I am Reborn through Revenge

Get ready for the party

I looked at her, but all I had was a pity. She was in a sorry state. I couldn’t imagine how scared she must have been. She looked innocent to me. I knew it wasn’t right to conclude that she was but looking at her each time, I couldn't say otherwise.

I never believed what the guards said anyways. But I still didn’t want to trust her fully. But yet, I had to ask her more questions, it was my own little way of avoiding rushing to conclusions.

“But why do you want to serve as a palace maid?” I asked, looking more attentively at her expression.

“It was my uh…” she paused and looked at me. My gaze caught hers, she quickly looked away. “I have always loved to be a palace maid here. It’s a mighty palace to behold. Who doesn’t want to be close to the Palace anyway?” She chewed her finger.

“Are you sure about this? Are you sure it’s the best for you?” I asked. I didn't think she understood what she was after.

Only if she knew. Just only if she had any idea what she will face.

“Yes,” she retorted.

I gave a half-laugh. I licked my lips and shook my head. I don’t think she was sure of what she wanted.

“What is it?” She looked at me curiously.

“You are still very young. I don’t understand why you would choose to serve in the palace as a maid at this stage in your life.”

She looked away. “It’s a passion for me” she replied, looking unimpressed.

But she doesn’t look like someone who loves the job.

“Passion?”

“Yes.” she tried to look at me again and looked away immediately my eyes caught hers. I couldn’t understand why she was avoiding my gaze.

“Listen. There are dozens of jobs out there for you to do. As a girl, you can perhaps serve in a diner house. It pays well. I also hear that farming pays well these days, maybe you could start one up or join an established farm out there. But for a palace maid, you are too young for it.” I tried to convince her.

Someone must have told her that the palace is a juicy place to be. Or maybe she thinks that the palace is a paradise on earth. If someone did, then the person must have fed her with the wrong information.

“Believe me, I know what I am doing. I also know what is right for me.” She remained resolute. She didn’t look like someone who would change her mind.

I didn’t believe a girl like her would be this decisive. If someone had convinced her to come here, then the person must have done a good job.

“Do you have someone who has served in the palace before as a friend?” I asked. I wanted to know if someone told her to come here.

“No. No. No. I don’t.” She replied with a frog voice, shaking her head sideways.

I heard the sound of the door screeching. I looked over, I thought it was Norman.

“Oh! Sir, here you are!” Brady gave me a bright smile.

I wasn’t expecting him but I was very happy seeing him around. I didn’t believe he would be there.

“Brad, How in the world do you know I was here?” I asked him.

I looked at him. He changed totally. The brush strokes he ran on his golden hair were neat. He left his brown jacket unzipped which he wore on top of a banana yellow long sleeve.

Raising his shoulders, “I know where to always find you, sir.” He smiled again, widening his lips.

I knew he lied. He must have asked someone. After all, people saw me when I carried the girl to Norman's house.

“What are you doing here?” I asked him.

He walked closer.

“Hi.” Brady waved at Marie who was looking at him curiously.

“Hello!” she smiled.

“Sir! Can I speak to you privately?” Brady requested.

Privately? I wondered what he might want to tell me that he wouldn’t want to say openly. I was curious too, I wanted to know.

“Okay,” I said. We walked close to the entrance of the room.

“Sir!” he said smiling. He turned around and looked at her. She was facing the other side of the bed. He smiled again. “Who is she?” he asked.

Who is she? He asked me the question as if he was my father. The way he smiled, I knew the angle he was coming from.

“Brad,” I called him. “Have you come here for gossip?” I asked him, narrowing my eyes, both hands on my hip.

“No. No. No. Actually, that’s not why I am here.”

“Then why are you here? I know it must have taken you a long time finding me here.”

“Yes. It did. The party is going on as we speak and I have been searching for you in the dining hall and I couldn’t find you. I thought you would be around this time. I don’t want you to miss this.”

