Ice Goddess Luna

Episode 7

Hadley slowly opened her eyes, squinting at the bright light streaming through the large window. Morning had arrived, and the memories of the previous day flooded back—prison, palace, a king, a young man, beautiful women, Gracia, and Sab. She recalled asking Sab where she was, but all Sab had said was that she was in safe hands.

Pushing the blanket off, Hadley realized she was still uncovered and quickly drew it back over herself as the door opened.

"You're awake. Good morning. I brought you some food," Gracia said with a warm smile, approaching with a tray. She set it down in front of Hadley.

Hadley's eyes widened and her mouth watered at the sight and smell of the food. Without hesitation, she grabbed the cutlery and began to eat.

"How are you feeling? Do your wounds still hurt?" Gracia asked.

"The pain's mostly gone. Doctor Rudy's medicines must be very effective," Hadley replied between bites.

"That's good to hear. Finish your meal to regain your strength. I'll go prepare your bath," Gracia said, leaving the room before Hadley could thank her.

Hadley continued eating, savoring the delicious food. She reminded herself she shouldn't be surprised by the quality—this was a palace, after all. But then, a troubling thought crept into her mind. Why were they treating her so well? Was it because they planned to kill her eventually?

She shuddered at the thought and quickly shook her head, trying to banish it. Determined to stay positive, she finished her meal, hoping that the kindness she had experienced so far was genuine.

Hadley found herself back in the grand bathroom with Gracia. Even now, she couldn't help but marvel at its beauty. The candles still flickered warmly around the room, casting a soothing glow.

Gracia assisted her into the large bath after removing the white cloth that had been wrapped around her. The bath was like a small pool, shallow but spacious, filled with warm, murky water and floating red rose petals. Hadley picked up one of the flowers, bringing it to her nose to inhale its sweet fragrance. She smiled, feeling a bit more relaxed.

Gracia began bathing her, despite Hadley's initial protests. Eventually, she gave up trying to insist on doing it herself, especially since Gracia had already seen everything during the previous baths. Hadley blushed at the thought.

Once the bath was finished, Hadley stood in front of the mirror as Gracia retrieved something from the side.

"This is what you'll wear temporarily, Hadley, while your wounds are still healing," Gracia said, holding up a white dress.

"That's fine, Gracia. I don't need anything fancy. Your kindness is more than enough," Hadley replied with a smile. Grace smiled back and helped her into the dress. It was a bit loose but knee-length, and the soft fabric was comfortable.

They returned to the room where Hadley had slept. Gracia began combing her hair, which had once felt like wire but was now soft and fragrant. Hadley realized it reached her waist.

"Your hair color is beautiful. Has it always been like this since you were a child?" Gracia asked.

Hadley nodded. Her hair was a mix of gray and brown with a wavy texture.

A little while later, Doctor Rudy arrived and immediately began applying medicine to her wounds again.

"Your wounds are healing well. Soon, you won't need the medicine anymore. But your skin and lips are still pale. Later, someone will bring you herbal tea to help increase your blood," he explained.

"Thank you very much. But there's no need. I'll leave once I regain my strength," Hadley said, bowing slightly.

"Miss, is someone forcing you to leave the palace?" Rudy asked with a smile.

Hadley looked up, surprised by the question, and shook her head. "No, no one is forcing me. I just don't want to impose any longer than necessary."

Rudy nodded, his expression kind. "You are welcome here as long as you need to stay. Focus on your recovery, young lady."

"You are a guest of the queen, Hadley. You shouldn't think like that," Rudy said, finishing his task and standing up. "If you want your strength to return quickly, just rest and avoid worrying about things that will only cause you distress." He then gathered his things and left the room.

Hadley held her breath, taking in his words.

"Do you want to rest for a while? I'll leave you for now and come back later," Gracia said with a smile. Before Hadley could respond, Gracia had already exited the room.

Lying on the big bed, Hadley stared at the high ceiling. The room was silent, save for the occasional flicker of the candlelight. She stayed in this position for over thirty minutes, lost in her thoughts, when someone entered her room.

Her eyes widened, and she sat up quickly, causing pain to shoot through her side. She winced and moaned.

It was the queen!

