Chapter 2: Mad Nobles (1)
“Lady Odette! Please get down before you hurt yourself.”
The so-called Odette was standing on the roof of house a few stories high. The man pleading for her to get down was Nandor, a coachman who princess Freya entrusted with her life during journeys. Nandor used to be a slave from the southern Kingdom when Freya found him and brought him in.
It was a noble act she committed towards someone who was bleeding to death. She never knew that he was a really smart man. Nandor memorized the map of the empire and a few other kingdoms around. He knew which routes bandits took to attack carriages. And so, to repay his debt, he has been by Freya’s side ever since.
Odette was simply a beautiful –and reckless- addition to his life.
She stuck out her tongue at him.
“I’m telling you, if I jumped from this height and believed I won’t die, I really will not!”
Her foot tipped to the edge.
Nandor was on the edge of his seat. He would extend his arms in front of him while looking at her body from below.
“I’m begging you Lady Odette! Princess Freya will take my head if you get injured under my watch.”
Odette stopped and stared at him through her large brown orbs.
“Her highness?”
“Yes, her highness.”
A grin spread on her face.
“Her highness would never take someone’s head.”
“Maybe I should.”
Her calm tone startled the two of them. Odette flushed at the sight of Freya and slipped from the roof. Fortunately, Nandor was ready to grab her before she collided with the ground.
“Are you still on about not dying.”
Nandor placed Odette on her feet gently and wavered backwards at the shock he has been forced into.
“Trust me, princess Freya, I tried to stop her from climbing up the building.”
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“I am aware. I apologize for my lady-in-waiting action.”
Yes, a princess. And it wasn’t that uncommon for her to apologize to a servant. But to those she was closely acquainted with, it was scary when she apologized.
Odette pouted slightly, aiming to act cutely.
“With… the will to survive, humans can evade death…”
Freya lifted the cloak covering her face to look at Odette’s eyes through her own dark black ones. She sighed and waved her hand for Lucrece to step forward.
Lucrece appeared from behind Freya and walked up to Odette. She raised her hand and lightly chopped her head.
“You idiot what do you think you are?! A cat?! Stop trying out your animal experiments on your body, dumbass!”
Her face momentarily changed as she scolded Odette before reverting back to normal.
“Says her highness.”
In order not to tarnish the princess’s image, Lucrece often communicated in her stead. It was a sight Odette and Nandor seem to have gotten used to it but they still have trouble holding in their laughter when such a scene happens.
Her cheeks were puffed up and red from containing her laugh. Freya stepped awfully close to her and poked her cheek.
“Lady Odette, you do know I cannot always come up to you when you act rashly right?”
-poke-
“Yesh, your highnesh I apoloshise.”
-poke-
“Stopping you from your suicidal stunts is a hassle. I am about to get busy so refrain from leaving my side.”
-poke-
“Why?”
“The court apparently brought in a heir.”
Odette blew the air in her cheeks on Freya’s face. Nandor, from behind, was shaking with embarrassment in Odette’s stead. Lucrece took out a handkerchief and patted the princess’s face.
“An heir?! How so? From where?”
“The emperor seems to have had a child with a courtesan before Freya’s birth. His name is Koshmar. He was hidden quite well, not even I managed to trace back his origin easily.”
The three gazed at her.
“W-What?”
“You’re… quite fast.” Odette said.
“I thought the court would have burned down the village he grew up in.”
Lucrece shook her head at Freya’s words.
“For some reason, the village is still there. Maybe because it is both in Weylyn and Ragnar?”
“Ragnar? The kingdom which suddenly expanded its territory?” Freya asked.
“Yes. This is just my opinion but I believe that Weylyn is trying its best to not cross path with them. But I still find it quite odd for a village to exist in 2 empires at the same time.”
Issues regarding the empire’s territories and rivals were handed directly to the emperor, the court in this time. Freya, for being regarded as only a princess, was not given permission to listen in to their meetings or even take a peek at the documents.
A pure moment of silence passed them.
“I want to know more.”
Their princess’s sudden confession alarmed them.
“My apologies your highness, I do not believe it is wise for you to remain away from the palace... during this time.”
The princess nodded slowly and turned to Lucrece.
“Lucrece, can I entrust you with this? You needn’t need to interact with others, just observe.”
The noble lady bowed down to the princess.
“As you wish, your highness.”
“What about me your highness?”
Odette pointed at herself. Freya turned around and started walking back to the palace.
“You will take Lucrece’s place and follow me around all day. Nandor, accompany Countess Lucrece and make sure she does not get harmed in anyway.”
He placed his hand on his chest.
“Understood, your highness.”
With that, Freya’s allies split into 2 groups. One group faces the problems in the palace while the other group is sent to dig up the mysteries and secrets hidden in the village where the heir grew up. The exact same village shared with the expanding country.