The Servant Queen

Is it because I'm a Woman?

Walter laughed, showing his bright white teeth. I could be see bewilderment in his expression, hidden with a perfect smile.

No more fake smiles, Akkey had said.

I had picked up Walter's habit, unconsciously.

"Well, why the heck would you want to learn that?" he said, smiling.

"Look at me," I said. "I wasn't just lost. I was kidnaped. I need to learn how to fight to prevent that from ever happening again."

His smile fell off his face as he realized how I looked.

"Did they... do anything to you?" he said.

I looked away. "No. It was only one person."

"Where was this at? Can you describe him?" Walter said. "I'll make sure I'll capture him and send that idiot to prison. He doesn't know who he was messing with."

"I..." I looked at Walter's dark brown eyes that seemed nearly black. "I can't remember. The marketplace was too large to remember, and the man was wearing a black hood."

Hunter wasn't wearing a black hood at all. He was dressed nice and neat like the day I met him, a black suit and bow tie with a thin sword by his side. I remember his face clearly.

If Hunter goes to prison once more, he'll be executed. That was his original fate.

I looked beyond Walter at the stone fountain of a woman holding a vase that poured out an endless supply of water.

Hunter, I might not like you as a friend anymore, but I'm protecting you because, like you said,...I still see that flicker of light inside of you. A chance to turn over to a new leaf.  A bad man now can become someone else later. I see it. You told me that it was all in my mind, a trick, but it wasn't.

"You can redressed, Ani. I'll send some people to track anyone with a black hood down. Ladies, take her to her room. The meeting is in a few hours," Walter said to the maids.

As I was about to walk to the mansion, I paused and turned around. "Will you teach me how to fight though?" I asked.

"You don't need to learn that," he said.

"What..." I felt my heart drop from disappointment. "Why, Walter?"

"Because I'm here. I'll always protect you."

"But, you won't always be," I said. "Did you forget that I'm not staying here forever?"

I walked away with the maids by my side. I only saw a glimpse of his reaction. Shock. I was one of the millions of servants. It was only due to chance that I met him. I shouldn't be special.

"Ani..." Walter said before I entered the mansion.

I shouldn't be special.

After a few hours, the meeting for the plans of my breach in the Royal family's castle began. All the businessmen sat at a long rectangular table in one of Walter's conference rooms. I didn't recognize anyone except for Walter's uncle and Officer Raine, who was the only woman. I stood beside Walter while he sat down at the end of the table. Many pairs of eyes looked at me.

"I received news earlier today—an update from the royal family," Walter said. "Because many of the noble families were pestering how their daughters are going to temporarily live inside the castle with no one whatsoever and no one to protect them—"