"You shouldn't move too quickly, dear," the queen said, helping her sit properly. She then sat down in front of Hadley. "How are you, Hadley? Is my staff treating you well?" she asked softly, gently stroking Hadley's hair.

"O-yes, your majesty. I-I feel fine. Thank you very much," Hadley stammered, feeling nervous.

The queen smiled warmly. "Good then... What do you think of our home, Hadley? Are you comfortable here?" she asked, continuing to stroke Hadley's hair.

"The palace is very beautiful, m-my dear queen. But to be honest, I-I'm not entirely comfortable here. P-please forgive me," Hadley admitted, recalling the warning about lying to superiors.

"Why, dear? Is there something you don't like here?" the queen asked, her voice full of concern.

"N-not at all. I mean, I just feel that I don't belong here. I'm just an intruder who entered your territory. I'll accept any punishment," Hadley said, her voice trembling slightly as she bowed her head, fearing the consequences.

The queen chuckled softly. "You didn't know you were in our territory, did you? I believe you, Hadley. And there will be no punishment for you," she said, taking Hadley's hand.

Hadley looked into the queen's eyes, tears welling up. "You are very kind, your majesty... Thank you very much," she said with a smile. The queen smiled back and gently touched Hadley's cheek, surprising her.

"You are a beautiful young woman, Hadley... And I have a favor to ask of you," the queen said with a gentle smile.

Hadley felt a sudden wave of nervousness. What could the queen possibly want from her?

"W-what is that, Your Majesty?" she asked, her voice trembling.

"I would like you to become one of my servants, like Gracia. She's called a lady-in-waiting. Will you accept?" the queen asked with a gentle smile.

"What?!" Hadley exclaimed, her eyes wide with shock. She quickly realized her outburst and saw the queen's face fall. "I-I mean, why do you want me to be like them? I'm just a foreigner and... and I plan to leave soon," she corrected herself, her voice faltering. The queen's expression grew serious.

"You can't leave the palace, Hadley. You have no idea what dangers lurk outside, wild animals and people like Jun. What if he finds you again? This time, he might kill you," the queen's voice took on a threatening tone, making Hadley's heart race.

Fear gripped Hadley once more. Her thoughts turned to her master.

The queen touched her cheek, bringing her back to the present. "I'm just kidding, Hadley. Calm down," she reassured with a smile, but it did little to ease Hadley's trembling.

"He... he'll kill me... my master," Hadley stammered, tears streaming down her face.

The queen's expression turned to confusion at Hadley's behavior. She watched as Hadley shook with fear, her eyes darting around the room.

"Hadley, look at me. I'm sorry if I scared you. No one will hurt you, I promise," the queen said, gently turning Hadley's face towards her.

Hadley's tears continued to fall as she met the queen's eyes. "Sorry, Hadley. I didn't mean to scare you so much. I'm truly sorry," the queen's voice was pleading, her head bowed.

Compassion replaced Hadley's fear at the sight of the remorseful queen. She wiped her cheeks and took a deep breath.

"Queen..." Hadley began, unsure of what to say.

The queen looked up, meeting her gaze. "Hadley, forgive me," she said earnestly.

"I-it's not your fault, Your Majesty. I just got overwhelmed by fear," Hadley explained.

"No, I scared you. I shouldn't have said those things, especially knowing what you've been through. I'm truly sorry," the queen said, her voice filled with regret.

"Queen..."

"Sorry, Hadley," she repeated, holding Hadley's hand as if seeking forgiveness.

Hadley took a deep breath. "Forgiven, dear queen," she said with a small smile.

The queen's face brightened, and she suddenly hugged Hadley. Startled, Hadley remained still. Sensing her discomfort, the queen released her and smiled.

"I really want you to stay with me, Hadley. Please agree to be my lady-in-waiting," she said, holding Hadley's hand again.

Hadley looked into the queen's eyes, seeing the sincerity and beauty in her face.

"Hadley..."

"I agree, Your Majesty," Hadley finally said, nodding.

The queen's face lit up with joy. "Thank you, Hadley. Welcome to your new home," she said, hugging her again. This time, Hadley returned the embrace, feeling a sense of belonging and safety for the first time in a long while.