The Queen

04 - The King's Personal Maid

(W Y N E)

Where is this place? I look around…

The flowers and the bushes around, it looked like the one in the garden of the palace.

I’ve seen the whole garden but this part seems not familiar to me…

I sat down on the marble bench. I looked up and saw the palace…

“Elizabeth!” I heard a faint shout and sounds of foot steps, someone's running…

“You seems thinking something deep, Eli.” He sat beside me… I looked at him.

What is the King doing here?

I stare at his face…

“Staring is rude, Elizabeth. I know I’m handsome… You don’t have to stare.” he said chuckling.

The King… He looked different.

His eyes looked different…

He brought out a bunch of flowers…

It’s Red Tulips.

I stare at him until everything faded and started going black.

I suddenly opened my eyes when I felt my shoulder aching and I can’t help but to wince.

Madam Miranda hurriedly put her hand over my shoulder… They were glowing green.

“Does it still hurt?” Madam Miranda asked, “Not anymore…” she removed her hands and wore her gloves.

“I didn’t know that you’re a Healer, Madam.” I sit up so we can talk better.

“I didn’t know that you’re that tough, Wyne.” She said as she sat in the chair beside me.

“The arrows that hit you contains strong kind of poisons, they really have the intention to kill.”

“Thank you for saving my life, Madam.” I said as I bowed my head to her.

“It took 6 healers to save your life… Make sure to thank them too.” She stated…

I stared at her… 6 healers? If I didn’t blocked myself to the King… What could have happen…?

“Though you saved the life of the King, it doesn’t mean that it’s fine that you went to the Ball without my permission… What if we failed saving you? I will carry the burden of whatever happens to you… to all of the maids in this palace.” Madam Miranda was calm when she said those but I can feel how she is mad right now.

“I apologize for what happened last night-“

“It’s been a month since the Ball…

You’ve been sleeping for almost a month Wyne.” Madam Miranda cut me off…

My eyes widen… I’ve been sleeping for a month?

I remained my head bowed and silence reigns in the room.

I just notice this wasn’t our room… I just wonder whose room is this….

Madam Miranda just sighed… “Ayrie already told me about what happened. Andrew took the fault of the two of you being in the ball. But nevertheless, you saved the King’s life.” Madam Miranda stands up.

“I’ll call Ayrie, to bring you something to eat.” She said as she was walking to the door.

But she stopped right before she gets out of the door. “Through all of those, I’m glad that you’re safe, Wyne.” she then left the room.

A few moments after Madam Miranda left, the door opened Ayrie get in the room. “You’re finally awake!” she said and runs to hug me.

Sir Andrew was behind her holding a tray, “I was expecting her to do that so I took the tray from her.” he said as he put the tray in the table beside me.

I hugged Ayrie back… “Not too tight, Ayrie. Wyne’s wounds are still open.” Sir Andrew said and Ayrie quickly let go of the hug.

“Sorry, I got too excited.” She said while her eyes were a bit teary.

“Ayrie, take care of Wyne. I’ll just get something.” Sir Andrew said before he left the room.

After Sir Andrew left, Ayrie started crying “I’m sorry Wyne… because of me you got in an accident.” She said between her sobs…

“Accident?” I confusedly asked her… “Yes, you got in an accident in the garden… Sir Andrew said you got caught in the Poison fences in the garden… Did you forget?” she still sobbing “Did you… Did you hit your head too?! Should I call Madam Miranda again?!” she said in panic while sobbing, I held her wrist hand and put my hand in her face.

I wiped her tears with my thumb while humming a song softly…

“What are you doing?” Ayrie said while staring at me, she seems weirded out so I smiled at her “I’m doing this to calm myself sometimes… I’m fine Ayrie, no need to worry. Maybe I’m still light-headed… I just woke up from a month of sleep…”

“I got too occupied by being in the ball, I’m sorry… It’s my fault-” she said while still sobbing, I continue wiping her tears “No, it’s not your fault. I went to the garden on my choice. I was… caught on the poison fences by myself… Don’t cry, please.” … “If I didn’t force you to go with me-“… “You didn’t force me… I came with you on my own. So stop crying.” I continue wiping her tears with my thumb and humming a song to calm her down.

A few moments she started calming, then we ate together while she told me in a month when I was sleeping.

Then Sir Andrew came back. He ordered Ayrie to take tray back to the kitchen and get me some clothes. Now it’s just the two of us in the room.

“How are you feeling?” Sir Andrew asked me, he’s sitting beside me. “A little better, Sir.”

“I apologize, Sir. For the trouble… About letting us to go in the ball.” I said bowing to Sir Andrew.

“You saved the life of the King. You don’t have to apologize for that and I think, you being there happened for a reason, Wyne.” he said crossing his arms and looking at the window…

“It would have been more difficult to cover it up if it was the King that was shot.” He looked at me “I mean, it was still bad that someone was hurt… you were shot and your life was endangered but it was easier to control than if it was the King.” …

I put my hand to his shoulder… “I understand, Sir. I get your point.” he sighed.

“We’re preventing the rumors to spread. We don’t want to cause unnecessary panic to the people of Chrysaetos.”

He’s right. If the news about the attack of those shadows circulates, it would cause panic and spread fear among the people.

Maybe that’s why they didn’t tell Ayrie about what really happened…

Sir Andrew seems goofy but he’s wise to a point. Maybe this is why he’s the King’s Advisor.

Ayrie came back with my clothes, though they look different from the one I used to wear.

“I forgot to mention, From now on… You’ll be the King’s new personal maid.” Sir Andrew said before leaving together with Ayrie.