Chapter 3: •Three•

Bardulf watched the Prince storm down the hallway and disappear around a corner while the Princess helped the maid to her feet. The King turned to the guards and relieved them, apologizing for the inconvenience.

When he turned to the women, he was startled to see the maid was hiding behind the Princess in fear. Those hazel eyes were dark and blurred with unshed tears while her body shook. The Princess looked up at him with caution. "What's the punishment?" she asked bravely.

Bardulf considered for a moment if he should just give the Princess one for her behavior this morning, then saw the maid and those thoughts faded away. Instead he said, "Take her up and get her washed. If anyone asks for her help, tell them she has permission to take the rest of the day off."

"You are truly kind, King Bardulf. Thank you," the Princess said.

"Go, before I change my mind." Nodding the Princess started to drag Philippa away. When they were a few feet down the hallway, the maid glanced back at him. He saw those big hazel eyes look at him gratefully and a small smile curving her lips before they disappeared.

In the throne room, Prince Rodric was complaining to the King about the maid's behavior and how King Bardulf protected her when he was prince. When the King himself entered and bowed, King of Asaya greeted him and said, "I hear you are saving people from punishment, Bardulf."

Bardulf didn't even glance at the Prince when he said, "If I may, the punishment would have been for nothing. The lady was only doing her job of looking after the Princess."

"So, you heard what happened?"

"I did. And since she was treated harshly, I sent her to her rooms to recover for the day."

"You did what?" Roderic roared. Bardulf turned to him with a raised brow. This only made the Prince angrier. "She should be whipped! Not relaxing! I demand retribution for what she did!"

"What exactly?" Bardulf said. "Tell me, did you tell the King why she did what she did?"

On the throne, the King became alert. "What did you do, Prince Roderic?"

Roderic gave Bardulf a glare before leveling his gaze on the King. "Nothing that needs telling."

The King looked to Bardulf and raised his brow. Bardulf smiled pleasantly. "The only reason the maid acted out of turn was because the Prince was trying to seduce your daughter." Roderic opened his mouth to say something, but Bardulf went on. "Not only that, but after he had the maid in the guards' hands and the Princess free of her influence, he did as he wanted and kissed her, holding inappropriately."

"You can not prove this!" Roderic growled.

Bardulf grinned at him. "But I can. I have a woman as a witness, another woman as a victim, and two guards who are more loyal to the King than to you. If you wish, I can bring all of them here to see what they say?"

Roderic was quiet, knowing he had been outdone, but the King insisted, "Well, Prince Roderic?"

He turned to the King with a menacing gaze. "Do not threaten me. I will wage war against you and will do as I wish to whoever is still here!"

"My armies are ten times larger than yours, Roderic. You will lose the battle and your life. Do not try my patience."

Without another word, Roderic walked out of the room without permission. Bardulf looked to the King and bowed. "My apologies for overriding your rule, but I was not going to let any woman be punished for something she was told to do."

"Apology accepted." He sighed and ran a hand down his face. "I am going to guess now that you are the only person available to marry my daughter."

"As much as that would help both our kingdoms, I do not think your daughter will willingly walk down the aisle with me."

"She will do so, even if by force," the King said.

"I mean no offense, but I will not take any woman by force for marriage."

The King gazed at Bardulf with calculating green eyes. "Yet, your people do much worse to those who belong to you. How is this any different?"

Bardulf's eyes hardened. "What I do with my people is my business. What happens between loved ones is something sacred to our race. It is not forced upon them and we do them to show who we are."

"And the women?" the King said. "I know what your people do to them when found."

Bardulf, his body alert and ready to fight, said with a wicked smile, "And what are you going to do about it?"

In the bedchambers, Jacqueline sat with Philippa on a sofa near the window, softly whispering. The former repeatedly apologizing for the maid's treatment earlier that morning. The latter just shook her head and smiled, wanting to forget what happened.

Philippa was distracted though by the thought of the man who helped save her from a very unfortunate outcome. King Bardulf was not what she was expecting. He cared no matter how low on the social pyramid she was. He defended her even though something bad could have happened anyways. He had understood her in a way no one else had before.

"Philippa!" Jacqueline said, waving her hands in the maid's face.

Philippa smiled apologetically and raised her brows in question.

"I'm getting married to King Bardulf! Can you believe it?"

Confusion marred the maid's face and for some reason, her heart dropped.

"A servant just sent this from my father," the Princess explained and handed Philippa a piece of parchment.

Be sure to wear you best gown tonight at the ball. We are announcing your marriage to King Bardulf of Zurus.

– Father

Philippa put on a bright smile for her charge and clapped her hands in appreciation. Inside, she was saddened because she had found the man with dark eyes to be beautiful and a true gentleman.

"I wonder how old he is," Jacqueline said in a dazed manner.

Philippa shrugged and stood, closing the windows and folding blankets. When she was done, she gestured for the Princess to go into the bath chamber and start getting ready for the ball since it was the middle of the afternoon.

The Princess smiled at Philippa and cupped her face. "You are so good to me, Philippa. I hope I am able to take you with me to Zurus."

The maid shrugged again and pushed the Princess in the right direction before sighing and grabbing the gown she was to wear: a golden piece with silver trimming and white lace at the tailor of the skirts. She got out the jewelry and hair pins she'd need, then went to the window to gaze outside.

Below, riding a black mare was Bardulf. He sat tall and strong while gazing about his surroundings. For a moment, he leaned down and stroked the neck of the great beast, those large hands being gentle yet firm. As if sensing her gaze, he looked up and locked eyes with her. She turned pink and was about to move away from the window when Bardulf bowed. Philippa looked around but couldn't see anyone else, then realized he was bowing to her. She shook her head at him with a small smile, but he only gazed at her for another long moment before turning and riding away.

Philippa told herself to stop flirting with the man. He was not hers to flirt with. He was Jacqueline's. He was a King and had no interest in her anyways. She was just a maid, just a peasant who was handsomely rewarded for her good demanding work. Nothing was remotely special about her. She didn't have the kind of beauty the Princess had. She didn't have riches. All she had was her virtue, and that was something she wanted to keep safe for as long as she could.

A few minutes later, Jacqueline returned to the bed chamber and let Philippa dress her in the elegant gown, making no remarks on how beautiful it was. Jacqueline could feel something off about her maid, and didn't know what. She knew Philippa was protective of her and that this morning had scared her too much. The Princess suggested the maid stay and get some extra sleep, but Philippa only shook her head and hurried out to dress. Jacqueline shook her head in disbelief at the woman's stamina but put on the final additions to her look. By the time Philippa returned, it was time to go.

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