10. The Plan Behind Serenity

"Why did Athena faint? What did you do to her? Even though you are from the royal family, but I never taught you anything like this. Athena is indeed a maid, but you shouldn't make her suffer with the task you gave her, Royce!! Helen already told me about what you were doing out there!!" said Victoria. She was really worried when she saw Royce taking Athena to the palace in a state of unconsciousness.

Victoria's last sentence immediately made Royce look up. Of course Royce was very surprised. Since when did Helen watch him?

"Mom, since when did you tell Helen to watch over me?" Ask Royce.

"You don't need to ask that. You should have realized that all this time your activities have been monitored from afar. Even though you look like an ordinary person, you are very easy to find. Royce, you're always being watched by your father. And I don't want your father to scold you. That's why I approached you here." Victoria said firmly.

Royce immediately lowered his head again. He has feelings of guilt.

Victoria was still looking at her son. Of course she was a little disappointed with what Royce had done out there. Even to the point of making a maid faint because of a trivial thing that Royce shouldn't have done.

"Finish your relationship with Jane!!" Victoria said firmly.

"But Mom, I really---"

"I don't care what your reasons are. I totally disapprove of your relationship!!"

"But why, ma'am?" Royce asked with a very disappointed look.

Victoria looked at Royce seriously. "I don't judge your partner by their outward appearance. I don't even care if you like an ugly girl. As long as you love your partner and she is also sincere with you, then I totally agree. And I'm not going to look at her background and where she's from."

"Then why didn't you approve of my relationship with Jane?"

"Jane is not a good girl for you, Royce. She has other purposes behind being nice to you. Helen has already figured that out. Jane doesn't really love you, she just wants the throne in this kingdom. You may not believe what I say. And go ahead. You can find that out there. If what I say is true, then you will be very sorry for loving a girl like Jane." Victoria said firmly.

While Helen who was also in the bedroom, she just stood and was silent behind the queen.

Victoria's words completely silenced her son. Royce still couldn't believe his mother, and the man clenched his fists. He will prove that his mother's words are wrong.

Then Victoria left the bedroom. She let Royce accompany Athena until the girl regained consciousness.

After Victoria came out, Royce immediately sat on the edge of the bed. He looked at Athena's sleeping face. The girl hadn't woken up from her stupor. Of course Royce felt very guilty. He didn't know if it would make Athena so exhausted.

Royce did take Athena to an empty bedroom in the main palace building. He laid Athena down in the middle of the big soft bed. And earlier there had been two palace maids who tried to make Athena conscious from fainting, but their efforts were unsuccessful.

And now Royce could only wait for Athena to wake up.

Lucy was not in the palace. The girl was sent to a student house located in the next village. Helen is very overwhelmed if she has to teach Lucy many things. And Victoria decided to send Lucy to the student house instead. Special education homes for noble families or royal families. So Lucy's needs are guaranteed there.

After ten minutes of waiting, Royce who was still sitting on the edge of the bed, he saw Athena's right finger moving slowly. The man looked both enthusiastic and worried about Athena.

"Athena?"

Hearing the voice, Athena immediately opened her eyes. Now her face is not pale, the color of her lips was pink again. "Prince Royce?" Athena asked looking confused.

The girl immediately looked around in all directions. Of course Athena was confused about where she was now.

"Calm down, don't be in a hurry to sit down. You've just woken up. You're in the guest room now. I brought you here." Royce said. His tone was so soft, his right hand even grabbed Athena's left by accident.

Athena who realized Royce's touch, she immediately pulled her hand gently from Royce's hand. "Ah, so I fainted?"

"Yes."

"Why don't you take me to my parents' house, prince?"

"I didn't dare to go to your house. Your parents would be worried if they saw you like this. And you fainted from exhaustion. You were exhausted from what I did to make you wait for me under the hot sun. I'm sorry, Athena. I feel guilty for using you like that." Royce said. The look on his face was truly regretful.

Athena smiled a little, then she sat down slowly and her back leaned against the head of the bed. "It's all right, Prince. Thank you for helping me. And sorry if I was so cold to you earlier."

"You don't have to apologize to me. I blamed you. How are you now?"

"I still feel a little dizzy. But I have to---"

"Stay here and go back to work tomorrow morning. You don't need to go home. I've already sent one of the guards to deliver some food for your parents. I've also sent a message to the guards to tell your parents that you've been very busy at the palace this week."

