I pulled at the leash as we approached the palace gates. The guards stood ready, their halberds lowered just enough to block my path. One of them looked like he hadn't slept in a day, eyes half-lidded, voice rough.
"Show me your Identity card", he demanded.
I took out my Identity card and handed it over, as he took it and he looked up from the card to me, then again back to the card
"You are Baroness, Serena Vaelmont. The Baroness of Bordertown?"
He started chuckling, and I had to suppress the urge to punch his face. I knew that Bordertown was looked down onto. I knew it, I mean it's a village merely made to protect the Kingdom, and the only ones living there are the poor and the criminals. No wonder people looked down on it.
But still, I am a Baroness of that very village, how could I not be enraged? Also, this matter was way too urgent to get stopped by the prejudgement of this lowly guard. So I forcefully took my ID back and looked him in the eyes. With a forced smile I started talking.
"What seems to be the problem Guard? I don't see a problem with my verification, so can I enter now? I don't have time for this, the matter is urgent for me and this Kingdom.*
But the Guard just flashed me a smirk and didn't budge even a little
"The King is to busy to attend to your matters Baroness. I am sorry but you'll have to come another day."
It would've been plausible, if he wouldn't have this smirk on his face. This face that just asked for a beat down. Maybe my nerves were already strained due to the situation with that thing but I really wanted to let go of some frust.
My veins started visibly pulsing on my forhead.
"I don't think it's true Sir. And even so, it really is very important so if I may enter.."
I didn't want to keep dealing with him since I surely would pop any time soon so I tried to enter somehow but I was stopped by him once again.
"Like I said, today is a bad date. The King is to busy dealing with more urgent matters than you could ever understand, so if you may lea-"
He couldn't finish his sentence because my fist cut his words short. He flew into the bush next to the gates, my fist slightly red from using it. I turned my face to the other guard who kept silent this whole time.
"Open the gates, I have a meeting to attend to."
The other Guard didn't wish to follow his comrade, so he opened Gates but his knowing smirk gave me chills.
"Good luck Baroness. You may need it", he said as I passed through the Gates.
I should've interrogated him about that smirk, asked why he was laughing even though his friend just got beat up, but I didn't. And I was destined to regret it in the near future.