Chapter 2 - The Kingdom of Ezbert

“You must protect the key to the Kingdom!”

“No matter what happens, don’t stop! Don’t look back!”

“Stop or we will attack!”

“ARGHHH!!”

Flori screamed and opened her eyes. Her breathing was erratic. A dream? Thank goodness, so it was all just a dream. She tried to get up, but pain surged through her whole body. These wounds…? Flori remembered the moment when the arrow struck her back and she fell from the horse.

She couldn’t move her body; she could only look around. This wasn’t her room. Where is this? What happened?

“You’re awake?”

Flori looked toward the voice, but her vision was still blurry. She couldn’t even move her body.

“Ugh…” she groaned unconsciously in pain.

“You shouldn’t move yet. The healer just treated your wounds,” the man explained.

“Whe... where?”

That was all Flori could manage to say.

“Where is this? Yeah… that’s probably what you want to ask. Don’t you know where you are? You came into my Kingdom at the crack of dawn and caused a commotion,” he said with a mocking tone.

Ah… Flori realized. She was in the Kingdom of Ezbert. But why am I still alive? Why did he call a healer to treat me? Flori didn’t understand. Her head was spinning.

“I’m sorry… and thank you…” Flori whispered. She closed her eyes again. Her consciousness was slipping.

“Rest. You’re safe here.”

Flori faintly heard the man’s voice. She didn’t know if she should be relieved or not. She just hoped this was all a nightmare and that when she woke up, everything would be back to normal.

Flori slept for three days. When she woke up, her body no longer hurt as much. This time she could move, although she still couldn’t walk.

The servants treated Flori well. They fed her and tended to her wounds. They did it all without saying a word. Flori didn’t speak either.

A week passed, and she still hadn’t seen the man who had saved her.

“I can feed myself,” Flori finally said when a servant tried to feed her. Her condition had improved a lot, although the wound from the arrow in her left back still hurt.

Flori finished her meal. She wanted to return the plate to the table near the bed. This was the first time she had gotten out of bed and tried walking.

Though a bit weak and dizzy, she managed to set the plate down. Flori began to observe the room she had been staying in.

The room was large and luxurious. In the center was a huge window. Flori walked toward it. This was a palace, she realized. Her room was high up. From there, she could see the kingdom's landscape, even the gates and forest were visible.

“I see you’re getting better.”

The man’s voice startled Flori. She stepped back and turned around but lost her balance.

Flori closed her eyes, bracing for the fall, but the man caught her. She slowly opened her eyes.

This time, she saw his face clearly. He looked to be in his twenties. His expression was stern and cold. He had the build of a soldier and wore armor with a sword at his side.

“I’m sorry,” Flori apologized. She regained her balance. The man helped her sit back on the bed.

“Are you from the Kingdom of Roseman?” he asked. Flori nodded.

“I’m Fred, Fred Ezbert.”

“Ezbert?”

“Yes, this is my kingdom.”

Flori looked at Fred and studied his face. She didn’t expect the King of Ezbert to be so young. So this is the feared King Ezbert? What would happen if he found out I’m the Queen of Roseman? Flori became hesitant.

“And you? Who are you and why did you come here?” Fred asked.

“I’m sorry, Your Majesty. My name is May. I’m just a servant of the Kingdom of Roseman. There was a coup, so I fled here,” Flori lied. She felt the need to keep her identity hidden.

“A servant?”

“Y-yes,” Flori replied, bowing her head.

Fred fell silent, seemingly lost in thought. Flori grew nervous. She tried to hide the kingdom symbol on her hand. In truth, only people from the Kingdom of Roseman could see it. It was impossible for Fred to detect it—but still, she felt uneasy.

“So you’re saying the Kingdom of Roseman has fallen?” Fred asked. Flori nodded.

“The entire royal family is gone.” Flori’s voice trembled, holding back tears. She didn’t want to admit it, but no matter how long she slept, the harsh reality always caught up to her.

“Ha… hahahaha…”

Suddenly, Fred laughed. Flori clenched her fists. Of course, he must be pleased. His enemy’s kingdom had collapsed. Just like the rumors said, King Ezbert was cruel and heartless.

“Ha… After all these years, Roseman finally falls by its own people's hands. How amusing,” Fred mocked.

He stopped laughing and looked at Flori.

“If you’re well enough, you can work here as a servant. Make yourself useful if you don’t want to die,” Fred said coldly. He left, and Flori could no longer hold back her tears.

From that point on, Flori moved to the servants’ quarters. After a week of rest, she was assigned the job of food carrier.

According to the palace servants, Fred’s parents had died three years ago when he was 22. Since then, Fred had become cold and withdrawn.

Although strict and stern, he treated his people well. He was ruthless to the wicked but protective of the weak. That was how people saw Fred.

“That’s a representative from the Kingdom of Roseman. I didn’t expect them to come here,” Flori overheard some servants talking.

“Kingdom of Roseman?” Flori asked, approaching them.

“Oh right, you’re from Roseman, aren’t you? Seems like they sent a representative here. They’re meeting with His Majesty right now,” one of the servants replied.

Flori quickly walked toward the main banquet hall. That was usually where the king received guests. She wanted to know who the representative was and why they had come here.

Flori hid behind a pillar near the hall. She waited a while until several people emerged from the room. Flori recognized one of the men from the Roseman delegation. Her heart began to race.

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