33 Asking For Help

Freya turned around to face two ruby eyes peeping at her. Her heart hammered as he passed by her. His slow movements carried his scent in her direction. A mix of pine and lemon. She hurriedly lowered her head and stood at the corner with the other maids.

"Fraser! Come and sit. The food is turning cold," Queen Lira shouted. From her voice, she seemed happy.

Freya peeped at the king, and coincidently their eyes met. Feeling the blood rushing to her cheeks, she dropped her head to the floor, almost kneeling.

The meal ended in utter embarrassment. Freya headed to her room after the king allowed her to retreat with no unpleasant remarks.

Walking through the hallways, she yawned and rubbed her eyes. Halfway through, a figure jumped in her direction. Freya screamed.

"You!" Freya pointed at Andzera, who was crying, then patted her chest to ease her raging heartbeats.

"Help my daughter, please," Andzera said, clutching her hands tightly.

Freya wanted to free her hands but couldn't. "Help?" she exclaimed, not understanding how she could help.

"To produce the cure f-from the Pyt Fever, t - the physician needs a herb n-named YellowPin that grew only in your k-kingdom. I- I came to ask for your aid." The woman cried.

Freya stood watching the woman weeping. From the few words she grasped, the little princess' cure needed a herb that grew in her kingdom only.

"Forgive me, my lady. I think you talked to the wrong person. The queen should be of greater help than a maid," she stated. She was a maid and could do nothing.

The woman's eyes dimmed. "I do not know the queen well and am afraid she will refuse. You are the king's maid, so he must trust you enough to let you work beside him. Help me carry the message to the queen. I will never forget this goodness."

'Trust me?' Freya nearly scoffed.

"I–I will try to talk with Her Majesty, the queen, and see what she will do," she said. The woman stopped crying, wiping the tears staining her pale cheeks.

"Here, the description of the illness and the cure. I will wait for your news," said Andzera, handing her a parchment.

Freya sneaked to her room and sat down in her bed, playing with the parchment.

'It's a child, so helping her won't hurt.'

Freya nodded, opened her wardrobe, took her writing tools and began to write. After writing the herb's name, she glared at the white essay for a moment. Her heart pounded.

She tucked the letter in the envelope and stood, but she took her seat again, opened the letter and wrote something else.

"Ma'am! You came earlier this time. I will prepare your bath—" Hearing Joe's voice, she hid the letter inside, sealed the envelope, stood up, and rushed out. "Ma'am, where are you going?"

Walking away, 'What did I do? How can I write something like that?' she thought, biting her lips. 'I should change the content.' She looked ahead to find herself in front of Andzera's maidservant.

Freya forced a smile and walked with the maid. "The lady is waiting in her chamber. I will take you there."

Andzera's room was big, but the furniture was less exaggerated. The walls and the curtain were painted white. The room gave the feeling of calmness and boredom.

Standing in front of Andzera, she handed her the letter and told her the address. "Thank you, I will never forget the favour the queen did to me." Her eyes welled with tears.

"Something else. The queen said her letters need the king's accord to be sent."

From the moment she lived in the palace, the king forbade her from sending letters without his permission. That's why she found Regis, who could do her job far away from the king. And she would not by any means tell her secret.

The woman smiled. "I have a way to send it in a day time, and with no obstacle. But is the one giving us the herb trustworthy?" she asked.

"Yes, he owned the largest herbs and potions transaction back in the kingdom," Freya said, then excused herself. If Lord Miller was untrustworthy, then no one in the world was reliable. He helped her, getting the changing potions needed in her disguise and didn't for once abandon her.

'A daytime? How can it take this takes little time?' In her situation, when she needed the changing potions, it would take a month before she received the goods.

It was somehow understandable. Andzera was a mother who loved her child. Doing all that she could to heal her daughter. The cool breeze caressed her cheeks. Her eyes tingled, remembering her mother. The last time she saw her was before marrying into the Frowshire kingdom.

Looking at the moon, she smiled. 'It will change soon.'

The next day, Freya resumed her work like the previous one. All the rooms on the third floor were cleaned. So she had to change the rooms' bedding, carpets and curtains. With the help of the other servants, the king arranged, the work was done fast.

The news about the king's niece spread widely into the palace. The servants gossiped about how unfortunate the princess was.

Freya entered the king's working room. Gloom clouded the surroundings. Trent stood wiping the sweat falling from his forehead. The king's face was cold.

"What do you mean you did not find the herb?" he asked, forcing his words out.

"Your Majesty, you know the specific situation. The Valian kingdom banned its exportation two years ago after the over-exploitation of the herb, which caused it to be nearly extinct."

The king flared up. "What are you blabbering? Who said I was required to know about the history of the herbs? The only thing I need to listen to is when I will get the **** herb on my table. If you are unable to do such a simple task, I will fire you."

Trent paled and hurried out. The king sighed leaned on his chair, and rubbed his eyes. The black under his eyes increased.

"Can't you help?"

Freya raised her head from the floor. 'Am I dreaming?' she thought.

The king asked for my help!