Louis : Serve Me Tonight, Empress Helena

Harika had brought Helena to the treatment room, helped Helena change into a long white dress. The dress doesn't cover the back of Helena's back.

Because at that time, Harika was giving pain relief cream. So, the whip wound on Helena's back didn't leave a mark, or even a more serious infection occurred.

Helena sat cooperatively, letting Harika's expert hands begin to treat her wound, applying every cold cream on her skin.

"Why are you looking for trouble, Empress Helena? You know you can't argue or go against the words of King Louis. You're putting your own life in danger, and it frightens me." Said Harika, who had finished applying cream, and wrapped Helena's wound with a special bandage.

"Hmm... my wound feels so good right now, Harika. And I'm so hungry, you know? From last night until this morning. My stomach is empty, and... I'm so hungry." Said Helena, who didn't care about Harika's words.

Indeed, in front of Helena, there is a small round table. On the table, it is full of food and also fruits that look tempting to Helena.

"It's so delicious. You don't want to try it, Harika?" Helena tried to offer with her full mouth.

"Empress Helena?" Harika was a little annoyed, but she could only sigh.

"Hhh... You must be hungry, right? Is it so difficult to be in the same room with the king?" asked Harika.

Helena had just finished with one loaf of bread, and she began to take the other bread which she was ready to eat voraciously.

"It's so.... so... difficult, Harika. I wonder why Queen Revania can survive with such a man? And..." Helena showed a sad face when she remembered Rima.

"And what about Rima? Can we save her? I heard a battlefield is a dangerous place. What if something happens to Rima? Harika..." Helena put down her bread again, and she grabbed both of Harika's hands immediately.

"We have to save Rima. She did this because she only wants to carry out the orders of Queen Revania. We must act immediately, Harika." Helena said, trying to get up from her seat.

But Harika pulled Helena's hands more quickly, making the young girl sit back in her place.

"Ahh..! my wound hurts, slowly Harika. What's the matter with you?" Helena grumbled. She knew that Harika was giving a look that didn't like her attitude at that time.

"What's wrong, Harika? Are you want to apply the medicinal cream again?" asked Helena, who was trying to divert the conversation about saving Rima.

"Empress Helena! I beg you, don't do anything strange. You are currently on duty. Your night of mourning with the king isn't over yet. Don't worry about Rima. I'm sure she can take care of herself well." Harika had to be fierce so that Helena would hear what she had to say at that time.

"But... Rima is in a dangerous place, Harika," said Helena, still trying to give the correct explanation according to herself.

"Empress Helena, calm down... Rima is only helping out in the kitchen, helping prepare the needs of the soldiers on duty. She's not going to be at war, so we'd better think about you right now." Harika emphasized, causing Helena to close her mouth as she looked thoughtful.

"I'm sure the guards who whipped you didn't put out their energy. If I look at your wounds, it looks like they will heal quickly. As long as you take your medicine regularly," said Harika, who started giving her advice.

"I'm sure Rima knows the greatest risk she might face if she uses this method." Harika continued.

"But... at that time, she gave me that medicine, but I didn't use it at all. I didn't think that Rima, put it in the king's food and drink," said Helena, who chimed in.

"Empress Helena, before Rima did this. The other two Empresses..." Harika suddenly lowered her voice, paying attention to the surroundings that she felt safe.

"Empress Dilara and Emira, did this. And King Louis knew it too. He was big angry. And did the same, as you are doing now." Harika continued to explain.

"You mean?" asked a confused Helena.

"I heard from the rumors circulating from the servants that the king, also threatened to lash them both. And he will pardon them both, as long as both apologies to the king," Harika explained with a face that still showed anxiety.

"Those two snake women did it? Did they apologize to King Louis?" asked Helena. Suddenly, she got a nickname for two empresses who always considered her as an opponent.

"Yes, they did, Empress Helena. But at that moment, King Louis threw them both away, and he was furious. And the night of mourning that should have been an opportunity, to get close to the King, turned out to be wasted." Harika started to explain with sparkling eyes.

"Mmm... why are you talking so excited. Why do I feel bad things are going to happen to me, huh?" Somehow Helena felt sure of her guess.

