Felix's POV
13 days ago...
I wasn't going to let them control me to get what they want! They were putting the citizens in a state of agony.
I fumed as I remembered what Scarlett told me about this kingdom....MY KINGDOM. I wasn't going to go down in history as a king who ignored his people when in the real sense these complaints never got to me!
Those darned ministers!
"Conduct secret investigations in the ministry of taxation and the ministry of rites! Something is definitely fishy here" I said as I turned to Leo, my personal guard.
"Yes your majesty!" He said as he hurriedly left to carry out my order.
"Wait Leo, be careful! Don't let 'them' suspect anything."
Leo stopped in his tracks and gave a quick nod.
By 'them' I meant the three major problems of this kingdom: The Minister of Taxation, The King's Advisor and The Minister of Rites. The three of them wanted the Kingdom under their control.
My mind flashed back to Scarlett.
I called for the Head Court lady and asked "do you know any courtmaid named Scarlett?"
She answered "Yes Your Majesty, she is one of the new maids that came in two days ago."
"You're dismissed"
She obeyed immediately!
I guessed as much, Scarlett was new in the palace. No wonder she got lost.
****************
Four hours later, Leo came back with the reports I asked him so get.
"So quick?" I questioned him while he ran towards me in my study.
"I got some inside information from one of the officials at the ministry of taxation" He said.
"Official? There's no way someone blew the whistle on the taxation office" I said.
Leo replied "Apparently he had been gathering all of this information, hoping you send someone to conduct a secret investigation"
This didn't sound convincing but I believed anyways. "What about the ministry of rites?" I asked him while opening the reports he had given me.
"NO inside information on that yet, still conducting the investigation."
"Good, try to wrap it up as soon as possible so 'they' don't suspect anything"
As I read the reports I saw that all what Scarlett told me was true!! I threw the reports on the floor in anger, grabbed my white Cape and shouted "Arrange an emergency Assembly now! Send a message to all the ministers and important officials. They have 30minutes to get here or they'll be dismembered"
I made my way to the Hall of Assembly 20minutes later, they started rushing in like ants....corrupted ants.
From the throne I threw the results of the investigation on the floor "What is this??" I asked in a calm tone.
One of the lower ranked officials picked it up and gave it to the King's Advisor, his eyes widened in shock in a not so obvious matter. They passed the reports around until all six of the ministers had read it. They all had the same reaction!
"Why on earth will you inflate the taxes??? You manipulate the total revenue of the kingdom before they are sent to me??? The nerve you have!" I said while coming down the steps leading to the throne.
They were all silent! I was furious!
"The nobles don't pay taxes, the middle class and lower class pay 50 taels of silver every month. During the drought, the citizens don't get relief meals and they die of hunger..... Many are sold as slaves because they can't pay back loans WHAT IS THIS SHENANIGANS???"
I walked back and forth the middle of the lines formed by the ministers waiting for an answer "Why are you all tight lipped?"
I stopped right in front of Alfie William, the King's Advisor and said "YOU!!, don't you have anything to say?"
Alfie William occupied the position of the King's Advisor. He was my father's advisor, the advisor that led my father to his grave!!! He was not in this position because I wanted him to! He just felt so entitled to it.
I was prepared to oust them all of them in that moment.
Alfie cleared his throat and replied "Since you permit me to speak I shall speak my thoughts honestly Your Majesty."
I scuffed and he continued "I think there's no conclusive evidence that the information on the report is correct"
I smirked and said "Is your old age starting to affect your eyesight? Look carefully at that report, it is a copy of the original and raw records of the Ministry of taxation."
Clearly he took me as a joke because I was one of the youngest Kings to have ever ruled Alchlor.
I collected the papers from one of the lower ranked officials and showed Alfie right in his face "THIS RIGHT HERE, IS THE SEAL OF THE MINISTRY OF TAXATION! WHAT EXCUSES DO YOU HAVE FOR SUFFERING THE PEOPLE???"
I walked back to the throne to sit. "Minister of Taxation, you have been quiet all along, I suppose you have realised your faults?"
