Total pages in book: 90
Estimated words: 85794 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 429(@200wpm)___ 343(@250wpm)___ 286(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 85794 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 429(@200wpm)___ 343(@250wpm)___ 286(@300wpm)
“Will there be anything else?” the servant asked.
Phoebe shook her head.
“No thanks—this is fine. But I never did get your name,” she added.
“Oh, I’m Humpty.” The servant bowed.
“Okay, thank you, Humpty. I’ll ask for you if I need anything else,” Phoebe told him. She rather liked the obsequious little servant—he was the only male she’d met in the whole palace who treated her with respect, rather than just assuming she was a Sex Slave.
“Yes, my lady! Please do.” Humpty smiled and bowed again.
Phoebe nodded at him.
“Well, goodbye for now.”
It occurred to her that she should probably ask for more non-poisonous food since she had no intention of eating the thick purple tentacle, but now that she thought of it, she really didn’t have much of an appetite. She didn’t like being separated from Sirex. Until the big warrior came back to the palace, she was going to be on pins and needles and her stomach would be in knots.
Humpty bowed a final time and she watched as he walked down the hallway to the hidden doorway. He pushed against it and slipped inside, neatly disappearing.
Phoebe frowned as she carried the tray into the room and set it on a small table beside the large round bed. She was just picking up one of the purple spotted fruits when it occurred to her that she might be able to get into the servant’s door as well.
“And maybe from there I could find my way to the Emperor’s rooms!” she exclaimed. Of course, Sirex had ordered her to stay in the room, but this was too good a chance to pass up!
Dropping the fruit back on the tray, she went to the door and looked out again. There was no one outside—the broad corridor was deserted. Taking a chance, Phoebe left the room, carefully shutting the door behind her, and went down the hallway.
She came to the place where the servant boy had disappeared and studied it carefully. At first glance it looked like just another section of the golden wall. But then she saw three very faint seams which formed the outline of a door. Putting her hand to it, she pushed and was delighted when it gave way easily.
A sudden rush of air came out and it smelled sweet—the same sweet scent that she had first noticed when they entered the palace, Phoebe thought. The scent that she suspected had made her reckless enough to speak her mind and had earned her a spanking from Sirex.
She had gotten used to the scent and ceased to notice it not long after they first stepped inside. But it was stronger here—much stronger. What could it be?
Frowning, Phoebe poked her head in the secret door. Inside was a long, dim hallway that curved to the left. She stepped inside it and let the door close soundlessly behind her. The space was empty and lit with flickering glows that hovered near the ceiling every five feet or so.
If anyone catches me back here, I’ll just tell them I was looking for Humpty because I wanted more fruit, she decided as she began making her way down the hidden hallway. They can’t get upset at me for that. Right?
She made her way down the hallway, moving soundlessly because her bare feet made no noise on the smooth tile floor. The walls of the tunnel were dirty white with plenty of scuff marks—they looked like they hadn’t been painted for years. After a little while, she came to a cross section where she could go either left or right.
Remembering that the Emperor’s suite was down the hall to the left of her own room, she took the left hand way. A waft of air from the new corridor blew another gust of the sweet scent at her. It smelled a little like flowers and a little like candy, Phoebe thought. And come to think of it, hadn’t she smelled that same scent in the mimosa-like Sparkler she’d drunk the night before? It was definitely significant, though she wasn’t sure why.
She continued down the hallway, passing several more corridors along the way. But she stayed in the one she had chosen because none of the others had the scent.
Finally the corridor curved to the left again and she found herself outside a small wooden door with faded gold writing painted on it.
Phoebe squinted but she couldn’t make out what the writing said—it was too faint. However she decided to take a chance. Grasping the knob, she turned it slowly and was pleased when the door opened without any problems.
The moment the door cracked open, the sweet scent got even stronger and Phoebe knew she must be coming to the source of the mysterious smell. She stepped inside and found herself in a dimly lit bedroom.
It was an extremely grand room with thick, plush carpeting and golden furniture, including the golden bed in the middle of the room. A faint light was coming through the windows, but there were curtains drawn over them so only a thin beam of pinkish sunlight was able to get through.