31 Don’t You Feel Afraid Of Dying?

Freya took a deep breath to calm her raging emotions. 'You are not the one who quarrelled with the king. Focus, you're now disguising as Felma. Don't mix the two things.'

She knocked on the door and waited. The king spent the morning with Rachel allowing her more time to play the role of his personal maid instead of storming in and scolding him.

Hearing the king's permission, she pressed her lips and forced a smile. "Greetings, Your Majesty." Putting the tray on the table, then grabbing a cup of tea and taking it to the king's working table.

"Where have you been from yesterday noon till now?" he questioned.

'Dreaming about clawing your face!' she thought, widening her smile and said, "I helped the other servants in their chores—"

The king raised a brow and remarked, "Does the palace lack manpower or coins to hire more servants?"

'Soon, it will lack a king!'

Freya's smile fluttered. "No, I just want to help. Your Majesty ordered me to be a diligent maid, and I had to obey every word your grace had spoken. Besides, after yesterday's incident—I don't think Your Majesty had to face me as one of the queen's maids before."

"How thoughtful of you," he remarked mockingly. "However, your expression said the opposite. Did you feel bad about your queen?" he inquired.

'Who wouldn't? I have a heart too!' Freya dropped her head. "I would be lying if I said I did not. It is easy to prejudge someone, but no one cares to know the truth. If not—"

"If not… what?" he asked.

'If not, will you allow me to stand beside you if you knew I am the queen?' she wanted to continue, but she was well aware of the consequences. He accepted her to be his maid despite her rejection for a reason, but it resulted in her being near him most of the time.

So how can he despise the queen?

"If not, will you — imprison the queen in her quarter without hearing her out?" she replied, biting her lips. The king jabbed the table, and the hot tea spilt over his hand. "Your majesty, your hand—" Freya's eyes winded.

He rose from her seat. "Did the queen send you to talk for her?" he said, walking toward her.

Freya stepped back and shook her head. "No one sends me—"

The king strode, trapping her between the wall and his body. "Look, I have a thin line of patience regarding that woman. Don't even mention her, or I will cut your tongue."

"When we say that the problem does not exist, we do not mean that it has vanished," said Freya, looking into his eyes.

"You do not wish for me to cut your tongue but to take your life, did you?" he stated.

"We all are going to die one day, so if killing me would take your hatred for the queen, I am more willing to die. Excuse me, I will summon the physician. Your hand must be treated," she said, then went out.

…

Fraser's eyes dimmed. He leaned on his chair, closing his eyes. 'Without hearing the queen out.' the words kept ringing in his mind. He snickered at his foolish thought. Is there anything left to listen to? Every time he saw her, he would remember his brother's cold body.

He couldn't accept the queen or anyone from that place. They killed his brother, the only light in his life. If not for suspecting the maid to be a traitor, he would not allow her shadow to be near his place.

That maid's boldness reached the sky. Bragging about exchanging her life for her queen. What loyalty! Will she be this fearless when her disguise falls out? Will that queen help her out? Maybe for her foolishness, they appointed her to be a traitor.

Who stayed loyal to someone despite receiving humiliation? Stripping her from her position and appointing her to be a maid!

She had knowledge of politics and economics. Distinguishing the fault, Trent did by mistake, in a trading contract. Learning how to fight, besides her strong personality made her a great candidate to have a decent job like an advisor.

Although women in his kingdom rarely worked, he was certain that she would succeed and surpass even some of the well-known advisors.

Suspicious grew in his heart that the information he received concerning her life was incorrect.

The door was unlocked getting him out of his thoughts. The physician entered followed by the maid. His forehead filled with sweat, and his chest heaved up and down. "Your majesty, I need to check your hand." Fraser placed his hand on the table while the physician examined it and then applied the cure.

Fraser glared at the maid who was cleansing his desk, feeling a sense of familiarity within her.

"Your Majesty, apply this before sleeping. Don't touch your hand with water till it healed," the physician said, and then he excused himself.

"Will you allow me to rewrite the damaged contracts?" she asked, and he nodded. She took her seat like she did a few days ago, writing gracefully.

Curious about what she could find this time.

Fraser got up from the sofa and rested behind his desk. "Don't you feel afraid of dying?" he asked, glaring at her. Earlier, when her eyes shone with determination evoked the memories of him facing merciless warriors.

She looked at him in puzzlement. "It's not like I am not afraid, but maybe because I am prepared."

'Prepared? How many times her life was at stake to see dying as a simple matter?' he thought.

Meanwhile, Freya thought of the days she lived at the Valian's castle. She thought of dying in her brother's hand countless times. When she came here, the same idea appeared facing the king. The feeling of being on the verge of dying was familiar, but now she wanted to live, and she had to.

In the days to come, she would gain her freedom and restore the happiness she lived in her childhood.

Fraser looked at her blue eyes, blazing like the sky. His expressionless face showed nothing, but his heart throbbed. It was as if he looked at his old self. He strode from one battlefield to another, risking his life, but he never felt scared. The thing he loved to do brought him utter joy. There was no pleasure than to unleash his sword and fight with all his might to protect his kingdom, but now he would live not for himself, but for his people.

In the coming days, he would try to forget those happy feelings in the past and trap himself behind his new responsibilities as his brother wished.

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There are two different POVs for both ML and FL. What do you think? Comment and let me know.