The Palace

My visit to Seeda went undetected. The Prince must had not alerted the guards but even if he did they would think that I was living in the city. I had no royal status, I was a nobody. I could haven been anyone, including a citizen from his fathers own Kingdom. I lived in the Niaro palace as just another maid did but of course no one knew of my true occupations. They all pitied me as to be yet another poor servant to the Princess and the Queen. Only me and the queen within the whole palace knew why I was truly there. I kept the act of being a maiden well. I made sure to befriend very little of those there and even so, to not get close enough that they would suspect. I'd reached the palace just minutes before sunset, the perfect hour and what I'd anticipated. I headed straight for my room. I had left my crossbow in a safekeepings within the forest. I also had a spare one under the floor board, it was the only part covered with a brown damp carpet. Now I wait for my call from the Queen. She will send a guard, who will say that the queen wants her water boiled for her bath. I usually have bath duties since I have somehow become one of the most trusted maidens. But this just means that way I can go into her chamber. She made me one of her most trusted servant for a reason . She knew our talks were private and she knew to avoid suspicion it was the only way.

I can hear footsteps approaching, this was either the guard or Beri, the only maid who has taken a liking to me. I found her clingy, but she wasn't unlikeable for it. After I'd learned of her age and her past, her clinginess made sense. She was only thirteen years old and was abandoned as a child and now has no family, which majorly explained why she likes to make a friend of everyone within the palace. But I could tell she favoured me most, even though I was not striking in any sort of way. In fact, I would describe myself as rather boring and reserved. Still, she visited my room frequently and chose to spend most of her days off, that's if I was around, with me.

It was when I heared a knock at the door that I stopped tapping anxiously on my low wooden table. I knew this wasn't Beri, she had no sense of privacy and instead would barge in. The person standing outside my door was indeed a guard. The Queen has called for me.

'Come in.' I stood up from my miniature wooden stool.

'The Queen has asked of you to prepare a bath in her chamber.' The man armoured in steel from head to toe then left without even waiting for a response back.

This was it, I already knew what I was going to say. I also knew that if any slight suspicion arises or she figured out I was lying I could get arrested or even abolished from the kingdom.

I fetched for water and towels and made way into her chamber. Though she wasn't there yet so I began to boil the water atop of the fire place. Her bath tub was casted in pure gold. I couldn't believe that it alone would take me my mother and my brother out of poverty. Would make us no longer dependant on having to offer our service to the higher up, who end up giving us only a fraction of what we could have. They keep too much to themselves, to the point where people are dying from poverty but a bath being made out of gold is seen as reasonable.

'Your majesty.' I bowed my head slightly down. She had come in ever so discreetly that it startled me when I saw her now standing across me.

'Is he dead?' Her tone stern and blunt. She wanted one worded answers and ones that were straight to the point.

'No.' I answered immediately.

Her expression looked unimpressed but not angry.. yet.

'I believe then there must be a reason.' She disrobed her red velvet cape and sat down at the edge of her grande bed.

'He was not out on the balcony, not today.' I said quickly.

'Your father had observed his habits and said he likes to take frequent walks on the balcony.' Her voice was becoming louder.

'Was he possibly not out today on such a marvellous morning?' Her tone now sarcastic.

'No, he wasn't. It seems that he might have changed his habits. My father told you that information afterall a couple of months ago.' I knew that she wanted my father to get rid of him, but he wasn't skilled with a crossbow. From the distance that we could only get to, only I could guarantee a kill. My father knew how to throw knives along with other things, but they were all risky. He had died before he could try anything anyways. So that is how the favour came back to me.

'Then next time you promise me a kill, make sure you had at least observed a plan.' She shook her head and said yet again scornfully.

'Yes, your majesty.' I knew I wasn't going to assassinate him, not any time soon.

'Since he no longer seems to visit the balcony, you're going to need another way?' It was the one question I was dreading, the one question I didn't want her to ask.

'Yes. But first I want to make sure that he no longer visits the balcony and if he does not I might have to.. infiltrate.' I had made that up, even I didn't know what I meant by it.

'Infiltrate?' Her eyes lit up.

'Sometimes it's best to wait for the right opportunity.. say attending the ball ..as the princesses maiden.' I hinted.

She went silent however, this wasn't good.

'I am but a poor servant girl after-all no one will suspect me of such a heinous crime, not with the knowledge they don't have.' I tried to reimburse.

'You're quite right.' She laughed and seemed utterly impressed. I was in safe hands again.

'Then I should let you know of such opportunities if they ever arise.' She walked over and stood behind the mahogany changing screen. Her bath by now was ready, I no longer had any use of staying behind.

'Then.. we will talk soon.' I said before making my way out the doors.

'Yes, yes.' I could hear her struggling to unwind her corset laces.