The party? I almost forgot about it. I didn’t plan to miss being there entirely.

“Oh! Brad. I uh… I was kind of busy doing something but I will still come.”

His lips curled in a smile. He wanted to hide it but he couldn’t.

“What!?” I raised my voice a little.

“Busy? I guess with her?” he gestured with his head, looking at Marie.

Now I knew what he was thinking.

“It's not what you are thinking Brad. Actually ehm—”

“Hmm!” he hummed, cutting me off. He shook his head and busted out laughing.

This i***t was laughing. I quickly looked at Marie. She was already looking at us. I knew she might be wondering what we were saying. And I didn’t want her to know what we were talking about. I didn't want her to think that we were both gossiping about her even though we weren't.

I gripped him on his ear.

“Let's go outside, Brad.” I forced a fake smile.

“Aww! Aww! My Prince! Leave me—"

“Shh," I said. "Just shut up and follow me!” I interrupted him quietly.

When we got outside the room, I let go of his ear.

“Are you okay Brady? Why would you laugh like that inside there? Have you lost your senses?” I asked. I was mad at him.

“Hmm, Hmm,” he said, shaking his head.

I knew it. He didn’t take what I said seriously. He thought I was joking. I wasn't surprised.

“But sir," he said, a mischievous smile manifested from his face. "She is cute. I will understand if she was the person keeping you. . . hostage.” He sulked in his lips and widened it in a smile. “Seriously, your Highness, to be honest with you, I don’t want you to miss this. Not again. There are so many, I mean so many Princes and Princesses there. There are kings and Queens there too. Many people came around from different kingdoms. I have never seen so many people in one event. In all honesty, you can’t afford to miss this one.” He pleaded. Brady was only concerned about my welfare, he wanted more respect for me, I understood that.

“I never said that I won’t be at the party, Brad. I just needed to wrap up things here with this strange woman.”

“Strange woman? What makes her strange? Are you saying that you don’t know her?” He asked, raising a brow. He seemed surprised.

“Know her? I have been trying to tell you big head! Of course, I don’t know her. Though she already told me her name but I am just getting to know her today.”

“Then how come you carried her on your. . . I mean, how come she is here?”

"How did you know I carried her on my back Brad?"

He narrowed his eyes, assumably looking for an excuse of an answer.

"I know things. How did she come here?

“That’s a long story. I need to do something for myself. I would need you to bring something for me. Get me a female dress. Get me the size that would fit the body of the girl you saw. She needs to change that ruined dress she is wearing.”

He squeezed his face. It seemed like what I said didn’t make sense. I was confused.

“What?” I asked curiously. I wanted to be sure of what I was thinking.

“Sir! Where will I get female clothes from? Among all the things you have asked me to do for you, this is the most awkward one.” He smiled. I was sure he wanted me not to get angry with him.

It was his secret way of handling me.

“Are you saying you can’t get it or what?” I asked, frowning my face.

He opened his mouth, twisted his tongue, and rubbed it across his lips, clapped his hands almost noiselessly.

“You see! Getting you what you are asking for might be a little bit difficult. I don’t have a girlfriend who I could borrow from or a wife who I could steal from. Ha, ha. Don't you see? I can’t get it except you are asking me to. . . you know. . . steal from someone.” He laughed out loudly.

After a while. He looked at me, I wasn’t smiling or laughing. He quickly read the meaning in my eyes.

“You can’t be serious? Did I think that right?” he asked.

“You obviously did.”

“I should steal from someone?” he widened his eyes and covered his open mouth.

“Brad!” I called him. “Vamoose.” He eyed me. " Didn't you hear what I said Brad?"

"Sorry, I can't hear you!" He closed his ear, giggling.

I curled my face in a frown and looked at him, I tried to make my face remain expressionless. Immediately he knew that I was serious, without a second thought, he scampered away.

"And don't come back here without the dress. Or else. . ."