Chapter 35: Her Plans Are Going To Be Ruined
"Ma'am, Felma requested an audience earlier," Joe said, stuffing the fabrics in the wardrobe.
Freya raised a brow. "Did she tell you the reason?" As far as she knew, things calmed down after she fired Nara. After that, no one dared to gossip about Felma.
Joe stopped and looked at her. "I don't know, but I saw her troubled look when she talked to me."
She nodded. "Call her after you are done."
"Ma'am, do you need me to arrange a tailor for you to design a dress? We should hurry as the party will be in a few days. Your grace should wear new and stunning attire. I am sure no one will be as beautiful as you…" Joe blubbered as she worked.
Freya smiled and shook her head. The stubborn idea swimming in her maid's head didn't want to leave. Since when did she take part in the foundation party? Freya was sure if she went there, the guards wouldn't allow her to get in, causing her to be humiliated, and that was the last thing she wanted.
Although she was a queen by name only, she would never give people a way to mock her. Especially now, when working disguised as Felma, she wouldn't risk anyone recognizing her.
Hearing the knock on the door, "Get in," Freya said.
"Greetings, your majesty," Felma greeted.
"Joe said you wanted to see me. What do you need?" she asked.
Felma's body trembled. "I–I went this morning to collect my monthly payment, and h- half the coins weren't there, so if I did something wrong, please punish me by hitting me. I need my wages for my brother's treatment and…" she dropped to the earth. Tears flowed from her eyes.
Freya rubbed her forehead in frustration. She stood up and walked to her wardrobe. Unlocking her treasury box, she grabbed a pouch and handed it to her maid, who looked at her, wiped her eyes and thanked her for giving her coins.
Freya pressed her lips in frustration. The king was cruel! How could he deduct half 'her' salary for smashing one pot? Now, her hard-earned coins were gone!
"Your fiancé is a merchant, isn't it?" Freya asked, and Felma nodded. "Ask him to meet me fifteen days later."
"I will talk to him. Your majesty, he is a small merchant—" she said, her voice filled with fear.
Freya frowned. "Why are you panicking? I don't eat people. I have some work to do, and I need a reliable merchant. And by that, I will see if he suits you. There are a lot of swindlers these days."
Since she could not get out these days, requesting Mateo to come to her solved her restriction.
Felma blushed and nodded. After the door was closed, Freya heaved a sigh of relief. So many days had passed, and Mateo should have grasped some information about what she asked.
After getting her fill with the delicious food, she went to the king's headquarters. Guards and knights surrendered the place. Many footsteps and horses sounds from afar. Freya frowned and went to check.
She sneaked toward the prison. Seeing knights standing in full armour, around ten men wore simple outfits with shackles in their hands as they were dragged inside the building. While other knights carried boxes filled with parchments and coins and went in the training ground's direction.
One knight kicked one of the men. "You *******" a familiar raging sound echoed as he leaned, protecting the young boy, receiving a jab in his face, falling on the ground.
Freya's heart thumbed. At first, she was suspicious, but now seeing the scar-faced man, her heartbeats reached the sky. How can the guild's owner be here? Feeling her hands trembling, she turned around and headed to the third floor.
'What's happening?'
"Did you arrest them all?" the king's voice transmitted through the slightly opened door.
"Yes, Your Majesty. And we confiscated all their accords and coins." Freya recognized Matilda's voice.
"Good job. Torture them until they reveal their relationship with the Valian kingdom."
Freya felt her blood drained. 'What should I do? My escape plan is going to fail!' feeling her throat parched, she turned around in deep thought.
The contracts belonged to them, which meant that the contract she signed with the guild was also among them! Despite not revealing her real name, the description she provided matched her features: purple eyes and silver hair. If they searched diligently enough, they would find her. Did all the trouble she went through and the humiliation she endured amount to nothing?
Freya sucked in a deep breath. Fear crept into her heart. 'I need to find a way to conceal the contract.'
If she were to choose between her escape plans and to keep her disguise hidden, she would choose the latter. If she planned her escape for once, she would do it a second time. But if her identity was revealed, the only thing she would get was death.
After sensing the freedom she dreamt of for years was around, things changed, and her goal vanished.
"Felma," someone called her name.
"Huh? Lucas? Did you say something?" she asked.
"I called you many times, but you didn't respond. You look pale, are you sick?" he asked.
Freya rubbed her forehead and forced a smile. "No. I am fine. I was about to take the cleaning products. I will leave, the king will be angry if I don't show up," she said, fleeing away. Freya went to the king's working room. She barely noticed what she was doing and listened to the conversation between the king and Trent.
"They are so brave. The kingdom's laws were clear, but they dare to break them."
"It seems that being kind did make some people think I allow any trespass to the kingdom's laws without punishments. I will allow no organization to work with the Valian kingdom!" the king said. His icy voice sent shivers down her body. "Did you check their transactions?"
"The contracts were in the knights' storage. I still had a lot of work waiting, so I will go tomorrow to check them."
'Tomorrow! I need to move fast.'
CREATORS' THOUGHTS 
MIMI24
MIMI24 Creation is hard, cheer me up!
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