The questioning expression still appeared on Axel's charming face, "You want her to stay?" Axel asked Daphne in disbelief.
Upon walking forward, Daphne stood beside Axel, "Yes, I do, Your Majesty," she spoke collectively, as she stared forward gently at the two Guards that was holding Noelle's arms forcibly.
Axel scoffed, "Daphne, seems you don't know how troublesome that wild brute over there can be, do you? If the reason why you employed her is because of what I discussed with you about needing more Maidservants to work in the castle, then you don't have to worry about it. I take responsibility on this account. We'll find another Maidservant," Axel stated equimanously. Staring towards Noelle with disgust. "But she… she can't stay here."
Daphne could only wonder what Noelle did to have deserved Axel's wrath. She assumed that they must've met somewhere before, and perhaps might've had a little tiff. But either ways, she couldn't afford losing the girl. Daphne had already seen through Noelle from the very first day she came to the palace. Daphne already knew that Noelle was a mermaid, and she had also been expecting her for so long, since she had seen the girl in her visions before.
Daphne sighed.
"Actually I didn't hire her for the castle, Your Majesty. I hired her for myself. She's my new personal Maidservants, she would only be serving me, Your Majesty," Daphne lied, knowing that she must make Noelle stay no matter what. "I assure you that she wouldn't get in your way in the castle, Your Majesty. She would stay within her limits."
Axel had always considered Daphne as his mentor, a mother and an understanding friend too. He cared about her so much, simply because Daphne also had always treated him like her biological son. And as a person whom he respected and even trusted more than himself, Axel would never want to refuse Daphne.
Knowing that everything that she ever decided to do and every move she ever decided to make was always made with proper care and proper caution.
But still he already knew that Noelle wasn't a good idea for a personal Maidservant.
"But Daphne, that Lady you see over there is nothing but bad news," Axel repulsively pointed towards Noelle's petite figure which was still being held by the Guards aggressively. Lowering his hand, Axel continued, "Daphne, are you certain that she's the right choice to consider as a Personal Maidservant? If you want I can speak with a few subordinates of mine on your behalf for a much better Personal Maidservant. Who is well educated and also has good principles," Axel suggested still not in support of Noelle.
Daphne smiled calmly, "Your Majesty, it's fine. I've interviewed her already and she's just perfect. She's the ideal Personal Maidservant I've always wanted. But it's fine if His Majesty doesn't want the lady to stay, I dare not object."
Axel heaved a sigh, "Alright, if that's what you want Daphne. Then it's okay, the lady can stay," Axel eventually concurred, since Daphne barely asked him for anything, so if this was the least he could do for her in return for all the helps she had always willingly rendered to him then he didn't mind. Even if it meant having the most annoying lady here in the castle with him, he didn't mind.
And besides, he barely stays in the castle, so he wouldn't see her often anyways. So this didn't bother him too much.
Daphne smiled genuinely, performing a trivial bow to Axel, "Thank you, Your Majesty. You're too kind. May you live long."
Shaking his head lightly, "I'll never be able to understand you, Daphne," Axel muttered under his breaths. Looking away from Daphne, Axel stared forward at the unprincipled mouse before him who now appeared extremely pale as though she would die any minute from now.
He could only wonder deeply why Daphne wanted the lady to stay. This situation reminded him a lot about what happened back at the local market. How Noelle held her staff so bravely and courageously. And now she was already so messed up and afraid.
Since the lady was now treating him with respect, Axel could now only wonder if Noelle ever knew that he was royalty back at the local market or not.
"Leave the Lady be," Axel ordered and hastily the two Guards did as they were told, causing Noelle's body to fall down against the floor violently.
Noelle whimpered painfully. She had been vividly hearing what Daphne and Axel had been discussing. Noelle didn't know why Daphne wanted her to stay. She felt as though something was off about the way the woman defended her just now.
But she couldn't think clearly yet, everything was just happening too fast. And as much as she suspected Daphne, Noelle was still completely satisfied that she wouldn't be leaving the castle this soon. She would surely make Axel pay for this humiliation too.
Looking away from Noelle, Daphne turned towards Axel, "Your Majesty, please come with me, I have some important things to discuss with you."
Axel adjusted his big white coat which had fluffy wools around its neck, "Right. Let's go," Axel stated calmly. Then began walking forward with Daphne beside him and Knight Desmond and Knight Amaar also followed after them, ignoring Noelle who was still on the ground as they passed beside her.
Clapping his hands attentively, one of the Guards spoke boldly at those wild gossipers that still stood at the scene and were staring down at Noelle's body on the floor, "Alright everyone! Show is over, quit lazing around and get back to work!"
Hearing this the small crowd that had formed up hastily dismissed themselves and everyone got back to work.
Meanwhile Daphne and Axel walked out of the castle gently side-by-side.
Lifting the tip of her gown upwards slightly so as not to trip, Daphne spoke first;
"It's about Princess Cassandra, Your Majesty."
"Oh… the lady whom you want me to marry, and who also has a very short lifespan?" Axel spoke nonchalantly as though he hadn't just said anything wrong just now. Causing Daphne to almost want to cover his mouth with her palm.
Lowering her voice and trying to sound as polite as ever, "Your Majesty, don't call her that. We can't let anyone else know that Princess Cassandra has a very short lifespan," Daphne informed Axel.
