Chapter 13: Exhange

"Ahh~ I see you are Isabella, the bastard daughter of King John and Ilaria, my best friend's betrayer," Queen Alexandria greeted.

"She is in our care, Alexandria," King Robert advised

"Actually not. Fiona sent her here for disposal," she whispered

"Your grace," The lady said as she bowed to them.

"I heard your stepmother brought you here to look for a potential noble husband," The King greeted.

"I supposed so, as my stepmother wants me out of the country," She replied, smiling from ear to ear.

"Then I should arrange you to a worthy noble," The King said

"There's no need to rush, your Highness," Isabella told him.

"I forgot about the ladies I brought from Egothedia. Lady Stacey, Lady Mia, Lady Hannah, and Lady Amy, all of them are nobles, and we wish for your protection, my King," Isabella said as she bowed before him.

"I guess I have someone to serve you all," Queen Alexandria said with an evil smile.

"Escort the ladies in their chambers and take their belongings to their respective rooms," The Queen demanded, and they quickly obeyed her.

-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_

Ayla knocked on the chamber where the ladies were gathered, and they let her in.

"You must be the lady that the queen mentioned," Isabella said as everyone's eyes were focused on her.

"I am at your service," She said with a slight bow.

"No need to do that. Call me Isabella, and I would rather want someone who is a friend rather than a servant," she said with a smile, making her feel secure.

"I am Hannah," the one with straight black hair told her.

"I am Stacey," A lady with tan skin told her.

"I am Amy," the lady with curly black hair.

"I am Mia," a girl with white curly hair told her.

"And I am Ayla," She replied with a smile.

"Your eyes are stunning" They admired her for her natural beauty.

"Yes! I heard everyone adores my eyes because they always admired them," she replied as she sat down with them.

"Not just your eyes, but you are a shining vessel in this dark world," Hannah told her, and it just made everyone laugh.

"How old are you?" Mia asked

"I am fifteen years old," she replied

"We are all at the same age except for Amy; she's eighteen but turning nineteen after two months," Isabella told her.

"Why did the queen give us a very, very fine lady as a servant?" Amy asked

"She doesn't like my presence around his boys. She said that the princes adored me," She replied

"Then, can you introduce us to them?" Isabella asked her.

"I do not know. They only come to me when they need something, and princes are way out of our league because their marriage is something that will benefit their country," Ayla replied.

"Then we should stroll around the castle and get settled," Isabella commanded, and everyone followed her.

"You should enjoy your stay. I will join you all after a walk by the east wing," Ayla said, and she left them.

"I should focus more on finding who I truly am," She told herself and went out of the castle to search for a place that would bring her some flashbacks.

She was walking far away from the castle with nothing in her hand. She came across the nearest village, which she was delighted to see.

She came across a woman with a cloak that which she could not see the woman's face. She looked possessed in her eyes, but the woman grabbed her hand and absorbed something before she spoke to her.

"You have a very, very complicated future, my friend. You will soon seek the truth about yourself and encounter twists and turns, but I can see that you will handle them all with courage. We will meet again soon, but until then, you must always stay careful and be safe." she said, but Ayla was so frightened because of the woman's cold hand and hoarse voice.

"Truth about me?" she asked herself as she looked at her again, but she disappeared.

She didn't mind the woman's message and explored the village. Instead, she heard a conversation between an armed man and a servant.

"Has anyone found the girl?" He asked

"I heard the King is trying hard to find a woman of age. Did you specify the color of her hair? Eyes? Or anything that can identify her?" the servant asked.

"All we need to know is a girl with Kaastianan clothing," He said angrily.

In her mind, "are they perhaps talking about me?"

"Please! I beg of you! My son doesn't deserve this! We can pay our debts in three days" The woman was begging a man who was dragging her child along with him.

"Your son can pay your debts this instant; all I have to do is to take him as a servant," He said with a devil smile.

"Please nooo!" the woman said as he grabbed the man's boot.

"You forgot about the papers you have signed. Your debts will cost you your children," said the man

"Well! That's unrighteous of you!" Ayla stepped in, which made the man confused

"Who are you to step in?" He said as he was a bit smitten by her beauty.

"She told you that she can pay you in three days," She warned him

"But her debt is due for two months already," He explained

"But all she asks is three days," She defended

"I have a new offer," The man suddenly said as he smirked.

"I will release her child in exchange for yours," He said as he and his men laughed.

"I have sad news for you! I am not for sale! Even though I am a woman, I should not be disrespected by you! You have no right!" she said as her anger surfaced.

"Then why meddle into our affairs when you have no right to question our agreement" He crosses his hands, and his men slowly walk towards her.

"I know what kind of work you do. The money she owes you has a very high interest compared to real bank estate. Your organization is so good in corrupted commoners like her who needed money" She told the people the truth.

"How dare you insult our organization. The problem is them! Why borrow money when they can't even pay it" He said with so much anger.

"Teach her a lesson," He said, and his men took her by force.

"If you touch m----" they left the boy and dragged her away.

"I shall demand you to get your hands off her!" A man said, and they turned around, the only problem was that she didn't know who this man was.

"I am Carlyle! And that loyal subject you are dragging is a lady under the protection of the King! If anyone chooses violence against her, then you are committing treason," He announced, which made these men's faces unpleasant.