"My Lady," the coloured maid spoke again, "If you are worried about Prince Grayson finding out you wore his clothes, please do not be. He is still asleep in his chamber."
The maid's voice shook Maxine out of her reverie. Of course, she was worried about that but it wasn't her main concern. All that she wanted was to see Prince Maverick right away before she fainted due to shock. Still shivering, she replied to the maid as they walked, "I will take off his night robe as soon as I have stepped into my chamber."
Maxine and Maverick were not married yet, it was expected that she stayed in a separate chamber from her engaged person. And there she would be dressed before the wedding. However, with things gone wrong, with the guards, footman and Hannah's disappearance, she doubted the wedding was going to come on today.
The third maid rarely spoke and when she wanted to converse with the other maids, she conversed using sign language. The maid with the basket looked over to Maxine. "My Lady, she says she will prepare for you a warm bath with petals meant for your relaxation."
They were now in the palace and were generating a lot of attention from the bystanders.
Maxine looked at the mute maid before she nodded, "Thank you. It is what I need. However, before I head to my chamber, I would love to see my little brother. Where is he?"
The mute maid bowed before walking away from them, meaning to fulfill her duties. The coloured maid answered, "He must be asleep now."
However, the other maid shook her head. "I do not think he is asleep now. Only a few hours ago when the carriages arrived did he insist on seeing you. Despite being tucked in bed, he didn't sleep."
"Lead me to where he is."
Maxine thought her brother was uncomfortable because he had never been to the palace before or maybe because she wasn't there with him.
But now that she was relieved that he was okay and had not been attacked by whoever attacked Hannah and the other men that were with them, she thought of the need to meet the king right away. Whoever those men were, they were to be convicted before they got worse.
Before she was hit in the head, there was some whispered conversation she had heard from the men who had hit her on the head. Then when she heard, she didn't turn back because she was scared she would be met by Hannah's fate.
Soon enough, they had walked past curious gazes and were now walking through the inner walls of the palace. After walking past different rooms and chambers, finally the maids stopped.
"My Lady, this is the chamber that Young Master Duncan is in."
Maxine looked at the chamber beside the chamber she was staying in front of, "It's next to my chamber."
The other maid replied, "Yes, My Lady. The King has ordered that his chamber should be next to yours. It was what Young Master Duncan demanded."
The coloured maid then uttered, "My Lady, we forgot to tell you that His Majesty demands your presence. He believes you would come back safely to the palace, despite the chaos that has been going on in the kingdom."
Maxine's brow rose. Her chest was already heaving in and out as she was informed that the king demanded her presence.
Everyone feared the king. He wasn't ruthless, however, he was ruthless with offenders. Not that she had committed a crime but she was surprised to hear that he demanded her presence. He never did unless on very important matters that require her utmost speciality. Perhaps he was calling her because of the ill queen?
She still had about two more cups of herbs to give to the queen.
"We shall take our leave, My Lady. We might be punished if we stay any further."
Maxine nodded and she pushed the door instantly.
However, to her shock, her eyes settled on no other than Prince Grayson.
What the bloody hell was he doing here?
With her brother?
Maxine blinked again, surprised to see that he was reading a novel to her younger brother.
When Duncan's attention was caught by the disturbing noise from the entrance, his eyes brightened as he saw his elder sister at the door. He immediately jumped out of the bed, pushing away the blanket that was previously covering him and the prince.
Maxine was still in shock as she watched the Second Prince sit in the bed whereby his legs were covered by the same blanket that Duncan was covered in.
This had never happened.
Shouldn't.
He was a prince.
Catching her attention, Duncan walked to her sister and hugged her, "I thought I would never see you again, Maxine."
"I am fine," was Maxine's response, her eyes albeit staring at the lad in front of her, it was no doubt that her whole attention was carried by the prince sitting in the bed. "How are you, Duncan?"
"I have been doing well, Maxine." Little Duncan looked behind him and whispered to her, "Thanks to Prince Grayson, he has been reading 'The Duke of Ashbourne' to me."
Prince Grayson stood up from the bed, flipping away the blanket he was tucked in as if he had just had his most unbearable moment and he was happy that he was freed from it. He looked at the dazed woman in front of him and scoffed, "Why are you shocked, Lady Maxine?"