Aldric's worries about the farmers' situation vanished instantly. All he could think about was Elara's intentions toward Xena.
He stormed out of his study, heading for the Queen's chambers. He needed to know what was happening, but more than that, he wanted to see Xena.
The King burst into Queen Elara's chamber, startling the two women inside.
"What is going on here, Elara?" he demanded.
"I just wanted to have a word with this maid. I'm going to make her my personal servant," Elara replied, her voice trembling slightly. She had faced Aldric's rejection many times, but he had never spoken to her with such authority.
"Xena, would you like to work as the Queen's personal maid?" Aldric asked, his voice softening as his gaze met Xena's.
She hesitated before looking up, her eyes locking with the King's. His stare was as intense as it had been on his coronation day.
"I will do as the Queen commands, Your Majesty," Xena replied, her voice barely above a whisper as her eyes returned to the floor.
Elara observed the exchange with a deep frown, her irritation growing. The King's concern for Xena was infuriating.
"Xena, leave us!" Elara ordered sharply.
"Yes, Your Majesty," Xena answered, relief washing over her as she quickly left the room, eager to find Lily and escape the Queen's presence.
"Aldric," Elara's voice cut through the silence, "must I now ask your permission to choose a maid for myself?"
Aldric barely heard her; his mind was still lingering somewhere between reality and the trance he often fell into whenever he saw Xena.
"Why would you question me like that in front of a servant? Why ask her what duty she prefers, as though she's no longer beneath us?" Elara continued, her anger rising with each word.
Aldric finally looked at her. Beneath her anger, he could see traces of fear and sadness. His expression softened as he reached for her hand, pulling her close. Elara seized the moment, wrapping her arms around him and bursting into tears, hoping to exploit this rare show of affection.
Aldric gave her an awkward pat on the back before gently pulling away. "Don't trouble yourself over such things, Elara. I was merely curious."
She continued to sob, clinging to the hope that her tears might elicit more sympathy from him.
Aldric remained with her for a while, debating whether to leave. His conscience wouldn't allow him to walk away while she was still crying. But after a few more moments of silence, he finally excused himself.
As he left, he hoped to find Xena somewhere near the Queen's chambers, but she was already in the servants' quarters, recounting everything that had happened to Lily.
****
Elara, wiping her tears, saw a faint glimmer of hope. Perhaps playing the damsel in distress would win Aldric's concern—concern enough to make him desire an heir. But how long could she feign innocence and vulnerability? It wasn't in her nature. She thought of Xena and the way Aldric had looked at her. The idea of competing with a mere maid for her own husband's affection was unbearable.
****
Beams of sunlight crept through the small window of Xena's room. She dressed in the plain clothes of a maid, her mind swirling with thoughts of her new duties as the Queen's personal servant. She couldn't stop thinking about Aldric—how his mere presence unnerved her, how his touch lingered in her mind, and how often she would now see him.
Carrying a tray of dishes, Xena entered the Royal dining hall, determined to start her tasks early. She was focused on balancing the tray when a sound startled her.
"Your Majesty," she whispered, curtsying while trying not to drop the dishes.
"Do you need help with that?" Aldric asked, a faint smile playing on his lips.
"No, Your Majesty," Xena responded quickly, doing her best to avoid his gaze. She could feel his eyes on her as she retreated to the kitchen, suddenly hyper-aware of every movement. His presence was unsettling but not unwelcome.
She returned to the hall several times, setting the table with care. Aldric watched her intently, intrigued by the way her presence quieted his worries. He couldn't understand why her every move seemed so graceful, so mesmerizing.
Elara entered the dining hall, surprised to see Aldric there. A small smile crept across her face—perhaps her display of vulnerability the night before had softened him.
Aldric, however, was lost in thought. Beatrice had yet to provide the report he requested, and his curiosity about Xena only deepened as he observed her.
After finishing her tasks, Xena returned to her room in the servants' quarters. A folded piece of paper lay just under her door. She picked it up and read the message: *"The Shadow King requires a progress report."*
Fear, which had nearly faded from her mind, rushed back. It wasn't fear for herself, but for her sister, Lilith.
How had her fellow assassins found her? How had they managed to get this message to her? They couldn't have easily infiltrated the palace guards.
"They must have sent it through one of the maids," she muttered to herself.
She was reminded of her true purpose in the palace: to kill the King. The same King whose presence had made her heart flutter that very morning. She couldn't afford distractions—Lilith's life depended on her success, and the Shadow King never made empty threats.
Her mission had only just begun.
****
"I didn't expect to see you here this early," Elara remarked as she approached Aldric.
"I just decided to have breakfast here today," he replied.
"I'm glad to see you're finally taking our responsibilities seriously," she said, her tone pointed.
"Haven't I always?" Aldric asked, arching an eyebrow.
"If you had, you'd understand how important it is for us to have an heir. Our people need that assurance."
Aldric's expression darkened. "I'm tired of having this conversation every day, Elara," he said, rising from his seat.
Elara watched as he walked out of the hall, their once-cordial relationship deteriorating before her eyes. She couldn't let things continue this way. She followed him to his study but stopped short when she heard a woman's voice inside.
"I have the report on Xena's background."
Elara clenched her fists and walked back to her chambers, her mind boiling with rage. How could Aldric ignore his duties to his people and to her, yet show such interest in a mere servant? She knew Xena was her rival now, and she would do whatever it took to ensure she didn't lose her husband to a maid.