As Anna made her way into the royal chamber, she felt her stomach rumble but it wasn't hunger. However why should she be nervous when he had already spoken to her once and he didn't want to hurt her, why was her body shaking like she had been invited by a demon?
"This way please, " the guard opened the door to the chamber and pointed the way for her to go in.
"Thank you." Anna nodded her head and proceeded, keeping a straight face to avoid anyone mistaking her for an intruder, or saying that she looked suspicious.
"You must be Anna," the voice of a young lady caught her off guard.
"How did I not see her?" Anna wondered before responding with a smile,
"Yes I am, the king sent for me."
"Yes, I know," the lady replied,
"Sit down, he will be with you shortly."
The lady whom Anna was convinced was a maid, ushered her to one of the seats at a large dining table.
The chamber is an enormous hall, just as big as the one used for an event. It had a dining section that could seat forty people at a time, and the other half was surrounded by metal sculptures, and then an elevated section for the King's throne.
Anna sat down awkwardly on the seat next to the King's, she contemplated on whether or not it was a good idea to sit down there, but it was the maid's suggestion so what's the worst that could happen?
"Miss Anna," the King's voice echoes as he walks into the chamber from a different entrance. He came in along with his daughter, and their pet cub, playing around the little girl that ran her finger through its hair.
"My lord," Anna stood up briskly and bowed down slightly. Somehow she knew that the baby lion wouldn't hurt her, yet she was slightly terrified as it drew nearer.
"It won't bite," The King assured her, before taking his seat at the head of the table and taking a sip from the glass of wine before him.
"This is Princess Clarion, say a greeting, sweetheart." The king urged his eight-year-old daughter who looked up to Anna with a smile and said.
"Greetings, and welcome to the castle."
"Thank you," Anna replied and smiled back, she found it adorable that such a little girl was already training to be a future queen, both in speech and manner.
"Sit down." Said the King and Anna didn't hesitate to be obedient.
"I was pleased with your performance today. And just to let you know, I have never said that to any of the dancers."
"It is an honour, your majesty," said Anna,
[ + 10 points ]
"Permit me to say, that your boldness is quite intriguing, you are not from around here, no?"
"I am, my lord."
"The first daughter of Mr Thomas Beetle."
"Beetles, the farmer?"
"Yes sir."
"Let us get to the point, shall we?" The King changed the subject immediately and asked,
"What do you want? Anything aside from my kingdom, just name it and you will have it. Take it as my gift to you for pleasing me with your performance."
'Just say it, Anna, say you want to be a maid, just say it, don't be scared,' these thoughts occupied her mind while she stayed silent, her eyes were fixed on the King's cup because she dared stare into his eyes.
"Take your time," the King said, he stood up to help his daughter sit on the dining chair because it was too difficult for her to get on.
"Uhm," Anna cleared her throat and acted as though she didn't know what to ask for,
"I do hope that this is not too much to ask for, my King, may I remain in the castle as a servant."
The king paused, his wine cup in his hand frozen mid-air as he stared at the young lady who had just made a bizarre request.
"A servant?" He asked,
"Whatever position you give to me will be appreciated...
"No," the King interjected,
"You continue to amaze me, Anna. Because of all the great things in the kingdom that you could have asked for, you picked this. What is your agenda?"
"I'm sorry, Your Majesty?" Anna raised a brow, she was quite impressed that Emma Broadway made the King intelligent enough to reason that someone with such boldness and had such a request was up to something.
"It has always been my dream to serve in the Palace...
"Despite all the horrendous tales going around the village?" He asked, hoping that Anna would look him in the eyes, and he would see if there was anything about them to be worried about.
"I wouldn't pretend like I do not hear these rumours. 'The King and his brothers are perverts, anyone who comes in her mysteriously disappears.' I am not an idiot."
"I am very sure, Your Majesty, that every great Knight in this kingdom knows beforehand that they might die in battle, yet they are passionate about what they do. I'm driven by a desire to serve within these walls, and having gotten an opportunity, I thought it was best to take it."
"I gave you my words," the King said and nodded his head,
"Replacing my eldest daughter's handmaid with you would only cause you trouble, Anna, and my wife is not the kindest person in the castle. It would be tormented if I sent you to her."
"I am open to do anything, my lord," Anna interjected but quickly apologized when she realized how wrong it was to cut the king off.
"Anna" He called he name, and called it again,
"Anna."
"Yes, my lord?"
"You will stay in the castle for a week as an assistant maid to my youngest daughter, Clarion. By the end of the week, I will decide what position is fit for you. Is that okay with you?"
"Yes, my lord, it is an honour."
"I know the best position for you already, but... I need to ensure that who I am sending you to, is ready to receive you. Until then," the King snapped his finger twice and a maid walked up to him and bowed down slightly.
"Take her to the maid's quarters and assign the best chamber to her."
"Yes, my lord." The maid uttered, and turning to Anna, she said,
"Please, come with me."