"Whatever you say Daphne," Axel replied shortly. He continued, "But I'll still never understand why you want me to marry someone who you claim would die soon. And the fact that she would even die at my castle. Daphne doesn't that seem like trouble to you?" Axel had always been cautious all his life, even until now he was. Princess Cassandra's family were the ones who sent a marriage proposal to him first, and if not for Daphne, he would have declined. Since he didn't want what happened last time to repeat itself. He didn't want to get married, to him it seemed like a very huge burden.
"It does Your Majesty, however it's inevitable that she wouldn't die either. Since I already saw that she died in my vision."
"Alright then. Anyways Daphne, you said you had some important things to discuss with me about Princess Cassandra. What're they?"
"Yes Your Majesty, actually as you know, the bride and her family would be arriving tomorrow. I wanted to ask you if there's any special arrangements you would like us to make for them? Should we throw a feast for them?"
Axel chuckled without moving his lips, and with a serious and complicated look on his face, he spoke, "A feast? For someone who would die soon, and for a marriage that wouldn't even happen?"
"Should we not throw a feast for them then, Your Majesty?" Asked Daphne. Although she knew that Axel was right to say such a thing, but still it wouldn't be polite to not throw a feast to celebrate them. It might make them all feel unwelcomed. "Your Majesty, don't you think we should at least let them enjoy for the time being so as to prepare them for the calamity ahead."
Giving it a slight thought, "I guess you're right Daphne. Throw a feast for them then. Let them enjoy their happiness while it lasts."
Performing a trivial head bow, "Will do, Your Majesty."
They both continued walking forward with the Guards following them, but still maintaining a thorough distance from them, so as to give both Axel and Daphne their privacy.
"Daphne, does that lady whom you insist on having as your Personal Maidservant have anything to do with all this?" Axel asked the white haired woman. Knowing fully well that Daphne always does things that she deemed beneficial, and would never do things without having thought about it.
And seeing the commotion she caused, and how adamant she was on having the young lady by her side as a Personal Maidservant, Axel could only guess that something was quite fishy.
A thoughtful smile appeared on Daphne's lips, "Yes, Your Majesty. She does have something to do with it," she replied with honesty.
"I knew it! Tell me Daphne, how's she involved in all this?" Axel asked curiously.
"Your Majesty, when the time is right I'll let you know," Daphne informed. She then sighed, "But what I can only say to you for now is that the lady would be the one responsible for Princess Cassandra's death."
"What?!" Axel almost exclaimed, but hastily composed himself so as to not draw attention to himself. Muttering to himself in disbelief, "I've known that the lady was bad news from the very first day I set my eyes on her."
A bewildered look was still plastered on Axel's face, and the next moment it was represented by a firm frown. "Daphne you're well aware of this, and still, you want her to stay here in the castle. And even took her in as your Personal Maidservant? Are you sure this is a good idea? Shouldn't we feed her to Charlie or kick her out?"
"No Your Majesty, we shouldn't feed her to your tiger, neither should we kick her out. Even if I never got the vision and told you about it. It would've still happened. It is better that you don't interfere with fate, Your Majesty. Or else the outcome might be extremely dire."
Axel shooked his head in disarray. Wanting to know more, He spoke with curiosity, "Do you know the reason why she wants to take Princess Cassandra's life?"
"Well Your Majesty, I'm afraid if I say anymore than I've already said to you, then you might feel extremely devastated and decide to alter fate. And as you know if you cause something that isn't supposed to happen to end up happening, then calamity will befall you. So to avoid that, it is better that I don't say too much to you," Daphne explained smoothly. "But not to worry Your Majesty. Everything will become clearer to you sooner or later."
"I hope so, Daphne. I really hope so," Axel replied.
Although Daphne was a seer, even so, that doesn't mean that she could alter fate as she wishes or stop events that are supposed to happen from happening. However, she was still able to alter a little part of it, in a way that wouldn't be too obvious, and that would also make fate work in her favor.
Upon reaching Axel's carriage, they stopped.
"Your Majesty, you're still working on the case of the missing people, right?" Daphne asked, noticing the distressed look on Axel's face.
As though fatigued about the matter, Axel replied with a haggard tone, "I still am, Daphne. Apparently another sets of ladies have been abducted yesterday again. So today I'm going to visit the town where the abduction took place. My head is crazily full right now, and not to talk of how the townsfolk are driving me nuts over this matter," Axel complained. He continued, "Daphne haven't you gotten any visions about what to do yet about all this missing people?"
Daphne chortled, "Your Majesty, my visions doesn't work like that. But don't worry, I believe a solution would show itself as soon as you get married."
"Seems you're more excited about my wedding than I am," Axel said casually, which caused Daphne to chuckle as she helped Axel to shift the curtains of the carriage aside. "Daphne, It's so strange that I don't even know if I'm going to be getting married on that day or not," Axel stated apagogically, and gently entered into his fireproof carriage.
"Don't stress yourself too much with worries Your Majesty. If you get back I'll play the zither for you to help you calm your mind," Daphne smiled genuinely.
"I'll look forward to that," Axel confirmed, and a smile formed up on his thin lips.
With that Daphne closed the carriage curtains. Daphne remained outside until the Guards got to them and until the carriage began moving.
And when the carriage was out of sight, she turned back towards the castle. Walking towards it, she met a Maidservant alongst the way.
"Get me Sylvester," Mistress ordered the Maidservant, and the Maidservant hastily made a trivial head bow.
"Will do, Mistress," she replied obediently and hastily went away to do as she had been told.