Athena was completely stunned by Royce's words. "Ah, that's what it looks like."

"Yeah. And I hope you don't misunderstand me. I'm just afraid your parents will be upset if they find out about your current state. And actually, I'm really scared that your parents will get angry. Because I caused you to faint." Royce said, still feeling guilty.

Athena chuckled softly. "In fact I'm very grateful to you, Prince Royce. And you don't have to feel guilty anymore, I forgive you. I fainted because I wasn't feeling well. And it was so hot, I didn't have the strength to stand up. I felt very relieved. But when I walked towards the horse-drawn carriage, my vision was getting darker. Turns out I passed out and ended up here."

"But are you all right?"

"Yeah, I'm fine. After this I'll head to the dormitory building where the maids sleep there."

Royce immediately stopped Athena. "You sleep here. Use this bedroom for the night. And you may wear a few simple dresses in the closet. You are now my sister's special maid, so you may use this bedroom. This is my order, so you must not refuse."

Hearing those words, Athena smiled. Then she nodded and complied with Royce's request.

After that Royce left Athena. But the man took the time to order another servant to deliver food and drink to Athena.

***

Besides the calm atmosphere that existed within the palace, there was a group of people who were plotting something secretly. And Bella, Athena's best friend, was there. Even Bella was sitting in the middle of a room filled with many men.

All the burly men were Jackson's friends. Jackson did have a group of hundreds of people. However, at this meeting, there were only about three people coming home.

"So, the secret door used as a shortcut, is near the trash can area?" Jackson asked Bella.

Bella nodded immediately. "Yes. The secret door is rarely used by the palace dwellers. The ones who use the door are usually the workers who come to clean the trash area and pick up their food in the last kitchen. Usually they use the door on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Fridays."

Jackson nodded in understanding. He looked at all of his group in a circular way.

All the men in the room also nodded their heads.

"How about we go there on Thursday instead?" Jackson asked all his friends.

"Are you crazy? You're going to the palace in the near future? Didn't you prepare something like armor in advance?" Bella asked looking confused.

Jackson chuckled and stroked Bella's hair lightly. "Honey, I'm not a stupid robber. And I have a lot of troops. I can finish the kingdom overnight. And of course, we talk about this as a preparation. And I will also equip the weapons that will be used later."

Bella breathed a sigh of relief. "But... why am I feeling a little scared? I feel guilty about this."

"Hey, never mind. Don't feel like that. Remember that you've been mistreated there. Athena isn't on your side, Royce isn't interested in you, then that stupid Queen gets on your nerves a lot. If you want, I'll kill them all!!"

"Don't...!"

"What?!"

Bella shook her head. "Don't kill Athena, Royce and Lucy."

"Why? I want to slaughter them all." said Jackson furiously.

"Let the three of them free and lose their position. Let them run wild for fear of you. Let them run as far as possible and live in very difficult conditions. I want to see them in trouble. Don't kill them. Apart from the three of them, you are free to kill anyone." Bella said with a smirk on her face.

Bella has officially held a grudge against the members of the royal family. Especially in Athena. She considered that Athena was two-faced and tried to compete with her.

Even though Athena was good at many things. It was only natural that the royals were interested in Athena's abilities. Especially Royce who immediately made Athena a special servant for Luciana.

But Bella already had bad thoughts. And she had already begun to plunge into a pit filled with vices. If it was like that, then Bella was reluctant to think about what the consequences would be if she did that.

Bella's decision was made. She wanted to see the Diamond Kingdom be destroyed, flooded with blood, and the government of the land she would take over with Jackson.

If she managed to control the country with Jackson, it would be very exciting. She and Jackson would rule a great country and could enforce as many rules as they wanted. Ah, looks like Bella can't wait for that day. When do you think Jackson will carry out the attack?

"Philip, make a lot of swords. If the materials for making swords run out, then just take the armor that we store underground. We'd better use swords along with bows and arrows. We will attack them at midnight when the palace guards are off guard." Jackson said after arranging some of the plans he had prepared.

The man smiled lopsidedly. Jackson had already imagined something very interesting to him. He couldn't wait to get into action and drew his sword at the many bodies. Will the plan work?

*****