20: The Royal Guard

The whole arena was crowded with people. From the old man to the little child. All of these people gathered to send off 20 young men to the new Royal Guard recruitments program. They were among all young men across the nation that qualified for the empty positions offered by the kingdom.

Ayleth watched those young men with their family. Some even as young as her; 16 years old. Some even older than that. Some even had their own family; wife and kids. Some even had parents.

And, there she was, standing alone at the arena.

At first, it was Aden who wanted to send her. But, Ayleth refused. She hated the idea of her being seen with a royal, furthermore, Aden is a brother to The Crown Prince. She didn't want people to put a speculation regarding on his recruitment. She didn't asked for this position, more like she had no choice to come and join the crowd.

So, she came alone, preparing herself for the incoming challenge. A woman in a military. That's her ambition since she was a child. Sadly, the truth needed to be on veil for her safety. She wished that the tragedy never happened to her.

How nice if I can be myself among these people! Now I live like a fugitive and pretend to be someone else! She couldn't hide her frustrating reaction.

"Name?" the man at the registration asked.

"Al... Al Ivory," Ayleth said, in heavy voice. She got a deep, husky voice, which was a bonus if you want to hide yourself as a man. Plus, his frustrated mood adding more bass in her tone, making her almost sound like a angry Viking.

"Ah, it's you..."

Ayleth's ears pricked when she heard those annoying, skeptical voice coming from the officer. She took the recruitment letter, the royal seal from the King himself obviously protruded on the paper.

She got it now.

"Quarters on your left. Room at your right," say no more. Ayleth dragged her feet to the building on her left side. She walked passed some men on the way to the room. The husky, woody scents of male lingered along the way to the room.

Ayleth started to questioning her sanity when she agreed to accept this recruitment offer from Kamui.

When she reached the room on her right, she inhaled and exhaled, not because she felt tired. She felt somehow nervous of what she'll find out behind the door.

It's fine.. you can do it!

Ayleth encouraged herself a bit before twisting the door knob. She swung open the door, only to find 3 shirtless men hanging around while talking, unpacking and cleaning. They stimulusly looking at the person on the door. Ayleth immediately shut the door in shock and embarrassed.

"What was that?" she asked herself, panting and shaking all over her body.

The door behind her opened, revealing a man with a handsome heights and sculpter body. His black hair was tied neatly with the maroon hair tie. His sharp eyes and nose were checking on Ayleth.

The lady slowly turned around. Her head was lifted up so high, indicated the huge difference between her and the man.

"You were assigned in this room?" the man asked. Ayleth nodded in tiny. She tried to hide her shocking face by pretending to find something in her bag.

"Did you lost something?"

"Yes. That's why I turn around just now..."

"Oh... What is it?"

"My... Letter! Found it!" Ayleth showcased her appointing letter. Once the man saw the royal seal, his expression changed.

"Ah, you're the royal pet," he looked at Ayleth with his skeptical reaction.

Ayleth frowned. She hated that name so much!

"Why is everyone being so annoying with this?" she asked the man. She had enough of these cold shoulder treatment. Everyone seemed to distance themselves, not in a good way, from her.

"You have the king's approval to do whatever you want to do in this quarters. You can have ravished food, special treatment... Name it," the man glared.

Ayleth shook her head in faint. This man really pricked her in a way that she hated the most. She leaned closer, lock her gaze at the man and smirk.

"Am I using that for my privilege? I still have to live in this shared quarters, just like you. My bed is as same as you. Made of wood instead of gold," she counter attacked the man.

The man blinked. He looked like he agreed but disagreed at the same time. Ayleth had enough explaininh things to people. She mustered herself, pushed the man to the side for a bit so she could access the room.

"Hello, I'm your new roommate, Al Ivory!" she greeted them politely.

One of the man, in golden bronwish skin grabbed her hand for a shake. Ayleth felt awkward but she forced herself to get along with it.

"Reval Octoven. This is Tan Diadem. We're from the south," said Reval.

"Bestfriend since babies," Tan smiled at Ayleth. She nodded, revealing her white teeth at him.

"This is Eran Gohlic," Reval introduced the man whom Ayleth met at the door. The man lifted his hand a bit while walking across the room. He then took a seat on the bed at the end of the room.

"So, you guys know each other?"

"As Tan said, I'm his bestfriend since we were babies. With Eran, we met at the selection exam here in this town. He's a local," said Reval.

Ayleth took a glance at Eran. The man stared at her occasionally, but he still busy unpacked his bag.

"Where are you from? You do look like a local," Ayleth's throat bob up and down. She was indeed looked like a Snowden people. How can she concealed that part?

"Ah, I'm nomad. Living with a tribe. We moved around frequently and end up setting at the town outskirt when..."

"When?"

Ayleth blinked her eyes. Looks like her roommates were people who love listening to a story.

"When... I met a royal convoy one day. They got attacked by a group of bandit. I... Saved them," said Ayleth. Her voice almost inaudible through the last sentence.

There was amazement stamped on Tan and Reval's face. They look at each other and smile widely.

"We got a hero in the group!" Tan shrieked in happiness.

"No! No! I'm not a hero! I'm just... Lucky I guess..." Ayleth looked down. She frowned a bit.

"I mean... You did fight a group of bandit-"

"They killed my family after that..."

The room fell in silence.

"Seems like a good deed turned into a disaster, huh? Yes, lucky for you that you're still alive..." Eran tapped her shoulder and giving her a smirk before leaving the room.

Ayleth stood there, gripping her fist while trying to supress the anger and frustrating feeling. Looking at her reaction, Reval slowly reached out to her. The man put his hand on Ayleth's shoulder and smile faintly.

"Hey... Stop blaming yourself. It's just an accident..."

"I..."

"My grandma said, good deeds will come with good rewards, even if it's not immediate. I'm sorry for your lost, but that's not the reason to stop living your life. I believe, your family will suffered if they know you keep blaming yourself for that. Just living your life in fullest," words that come from Reval made Ayleth almost crying but she held her tears and lifted her head to look at the man.

"There must be a reason why you're alive. Take this as your second chance. Like old folks said, when there's cloud, there's..."

"A silver lining,"

"Can you stop continuing my words? I try to be cool here, pal!" Tan playfully smacked Reval's head. The two kept goofing with each other while Ayleth watched them, entertaining herself with their bicker.

Unconciously, she drew a smile on her face.

Maybe, there's a reason why I am still alive...