The Servant Queen

Maisie's Love

POV: Ani

I limped beside the horse, holding its reins. We weren't on the road, but a few meters beside it. It was a different path from which the Servant Wagon went down. Every single rustle of the tree leaves, voice of birds, everything, caused me to flinch and crouch in the bushes.

The moon was high in the sky and the stars were bright also. I stopped the horse, leaned on it while panting from the exhaustion from my throbbing ankle. I knew I shouldn't stop for long.

Walter's stupid life was on the line, and he needed proper medical attention.

I glanced back at the horse. Walter lay on it, still unconscious. As we walked, I could only hear the sound of his shallow breathing that blended in with the sound of the gentle wind. Earlier, I tried tightening his coat sleeve around his wounds, but it didn't seem to help. He was still bleeding, and the bullets were still buried deep in his shoulder.

Despite my throbbing ankle, I was walking instead of riding the horse with him. I couldn't figure out how to lift Walter onto the horse.

I don't want to become Walter's "little sister" or a candidate for the youngest prince or whatever, but I won't leave someone to die. I'm not like him or Ronny-the-dead-bearded-bandit. I don't wish to act like a type of person who decides whether someone should die or live. I just want to search for the Servants' Army whether it is real or not.

There was large three-story building down the road that caught my eye. It was old and the dull yellow paint was peeling off. Nearly of the windows were cracked and covered in noticeable mold. I was hoping to drop Walter off at a household with people. Anyone would welcome a upper-class nobleman into their home to aid them.

The news of a bandit attack wouldn't spread too quickly since we're out in the countryside, and also no one in their right mind would suspect a nobleman to be involve with bandits.

As we approached closer, I heard a piano.

Someone really lives here, I thought.

I stood in front of the large double doors with the horse at my side. All of my masters in the past never played any type of instruments before, but hired others to play. Musicians were hard to come by.

Knock. Knock. Knock.

I've never knocked on a single door until now. I heard the door's bolt unlock. Servants usually open the door, so believe I'll be able to explai...

The door opened and girl with long blonde hair, nearly white, in her light pink nightgown came out instead. She definitely wasn't a servant, and I couldn't tell if she was older or younger than me.

"Hi. I'm sorry, but my father isn't home at the moment. He's dealing with a government issue. Is there something that you need?" Her voice was soft and melodious.

I showed her Walter. Her eyes widened when she noticed his injuries. She hurried toward him with a startled expression on her face. She touched his forehand with the back of her hand delicately.

"He's bleeding and has a fever. What happened out there at this hour?" She looked at me with a frightful expression as if she wanted me to answer her. I didn't.

"Geez!" She said frustrated. "Why can't servants just say whatever on their mind? I have to know! Your master can't answer for himself! He's unconscious! Don't you care about him?"