The Old Queen's Request

Anna sighed when she was finally out of their hearing range. "Pull yourself together, Anna Kyouyama... Why would you become so irritated when you saw her hugging him? More importantly, why is that girl throwing dagger looks at you?"

She took a quick glance at the prince behind her. His fiancée seemed to be interrogating him over something she need not care about.

"You better not be too much distracted, Yoh. Remember your promise." She said to herself.

"Oh, you poor girl…"

Anna found her co-worker, Kanna waiting near the entrance of the palace's left wing. They usually dismissed each other's existence so the blonde ignored the earlier remark and walked past her.

"Why so sullen?"

The nosy maid must have noticed her in deep thought as she went through the doorway. Anna pretended she did not hear her.

"Oh I know! Have your plans been thwarted after your beloved prince's fiancée showed up?"

Anna paused. What the hell is this girl implying? She abruptly turned around to face her accuser and without losing her cool, she said to her, "I've been busy thinking of things that a person as dull as you cannot comprehend." Then she turned her back on the blue-haired maid and continued on her way.

Kanna angrily grabbed Anna's arm and swung her around violently so that they were facing each other. With the strength of a man, she seized her by the shoulders in an act of threatening to raise her up and throw her like a ragdoll.

Kanna was much taller than her but Anna wasn't the least intimidated. She fought back by grabbing two fistfuls of her tormentor's long blue hair.

"I'll tear these strands from your scalp if you don't let me go NOW," the blond girl did not utter an empty threat. She would definitely make this woman pay. Nobody can bully a Kyouyama even if she was not in her own territory.

"I know your motive. You are the type of person who would seduce a nobleman to become rich!"

"Huh, aren't you describing yourself?"

"Why you little bi---"

"What is going on here?" an old stern commanding voice prompted the two maids to let go of each other's grip.

The former queen, Kino Asakura approached the quarreling servants. "That's a big accusation you got there, Kanna." She apparently heard their heated argument.

"I'm sorry, Your Majesty. But what I'm saying is true!" Kanna pointed at the blond girl. "We have an opportunistic personnel in our midst! She would only cause trouble here. You should fire her while it's not too late!"

"Enough!" The old queen thumped her cane loudly on the floor. "I don't tolerate fighting in my house. Someone would really lose her job if you don't get back to your respective chores!"

Kanna bowed and left their presence after shooting the blond girl a glare. Anna stood on the spot not knowing where to go since her task was to tutor the prince. She was spared from making a decision and a lie when Queen Kino addressed her.

"You are Anna, my grandson's personal maid, right?"

"Yes, Your Highness."

"What Kanna is saying earlier, is it true?"

"If I say 'yes', you would hate me. If I say 'no,' you would still hate me for you'd think I'm a liar. So I better not answer your question, Your Majesty. I don't need to explain or defend myself."

The old queen smiled. "You are a feisty girl, Anna. You remind me so much of myself when I was younger. Would you care to accompany me during my tea break? My husband is currently in bed suffering from arthritis."

The blond girl nodded. She was a bit surprise with the old queen's friendly gesture.

At the former queen's tea room...

Anna slowly filled the old queen's cup with newly-prepared tea. They were at the balcony of one of the palace's elegant rooms.

"Do sit down, Anna…"

The blond girl reluctantly reached for a chair and settled herself across the old queen.

"Tea is best enjoyed with other people, don't you think?"

"If I may not be so rude to ask," Anna started, "why aren't there any servants attending to your needs, Your Majesty?"

"Oh, I send them off to do other tasks."

"The topic of our conversation is of great importance then."

"You are indeed a smart girl as expected from a former governess." Queen Kino couldn't hide her admiration for her.

Anna felt uneasy for even the old queen knew her made-up personal background. She hated lying to this kind elderly woman, the only person in the palace who befriended her aside from the prince.

"You and my grandson seemed to be very close."

The blond girl slightly blushed at this remark.

"Yoh has a tendency to get comfortable with his tutors. Perhaps it's the time spent together that creates his special bond with them."

Queen Kino took another sip of her tea. "After all, he didn't have many acquaintances and the ones that he considers friends are always away."

Sometimes it's really lonely to be a royalty. Anna thought.

"Being the next heir of Kasai must have put a lot of weight on his shoulders since he was a young boy. Although my grandson does not open up with us, we know that he doesn't want to take the responsibility."

Anna remembered her previous conversation with the prince. It's true. There's no need to confirm or deny it.

"With that being said, I have a big favor to ask from you… " continued the old queen, "Perhaps... you can talk some sense to Yoh to accept what has been laid out for him. I do think he would listen to you. Yes, he is lazy and immature but it's unlikely for him to leave his throne and run off. Nevertheless, I don't want him to be half-hearted when he takes the position in the near future. Can I count on you, Anna?"

The blond girl nodded. "I'll do my best, Your Majesty."