39 Hugging

Fraser saw the maid tearing. A deep frown installed on his face. Throughout the day, she appeared in another world.

"Go and rest for the day. Tomorrow I need to see an energetic maid," he stated. The wrong information he got from the guards made him irritated. And he didn't want to enrage himself more.

"Thank you, Your Majesty, I will rest enough," she thanked, her face glowing with happiness. She turned around and went out.

His brows lowered more. 'Why did he think he got tricked?'

"Why the information you got is wrong?" he asked. It never happened before, for his guards to make such a mistake. If he hadn't been patient and inspected the matter, he would have ordered to eliminate the guild.

"I will investigate the matter. It is indeed a strange thing," Trent said, then handed him a document. "The Valian kingdom's embassy will arrive in the next two days. Lucas arranged everything they needed. I did arrange the contract, see if anything will change."

Fraser hummed and scanned the contract. Despite his opposition, the trading deal with that filthy kingdom was a must. Seeing that it was good, "I will talk to the courtmen tomorrow," he said, hiding the papers inside his locker.

Having no other big deals to discuss, Trent excused himself. Fraser continued his work. After he finished, he went to visit the princess in her quarter.

Getting in her bedchamber, the princess was sleeping in her bed. The potion helped Ruby to lower her fever. The physician said she would get better after a few days.

"Did she wake up?" he asked.

"The little princess woke up the afternoon, she ate porridge, drank the medicine then went to sleep," the nanny answered. Her reddish eyes and the black spots under them proved she watched over the princess.

Fraser hummed in satisfaction. He wanted better things for the little princess. The problem lay in her disability. He consulted many physicians but no one of them succeeded in treating her. They could not even find the reason!

Sighing, he rubbed his eyes. "Where is sister-in-law?" he asked.

"She… she w—"

The door was opened and Andzera went in. The nanny trembled and retreated. "Greeting, Your Majesty," Andzera greeted, walking over and sitting beside Ruby. "She had suffered a lot," she said, patting the princess's hair.

Fraser nodded. The room steeped in silence. Although Andzera was his sister-in-law, they rarely interacted. She married his brother not long before he went to the war.

He had a great relationship with his brother, but his brother's wife seemed distant. They shared pleasantries when they met only and when he needed to gather information about the Marquis, she would be of help.

The two of them sat sipping tea. "The queen helped me a lot this time. I sent her gifts to thank her," she said like a whisper. Her voice carried uncertainty as she looked at him.

The sweetness from the tea turned into bitterness. He put the cup and pressed her lips together. "I already know. You did the right thing. She saved the princess, and deserved to be rewarded," he said.

'Why did they want to bring the queen?' He didn't want to listen to her name! It was unknown if that woman was celebrating her victory now that all the servants talked about her good deeds. He bet she did this thing to anger him, or how could she help Rubella without knowing her?

"Something else," she said, snapping him out of his thoughts. "If my father asked for any weird request, please ignore him," she pleaded.

Fraser clinched his fist, feeling a burning anger surging. He stood up abruptly. "I already saw the princess. It is good to see her healing fast. I will take my leave," he said, walking out.

Today, they were adamant about angering him! That Marquis' odd request made him nearly lose his composure. How could he think of him to marry his daughter? His dead brother's wife!

He did not know how he calmed his rage and didn't kick the Marquis till he bled when he made such an offer.

"Ian," he said when he went to his workplace. Someone came from the shadows and kneeled. "Watch the men brought lately to the prison. The knights will free them, so follow them closely."

"Yes, Your Majesty," he said, disappearing in a moment.

…

Freya worked like usual. At lunch, she went to look for Matilda. Seeing her at the training ground, she walked over. The knights panted heavily as they ran around the training ground.

"Sir Matilda," she said, stepping near her.

"Your M—" she shouted and Freya froze in her place. Her heart thumped and her hands clutched the dress. "I mean Felma," Matilda continued, smiling slyly at her. Freya sighed.

'It would not be easy at all!'

Knowing that the revelation made Matilda scarier than before, she felt that her life would be harder to do her work than before.

"Did you talk with the men?" she murmured.

"They sent me the location where we will meet tonight," Matilda said, handing her a note.

"We?" she asked.

"I will accompany you," Matilda replied.

Freya didn't say a thing. Matilda accompanying her was a good point. As she was about to take it, Matilda stretched her hand up. With the height difference, Freya tried to snatch it but couldn't.

"What do you want? Hand it to me," she scowled.

"Spare with me," she offered then went to have two wooden swords.

Freya sighed and grabbed the sword. Matilda's strikes made her retreat. 'She is so powerful!' Freya couldn't cope with the fast attacks. Working as a maid helped raise her stamina, but it was not enough to face a well-trained knight!

Freya's breath hitched. Despite her achiness body, the happiness she missed from her childhood came once again.

After more time defending, Matilda slowed down her attacks. Freya aimed at her waist, but Matilda saw beneath her action and caught the sword with her bare hand.

"You are good. Practice more, and you will shine," Matilda complimented, and then she ran with all her force.

"You... Stop," she shouted, but Matilda's expression turned evil as she attacked her forcing the sword to fly and her to swing and retreat a few steps backwards.

Freya's heart thumped. The floor beneath her swayed. She crashed into someone or to put it right 'hugged' someone.

She raised her eyes slowly, facing two red orbs.