of the session and its end. There were no curved spiraling edges, smooth lines, and the richly ornamented car bodies with intricate golden patterns that resembled leaves, flowers, and complex bords.
Count Treize Kushrenada was the first to disembark from the rickshaw as he marched around it to where the door next to his fiance was, opening it with a pulling-motion towards himself as he extended his other hand, reaching out for Cornelia to take it, which she did. Putting her silk-gloved hand into the palm of her future husband as she disembarked the rickshaw. The other two in the meantime had gotten off earlier, having to take the luggage out with them, as they all set forth towards the hotel in which they were to spend the next couple of nights. Something that most people would have found scandalous when one had to consider that even on the outside it appeared to be a century behind the times when it came to the hotel business, even when pitted at three, or even two-star hotels.
Passing through the main front entrance, the four Cassadians marched up to the lobby. Again it was not anything fancy with only the furniture and interior being possibly the only exception. Treize Khushrenada took the lead in checking in for the rest of the group as they patiently stood at a distance from their betters, with only Cornelia standing by his side, her arm wrapped around the elbow of her husband as she looked on as her husband exchanged remarks with the receptionist about booking rooms for both his wife and for their two servants. The four Cassadians could not have done a better job at standing out from among the crowd that was present in the nearby space that served as the hotel's restaurant.
While Kassadnya, was a simple enough case, sticking out from the others because of her long dress over which was put a Victorian apron, while Oles Honchar was dressed in more normal clothes; a beige two-piece suit, and while that might have been nothing except to the poor locals - the awkward sight of him standing about in the background, seemingly on edge with one hand always ready to pull up the lower fabric of his suit jacket, as if to draw something, not to mention the weird boxy kevlar rucksack he carried on his back.
The combat webbing that was visible once one was to get close did not help in that regard either.
The two people of blue blood could not contrast more with the common folk, Cornelia was a tall, beautiful woman with long lush raven hair that she wore either in a half up-half down crown-braid with two strands framing her face, and was dressed in a high-cut dress besides also being adorned with jewelry of whose as highlights was an expensive necklace and a golden ring, embellished with the Great Seal of the Phoenix, that represented the Cassadian Royal Family Treize with his white tropical uniform that comprised a white matching white jacket and dresses pants Struggling with the woman behind the counter, probably mainly having to do with her weak understanding of English. Nevertheless, the couple tried their luck and were failing, at convincing the young lass that the money he was offering were genuine and not some fake pieces of paper, like what she claimed it was probably, in her tongue, a twister of a language.
''Honey, I don't think they'll understand you, even if you go on elaborating yourself to them as if they are toddlers.'' The tall, queenly woman said to her significant other as Cornelia let off her hold on his arms as she reached back with her hand to the back of her neck, gently putting it off from around her neck, putting it down on the reception desk, the jewels the precious metals glistening in all their luxurious splendor that would cost the kidneys of about half a dozen normal commoners.
Treize’s eyes went wide, inclined to the side as he whispered sternly.’’ Dear, what are you doing!,’’ said the man, unnerved by what his wife-to-be, was about to do,’’ that is a present from the Ejorikean King’s wife. What is she going to say when she finds out you’ve thrown it on a hole like this.’’ This protest of the middle-aged aristocratic man annoyed Cornelia who sighed before turning her head to her fiance.
’’ Oh, you spoiled little cherub, what if we spend a night or two in a place like this, or were those officer’s suite too luxurious for you when you and Lukov were training to be commissioned officers at the Carthage Officer’s Academy?’’ The princess asked in a discreet combative tone, which made Treize step back at the remark. He bit his lip just at the mere mention of this man that Cornelia had just uttered his name.
Cutting this non-issue out, the long-legged queenly Cornelia turned to the young girl at the receptionist desk, trying to reject what the woman of Blue Blood had just offered her to pay for personal lodgings.
’’ And besides, I and my sisters have a jewelry collection that is about a couple jewel-stores big.’’ Prince Cornelia said, as she turned to the receptionist girl, who was trying her hardest to accept this bold attempt at booking lodging with an item that might as well have bought the Kitan.
’’I insist that you accept this prized article of jewelry as payment and for causing an inconvenience for you and your business.’’ Cornelia solemnly stated as she put her left hand on the necklace which she pushed forward as she took the hand of the hotel receptionist with the other which she put on the said necklace.
’’I beg that you do so, for my sake and yours, and the prosperity of your business.’’ The princess insisted stubbornly in a soft voice, her words conveyed in English.
Meanwhile, the two servants to the future Royal couple were scrutinizing the scene that had been unfolding before them, in silence until it was Kassadnya who broke the stillness of the lack of verbal communication.
’’Her Highness should just buy this place; it looks like a whole even on the outside, with it inside somehow being even worse!’’ Commented the opinionated servant girl, for which she got a slap on the should with the snap of a heavy palm coming from Oles, his expression emotionless and neutral behind his shades.
’’ I cannot believe they somehow gave you this prestigious job, to work in the service of the Highness, especially one as obnoxious and with a peasant altitude such as yours.’’ The bodyguard weighed in on the misconduct of the girl, his words cold as stainless steel as he checked the environment that surrounded them, turning on occasion his head though not in a way that would have further made him stick out like an elephant in the room.
Once the hurdle with payment with foreign currency was out of the way, the tiny entourage of Cassadians set forth towards the two rooms that Cornelia had secured for both themselves and their two servant companions. The times spent in those rooms once they got to them was not long. Other than the universal lament coming from all of them about the primitive furnishing and lack of modern appliances such as electricity, television or air-conditioning, the two Royals changed respectively into more normal civilian clothes; with Cornelia sporting a more touristy look with a short yellow summer dress across that ran yellow lines around the entire article of clothing along with strappy sandals and sunglasses, Treize opted for a normal look for himself as well going down with white shirt, three-fourth shorts and a pair of sneakers. Except for Honchar, it was Kassadnya who switched from her sore-thumb maid dress and into a pair of tight jeans, flats, and a loose black shirt.
It was decided for the group by Cornelia, that the group should stop by the restaurant to refreshen themselves with food and drink before the group was to set out towards this temple that had been constructed as a place for worship for the local goddess or so the Cassadians thought to themselves. Much to the chagrin of Cornelia's fiance, who while not admitting it himself by the spoken word, was uncomfortable with eating in such an unrefined establishment, but was as always gently persuaded by Cornelia to follow her lead, as it was often in such things.
They seated themselves on two tables for two, Cornelia and Treize, and Oles and Kassadnya being seated at different tables respectively, with the latter taking up a table that was not far from the table of their masters, to be able to react quickly if the unthinkable, Lord forbid, was to happen.
Each ordered something different from whatever was on the menu that had been provided by the waitresses.