“How did you even survive alone?” The Queen’s voice sounded a little sorry as she imagined what childhood she had. “This cannot be. How can we let my saviour remain nameless? Let me give you a name.”
The young lady looked at her, not knowing how to feel about it. After a while, she slowly nodded.
The Queen smiled at her fondly. “As you have been hidden from the world, and to me, you are like a secret that I need to unravel, I’ll name you Esther.”
“Esther?” the young lady mumbled to herself.
The Queen nodded. “Hmm! Esther! That means ‘hidden’ or ‘secret’ in the Old Tongue. There are also other meanings to it, and I believe you will prove those meanings right as time passes.”
The Crown Prince frowned inwardly seeing his mother easily trusting a stranger who didn’t have a family, much less a name. ‘What if it’s her plan of hiding her real identity? How come someone does not have a family? Not even a name? Ridiculous! She is definitely here on purpose to take advantage of my kind mother. I need to keep an eye on her.’
The Queen had already noticed that the young lady was still wearing the same clothes from yesterday. She even still had bloodstains on her clothes. Seems like while everyone was busy looking after their Queen, no one inquired about this young lady’s needs.
The Queen called for a servant. When the female servant entered the chamber, she instructed, “Arrange a separate chamber for Esther and help her settle down. She is my person.”
The servant bowed and looked at the blond girl with a courteous expression. “Miss Esther, please follow me.” She then led the way for the blond girl now called Esther.
Since the Queen of Megaris called her as ‘my person’ then treating her well was a given.
Once the blond girl left, Prince Theron spoke in a somewhat reprimanding voice, “Mother, you are too kind. You shouldn’t easily trust strangers.”
Queen Theodora smiled lightly and said, “I know living in the palace has made you careful about the people showing goodwill to you, my son, but sometimes we must trust our own judgment about people’s hearts. I won’t interfere with the investigation, but she will be in my care. I truly believe she has nothing to do with the rebels. Won’t you trust your mother’s instinct? You ought to know I have been playing with the palace people far longer than you.”
Prince Theron could not deny what his mother said. Still, he remained stubborn. “But if I find evidence that she is among them, then I won’t hesitate to kill her.”
“Then I won’t stop you either,” Queen Theodora assured.
“Mother, please continue resting. I will excuse myself now.”
Queen Theodora permitted him to leave, and the Crown Prince left with a renewed sense of conviction.
Sometime after the Queen had her morning meal, a servant knocked to inform her that Miss Esther wishes to visit her.
“Esther, is that truly you?” Queen Theodora exclaimed in delight. She nearly did not recognize the person who saved her as the young lady looked completely different. It was as if the moment she shed her simple hunting clothes to wear a pretty dress, her atmosphere completely changed. She seemed to be freshly washed, with her long honey blond hair done in a neat braid and tied with a white ribbon.
“Yes, it is I, Your Majesty,” Esther replied calmly.
The Queen let out a? pleasant laugh. “If I do not know you, I would have thought of you as a lady of nobility.”
“Thank you for the compliment, Your Majesty,” she replied with a certain grace that seemed inborn.
The Queen looked at the servant who brought Esther inside. “You may leave us now.”
The servant bowed and left, and the Queen gestured for Esther to come closer to the bed. “Come here. I have something to talk about with you.”
Esther went closer and assisted? the Queen to sit up comfortably, with her back resting against the headrest of the bed.
“Thank you, dear. Have a seat.”
Esther sat on the chair next to the bed, keeping her silence as she waited for the Queen to talk. She watched the pale face of the woman who had an appearance as cold as her son’s, but had a warm motherly gaze in her dark eyes. It was those same eyes who had witnessed her abilities, yet instead of fear or wariness, they held nothing but gratitude and pity for her.
After Esther had escorted the Queen and her knights to the city,? there was only one thing in her mind and that was to leave this place before complications occur, but because she was a bit greedy, she lost that chance as now she was placed under suspicion by the Crown Prince—and sadly, it wasn’t an unreasonable suspicion. As she thought about it deeply, she could have left last night, but she didn’t want to leave without the Queen regaining her consciousness. She didn’t want to leave without seeing her kind gaze for the last time.
‘I was being greedy,’ Esther could not help but berate herself. ‘Perhaps, it had been a long time since the last time I was among people I liked.’
“As you said before, do you really live alone?” the Queen asked.
Esther nodded.
“Since when?”
“It’s been so many years that I don’t remember now,” she replied.
“How about your parents?”
Esther shook her head which showed she didn’t have parents.
“Oh, you poor child. Why do you live alone in the forest? Why didn’t you move to the city? Or if you find a city too bustling, perhaps a quiet village?”
“After living alone for so long, I am more used to it.”
“Hmm!” The Queen didn’t wish to pressure her by asking so many questions during their first conversation and thought to take it slow. This young woman would open up to her slowly on her own, and that was for the best.
“What do you think about coming with me to the palace?”
Esther raised her lowered head to look at the Queen and she heard her continue, “Not like my son will let you enter so soon,” the older woman smiled. “Once he completely finds your background clean, come live with me.. I owe you my life and I promise to help you live a better life.”
