The Servant Queen

Marigold Forest

Akkey

We arrived in Central City earlier this day to live temporarily in Maisie's relative's home. It was my first time coming here. In fact, it was my first time ever leaving the Eastern Region. It was crowded and more so when we entered the unbelievably large marketplace.

Instead of Guards, Knights roamed the city preventing mischief while keeping peace. Their heads held high in dignity. I've heard they were respected as much as nobles unlike the Guards. I could see that. If I wasn't a servant, I would aim to become a knight.

Maisie, Mr. Towers, and Cavil were on their horse while I just walked. They were a little further ahead of me. Cavil offered me to ride it while he walked beside us or for us to ride it together. I had to decline. He was never the physical type of person anyways. He needed the horse.

And besides, Neo was in the hood of my cloak. I wouldn't want Cavil to find out about the demi-human if we shared. I don't know how he'll react.

Neo wouldn't stop quietly chattering near my ear about everything he was seeing.

"Wow, Akkey. Those strange buildings far away are really huge."

"I believe they're called castles," I whispered only so he could hear. "According to Maisie, the King, Queen, and the princes live in them."

"That means we're getting closer!" Neo exclaimed.

"Yep."

The crowd was loud, so it wasn't necessary for me to whisper, but it was a habit.

Maisie's hopeful eyes were always searching for Oliver in the crowd. When I see him again, I wouldn't mind tying him up for the sake of Maisie.

Automatically, I started to scan the crowds of people to look for him too. I could already imagine her delighted expression when I find him just wandering around. I could imagine her running into her older brother's arms and apologizing and them being a happy family once again—just like when they were children.

Someone else caught my eye instead. There was a street that connected to the marketplace street where no shops were at, but brick homes, lined up closely, side-by-side. One of the door opened and a familiar, red haired girl bursted out. Her green eyes were wide and desperate.

She ran into the marketplace and pushed through the crowd.

"Walter!" she cried out.

As she was about to run past me, I held her back with my arm. She looked up at me in surprise.

"What are you doing, 5601?" I said, without thought.

She bursted out in tears, holding onto my arm tightly.

I was startled. I haven't seen anyone cry in front of me in ages besides Maisie, whose cry was always quiet and her tears always fell gracefully down her ever rosy cheeks. Unlike her, 5601 bawled like a child, only stopping to gasp loudly for air. Her face was very impressive. I would applaud her. I didn't think that a frown could be so low or eyebrow could look so furrowed. It might've been more furrowed that Mr. Towers'.

Mr. Towers and everyone else didn't notice us yet, so I slowed my walking down. So, even if they did look back, they wouldn't know I'm with someone with this big of a crowd.

"You're...you're the servant I met in the Towers residency. Akkey," she said.

"I'm surprised that you remembered," I said.

I realized something odd. I was looking at her face. Not a mask. The face that she accidentally showed me a while back.

"Why are you dressed like a noble?" I asked, "And without a mask at that?"