The kitchens weren't too far away but Kim felt she'd never learn the layout on her own. So many dark tunnels and twisting hallways to wrap her head around. Inasia hummed as she skipped along, dusting as she went and Kim giggled behind her.
''Here we are, your highness.'' Inasia declared at the iron rough doors. The delicious smell of cooking meat was thick in the air and the door was warm to the touch as Kim pushed it open.
'Excuse me?' she said in a mousey voice and suddenly yelling filled her ears.
'Bring me more boiling water!'
'I need service over here!'
'Who has the butchering knives!?'
The kitchen was organised chaos, every ogre, demon and beast rushing around with boiling pans and hot trays of ingredients.
Kim stepped back, letting the door close in front of her. Her face was an anxious mess as Inasia tilted her head up at her.
''They seem busy.'' she mumbled ''maybe we should come back another time?''
'Nonsense, ma'am! Cliff!' she commanded and the skeleton stepped up, pushing the doors open wide till they slammed into the walls. A resounding thud marking his entrance.
The kitchen staff all stopped, sneering and holding up knives as the intruder stepped back into a bow to the side.
'Your queen is here!' Inasia declared loudly, moving Cliff out of the way so Kim was front and centre. The staff looked far less murderous in their white but stained uniforms, their chefs hats and the ones holding menacing knives quickly put them behind their backs.
They watched her intently. Too intently, their eyes bulging as Kim just stood there trying to thank them for the first taste of food she'd had in weeks.
''I- I- THANK YOU FOR THE FOOD!'' she shouted. Her nerves got to her as she turned on her bare heels and ran away. Her hands clutched her crimson cheeks as she heard Inasia call after her.
She couldn't do it. She couldn't even tell them thank you properly, let alone be their queen.
Somehow she ended up in the throne room once more, her feet hurting from walking on stone all day and her body tired from lack of rest. She wished she was back in Liel's bedroom and that thought made her cheeks colour some more.
''Get a hold of yourself.'' she sighed, rubbing her cheeks back to normal with both hands.
The throne room was just as impressive as it was last time. The broken columns and rubble had been cleaned away, leaving the broken stumps in their place. She felt bad for breaking things and stood by the throne, her hand on its back and a sigh escaping her.
She had been fighting for her life that night, her strange power coming out to help and she wondered if she could do it again if she tried?
She sank down onto her knees, putting her hands out and concentrating on an abstract shape, little bricks and little globs of mortar to make a little tower. She tried to focus, to channel some inner magic she didn't know she had.
The ground wobbled beneath her hands like jelly, small bricks starting to form and rise higher. She couldn't help the astonished smile on her face, giggling as it reached her hands and she touched the tower, it was soft like clay and she molded it to her liking.
Ah, but she was making a mess wasn't she? She looked around and sunk the tower back into the ground, willing it all to smooth back into gray stone. It did so on her command, now solid and cold once more and she stood.
Was this power why Liel was so intent on making her queen? It was magical, sure but Liel was a true leader?
They really wanted her to be a queen but she didn't know the first thing about ruling? It was overwhelming and she looked around to see she was alone before she sat down on the throne for a moment's rest. Her feet barely touched the floor with how big it was but it was very comfortable.
She let out a long sigh. Swinging her feet a little as she rested.
"I'm glad to see you getting used to your position." a humoured voice asked with a chuckle. Liel was behind her, smirking as she jumped out of her skin.
"L-Liel! I was just-" she stammered her words. Feeling embarrassed but he merely walked around and leaned on the armrest of the throne.
"Please don't be alarmed. This is your throne now, remember." he says like it's really that simple. She gives a huff, looking out at the throne room and feeling a knot of anxiety come over her.
"I don't know why you think I can do this?" she asks quietly, eyes downcast to her feet.
Liel tuts at her. Coming to stand in front of her and dropping to one knee, he opens what looks like a slit in the universe, glowing purple and he reaches inside, bringing out a pair of pink slippers.
"Becouse I know you can do this. Maybe you'll struggle at the start but this kingdom has needed someone like you for a long time." he explains as he slips the slippers onto her feet one by one. They fit perfectly and he raises one of her legs, kissing at her ankle that send goosebumps up her skin.
Her hands come to her furiously beating heart.
"I don't want to fail them. The people here. They've all been so nice." She wants to help them. Since she knows what's going to happen soon enough…
"More heroes will be on their way." she says sadly and Liel freezes for a second before looking up at her, seeing her watery eyes and he softens.
"I know, they're relentless but I won't let them hurt you." he says with a stern voice and she smiles but looks out to the large doors.
"Thats why you put yourself on the front line right? So none of the others get hurt." she says and he stumbles over his words, standing and looking flustered.
"It was just easier to face them myself." he counters but his shyness makes her giggle. She stands up, testing her new shoes by tapping her feet to the ground.
"They're perfect, thank you Liel." she says happily and the demon offers her his arm.
"You've been up all day, let's get you to bed." he tells her and she nervously takes his arm, she can feel the muscles under the soft fabric and blushes, trying not to squeeze too hard.
"When they come. We'll be ready for them." she declares, a plan in her mind forming. Maybe they didn't have to kill the heroes? Maybe they could change the game.
When he bid her goodnight at the bedroom doors she suddenly thought of something.
''Liel, where are you sleeping?'' she asks panicked and Liel gives her a sly smile.
''In the guest rooms of course." he says before leaving. Kim closes the doors in confusion.
If there were guest rooms available, then why was she put in Liel's bed from the beginning?
She couldn't think of a suitable answer as she crawled under the warm covers, sighing out in relief as she snuggled in deep and found her guide book.
She flipped to the part she was now dreading. The heroes chapters.
''These heroes of the kingdom of Heroica are strong and will stop at nothing to defeat the demon queen (thats you) take caution when battling them''
But she didn't want to battle them? She wanted to live in peace. But she also had to protect her new friends.
She gave a wistful sigh, putting the book back under her pillow. She will handle this all tomorrow. For now she still had to rest.