"Empress Helena, I know... this lashing still hurts a lot for sure. But... King Louis didn't throw you out. He even ordered that I could help you to prepare for a night of mourning." Harika answered more cheerfully.

"WHAT..!! I thought... I could go back to my room." Helena, who did not expect it, just stood up spontaneously and forgot that her back still felt stiff.

"Ouch... it's hurt... today I'm unlucky." Helena cursed.

Harika also stood up, looking worried at Helena's attitude, which did not care about the condition of her wound.

"Empress Helena, be careful... your wounds haven't fully healed yet."

"Harika, don't mind my wound. Tell me ... if you're kidding, say I don't need to go back to see King Louis." Helena said with a pitiful face, but Harika only gave a forced smile in response.

***

Evening - King Aarez's Room.

Helena, with a bandage on her back, can still walk without direction. Although occasionally, she endured the pain because Helena's mind was thinking about other things. Namely her togetherness with King Aarez.

Helena couldn't wear her long dress properly. Several times the dress was exposed to the side. Because she couldn't close, otherwise the wound would be compressed and hurt.

"What will happen next? Just this morning, I cursed the ruler of this country, and tonight I'm still with him? Oh my... am I going to lose my head tomorrow? You're going to die this time, Helena." Helena mumbled, and she kept thinking about the bad things that kept haunting her mind at this moment.

"Cih... what luck is still on my side? I'm pretty sure this is just part of King Louis' plan. He must be up to something to me?"

Helena walked towards the place of prayer, saw Revania's beautiful face in a frame that had a beautiful golden side.

"Queen Revania, why until now I have not been able to find an answer. Why did you choose me?" Helena asked as if she was talking to Revania.

"Of the many more beautiful young women, of the many smart women in this country. Why did you choose me? I am just a commoner. Even I only have two pieces of clothes, but my life was quite happy at that time," said Helena, who was still complaining.

"Ohh... even this skin still feels so sore... what will torture me later," Helena said, and she was lamenting her fate that night.

The loud voice of the guard standing at the entrance signaled that King Louis had arrived and was about to enter his room.

"Huh..! He's here? Wait..! Why so fast? I hope I can still breathe tonight." Helena said in a low voice, but she was already walking quickly towards the center of the room.

Helena bowed her head, saluting Louis, who had just arrived. The man in royal robes rustled rhythmically, as he walked closer to Helena.

"Good evening, King Louis. Would you like to have dinner today? I will ask the maid to prepare your dinner." Helena said in a friendly manner, even though she hadn't straightened her face to see the King's face.

"I just had a meal with important guests. Right now, I'm so tired, and I want to rest." Louis answered curtly, and he walked past Helena just like that.

Helena saw Louis, who went straight to the place of prayer. For a moment, the handsome man stared at the picture frame of the Queen. There was a sadness he was hiding, and after that, Louis closed his eyes.

Helena was behind Louis. She didn't dare to get closer. She could only be silent and began her prayer for Queen Revania.

"Oh... Queen Revania, I'm sure you're already in heaven. I beg of you to save me from the dangers of King Louis. It's not that I don't respect him. But because he's so annoying, he even ordered the guards to whip me!" Helena thought as she closed her eyes, but Helena's face clearly showed annoyance.

Unbeknownst to Helena, Louis was already standing in front of her and watching Helena's frowning face.

"What kind of prayer do you send for Revania? lIf looking at your face like that. Are you cursing someone?" Louis pouted in a deep voice, but Helena could hear it.

"Huh?! you're done, Helena," Helena muttered under her breath, as she slowly opened her eyes.

"King Louis, I'm not cursing anyone. I'm just... just enduring the pain." Helena answered uncertainly because that was the only thing that crossed her mind.

"Even though this morning, you looked strong. Did the lashing hurt a lot? I don't think the guards used their strength properly. So..." Louis lowered his head and looked at Helena's face from a very close distance.

"So... don't make too many excuses, Empress Helena," Louis said, and for the umpteenth time, he held Helena's pointed chin.

"Your job right now is to serve me, isn't it? So... serve me tonight, Empress Helena." Louis' orders were clear, making Helena widen her eyes in surprise.

"What... me...? Ser... serve you, King Louis?" asked Helena haltingly.