27 One Spy Had Gone

Freya read and rewrote the reports for a long time. She stretched her hands, clutching her sore back. Looking at the sky darkening, she fetched the finished reports from the table and hurried to the kitchen.

The bustling sounds inside seemed no different from the other days. Hurried footsteps went in and out, bringing the meals to the dining hall. As she came in, the face of Helena, the older maid turned grim.

"Why are you late? Hurry and help the other, or do you want an invitation to do that?" Her harsh words entered Freya's right ear and exited through the left ear. She took the tray and went to the dining hall.

A long table covered with a silky white sheet greeted her with many seats. Two golden chandeliers posed on each corner and one in the middle. She wondered why to made it this long while there were only five people present!

As she finished putting the plate, the door to the dining hall was opened, and the Queen Mother and Rachel came at first while Princess Rubella and her mother followed. The four sat across from each other while waiting for the head of the kingdom to arrive. Freya retreated to the corner and bowed like the other maids. The little princess smiled at her which she returned, receiving a glare from the mother, Freya's body trembled.

"You!" a loud sound from the queen's mother made her stare ahead. "Go and call his majesty to have dinner," she ordered, transmitting her disdained stares.

Freya nodded, then went out. She heaved a sigh of relief the moment her feet stepped out. She knew that no one in this place welcomed her except for Lucas, but even so, he behaved with the other maids likewise.

Not knowing the king's whereabouts, she headed to the working room. As a hardworking man, the only place she thought he would go. She opened the door. A towering figure stood beside the working table.

"Your Majesty, the food is prepared," she said, going in.

"Did you write the reports alone?" he asked, and she nodded. "Why did you change the price?"

"I–I thought the assistant made the price higher than the value," she explained.

The king strode to her. "What do you take yourself? Do you hint Trent made a grave mistake and did his job inadequately?" he said. His voice increased with every word. His gaze made her back down a step.

"I mean no such a thing, Your Majesty — the price is indeed expensive for a second-rate product. The alloys, which were abundant in the kingdom, were sold at a low price at the Lysium Kingdom. The Frowshire kingdom re-buy the second-hand commodities with a higher price, but not as the one written on the report, so I assumed that your majesty's right-hand man made a small mistake," she said, wanting to smack her face.

'You will not learn and keep putting your nose in places you shouldn't!' she reprimanded herself.'

The king passed by her, 'What will he do!' she closed her eyes. As he walked ahead, she sighed and followed.

After a tiring day, Freya went to her chamber, took a bath and sat eating snacks.

"Did something happen?" she asked, noticing her maid's shaking body.

"Rumors spread through the headquarters saying that Felma has a special ability. Nara said she saw her in two different places, at the same time," Joe said, shaking her hands. "Ma'am, what are you going to do?" she asked.

Freya wiped her mouth and then smiled at the terror face of her maid. "I will do nothing. After a few days, the gossip will disappear," she said.

Days later, the gossip ignited like the fire in a haystack. "Summon Nara here," she ordered.

"At this time?" Joe exclaimed. Freya nodded and Joe went out.

"You summon me, your majesty?" Nara said, bowing her head. From her voice, she could sense displeasure. She wore her robe on her nightgown. Her right cheek was as red as tomatoes, and her eyes were red and sleepy.

Freya frowned at the maid's lack of respect. "I heard unpleasant things the last few days, and I would love to know the truth."

The maid raised her head. "Your Majesty what you heard is a true thing. I saw Felma walking in the quarter leisurely despite her work. When I went to reprimand her, I saw her cleaning the room and denied going outside the quarter."

"Another maid was with her, and she testified that Felma was doing her job and didn't leave. I didn't believe what Polly said though as she and Felma are friends, so she must have covered her. I will tell you to be careful. Felma is sneaking around all the time. She should have done something shady. You should fire her," she blurted haughtily.

"Are you telling me what shall I do?" Freya said, getting from her settee. "Do you think working as the head maid here makes you take a decision and step over me?" She stepped to the maid who gulped and looked down. "Who are you to disrespect me? You should always address me by 'Your majesty' I think your eyesight degraded with age. It's time you rest in your house with your children."

"No your majesty, don't fire me. I know I was wrong. Please don't fire me," the maid cried, holding her robe.

Freya went to her settee. "I will notify the king about my decision. Tomorrow, I will not see a glimpse of you."

Nara wiped her tears and dragged her body out. 'One spy had gone,' she thought, smiling. After finally getting rid of the king's eyes in her quarter, she felt relaxed.

She dropped her tired body on the soft mattress and handed herself to a deep slumber.

The next day, Freya had lunch with the other maids working at the king's pavilion. Heading to the king's room, a stone was thrown near her. She scanned her surroundings. Something moved between the bushes. Joe's head popped out.

Freya opened her eyes. "What are you doing here?" she murmured. Looking right and left, she grabbed her maid by the hand and brought her to a nearby tree with a long trunk.

"Do you want us to be caught?" she murmured.

"Ma'am, it's a big trouble. The king sent five new maids, and they are requesting your audience!"

"What the ********"