Chapter 51
1287 Words
CHAPTER 51
“Sphyra,” Aragorn greeted the moment he stepped closer to Sphyra. Of all the servants in the dining room, it was her name that he muttered. He stared into her eyes that were fires igniting from the inside. He didn’t see her for days and weeks, and now he’s in front of her.
“Aragorn,” Sphyra replied, but she removed her gaze from the prince. She didn’t want to cause any issues in the royal palace that she’s having a relationship with the prince. It was a culture that a servant could never be with anyone in the royal palace, but it will never be a rule.
“Welcome back, Aragorn!” Queen Amira broke the silence between them. “It’s nice to see your friend, Aragorn. Isn’t it?”
Aragorn nodded in disbelief. He heard the servants whispering and talking to each other. They were saying that Sphyra was lucky that she’s a friend with the crowned prince of Caspian. Some servants who served in the palace didn’t have the chance to even have a conversation with Aragorn.
“Yes,” Aragorn just said.
“Who prepared the foods? They all looked delicious,” Hideo commented even though he knew based on the smell and the looks. He knew it was Lolita, the best cook he knew in the whole wide world.
“It’s Lolita!” Dina pointed to Lolita.
“No, I’m not the only one, Dina. I’m the one who led and gave instructions to others, but I’m no the one who cooked everything.”
“Still, it is your recipe, Lolita,” Hideo spoke, making Lolita’s lips pursed.
“Since the four men enjoyed staring at the food, we should start eating and celebrating by now.”
They all cheered in unison. They first let the queen and the four men get their food before the servants have it for themselves. They let Queen Amira and the four men to sat at a separate table from the servants. When there were four empty seats around the table, Queen Amira called Lolita, Dina, Zonia, and Sphyra. Sphyra sat beside Aragorn, and the three other women sat between Queen Amira and Azrael.
While Azrael was praising Lolita and trying to connect her with Hideo, Aragorn took the chance to talk to Sphyra. He badly wanted to check on her, and her stay inside the royal palace.
“How’s your life inside?” he asked. “I hope you’re doing good and safe.”
“I’m super fine. Your mother took care of me. I kinda feel my mother’s care after years of longing for it. She always makes sure that I am safe.”
“I told you. These past few days, my father wasn’t staying here except for sleep and rest. It’s safe to say that you won’t get busted.”
“I tried myself to hide and stay away from gossips around the palace. Whenever the queen head gossips from servants about me, she’ll punish them by writing ‘I won’t make gossips again’ on a paper for one-hundred times. Some servants stopped, but some continued.”
“What are they saying?”
“That I’m the phoenix or I am cursed because of my eyes. I just get rid of them and stay away. Sometimes, I don’t listen. Lolita and Zonia were protecting me from them.”
“Does Lolita know about you?” As far as Aragorn can remember, he never told others about Sphyra’s true personality but his mother.
“She doesn’t. But she’s been good for me.”
Aragorn smiled at her. “I’m happy that you’re doing well in here.”
A few minutes after eating, Sphyra and the other servants had to leave the dining to give space to Queen Amira and the other servants. She stopped in the garden to play with Burn. She cuddled it and slid her hands on its fur.
“Do you miss me, Burn? I’m very sorry if I can’t visit you here all the time. I’m one of the queen’s servants, and I have to work.”
The dog didn’t respond. It leaned its head to her and tried to lick Sphyra.
“Don’t lick my face, Burn.” Sphyra chuckled and planted a kiss on the dog’s cheek. She was about to leave when she heard footsteps coming out from the other door. She saw Dina and Lolita.
“Hideo’s looking intensely at you earlier, but you never laid your eyes on him. Do you have a problem with him? Don’t you like him, Lolita?”
Sphyra stayed silent. She wanted to hear what’s between Hideo and Lolita. One time, Hideo visited the palace, then the next time, it was Azrael. There must be something going on that she didn’t know.
“I don’t,” Lolita said in a firm voice. She was about to leave her friend, but Dina tightened her grip on her arms.
“Then, why are you avoiding him. He proposed marriage to you, but you rejected him. Hideo’s a man you can love, but it seemed that you’re forcing yourself to avoid him.”
“Our status is different. Even if I have mutual feelings towards him, we can’t be together.”
We can’t be together. We can’t be together. We can’t be together.
The sentence repeated inside Sphyra’s mind. It was somehow related to her. It was somehow she had told herself before when she felt something special towards Aragorn. He’s part of the royal family. She’s the enemy of the royal palace. They can’t be together.
“But Lolita…”
Lolita left Dina alone. She’s frustrated at her for asking too many questions about the person she’s avoiding to.
Dina gasped and roamed her eyes around the garden. She spotted Sphyra, who seemed to be eavesdropping on their conversation. She stomped towards her and stopped. She crossed her arms.
“Are you eavesdropping on my conversation with my friend? If you want information, you should ask directly to me. No, you shouldn’t be asking for information. It won’t matter to you, and it wasn’t your business for you to hear.”
Sphyra chuckled. “You seemed tough on the outside, Dina. Don’t show that side of yourself on me. Don’t you remember that you cried in the garden yesterday, and Veneer approached you?”
Dina’s jaw dropped. She bit her lower lip. How could Sphyra know about it? “So, you’re spying on all of us here all the time. Tell me your real identity. You used your eyes to deceive Prince Aragorn for him to help you become a servant in the royal palace. Then what will happen? You’re going to do a scheme on the king and queen. Stop your act now. I caught you.”
Sphyra burst a laugh that she can’t hold or stop. “You’re funny, Dina. You can ask Aragorn yourself if you want to know who I am. Besides, I’m not spying on you. Lolita asked me to check on you. She knew you are lying that you’re being called by the queen. When I saw you, I assured Lolita that you’re fine.” She knocked her fist on Dina’s forehead. “Don’t be jealous all the time. Lolita treats you as her best friend, but you’re constantly thinking that she’s going to replace you. Bye.”
She was about to leave when she hit Dina with the truth, but Dina, who was frozen in her place, grabbed her arms. “Does Lolita really asked you to do that?”
“Of course.” She smiled and left Dina alone. She somehow managed to reveal Dina’s sentimental side. She won.
- Writer
