34 Resemble The Person She Hated The Most

"Forget it!" he said, standing up.

She pursed her lips. It was what she expected from the king. Refusing his hater's aid even when he was in need!

His hostility was beyond limits. Why was it so hard to ask for help? It wouldn't get his ego crushed or would bring any shame!

Freya shook her head and went to put the new pieces of furniture in their places.

Heading to have lunch with the other, Two maids walked ahead of her seemingly engrossed in their conversation.

"Poor the princess, she is pitiful. I heard she was poisoned," a back-haired maid murmured to the other.

The short maid exclaimed while the other hushed her. "No way. Who is so daring to poison the princess?"

"I heard that Marquis Veron didn't like his granddaughter and wants to marry his daughter again, but the king refused, so the Marquis suggested the king marry his daughter."

"Uww, from where did you get this news?"

"I heard it from a maid working under Lady Andzera."

'Their gossip reached another level of nonsense.'

Freya listened to their tale, furrowing her brows. Seeing the familiar figure of Lucas from afar, she said with a cold tone, "How dare two mere maids spout nonsense about their masters on their backs? Don't you learn the basic rules in the palace that prohibited gossip?"

The maid sneered and walked to her. "What do you take yourself as? Did working beside the king for a few days let you think of yourself as the one setting the rules in the huge palace? I will talk wherever and whenever I want."

"Yes—"

"Is that so?" Lucas's voice made the maidservants' faces pale. "Arrange your belongings and meet me at the entrance after a while."

The maids begged, but Lucas didn't spare them a second glance, walking to her side.

"Thank you for helping me clear some weeds," he said gently like he wasn't the one firing the maids ruthlessly. Weeds! What a cruelty. She understood that his duty must oblige him to appear this way.

"No need to thank me. I repaid the favour you did to me," she said, smiling. Out of the people, Lucas, an old man, the steward of the Frowshire palace, helped her. Freya was unaware of his reasons, but she didn't feel malice towards him. Since that poisoning incident three years ago, she never trusted anyone from this place easily.

Changing the maids the king sent was like a routine she never got tired of. But Lucas's case was different. He resembled a special old man back in the town.

"I will let you handle the weeds matter. I will go do my work," she said. Lucas smiled and dropped his head.

"What's wrong? Are you having back pain?" she asked.

He chuckled. "The age has kicked in."

Freya laughed. "Why don't you retire?"

"I think it will happen soon since I find someone who can handle the king and the kingdom," he murmured and walked away.

Freya stood stunned by the steward's words. 'What does he mean?' she thought, then shook her head and went to the king's bedchamber.

The day passed with no changes. Freya didn't encounter the king most of the time which brought happiness and freedom. She slacked in her work as she pleased with no annoying remarks.

After going back to her room, she dove into the bathtub. "Joe, massage my shoulder," Freya requested sleepily. As soon as Joe touched her shoulder, Freya cried in pain.

"Ma'am!" Joe exclaimed, retreating two steps backwards.

"Continue. My body is stiff like a rock," she ordered, fighting the urge to close her eyes.

After wearing her nightgown, she lay on her bed, and her lashes fluttered.

To her surprise, she woke up before dawn, like usual. Today was the first day of the month; she had a rest until noon. She wanted to sleep more, but her body refused.

She sighed, washed her face, grabbed the shovel and went to her garden. She checked her grassland and groomed her trees and plants. As the sun rose high in the sky and the wind turned warmer, she went back to her room and freshened up.

"Your Highness," Katy's voice sounded from outside the door. Freya sipped her tea and responded, "Get in."

"Your Majesty, Lady Andzera's maidservant brought offerings," she stated. Her eyes flashed for a while when six maids entered with boxes of gifts, whereas one maid brought two potions with orange liquids inside.

"Your Majesty, Lady Andzera said that those gifts are a simple thank from her. If Her Majesty the Queen needs anything, the lady will help," the servant from yesterday said, bowing to her and then retreating with the others.

Freya swept her gaze on the gifts. Pieces of jewellery. Set of blue gems. Fabrics like brocade and satin and many other things.

Looking at the drooling Katy, she smirked. Freya stood up, putting on golden earrings with flower shapes, and then walked to Katy. "It looked better on you," she said.

Katy blushed. "How can I be fit to such a piece of jewellery?" she said, glaring at the earrings. Her eyes bulged.

"Take it. It is present," she said. Katy grabbed the jewels and thanked her. "Do not tell anyone I give it to you," she ordered. Looking at the maid's back, she smiled, knowing that one obstacle would be removed.

The door closed behind her, and Freya raised her head to see her reflection in the mirror. Remembering her brother's words, "Do you think being unbiased will help you continue living in the palace? Let me tell you something. Our Royal blood is running in your body, and your hands will have blood on them, eventually. This is our fate, and the sooner you realize this, the stronger you will be."

Freya shivered, recalling his hysterical laugh. 'You are becoming like the one you hated the most,' she thought.

"Ma'am," Joe said, snapping her out of her thought. "You will be beautiful in those dresses once they are tailored." She gaped at the fabrics.

"Do you want to take something, Joe?" she asked.

"No, no. these are gifts for you. It's the first time someone appreciated your majesty's kindness. I am so happy."

Freya's cold heart warmed up a little. "Arrange the boxes."

"Yes, Ma'am," she shouted, jumping happily. "Ma'am, what are the potions used for?" Joe asked.

Seeing the bottles, Freya narrowed her eyes. She stood, hiding them behind her gowns.

She turned to look at the clueless look on her maid. "Do not ask questions you will have no answers to, Joe."