THE MAID BEHIND

"Father," Darkon called.

The Marquess had a scroll in his hand, probably it had what the King must have given his seal to. And as he had assumed, the Marquess told him, "Here is the seal from Tristan. From now onwards, you have officially become a knight to Princess Gabriella." He handed the scroll over to him.

Darkon took his time to read through, as he read each word, his blue eyes continued to darken, his lips parting in cruelty and his hands clenching and when he was done, he looked up at his father who Silvarena was helping remove his coat. Laying the coat on the armchair, she made chamomile tea immediately and served him.

"You have met with the Queen?" He asked as he led the scroll on the table.

"As long as her daughter becomes the crown princess and rules the kingdom in the future, there is nothing to be afraid of when it comes to her." The marquess said, sipping in the tea.

Good. Darkon thought. A lopsided smile appeared on his face. If only the queen knew what would become of the kingdom she waited for her daughter to rule. His eyes went to the mug which the tea had almost finished. 

"Make me the same tea." He ordered Silvarena.

"Right away, my Lord," Silvarena said and hurried out to carry out the order.

Silvarena walked silently along the hallway towards the kitchen. When she came close to the kitchen quarters, something caught her attention, making her halt in her footsteps. 

 She listened attentively. Angry voices were coming from a direction she hardly detected. She listened again, this time noticing where the commotion was coming from.

She brought her ears to listen to the words being said, the voices seemed depreciating and she was unable to detect any single thing said. She knew this was something important she must know.

Quickly, she adjusted her apron, looking to her left and right, suddenly, she saw a line of six maids, walking in queue towards the direction the commotion was coming from.

The maids had their heads lowered, none dared to look up nor spoke to each other. 

Silvarena knew they were the maids who served in the King's chamber. Silently, she hurried and joined the queue, the maid not noticing that she was behind them.

With her head down, she made it walking past the guards. Constantly she glanced left and right with the corners of her eyes as she walked close with the maids. When they came to the hallway closer to the king's chamber, the hallway was free from guards, with a maid sweeping the floor.

Silvarena knew the rest of the guards would be standing at the King's doorway and would be hard to get through those guards because they would have a closer look at their faces before letting them into the king's chamber.

She retreated her footsteps, moved closer to the maid, and snickered something out of her apron pocket. She silently blew the substance towards the maid who was occupied with what she doing. Suddenly, the maid started rubbing her eyes violently. 

Silvarena hurried to her quickly, "Miss, miss, are you okay?"

"My eyes, something... Entered... My eyes." The maid whimpered.

"Why don't you hurry up and take care of yourself? I will help you from here." Silvarena said. Quickly, the maid handed the broom over to her.

"Tha–Thank you... So much." The maid thanked her, her eyes becoming red. Silvarena could see she was in great pain but what did she care when she would be able to get closer to the chamber to hear what was happening? No one was to be pitied when it had anything to do with Horndragon.

As the maid hurried out, quickly, she took the broom and parker and moved closer, this time hearing the voices clearly as she pretended to be sweeping.

"Now speak, who amongst you started this fight?!" That was the voice of the King, his voice vibrating through the walls of his chambers. The two princesses stood with their heads bowed in front of the King.

"Father, it was Vanessa who started the fight." Gabriella defended herself, anger brewing within her.

"No Father, everything she is saying is not the truth. I had only come to sympathize with her with what happened at the party, but she got angry at me for no cause father. I had decided to let go of her anger on me but she had so many bad things to say about me. I was only trying to defend myself but look what Gabriella did to me, father..." Vanessa pointed at her face, forcing tears to her eyes, she winced acting like the pains were horrible now.

"Speak to truth, Vanessa. Have you forgotten you also left a bruise on my face? Father, she was the one who attacked me first,"

"That is not true, Gabriella." She turned to the King, "Father, look at my face, I'm telling the truth, she had ruined my face,"

"Do not believe this liar your Majesty!" The voice of the queen suddenly interrupted. She was walking angrily into the room. "You Vanessa, aren't you ashamed of always lying about everything that happens? What would you say about the physician who was here some minutes ago."

She hunched her shoulders, but on her lower lips, her jaws clenching tightly as she fought to maintain despite her posture screaming discomfort, she mumbled, "Father, the... Physician..."

"Was here earlier because your handmaid had given you the wrong medicine to heal your bruise. Yes, you both had left each other with bruises but yours had only escalated because you used the wrong medicine that is why your face burnt! If you lie about it, I will bring the physician here now and everyone who had seen your face when you left Gabriella's chamber." The queen screamed.

"Is that the truth, Vanessa?" The King asked now glaring at both princesses.

Vanessa knew there was no point lying further, she knew the queen would go as far as doing as she said to prove Gabriella was the good one here.

"Yes, Father, my maid had given me the wrong medicine to treat my bruise, that's why my face became this."

"How dare you both lie to my face like this?! I will make sure you are both punished for this! I will not accept any apologies this time!" The voice of the King vibrated again.

"You all should leave my sight right now." He ordered.

"To my chamber," The Queen ordered Gabriella before turning to leave.

Inside the queen's chamber, Gabriella stood facing her mother. "How could you engage in a fight with that girl?"

"I'm sorry mother. She confronted me about the priest. I got into a fight with her in the process."

"I knew she would suspect you had something to do with his disappearance. In no case should you let them get any information about him."

"Yes, Mother. I will make sure of it."

The Queen heaved a sigh and stared at the bruise on her face. "Go, take care of the bruise on your face." She said and Gabriella nodded.