Bad News

Freya stood watching as the duke went in. She had really thought that something bad might happen. Her eyes nearly came out of their places, trying to signal Danny to stop arguing with the king and return inside.

"You know the duke?" the king asked, returning her attention to him. Looking at his piercing red eyes, she gulped and lowered her head.

"I met him a few times when I was at the Valian Kingdom," she answered, clutching her robe. 

It was the truth. After she was dragged to the palace. Her brother never allowed her to meet anyone, thus her meetings with Danny lessened. She could count how many times they met in one hand.

  "Hearing how he talked didn't feel you had a few meetings years ago," he remarked. 

"I don't know," she answered, shaking her hands. 

The king glared at her and then walked away. Freya sighed in relief when she saw the king retreating. 

What she feared the most was Danny stirring trouble with the king. Her brother was waiting for the Eferhons to make a mistake to destroy them. The duke, as the first one who opposed his reign and the leader of the aristocratic families, held a power that even her brother feared. 

'Now everything seems going smoothly,' she thought, going inside.

The next day, Freya woke up late. The king granted her to rest his day as the previous days were hard. Sitting up leisurely in her garden enjoying her tea, Joe neared her. 

"Ma'am, Felma informed me that her fiancé is waiting at the palace entrance. She wanted to take your permission to allow him to enter," Joe said.

'This fast?' she thought. Standing up, she wrote the letter, sealing it with the queen's seal. 

Going to the gathering room, Freya waited for the visitor to come. As a knock was heard in the room, she fixed her posture.

"Greetings to the moon of the Frowshire kingdom," Mateo said, bowing.

"Sit. I have something to tell you," Freya said. 

Mateo looked at her suspiciously and nodded. He took the opposite seat from her. "I am at your command, Your Majesty," he said. 

Freya's mouth curled up. 'He knows how to act honourable too,' she thought.

"Did you do what I asked you to?" she asked. 

"Huh?" 

Looking at his stunned expression, her mouth curled up. "I asked you to purchase a house at the Hydra kingdom days ago. Did you do it?" she asked impatiently. Now that the king was keeping closer eyes on her movement, it was hard to get out of the palace unnoticed. 

She had no other solution but to reveal her identity. She had worked with Mateo for years, and she could trust him a little and somehow believed that he would never betray her.

"L — lady Greyson? H- How?" the man stuttered, his mouth widening. "I apologize to Your Majesty," he said, coughing to hide the embarrassment showing on his face.

"So?" She raised a brow.

"I already purchased the house. It was as you described. However, I didn't bring the house deed with me," he informed.

Freya nodded in satisfaction. After two years of continuous work with him, she couldn't be any more surprised.

He added, "As for the other matter. After investigating the Kalp town, I discovered it had been abandoned for years because of strange occurrences. However, around a decade ago, a hunter stumbled upon a treasure there, leading many others to venture into the town in search of riches. Unfortunately, none of them have returned. The king's knights were sent to investigate last year, but they found nothing. So the Baron and other nobles wish to establish Kalp town as a trade link between the Frowshire and Valian kingdoms."

Frey frowned, listening to the report. 'Is what I saw in the king's desk a fake?' the report told about a hidden treasure, so did it mean the treasure existed or not?

She shrugged off the thought and said, "I had a few pieces of brocade. I need you to arrange dresses suitable for travel. And make some that followed Hydra fashion."

Mateo nodded and then said, "I will bring them faster with the house deed."

It was a mutual understanding between them, he would ask nothing and she would be spared the time for the explanation that if she explained.

Freya leaned on the sofa when Mateo walked out. She let out a long sigh, feeling like a big trouble vanished from her shoulder.

'Just a little time to get my freedom.

….

On the other side. 

Fraser sat opposite Advisor Eric who was engrossed in checking the trading contract. Pressing her lips, he tapped his finger on his arm. The advisor took a longer time than he thought, making him angrier. The mere of Eric's face enraged him. If not for Trent's pleading stares, he would lash or beat him.

"I had to say that it is an amazing offer," Eric remarked, sending him a winning smile.

Fraser fought the scorn from slipping from his lips and looked at the Advisor. If not for the dire situation his kingdom suffered, he would never wish to work with that filthy kingdom. 

"I will talk with the others first and will notify you later. Your majesty had to wait for the good news," Eric said still smiling.

"Trent, show him the exit," he ordered.

After the annoying advisor walked out with Trent, Fraser kicked the chair which fell with a loud bang. A ball of flame rose in his chest. 

Trent hurried in. "Your Highness, please be more patient. The matter was related to the kingdom's safety." 

He sat down, leaning on his chair, trying to calm his raging breaths. A knock on the door echoed in the whole room.

Lucas went in. "Your Majesty, a messenger came from the north," he said, giving the letter to Trent. Seeing his aid turned pale, Fraser frowned.

"Your Highness, bad news. The Hydra kingdom closed the trading road."