The King's Gamma (#Wattys2024)

Seventy Five

Time moved on and the alliances grew over the years, bringing us back to when Millicent set off to return to her people.

I rode in the palanquin as usual. I was not allowed outside to walk by myself. Or to ride any mounts. For such instances, I was only allowed to ride in the palanquin. Only now I was joined by my adoptive parents.

The palace gates opened, and the entire entourage was escorted inside. It seemed we were the last to arrive, based on the other carriages around the entrance. Hunters were very visible among the hundreds of escorts around several royal families. I eyed the hunters, recognising several of them from my time as an instructor.

"Is something the matter, my darling daughter?" Asked my mother, a quiet smile on her face.

"There are several hunters in the mix between the royal guards. I recognise quite a few of them."

"Recognize them?" she asked, a slight frown on her brow. "Child, I never thought to pry... But what is your human family name?"

"Oh? Bardell."

I watched as she almost immediately went silent, her eyes on me momentarily before she turned to my father.

"Darling, is there something you forgot to tell us?"

Heiji and Teo also seemed somewhat strange, looking at me for a long moment in silence. I could feel the tension building in that moment.

"It's not like I was aware. What's so strange about it?"

"Did you forget about the infamous Levi and Sicily Bardell?"

"Surely there are several humans with the same surname. Our daughter is likely from another Bardell Family. Besides, they had a son."

They seemed a bit more relaxed at the moment, taking his words seriously.

"Right, my little daughter?"

"Oh, no, they are my parents. Remember, you met me when I was disguised as a man. I am Kent Bardell."

"Kent Bardell... As in the genius young hunter that became an instructor at the age of..."

"I said I am their child, didn't I?"

Their shock brought silence to the palanquin.

"I had to hide my gender since I was a child. If it was found out that I was a girl instead of a boy when they found out about me, then I would have been taken and sold as a breeder or a slave much like many other human women. So their solution was to use magic to conceal my gender and when I grew old enough they taught me the same spell. I thought you put two and two together years ago."

Mother sighed, tapping her fan to her cheek as she looked at me. "Of course, this makes a lot of sense."

"Rest assured, even if I were to appear now, none of them would recognise me. After all, most still think the Bardells have a son, not a daughter."

"That does not change the fact that we adopted the child of the greatest hunters or how the rest would treat us when they realise."

"It could cause an uproar, that's certain."

"I'll just beat that roar into a mewl," I smirked, causing those in the palanquin to shake their heads.

"I get to see my darling daughter fight?" Father said excitedly as if he was anticipating the greatest show.

Another smack landed on his head. "As long as they don't know they won't cause trouble."

"I've told my family to not indicate any affiliation with me either. At least until we have them out of the Kingdom. For their safety."