[Music Recommendation: 6.6 Gigue ~ Peter Gregson & Richard Harwood] 𝙛𝓻𝒆𝒆𝒘𝙚𝓫𝙣𝙤𝒗𝙚𝓵.𝙘𝙤𝙢

Leaving Oriana’s room, the two boys made their way first to the room where Fidelis was locked in.

After being hit by the guards, Adelaide had a physician look after Fidelis while guards were stationed at the entrance, denying any visitors except family members. The guards didn’t question Kai and Walter but allowed them to enter the room.

Inside the room, Fidelis lay on his bed with his eyes closed while Jasmine sat close to her father, dabbing his forehead with a wet towel, avoiding the part that was covered with a white cloth.

"Mother?" Kai called, holding his brother by the hand as they walked closer to their mother.

Jasmine raised her face, which was now flushed as if she had been crying. "Kai, Walter. What are you two doing here? I said you should stay inside." She wiped the sweat off her face.

"We wanted to see Grandfather," Kai continued, when they got to the bed. They sat on the bed, their small legs not touching the floor.

Walter nodded, with a sad look on his face. "Mother, will Grandfather ever wake up?" the little boy asked.

"He will, Grandfather is very strong. Remember? He will wake up," Jasmine turned her face to look at her father, and she felt her heart break. She squeezed the water out of the towel she had used to dab his face into a nearby bowl.

Jasmine stood from her chair, carrying the bowl. "You both should stay here while I go change the water and get food for Grandfather."

Kai and Walter nodded obediently as they watched their mother leave the room quietly.

"Did you notice that Mother has changed?" Walter asked, deep in thought. "She didn’t ask the maids to do that for her."

Kai nodded in agreement with his brother’s words. That was because their mother had to do all the housework while they were away from the palace.

"Walter, we need to tell Grandfather what Auntie Oriana told us, remember?" Kai nudged his brother, reminding him of the reason they had come in the first place.

Fidelis opened his eyes slowly upon hearing Oriana’s name. "Auntie Oriana? Did you see her?" His voice now sounded weak and tired.

"Grandfather!" the two boys exclaimed, happy to see their grandfather awake.

Fidelis groaned, trying to sit up on the bed. His body had gotten weaker with age, and it was difficult for him to recover even from the littlest wounds. After he was hit, he woke up the next day and heard that Nicholas now ruled the palace with Adelaide beside him.

It didn’t come as a surprise that his daughter had joined hands to stab her own brother in the back; it was a seed Gwen had planted after being married into the family. Fidelis was only worried because Oriana was now taking the heat of all of it, alone and without support.

"What did Oriana say to tell me?" His eyes looked at his two grandsons with worry etched on his forehead.

Walter moved in closer and whispered to his grandfather. "Auntie said to tell you and Auntie Freya that she will be coming out with a little sister for me to play with, but you need to remove the uncles at her door."

Fidelis narrowed his eyes, trying to understand the boy’s words. "Little sister... remove the uncles... little sister... what little sister?"

"When Auntie Oriana came to the palace first, she promised Walter she would make a sister with Uncle Adric," Kai added.

At the realization of what the children meant, Fidelis almost jumped out of bed. "Oriana is carrying an heir, my own grandchild." He muttered under his breath as tears welled up in his eyes.

"Yes, she said she needs to leave the room, and we should also tell Auntie Freya," Kai continued.

Fidelis nodded. Oriana was right. If the news about Oriana’s pregnancy were to reach the wrong ears, it would be a disaster. And he didn’t know how long they could keep it hidden; the only option was for Oriana to leave the palace.

"Kai... Walter... don’t tell anyone else about what you just heard."

Walter furrowed his brows. "What about Auntie Freya? We should tell her too."

"Yes, just her and nobody else. When you tell her, also let her know that I want to see her," Fidelis said, looking at the boys, hoping that Oriana would be safe with the baby until Adric returns. He was going to do everything in his power to keep them safe.

Jasmine walked back inside the room, surprised to see her father awake. She ran to his bed. "Father!"

"Go now, Kai and Walter. I need to rest."

The boys ran out of the room, looking for Freya. Meanwhile, Freya was now standing with other maids while listening to Gwen and Adelaide give their new rules.

"If you’re assigned to serve Oriana, you must be thorough and report back to me or my mother. Understood?"

The servants bowed. "Yes, Queen Adelaide."

Gwen stepped forward, pointing at the maids that would now serve Oriana.

