38 Caught

"Salutation Felma, or should I say, your majesty."

Freya opened her mouth to speak, but she felt parched. "Sir Matilda, what are you saying?" she said, shifting her gaze away.

"Really? How about this?" she threw a scroll to her. Freya grabbed the parchment. Her heart throbbed. Without opening it, she knew what kind of thing was written inside. "Did you not sneak into the storage room in the knight to get this?" Matilda said, raising a brow.

She clutched her robe. "Let's talk inside," Freya finally spoke. Fearing that if she met other servants seeing her, gossip would break out again.

Freya hurried inside her room, followed by Matilda. "How did you find out?" she asked as they took their seats.

"I did not. I came earlier, but the maid refused to let me see your majesty, telling a lame excuse, so I waited. The saying 'the more you wait, the more you discover' is really correct. Seeing you frightened about my revelation confirmed my suspicions."

Freya chuckled. "So I did expose myself," she stated. She spent the previous day in utter frustration, which caused her to lower her vigilance. "Joe, bring tea." As the door closed, she felt heated stares pointing at her.

She had to expect that her little trick of 'borrowing' the key would not pass through a well-trained knight.

"So you know it from the start that I will infiltrate into the knight quarter?" she asked, although, she had a vague answer. Last night, she suspected that her luck kicked in for having empty hallways to the storage room.

Matilda hummed and looked over the room. The unbothered look made Freya bite her lips in anxiousness. "Don't you want to ask anything?" she questioned hesitantly.

"Why do you want to run?" she asked. "Don't lie to me." Matilda glared at her.

Freya smiled. "I want to return home," she said, her voice quivering. Taking a deep breath, she added. "I will tell you a short story. There was a little girl living with her mother in a peaceful town. That girl grew up with love and care till she reached fifteen when she discovered her real identity as a princess."

"Her life was destroyed when she was brought to the palace. Many would appreciate living as a princess but not the little girl. She cried every night and wanted to go back to her town but could neither escape nor accept her fate."

"Then the girl grew up guarding her every step and following rules every day. One day, she was bargained as a peace token to an enemy's kingdom, where she got mocked and hated by everyone."

"I didn't tell you this to gain your sympathy. I lost seven years of my life locked. I do not want to lose more."

Freya's heart pained, and tears formed in her eyes, but she refused to cry. Spending Four years in the Valian's royal palace hurt her, making her think that if she did not encounter the carriage carrying her brother, the king, would her life be better?

"Do you want to listen more?"

Matilda's blue eyes darted into hers. "No. it's enough. But do you not want to give yourself a chance to see if things worked between you and the king?"

Joe entered the room, interrupting their conversation. Freya's lips curved, thinking the same words came from her maid's mouth days ago.

'Why did they want my relationship with the king to get better? We are better this way!' she thought.

"No!" she scoffed, sipping the tea. "If the king knew Felma is the queen, he would order my execution immediately."

Meanwhile, Matilda frowned. She didn't accept what the queen said. She never felt someone suited for the king like her. Meeting the disguised queen, she felt her strong will to have what she wanted, having advantages that allowed her to shine and stand side by side with the king, but… Matilda sighed. She knew the king's hatred and would never open his heart easily to someone from the Valian kingdom.

"I will never question your decisions, but did you think of the woman who will play your role afterwards? What will her life be?" she asked.

Freya pressed her lips. "She will be happy. I will arrange every necessity she wants," she stated, forcing a smile.

The woman replacing her would live a life that no one dreamt of! If she refused, then she would find a way to convince her. In this life, some people were ready to sell their principals for pieces of coins. Then life in the palace was more luxurious and peaceful for someone to refuse such a thing.

She wished the woman who would take her place to be obedient enough to live silently in the palace as she used to the past years.

Matilda put the cup of tea down. "I will take my leave. It was nice talking to you, your Majesty," she said, getting up.

"Wait! Won't you tell anyone—" Freya stood hastily.

"I, Matilda De Lary, vow to Her Majesty, Queen Freya, that I will keep her secret," Matilda said, taking a knight position.

Freya gasped. "I–I did not mean it that way." Not finding words to explain what happened. The vow in the knighthood was valuable, and once a knight vowed, he would keep it all his life and wouldn't breach it even when he risked his life. "How can you do that?"

"I did it for you to be sure of my loyalty. I mean every word I said the other day, and wish for you to fight for your rights instead of running. The king appeared tough and cold, but he was merciful and kind. He needs you by his side. Your Majesty is more suitable to be this kingdom's queen. It is a piece of advice from someone who experienced hardship for many years," Matilda stated. Freya's hands trembled. She shifted her gaze away.

"Have a good night, your majesty. I will be delighted if I see you again in the training ground. I wanted to make you one of the greatest knights, but I lost to the king once again! That *****."

Freya laughed. "Thank you," she said. Matilda smiled, nodded and walked out.

After taking a bath, she lay on her bed, tossing around, and she couldn't sleep.

'You are suitable to be a great queen.'

'The king needs you by his side.'

Those words kept repeating in her head. She closed her eyes and forced herself not to think of them.

'Stop it! You already made your decision. Think of the happiness and freedom you will live.'

Freya thought of the happy memories of her childhood, drifting to sleep slowly.