Chapter 2: Muddled-headed

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NOTE: Backstories within backstories

1599: The Tenth Year of Dominato XIII's Reign (Seventh Month)
PRESENT

"Your Majesty?" Helki called her out carefully of her deep thoughts. "The tea has been served." She lightly pushed the cup forward.

Kanaise picked up the cup of tea and slowly took a sip. The jasmine tea that Kazuo used to drink. As far as Helki and everyone else remembered, she used to say that she hated this tea and she preferred Hibiscus instead.

"I have decided to retain the chief eunuch. What do you think?"

"Your Majesty?" Helki was quite surprised by Kanaise's swift transformation from before to now. She used to be consumed by grief, but now she was as though nothing had ever happened. She was now more poised, more controlled than the past few days.

"Your Majesty has the right to do so," Helki responded with deference, still attempting to fathom her character in a blind manner. She had served Kanaise for many years, but she had never seen her like this before. So...distant. So different.

"Do you not object? You used to say you are picking up the ill atmosphere from Ferro." Ferro was Kazuo's chief eunuch, a man nearing his middle age. All the kings in the past used to have an intimate secretary by their side for all-around services and a royal chief eunuch to manage his common royal household affairs.

Helki then responded. "Well, I thought Your Majesty would want to get rid of him."

"I considered it," Kanaise nodded. "But he knows the ins and outs of the palace better than me, as of now. He can be a valuable asset."

"I suppose, but what if he betrays Your Majesty as well? Like what he..." She held herself back from mentioning the late king.

Kanaise beamed, her lips curving into a crescent that illuminated her face. "You and I," she said, "do not need to follow the ceremonial rules of etiquette. You have accompanied me through thick and thin, and have even seen me in my most unguarded state. It is alright for you to be forthright with me. This, I allow only you to do."

"I just worry, that he shall betray us sooner or later."

"Then let us make sure he stays loyal to us. Does he not have a family whom he values a lot? Say, his mother, sister, and nephew?" Kanaise leaned back on her seat. "Isolate them. Hold them in a hostage, but provide them what they need and want."

Helki, looked at her, her silver eyes awakened. King Kazuo hated the idea of dirty place, thus he never resorted to such tactics. Kanaise on the other hand...

She bowed nevertheless, accepting the decree. It did not matter what she thought was right, only mattered what Kanaise thought was good.

"I trust you, Helki."

Helki stared at her blankly. It was the most beautiful smile she had ever seen, and it had been months since she had seen her smile at all. "Thank you...My Lady."

"Lord," Kanaise said in a somewhat ambiguous voice.

"You shall address me as your liege. I am, from now on, a lord not a lady. No longer shall you see me as your lady. Understood?"

Helki felt the lump in her throat become larger to swallow. She did not know what was happening, but she knew that something changed. Something about her, no, in her. She bent her knee, this time with more reverence.

"Yes, my liege," she said. "I understand."

Helki raised her head and looked into her eyes. This woman was not the Kanaise she had grown up accustomed to. She looked like someone not to be trifled with.

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