Maidservant (1)
“Your Majesty, you’re talking nonsense again,” the Queen said playfully, glancing at the King and patting his arm. “I don’t believe the physician didn’t send you my medical report. Your Majesty has always been kind to me by not bestowing any titles upon any other ladies. What more could I ask for?”
"Your Majesty, it's good that you know." The King chuckled and walked with the Queen towards the bedroom. "I'm not in good health, Your Majesty, you should also pay more attention to the two children."
“Ryan can’t go on adventures until he’s eighteen, and the Adventurers’ Guild has been sending teachers to instruct him.” The Queen said, referring to the arrangements for the two children. “Denise has limited social connections, except for her love of singing.”
The king yawned: "Denise is small, you'll have to keep a close eye on her."
The king's bed was warmed by a heated mattress, and His Majesty, flushed with alcohol, yawned repeatedly as he got into bed. The queen, watching the king quickly begin snoring, instructed the guards, "Find out how long His Majesty sleeps tomorrow morning and report back first thing then."
"yes."
Queen Angelis left with Wen.
"Your Majesty, is this His Majesty?"
"Yes, but we don't know why yet."
"Mrs. Aldrich had an audience with me today."
"It's her again!" the Queen whispered. "Stay close to her; I want the box she took."
"Yes, His Majesty the King has offered a reward for Severus's whereabouts," Wen continued to report.
"That damned thing." The queen stopped speaking in disgust, and after a long while, she asked, "Are there still people like that in the palace?"
Wen shook his head: "Severus has always been protected by the King, so no one can investigate him. No one can control His Majesty's people. The King keeps a close eye on them. This time, Severus disappeared, and His Majesty has been furious."
"Go to the Adventurers' Guild tomorrow and ask Elder Seger to come over. I'm worried about not being able to find Severus," the Queen instructed.
"Yes, where is Miss Beatrice?"
"Don't alarm Bethune, she's terrified." The Queen looked at the Twin Towers. "Send more men, none of them can be harmed. Get rid of all the people the King planted, and don't let His Majesty encounter any more hostages."
“Yes,” Wen continued, “Beth is going to Eileenburg tomorrow.”
"Ignore her, Ailian won't come. Everyone knows she has two longevity seeds, and there are plenty of eyes watching her." The Queen chuckled. "Your Majesty, are you still clinging to the hope of longevity seeds? Longevity seeds have no hearts." Wen listened silently.
“Wen,” the Queen paused, “you must open your eyes wide and not be fooled by the long-lived species. The Adventurers’ Guild—it’s not the Adventurers’ Guild it used to be.”
The next morning, Beth took a carriage to Eileen Castle, located northwest of Suncity. The morning mist had just dissipated, and ivy climbed the stone walls, its dark green leaves shimmering with a captivating, jewel-like light. As the sun rose, the halo gradually turned emerald, and the leaves unfurled their translucent glow, making the entire castle resemble a piece of shimmering jade. Every time Beth visited Eileen Castle, she was awestruck. Following the steward through the green portico, she saw a huge acacia tree in the courtyard, its branches laden with golden acacia buds, filling the air with a fresh, moist fragrance.
The butler led Beth to a seat in the reception room, a small and exquisite room facing south. A small round table held a pink lotus flower, and a cup of warm tea sat before Beth, steam rising gently. Sunlight streamed in through the window, casting a soft red beam of light onto the lotus flower on the table. A wind chime hung by the window, its slender discs gently tinkling.
Beth sat quietly in the drawing room, knowing that this would be another fruitless visit. The butler would likely keep her there for half a day before telling her that Miss Eileen had no time to see her. Beth glanced down and counted; this was the eleventh time she had visited Eileen since she inherited the title, and she had never seen her mistress even once.
The Long-lived Race is a strange race; they are not keen on socializing and do not attend royal banquets. Even if King Derek wanted to see her, he had to write to ask for her permission first. Even so, Beth only received a reply from Elaine once. As for when Elaine went to Derek's palace or when she met the King and Queen, Beth had no idea.
The butler came over and brought fresh tea, then said the same thing Beth knew all too well: "Miss Beth, Ms. Ellen doesn't have time to see you right now."
Upon hearing the butler's words, Beth immediately stood up and handed him a sheet of music she had prepared beforehand: "This is the sheet music I prepared for Ms. Ellen. Please make sure to give it to Ms. Ellen. I am very much looking forward to Ms. Ellen's performance at the Derek Theatre."
"Thank you, Miss Beth." The butler bowed as he accepted the sheet music and saw Beth out of Eileen Castle. Beth patted her empty stomach. Every time she came to Eileen Castle, there was only a cup of hot water. Even so, Beth was willing to sit in Eileen Castle for half a day. Eileen Castle was filled with a refreshing fragrance, and every time she came out of Eileen Castle, Beth felt that her headache symptoms had lessened.
Beth stood at the gates of Ellen Castle, her eyes filled with longing as she gazed at the castle behind the green walls. Beth had never been able to enter the real Ellen Castle, yet even its exterior was breathtakingly beautiful. Beth thought of the Flower Kingdom five hundred years ago, where longevity-loving creatures were everywhere. No wonder no one was sick back then; besides possessing a magical longevity seed, the longevity-loving creatures lived in the best sanatoriums, capable of curing all headaches.
