4 Maria

My name is Maria I work as a personal maid for the princess as long as I can remember. My job as the princess's maid is not as hard as it seems. All I do was follow her then do what she asks of me, Well I just command the other maids to do the works but the toughest job is... fitting in her clothes! Well, we can be considered as friends so a bit of hardship is all right.

Today the princess and I are going to the Icey Forest as there was a rumor floating around the towns around there that a mystical fruit capable of turning one's body on its perfect condition. Well, obesity is an abnormal condition so the princess was hoping it can help her body slim down. In fact, before when we were younger she actually had a lot of suitors lining up on her door. Everything was fine until the son of the Royal Guard's Captain proposed to the princess. Just like any other suitor he too was rejected but he made the princess do something that the other suitors wasn't capable of, It was rejection him directly as all the other suitors were just escorted out of the throne room with a flick of a finger.

The princess only uttered 4 words for him "I don't like Fatties" before he was taken away the guards, as he was being taken away he cast a Curse on the princess to make her fatter each birthday she had. The Captain's Son was killed and his entire family was forced to make an oath to serve the royal family for generations. Continuing to my journey together with the princess to find the "Slim Fruit" but when suddenly...

"Ambush"

"Take Cover"

The whistling of the air was heard inside the carriage as it was soon followed by blood-curdling screams as two guards were hit by arrows on various parts of their body, the other guards were fast enough to react to shield themselves behind the trees while some even rolled under the carriage and below the horses. There were 2 people which didn't move one was the robed-man who didn't move as arrows pierced his robes but instead of the sound of pain, a clanking sound was heard as metal to metal hit each other. The other one was the unsuspecting coachman who didn't even managed to shout as his throat was the first one to be pierced by the arrows.

"What's happening Maria?" asked the princess with a panicking voice

"The smell of blood...It seems like we're under attack, don't worry princess we'll be fine as Mr. Argo is protecting us" Maria comforted the panic-stricken princess.

Sounds of blades clashing with each other were heard as soon as the battle begun. The sounds of fighting went for a while as screams were heard from time to time, but soon enough the sounds stopped and were instead replaced by a middle-aged man's voice.

"What is your intention by doing this?!" the voice questioned

"It seems that Mr. Argon is negotiating with the attacher" Maria informed the princess

"Just the usual, Leave the women and all riches behind, then we'll let you go nicely," another voice was heard

Mr.Argon who was dressed in a robe was now wearing tattered robes revealing a shiny armor under it. He pondered for a while but soon nodded his head.

"Maid come out and bring the bag of golds," Mr. Argon said

"You better make sure to uphold your words "Cannibal" or else you'll have to accompany me to hell."

"Oh sure" Cannibal replied carelessly while thinking to himself "This man sure is committed. He might really sacrifice himself just to make sure I'll die with him."

As the doors of the carriage were opened a fair maiden with a hazel hair and caramel eyes was seen wearing a maid dress. Nobody bothered to look at the girl behind her as she was too fat and she was already overshadowed by Maria's beauty.

"Hehehe you were hiding quite a beauty huh," a fat-bellied man said while looking at Maria with lustful eyes.

"Cannibal you could take this girl and the gold but you must not bother with the other girl inside" Mr. Argon demanded

"Mr. Argon? Is this the only way?" I asked him

Mr. Argon put his hands unto my shoulders and he said to me with a sorry-look "Maria, I know this is unfair to you but this is the only way for the princess to survive as Cannibal is known for his behavior of eating maiden's flesh."

"But I'm the...No nevermind," I said but deep inside I remember a memory that I'll never forget before when I was just 13 years old.

...

"Maria, You were asked to come into the queen's bedroom," a servant boy said to me

I wonder why I asked myself while standing in front of a majestic door.

*knock *knock

"Is that you Maria" a voice sound out behind the door

How could the queen know my name? I thought

"Yes it's me, Your Highness" I replied

"Come inside"

"Yes!" I replied with a straight-face but in reality, my back was sweating really bad.

After opening the door, All the nervousness I was feeling was replaced by deep astonishment not by how luxurious the room was but due to the lady in white lying on the bed. She was so beautiful, It was rumored before that the queen was as beautiful as a fairy mentioned in the legends but if not then even more so. Although this is our first time meeting aside from seeing her from afar before, It feels like we have some sort of connection.

"Hi, Maria How are you?" the queen asked

"I'm fine your Highness, this one doesn't deserve to be concerned by the queen" I replied

"Is it hard to be the princess's personal maid"

"Not really, your Highness as the princess doesn't really order me much"

The talk went for a while as the queen kept asking things about me and I'll just answer her honestly. As I was getting impatient for answering the queen's question she asked me something very personal.

"Take off your blouse"

"Ehh?!? Yo-your Highness isn't that a bit rude..."

"Oh no you misunderstood me" the queen explained and loosen her clothes at the part of the shoulders revealing a crest.

Oh, My God, I thought. That's the same crest on my back, could it be I'm her illegitimate daughter?

"Yes, you are correct. We are blood-related as you're my sister's daughter and you just look like her"

"If you're my mother's sister then do you know where she is or is she still alive?"

"The reason I asked you here was to ask the same question. It seems that you weren't informed about your mother's whereabouts"

"Could it be that she's already dead?!, I'm sorry for shouting Your highness"

"It's alright since I'm your aunt you can just treat like how any other children treat their aunt. Your mother may be dead but she could still be alive with your father"

"My father? Who is my father exactly?, Auntie"

"Let me tell you one thing about your father. Your father was a part of the demon race and you are only one of his many children. Even I didn't know that your mother loved a demon, I only get to know it when you were already born."

"So I'm a half-demon?"

"Indeed that is the case, See for yourself, (Dispel)" she said while handing a mirror to me.

Seeing myself in the mirror as my hazel hair slowly turned into a black silky hair. My left eye became red colored while my right eye stayed being brown.

"Don't worry you can still live your normal life as I cast an Illusion spell to you once before when you were still a baby in your mother's arms."

I nodded happily as finally I know I'm not alone and my mother could still be alive.

"Remember do not tell anyone about what happened here even your identity as my niece and especially you being a half-demon if you don't want to be on the run."

"Yes Aunty"

"It's good that you understand. Asking about your mother is just one of the reasons for asking you here the other one is about me."

"What's wrong with you auntie"

"Day by day I feel like my body is weakening and once my time ends I want you to leave this kingdom and open this scroll," Aunti said while handing over a scroll.

"Yes Auntie," I said

"Remember to only open it after I die, I almost forgot your mother's name was Evelyn as for your father I can't remember it but he was known as "Red Lotus", Leave now as others might get suspicious of us"

"Thank you, Auntie, I'll follow your instructions," I said while leaving through the door

...

"Hey, gorgeous what are you spacing out for? Could it be that you blanked out of fear, HAHAHAHA" Cannibal said while taking out his pants

"No!!! Please, Somebody, Save Me" I shouted as I thought that, I cannot give up not yet that I still didn't find my mother. I bit his thigh with all my strength.

"Ahhh, B*TCH how dare you bit me"

*Slap