"You, and you... and you..."

Freya was beyond excited when she was pointed out. She bowed her head, ready to run over to the side, but that excitement was short-lived when Bessie pushed her back.

"This one works for Oriana," Bessie pointed accusatory fingers at Freya, her voice dripping with menace.

Adelaide took a closer look and nodded. "I remember her, the little rat that thinks she could talk back to me. Yes?"

Freya shook her head, taking a step back. Every servant now had their eyes on her.

"She’s canceled. You, join the rest and follow me." Gwen picked another servant and left the passage, leaving Freya alone with the rest.

Freya bowed her head. After Oriana was locked up, she had tried to keep her head low, especially when it comes to the princess standing in front of her. As for the maid, she didn’t know what her problem was.

"Why are you not talking now? You had so much to say to me before." Adelaide asked, taking a closer step toward the young girl, but Freya took cautious steps back.

It didn’t take long for Adelaide and Bessie to corner Freya against a wall where she couldn’t escape anymore.

"Say something, the Queen is talking to you." Bessie said, using her finger to push Freya’s face to the side. "Or should I get the words out of your mouth?" She raised her hand to slap Freya’s face.

Freya recoiled, closing her eyes as she waited for the impact.

"Bessie!" Sophie’s voice echoed through the passage. "Is that you?" She squinted her eyes.

Bessie rolled her eyes when she heard Sophie’s voice before going to stand behind Adelaide.

"It’s really you. I’ve been looking for you, Bessie. You didn’t return to Orion with us, and since I came back to Avon, you haven’t come to serve me. Have you forgotten your place?" Sophie asked, looking at her maid with a small smile.

Freya let out a small sigh of relief. She was grateful for the princess’s arrival that delayed the hit she almost received.

"Sophie, Bessie now works as my personal maid," Adelaide remarked. "You can pick another maid."

Sophie snorted, trying to hide her laugh. She turned to Galen, who was now always seen behind her. "Did you hear that? How is it possible that my maid from Orion now becomes another’s maid in Avon? That is absurd."

"It is not absurd. Orion owes Avon. Have you forgotten? The reason Oriana is married to Adric. So whatever belongs to Orion also belongs to Avon," Adelaide remarked, crossing her hand over her chest.

Sophie hummed, with a thoughtful nod. "I guess you’re right, but now I need a maid to serve me." She moved her eyes to the side, settling on Freya, who was standing by the corner.

"You, follow me," Sophie pointed at Freya before turning to leave. Without waiting to be told twice, Freya ran after the princess.

Bessie tried to stop her. "She’s getting away."

"Let her be. There’s nothing the foolish princess of Orion could possibly do. Let them be; they’re not the problem," Adelaide replied. "I should see what Oriana is up to." With that, she left the passage with her underling behind her.

Currently, Sophie didn’t stop walking until she was outside the palace. Then she stopped and turned to look at Freya.

"Are you okay? Did they hit you?" She touched the girl’s body, pity filling her eyes. "I can’t believe I was once like that, looking at them from a distance. They look evil!"

Freya was surprised at the princess’s behavior towards her, knowing how she was never on good terms with Oriana in the past.

"I’m fine. Thank you for helping me, Princess Sophie," the girl bowed.

Sophie exhaled. "You should avoid those two, especially Bessie."

"The maid, right?" Galen, who had been quiet, added. "I’ve had an encounter once with her, and she is so scary..."

Sophie tapped her finger on her lips. "Have you heard from my sister? You’re the only maid I always see around her."

Freya opened her mouth to talk when Kai and Walter ran towards her.

"Auntie Freya!" they stopped when they saw that she was with someone.

Instead, Kai tugged Freya’s gown, gesturing for her to come closer. Freya looked at Sophie, then at the boy.

"Excuse me," she bowed, before leaning closer to hear what Kai had to say.

Kai whispered the words to Freya, his voice barely

above a whisper.

"Oh!" Freya covered her mouth after listening to Kai. The look on her face was now one of fear and alarm.

Sophie looked at the boy, then at Freya. "What is it? Is everything okay? Is it about Oriana?"

"Princess Sophie, I can’t tell you everything, but right now your sister needs to leave the palace immediately. But they will hunt her down if they find out," Freya bit her lip, her hand gripping her gown tightly.

Sophie pressed. She had never thought of doing any good for someone, but right now she wanted to do it for Oriana. To make up for the past. "All they need is for Oriana to be in her room, right? What happens if there are two Orianas?"