Seeing that Beatrice had been picked up by her friends, Mi could no longer hold on. Suppressing the screams escaping her mind, she quickly returned to the Flower Inn. Mi was in a terrible state; part of her body, trapped in the box, couldn't escape. She was now in a state of splitting apart, one part mired in endless darkness. She felt like she was dying, unable to muster any interest in anything. She lay listlessly on the bed, unresponsive to anything Sheila brought her; she neither ate nor drank, nor spoke.
Mi remained expressionless, emanating a dark aura. Sheila tried to speak to her several times but received no response. Fried was also summoned by Sheila. Mi was unable to think or speak; she was like a dying person clinging to life. The next day, Fried brought Mi a young girl, around ten years old, very obedient. She quietly knelt on Mi's lap, speaking to her with a tone full of reverence, like a gentle kitten. The girl stayed with Mi for two days, then Fried brought a woman in her thirties. This woman was full of gentleness and wisdom; she embraced the deathly Mi.
The woman followed Mi everywhere, carrying her out to bask in the sun and then holding her as she slept in bed. Mi wouldn't eat, and the woman quietly stayed by her side. When Mi slept, she held her in her arms, softly humming a gentle tune. The lyrics were indistinct, but the tender melody soothed Mi repeatedly. Three days later, Mi asked her, "What's your name?"
“Anna, my name is Anna,” Anna replied gently.
Where is the little girl?
“Eva, her name is Eva.” Anna hesitated for a moment before asking, “Do the adults want Eva to come back?”
"Oh no, who are you?"
“My lord, it’s Anna.” Anna hugged Mi again. “My lord, please sleep a little longer.” Anna followed Mi like this, taking care of everything for her, from breakfast to tea. She would take Mi’s arm and accompany her from the Flower Garden Inn to the Dahlia Square, and then accompany her from the Royal Circle back to the Flower Garden Inn.
"Do you want a carriage?" Mi asked Anna one day.
"Okay, thank you, sir." Anna was so gentle; she took meticulous care of Mi. In Anna's presence, Mi seemed to transform into a spoiled little girl. No matter how dire Mi's situation, Anna always held her gently, even the water Anna poured was warm and comforting. Mi began to crave everything Anna gave her, no longer asking where Anna came from.
A month passed like this, and Mi finally recovered. The owner of the Flower Inn gave her a box of silver coins to have a carriage custom-made for Anna. Now, during the day, she would ride in the carriage with Anna for a drive. The carriage was warm, and Anna's embrace was even warmer. Mi could fall asleep in the carriage. She felt there was no better woman in the world than Anna; she supported her, tolerated her, and comforted her. Sometimes Mi thought of Beatrice, and she felt that Beatrice needed Anna more, but she couldn't leave Anna yet. She told herself that after a while, after a little longer, she would go to visit Beatrice.
Mi woke up again in Anna's arms. Anna was still fast asleep, possessing a quiet and composed aura, like the deepest, most still pool, drawing Mi in. Mi stared at Anna's face; she was a beautiful woman with slender eyebrows, thick eyelashes, a delicate nose, and thin, rosy lips. She had red hair, fair skin, and grey-green eyes with fine wrinkles at the corners. Anna was deep in sleep, her brow furrowed. Mi reached out and gently stroked her forehead again and again, and Anna drifted off to sleep once more.
Now, Mi's tinnitus and headaches had lessened considerably, and she began to think of ways to deal with the gray-clad man and how to return to normal. Mi began to ponder deeply; should she take the gray-clad man back to Blue Star? Suddenly, she thought of the Skull Elder, a superhuman who could smoke; perhaps he could also smoke threads. Mi wondered how to find the Skull Elder. She didn't want to go to Qi Luda; he had already warned her not to provoke members of the royal family.
Mi turned her head, and Anna looked at her with her eyes open, her grey-green eyes resembling a cat's. Anna blinked and asked, "Awake? Shall we get up?"
“Okay, get up.” Mi sat up. “I’m going to the Adventurers’ Guild this afternoon. You can go take care of your own business.”
“I have nothing else to say.” Anna lowered her eyes and brought Mi her clothes. Mi didn’t know where Fried had found this woman. She embodied gentleness and wisdom, tolerance and thoughtfulness. Mi felt that she had found a mother, a close friend, and a support.
"How about we go to the Snow Theatre tonight?" Mi looked at Anna, a woman who was always gentle, always considerate, and never temperamental or demanding. Anna accepted whatever Mi offered, and accompanied Mi in whatever she wanted to do.
"I want to go home," Anna said, unusually refusing Mi's request.
“Oh, okay, you can go back as long as you want,” Mi said quickly. She wanted to say that Anna didn’t need to come, but Anna’s company made her sleep soundly. Mi needed Anna before dealing with the gray-clad man.
Fried arrived at the inn at lunchtime, and Mi told him, "Go to the Adventurers' Guild this afternoon." She didn't want to frighten Anna, as she couldn't travel alone and had to ask Fried to accompany her.
"Does Your Excellency wish to take on an adventurer's quest?" Fried glanced at Mi, whose condition had improved considerably. Fried continued, "To form a team, you must post an announcement in the plaza. Unless it's a team already under the witness of the Adventurers' Guild, the Adventurers' Guild can provide protection."
“I’m not looking to form a team,” Mi hesitated for a moment, “I’m looking for someone.”
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