12 Royal Guard

"Wake up and shine, your highness!", the next day annoyingly dawned on me.

I kicked the bedsheet off me and sat on the bed with messed hair.

"Your highness, should I help you with your hair?"

I didn't reply but got off the bed and sat in front of the mirror. I couldn't help but get angry at my three maids since they were partially responsible for me being grounded.

Flora silently brushed my hair. I knew that she was scared to talk at that moment. Once she finished with the French braid, she looked at me through the mirror.

"Your highness, forgive me!" she said.

Then only I understood that making her ask for forgiveness naturally implied my evil character. It was fine as long as she didn't apologize but now that she had already asked it, I started to feel guilty.

"Don't apologize. It was not your fault!" I said.

"Forgive us too, your highness!" I heard the chorus behind me. I rolled my eyes once then said, "Fine. Fine. I'm at fault too. No need to apologize. Let's go back to normal!"

After that, I randomly grabbed a book from the bookshelf in the attached room and sat on my bed.

What else was there for me to do? I was so bored. Even if there was some other entertainment was there I was not aware of that and was not in a mood to ask about it.

What I was reading was a romance book. Though I was reluctant to read it at first, as the story progressed, I found myself, fangirling the novel.

'What the hell?' I placed the book far away from me. It was already enough for me to transmigrate here. What if I grew fond of this book then transmigrated to that universe once I die here? At this point, I was so confident that I will be an extra there as well. I pulled my knees to my chin wrapped my arms around them. I was so exhausted thus I buried my face there.

"Your highness!", Flora who had been observing me for quite a while called me in a little voice. "Do you want to see a dance performance? Or should I call for the musicians?"

I understood that there was a facility to invite dancers and see a performance from the chamber. I thought it was their version of television. I had never been very much fond of watching tv or listening to music. I had always been reading in my previous life. So I lifted my head at her and shook it once, then buried it again.

An hour passed this way. I was already feeling dizzy again so I fell on the bed and turned myself into a ball.

When I was about to fall asleep, I heard a thud on my door.

"Flora!" I grumbled. "I'll go see, Your Highness!" she hurried to the door.

Once she opened the door, I heard Flora astonishingly say "Your Majesty!" I clenched my teeth again and turned to the other side of the room and closed my eyes again. 'What does she want now?' I started to wonder amid my annoyance.

Within a few seconds, I felt movement in the mattresses. I could say that the queen was sitting right behind me. I didn't care to wake up though. The queen tenderly stroked my head, "Nana, I'm sorry!"

Though I didn't want to admit it, this side of the queen made it emotional for some reason. It irritated me at the same time. I turned and sat on the bed, looking at her. She looked at me with eyes full of love and tenderly caressed my right cheek. "I was too harsh on you. Wasn't I?!" the queen continued.

In scenes like this, the one who should reply normally replies with a 'No". I have seen so many such scenarios. But it was a definite yes for me so I calmly nodded.

"I will not ban you from going out anymore!" the queen said. I couldn't help but widen my eyes as I sat straight. "I've appointed four new guards for you. You can go anywhere now!" the queen immediately crushed my hopes which just got higher. I couldn't but knit my brows in distress. It's not freedom at all. But I couldn't argue since I may lose even this officer if I do.

The queen may have witnessed my displeasure. She pulled me a bit closer and softly kissed my head.

"Nana, it's all going to be alright!" she said then lovingly smiled at me. For some reason, I couldn't hide the smile that naturally bloomed on my face. "Mother," I unconsciously murmured, then only realized that I got carried away. I sat straight once again pulling myself together.

"Come in!" this is The queen turned towards the door and called for someone.

I didn't have an idea who is it going to be this time, but I felt that I'll be fine as long as it is not that shaman. I kept looking at the entrance, but what awaited me was a pleasant surprise.

Three soldiers in their navy blue tunics and white trousers entered the chamber. Out of those three, two were familiar faces to me. It was none other than my soldiers.

I was left in shock indeed. I didn't expect the queen to appoint them as my guards. Is the queen aware of our deal and trying to check me? I turned to her. She was still looking at me with caring eyes.

I turned back to my soldiers. The two of them seemed happy. It was not like they were forced or anything. But I was aware that this kind of coincidence is unlikely to happen. Also, these two were palace guards, not royal guards.

But there was also something that has been

"You may go out if you want to!" the queen affectionately stroked my hair once.

If I had to say about the current situation, it was a pleasant surprise, although I was a bit dubious about it. But there was an answer I could think of for all the mystery. It starts with a 'V' and ends with an 'R'.

I had given him two assignments. One is to free me from the current house arrest. Another one is to safeguard my precious soldiers. But I couldn't believe that he finished the assignment within just twelve hours, not to mention that I had not uttered a single word about the shaman.

Could it be him or could it be that the queen is setting up a trap?

I shook my head. 'Let's enjoy the offer first' I got away from my bed.

"Thank you, mother!" I bowed at the queen then turned to smile at my soldiers.

Though the third soldier is an unfamiliar face, he looked young and naive. I nodded at him once. At a glance, I understood he will not be that easy to bride. 'Young people usually tend to be more honest and loyal. I should create a special plan for him. Maybe sympathy could work,' I thought.

"May I know your names?" I asked them. I had already grown fond of my soldiers but, indeed, I hadn't known their names so far. I looked at my first soldier.

"Your Highness, my name is Henry!", he excitedly introduced himself.

"Your Highness, my name is Merlin!," the other followed.

I happily nodded and turned to the last one.

"My name is Nilo, Your Highness!", he said.

I was stunned for a moment. This name sounded a bit odd to me for two reasons. Firstly, it was not an Astranian styled name. Secondly, 'Nilo' was the name of Victor's assistant. I knitted my brows as I continued to look at him. He did seem suspicious to me. I originally thought he was naive, but now that I looked at him again, I started to doubt whether he is naive or a perfect actor. If he is Victor's assistant, he can act perfectly. In the novel, Nilo was not just a filler character. He can have some strong attributes if this is that Nilo.

Now the whole thing seemed more like Victor's work.

"Where is the fourth one?" I asked. It was a normal practice to designate four guards for one royal in Astrana. The bond between the royal and the guards are more like that of friends. Edward used to have four guards too. He loved them. They were also very fond of them. But atlast, two of them died in the war between Astrana and Dagresh. One of them died in the hands of the Dagresh king and the other was killed by Victor.

"Chief is not here yet, Your Highness. He went to meet His Majesty", Nilo immediately responded.

"About what?" I dubiously asked

"About our appointment, Your Highness!" he replied.

'Whatever, I got to go out and have fun. With my two precious soldiers, I must be able to dodge Nilo and his superior. Maybe I can use Victor and scare them off,' I thought.

With a contented smile, I almost ran to the door.

"Mother I'll be leaving now," I turned and informed the queen. The queen nodded at me with a smile. "Be careful out there!" she said. My three guards followed me immediately. But what awaited me by the door was a shock.