Amelia is one of the maid from the king's palace. When she heard she is going to serve the illegitimate princess,she was neither happy nor sad. She only thought what the princess would be like. Contrary to her imagination,the princess was not what she had in her mind. She thought the princess to be spoiled,rude,greedy and selfish but Ruby was opposite of her imagination. She was happy to serve someone like her. Ruby also loved Amelia,the reason was simple,because Amelia didn't go against Ruby no matter what Ruby told her to do. Today,just like usual,Ruby forbid Amelia not to follow her around. Who knew a tragedy would befall on her then.
Amelia looked around wondering, "Did she go safely to the study room."
A loud sound echo through the hallway. Afterward, a shadow passed by the opposite direction. Amelia couldn't see the intruder's face. It was covered. She immediately followed the loud sound and had to stop. A bloody image of Ruby sent chill down her spine. Amelia shivered unable to do anything.
"Prin-cess!"
The sound of Amelia's voice reached through other servants. They stopped what they were doing and followed Amelia's shaky voice.
Lillith called, "Amelia! Amelia!"
But Amelia didn't response. She put Ruby's head on her lap,trying to wake her up.
"Oh my goodness,Amelia!" Lillith gasped.
"He-ad maid?"
"What are you doing! We need to call the doctor. Aisha,go and get Victor."
...
...
...
The doctor had a hard time bandaging all of Ruby's wounds. It was severe but she was out of danger.
"I am prescribing some painkillers for her. I will come time to time to check on her."
"Thank you very much,doctor."
Ruby didn't wake up although two days passed away. No one knows when will their princess wake up. The news of Ruby's sudden accident didn't fail to reach the king's ear.
"Darren,do you really think it was an accident?" the king asked.
"I am unable to answer. She isn't too clumsy to fall like that. But she might have missed her ste-
The king stopped Darren knowing it might really be an accident. But in his mind,he couldn't stop thinking about how a girl who came alone to the capital,found her identity,didn't hesitate to state her opinion would fall like that.
"[If it was really an accident,why do i feel so uneasy.]"
Amelia stroke Ruby's hair, "Princess,are you mad at me? Will you not wake up?"
Ruby slowly opens her eyes, "Uhm."
"Princess!" Amelia yelled.
"Ugh. My head is killing me." Ruby scoffed.
"You woke up,princess." Amelia looked at Ruby with teary eyes.
"What happened? Why are you crying?"
Amelia wipe her nose, "You fell from the stairs,don't you remember?"
The memory of that day start to float back at Ruby's head. The day,how she was pushed down from the stairs,how a shadow disappeared before her eyes.
"Lia,i feel slight headaches. Can you call the head maid?"
"Yes,yes."
"My princess!"
"Slow down Lillith."
"Ahem. I am glad you are well,princess."
"Lillith,i was pushed down from the stairs. We need to find the culprit."
Lillith start to sweat hearing Ruby's sudden remark. She wasn't sweating because she thought someone tried to harm Ruby rather it was the opposite. She sweated beacause she was acquainted with the murderer. Ruby noticed a tension rising up in Lilith so she had to stop questioning any further. At night,she called Victor to let him know about the current situation.
"Is it really the head maid?" asked Victor unable to understand why she would do such a thing.
"Not the head maid but maybe someone she knows." Ruby answered while killing one of Victor's knight.
"How about i keep an eye on her?"
"Don't. She has been working here since the current king started his region. If we keep track of her whereabouts,she will notice. She is no ordinary woman."
Victor smirk as he take Ruby's queen, "Checkmate."
"Victor,you are doing good but alas that's it." Ruby kills one of Victor's pawn,blocking all of his king's moves.
"Then what do you plan to do?"
"I will talk with the king tomorrow. I might have underestimated my enemy."
"But you are not even a threat to anyone."
"Because i am not doesn't mean i won't be." Ruby gazed at the night sky. The sky was full of stars and full moon. She can either ignore the assassination or try to figure out the murderer. All kinds of thoughts crossed her mind as she remembered about the hand that grabbed her from behind. It was a hand of someone who had been practicing swordsmanship for a long time.
Several days of continuous treatment made Ruby exhausted. She had to drink some herbal medicine which was so bad that she almost threw up.
The doctor check Ruby's wounds, "You are ok now. You don't need to take any more medicine."
"Are you sure doctor?" Ruby give the doctor a disbelief look.
"Hoho,you can if you want." the doctor give a playful look at Ruby.
Ruby has become more comfortable with the palace life. Hearing about her accident,Leonardo came crying like a baby. He blamed himself for not being able to take care of his student. Ruby had to soothe him for several days.
Leonardo carefully inspects Ruby, "It's a good thing you have recovered princess. However,it's a shame i couldn't teach you many things."
Leonardo take the history book with fierce eyes, "Today i will be teaching you about the tragedy of the royal family."
"Tragedy?" Ruby frowned.
"It's a tale popular among the commoners and nobles." Leonardo explained.
"The former king,Aaron Raven,was known for his ferocity. He was one of the ruthless king in the history."
"My father?" Ruby asked.
"Yes. Do you know besides the queen,he had a concubine?"
"I didn't find anything about it."
"That's right. The history removed all of the traces of that woman. She was a well-known witch,the crimson witch."
"A witch?"
"She had a big influence on the commoners. She helped those in need but was hated by the nobles for being too arrogant. She was called the crimson witch due to her red hair and eyes."
Ruby glanced at her hair for a moment before looking at Leonardo again.
"Then one day,the nobles spread rumours that the witch put a hypnosis spell on the king. She needs to be excuted as soon as possible. The commoners protested against those remarks made by the nobles but in vain. Knowing her death is near,the crimson witch ran away. Surprisingly,she didn't take anything with her not even not the money she saved up."