As expected, the streets of East End were bustling with people going about their business. Market day drew in merchants from both near and far, making it difficult to distinguish foreigners from citizens. However, thanks to established treaties, the locals welcomed everyone as long as they posed no threat. As such, any outliers were barely noticed. A woman dressed in tattered clothes with a shroud over her head visited a vegetable vendor to purchase some items. Despite appearing suspicious, no one paid attention to her since it was a bustling market day. She wandered through the market, buying whatever she could afford without arousing any suspicion.After, she was done getting her thing, she headed over to the palace, heavily guarded it was but standing in front of the gates, she knew she had to get inside those walls and relay the message. As she clutched her purchases, she looked up at the palace guards with a sinking feeling. She knew they wouldn't let her in even if she pleaded with them. Over the years, the palace has sadly become a prime target for criminals who aim to breach its walls and rob the Holy Temple housed within. It's a haunting reality that poses a serious threat to the safety and security of the area.The temple was filled with offerings from the people, including priceless antiques and gold, which had attracted a lot of unwanted attention. Thus, anyone wishing to enter had to undergo a rigorous screening process and produce an identification plate. Knowing she wouldn't be granted access to the palace, she searched for a secluded spot nearby and removed the covering from her face. Revealed was a more aged appearance, and she looked around cautiously before dropping to her hands and knees. After ensuring no one was around, she uncovered a flat boulder that guarded a small entrance leading into the palace. Despite her previous doubt, the boulder was still present, and she entered cautiously.
Just as expected, everyone was too busy to realize an intruder had ventured into the palace through an enclosed route, covering her head again she picked up her stuff and took the way that led to the servants quarters, nothing had changed at all she noticed, she had to be careful not to get noticed, she was branded a criminal years ago and some believed her to be dead, but all agreed on one thing, dead or alive she wasn't welcomed in East End. Growing up in the East End, she had always admired the sense of protection the kingdom provided for its leaders. However, little did she know that one day this very same shield she admired so much would be turned against her. Now she was just a fugitive risking her life to relay a message.
She made sure she took routes that were barely checked or used by the locals in the palace, some of these routes were not often used or used by maids who once in a while gathered to gossip. The intruder hid when she saw a couple of maids rushing by, judging by the urgency in their movements, something big must have happened.
Suddenly, a very angry head maid appeared asking, "What are you doing here? Hurry up!" Despite not wearing the typical uniform, the maid's focus was solely on the foodstuff she carried.
"Yes, ma'am", acting along she followed the woman and they both entered the kitchen. She felt relieved, thinking that this would make her job easier. Her sole focus was to deliver the message to whoever she was searching for, and it didn't matter how people perceived her as long as it brought her closer to her target.
Stuck in a busy and overheated kitchen she stood aside and only took part in doing what he was tasked with and for what seemed like years, the food was finally ready, who was this for? She asked herself, it would be bad if she is asked to serve the meal for the king. Noah had never liked her and the last time she saw him he looked ready to butcher her.
"You"...she was called out…" what are you doing dressed in those shabby clothes?" The head maid said with displeasure and with the snaps of her fingers, several maids took her away where she was presented a new uniform. Looking at the stranger for a very long time, she finally seemed to have come to a decision.
As the person stood before her, she sensed that she had encountered her before. However, the word "familiar" set off alarms in her head, filling her with dread at the notion that someone in the palace might recognize her. The head maid's inexperience was blatantly obvious. She disregarded the important matter and only focused on allowing the queen's food to be taken to her chamber.
Led by several maids and servants, she carried the meal with care. The queen, how was she? She heard she hasn't been well since the death of her child, now instead of her chamber she lives in the room she had prepared to welcome the little princess that never came.
As they stepped into the room, darkness and coldness enveloped them. The walls were adorned with colorful paintings while various toys were scattered all over the floor - it was undoubtedly a child's room. The moment the first maid came in, the stranger couldn't contain her fear upon seeing a tiny figure sleeping peacefully on the bed. Queen Fiona, she cried inwardly and even though she had fought her emotions, her tears played tricks on her and fell down her wrinkling face.
She followed suit and placed the food on the table near the bed and as she did so she couldn't take her eyes off the sleeping figure, the sadness and guilt was too great for her to ignore, the queen was in pain.
When the order maids exited the room, she stayed, her heart went out to the grieving mother, how long has she been like this? She was so frail and looked sickly, how long has she been grieving?
As she sat on the limited space of the bed, the furrowed brows and groans in her sleep indicated a severe state of depression. Why was no one paying attention to her?
Her touch caused the sleeping queen to stirr, hopefully she waited for her to awaken, tell her the good news. That her daughter, the little princess, was alive and not dead.