8 Candle Next To The Sun (2/2)

”Very well.” Princess Le-anne's voice came out more plaintive than intended.

”This way, My Lady.” She pointed to her right, and Princess Le-anne followed her. The manor was well maintained. It was not luxurious but had an ambiance of comfort.

The inside was themed red with cushions and pillows decorating the mat of the welcoming room and small eating tables positioned in the middle. Paintings of flowers and jade beauties also hung all around the room. Lee-anne followed the lady queen into the dark corridor which had lamps clinging to the walls.

She was still surveying the corridors when she was next led into a decent room that had a small bed in the corner and a clothes rack in another. At the sight of a large wooden tub that was placed in the centre of the room, Le-anne couldn't help feeling thankful. It had been so long since she had a proper bathe.

”Mistress Han left orders for us to prepare a warm bath for you. I hope you enjoy the bath and get some rest, My Lady.”

The tub was filled with steamed water, roses floating on the surface.

”That would be great.” She looked around again, and noticing that the lady queen had no plans to leave, she said, ”You may leave. Young Miss Ai will see to tending me.” Le-anne eyed Ai, who was bursting with joy. She loved being acknowledged as her mistress's superior attendant. The lady queen bowed then walked away, shutting the door behind her to give them some privacy.

Silence fell into the room before Ai suddenly walked in front of the princess and fell to her knees.

Surprised, Princess Le-anne tried to lift her up. ”Young Miss, what seems...”

”Your Royal Highness, please let this impertinent servant speak first.” She began to shake her off so the princess let her go.

”Forgive me, your Royal Highness, but I disagree with what happened at the Dura Mountain,” she started, ”How could her Royal Highness risk her life for a mere servant like me?”

”Young Miss―”

”Her Highness could have died in that camp,” her voice was now groggy, ”and for what? Just because this worthless servant had an upset stomach?”

Sweet Ai, the princess had always kept her at arm's length but she, on the other side, had done the opposite, her feelings towards the princess ever unrestrained. Her eyes always carried admiration towards her mistress, like she was her older sister.

”If something happened, what would I have done? Where would I go? Who would I serve with my heart on the sleeve?” She broke down, and the princess' heart fragmented. She knelt beside her and pulled her to herself.

Ai had always seen the princess as her world. Her parents had died in an epidemic that once struck Huticah, and out of avarice, her relatives had sold her to the palace. King Tobba, Le-anne's father, then sentenced her to serve Princess Le-anne at just eleven summers. At the time, the princess was fourteen summers old, preparing for her leave to the Borderlands.

”But nothing happened, Ai, nothing happened,” she cooed and kissed her on the forehead.

”But her Royal Highness' pendant was lost. Does her Highness think that this worthless person is worth that much?” She sniffed, her rabbit eyes solemnly looking at her mistress.

”Yes, I do.” Le-anne ran her hands through Ai's hair and wiped away the girl's tears. The pendant was special to Princess Le-anne, the only reminder of her mother. She had to find it. Even if she turned the whole world upside down, she had to find that cocky bastard. Invading his food supplies tent to find something that would calm her young miss' stomach was not worth taking such a valuable stone.

'But you stole their water too,' a voice in her head accused.

'But still, my pendant was worth so much more, a rare stone it was. I will compensate him for the intrusion, and he will have to give it back,' the princess tried to reason with herself.

She hoped that he wouldn't give it away to his wife or sell it for that matter.

”Her Royal Highness must become empress, then finding her pendant would not be like finding a needle in the hay.” Ai looked at her with so much adoration. ”But again, she must not worry because her Royal Highness is destined to be a rising phoenix, and I pledge my life to serve her till the end.” Ai held her chest and bowed, sealing her promise.

Princess Le-anne smiled at her and giggled. Although she had lost her other gem, she had also gained a more precious one.

Ai helped her undress, and she took a long bath. The water soothed her body while the scent relaxed her mind. When done bathing, the princess called for the servants to have another tub prepared so that her young miss could also take a bath. Though they complied, they did not seem very pleased at having to prepare a bath for what they viewed to be just another servant.

While Ai rested in the steaming waters, Le-anne found herself dozing off to sleep on the small bed.

S.V