Chapter 37: Failure
"Wait," Matilda shouted behind.
Freya's heart pounded. She gulped and turned slowly, smiling. Matilda walked to her making her heartbeat rise for every step. She hugged Freya and said, "If anyone mocked you, tell me and I will teach him a lesson."
Freya smiled and nodded. Thinking how can someone say those words in a cold tone, showing a smiling face? She exited the door heaving a sigh of relief.
Heading to the royal kitchen, she helped the maids in preparing the table. Meeting the king at the entrance, she greeted him.
"What did the physician say?" he asked, glaring at her.
Freya raised a brow. Physician? Thinking for a moment she coughed. "He said I have an incurable illness and need rest for a long time."
The king sneered. "You wish. You will continue working till your death," he stated, going inside the dining hall.
'You are going to work till death!' Freya fumed with anger. She was sure that it would happen if the king didn't treat his problem. Working hard and not getting enough rest would damage the body.
When she trained in her youth, her master, asked her to get enough rest and not to force herself to get better in a matter of days and rush the results. He said that as long as she persisted in developing her skills, she would get better.
Thinking about the potions she ordered, her heartbeat rose. She ignored the surging emotions and went in.
As soon as she went into her chamber, she took the key from her shoes. Massaging her foot to ease the pain from having her foot pressed with the key for a long time, she looked at the red mark with a frown.
"Ma'am.' Hearing Joe's voice she covered her foot with her dress. "This is what you asked me to bring to you," Joe said, pointing at a brown outfit that male servants usually wore. Freya stood, checking the outfit. "What are you going to do with it?" she asked.
"Help me wear it," she ordered. Joe gasped and nodded, helping her. Seeing herself clad in a large costume, Freya frowned. Hearing a chuckle, she glared at her maid.
With the help of Joe, she barely fixed the outfit and combed her hair in an updo, hiding its long length. "Ma'am, why are you going?"
"I will fix the thing I messed up!" Freya went out with one thought in her mind, to search for the contracts and return them. She would not go back without the contract in her hands!
Her quarter was silent like usual, so she wouldn't suspect anyone to ask her where she would go, besides no one would be around this hour. She was well aware of the worker's slacking.
Freya tiptoed to the knight quarter. She peeked at the entrance and found no knights guarding the place. She frowned and waited for a while, but no one appeared. She looked right and left then strode inside. Remembering the way she went with Matilda, Freya stopped before the chamber she was looking for.
She opened the door with the key, shuffled in, turned on the oil lamp and began her search. As the time flew by, her anxiousness grew. Listening to footsteps outside, she stopped and stood behind the door.
As soon as the sounds got farther, she sighed and looked back. The scrolls were higher than what she expected. Dropping her body on the floor, tears welled in her eyes.
'Don't cry. It's still time,' she encouraged herself and continued the search. Her whole body ached but the parchment she looked for didn't appear. Tears fell from her eyes as he got up. She had to return to serve the king, and the knights were to wake up soon.
Freya sneaked to Matilda's workplace. The door didn't open. Gazing at the door anxiously she bit her lips. Squatting down, she threw the key under the door and hurried out, crashing into someone.
"You, what are you doing here?" a man's voice shocked her.
"I–I am new here and wanted to find the stables," she said, hardening her voice to appear like men's.
The knight laughed and patted her head. "So you are the stable boy? Look over that, go straight then turn to the left. You will find the stables there."
Freya thanked him and sprinted as the man explained, but she took a turn and went to the king's quarter. She wore her maid robe in one of the chambers and let combed her hair to a braid and went to prepare the bath for the king.
"Why are you looking like you didn't sleep for years?" he remarked.
"I told you I am sick and need a long rest," she answered.
"Who knows what you were doing and blame it for sickness," he murmured, enough for her to listen, and walked to his bath space.
'Spare me from your useless comments,' she thought, casting a dissatisfied glare at his back. She prepared his clothes and went to have his meal.
Freya tidied the room while the king headed to the courtroom. As she went to the second floor to have the cleaning products, she saw Trent getting out. Feeling weak in her legs, she sat on the stairs.
'It's the end.' One thought clouded her head. Not caring about the consequences, she walked to the prison with a tray filled with food.
"Where?" one guard yelled when he saw her approaching.
"I brought food for the prisoners," she said, smiling. She wanted to meet the scar-faced man and convinced him to stay silent.
"No one is allowed to enter."
Freya gulped and retreated one step backwards. Seeing the huge knight glaring at her, fear crept into her heart. "I have an order to bring food. The men inside need to eat so I–"
"Go back," he said, getting half of his sword out.
Freya went back, put the tray forcefully into the kitchen and returned to the king's workplace.
Waiting for the result to come, she worked absentmindedly. The door was opened, and the king got in followed by Trent. King Fraser glared at her and sat down.
"Are you sure you found no transaction with the Valian kingdom?"
"Yes, Your Majesty. I checked them all."
"Let the men go."
The two of them spoke. Freya stood there watching. The fear vanished and was replaced by utter joy. Her eyes teared.
"Go to have a rest. Come back tomorrow as an enthusiastic maid, not some shallow shell," the king said.
Freya nodded and thanked him. Humming a song to her quarter, she saw a familiar face at the entrance.
"Salutation Felma, or should I say, Your Majesty."
CREATORS' THOUGHTS 
MIMI24
MIMI24 Any ideas on who the person is?
Creation is hard, cheer me up!
Weekly Power Status
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Ranking 
-- Power
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