Without wasting time, Henry Barnett was already on his knees begging for his life. The cunning man was definitely going to play victim.
Just as I had predicted, he resorted to play victim and said "We did it so we could get funds for the renovation of the Palace of the Queen Dowager"
I decided to set a trap for him "So you're telling me that you looted funds by the orders of my mother??"
He stuttered "no...yy..yes...no....that's..not wwwwh....what i meant–"
"Then what do you mean?" I asked knowing fully well his plan to use the excuse of filial piety.
Before Henry Barnett could reply me, Alfie William butt in and said "Consider your filial piety and respect the decisions and dignity of the Queen Dowager"
The Queen Dowager that wasn't even my birth mother controlled the ministers from her Palace. They had turned me into a puppet king!
"It is clear that you all question my authority on the pretext of keeping the dignity and decisions of my mother. Remember this; the needs of the people come first before anything. You will stop the renovation of the Palace of the Queen Dowager at once. I will have a conversation with my mother myself." I said as I stormed out of the Hall of Assembly.
*************************
Present day.....
It was almost time for me to dress for archery when a courtmaid walked in, usually six Courtladies helped me get dressed but only one person came today.
How splendid, less faces today!
"You're alone? Oh well, get me changed then" I said as i got up to go to the closet room.
She dressed me up to a certain point all of a sudden, she stopped and started to walk around the closet room as if looking something.
"What are you searching for? I have no time to waste" I said.
She quickly got down on her knees and started to beg for her life "Your majesty, this servant is too incompetent as she can not find your shoes. Punish me as you deem worthy"
Dramatic much?
I sighed, got my shoes, put them on myself, went back to the dressing platform and stretched my hands forward.
She was looking lost again, I had to nod my head towards the direction of the fore-arm guards before she know what to do next.
I came down the dressing platform and went to sit infront of the dressing mirror.
She followed me and just stood beside me looking like a dimwit without raising her head.
Who sent such a dumb person here?
As she approached me for my hair, I said "Those serving me closely are allowed to raise their heads. You'll be more efficient that way"
She only rose her head a tiny bit, just enough for me to see her face a little. She was behind me adjusting my hair and then I saw her!
Scarlett?!?! The lights were not bright enough that but I still remembered her face well enough.
I got up to leave when she started. As she leaned towards me, she tripped, leaned on me again and then we both fell. I cushioned her fall with my body so we were face to face. I looked at her for while before clearing my throat hopefully to catch her attention.
Now she was seeing my face well, couldn't she remember me? Or was she just dumb?
She remembered nothing!
I went down my room, at the immediate door Leo was waiting for me.
***********************
I got back to see Scarlett sleeping, she was sitting on the floor beside my bed and resting her head on the wall. The audacity she had to sleep on duty amazed me!
She was so beautiful without any make up. Her lips looked pigmented without any colour and she had such nice skin. Really curious I touched her face and as expected it was like milk. One would have thought she was born into a noble family.
I was torn between carrying her to my bed and leaving her there. I wondered why she came to the Palace as a courtmaid.
I removed my hand from her face and decided not wake her up.
She was still asleep after forty-five minutes.
I looked at her and stared at her intently and just at that moment she finally woke up.
"Are you awake now?" I asked
She hurriedly stood up and said "I wasn't asleep, just uhm....meditation.....Your majesty"
Liar!
"Some meditation? The nerve of you to even dare lie to me! You're interesting! I'm famished, hurry up and get me dinner" I said to her and she obeyed.
I was honestly not hungry though, I just wanted her out for me to think well.
'Was there any way for me to tell her I was Felix? without her getting startled'
Suddenly I had an idea to go to the cold Palace where we met initially and drop a note here saying:
I'll be waiting where we first met.
~Felix
I had a rethink. She was going to come. It was odd to find that sort of note is in the King's Chambers of all places. Uhm another idea?
Okay, this sounds like a good plan: I'll go to the cold Palace secretely through the window without alerting anyone. The path beneath this window leads there, hopefully she gets the hint.
So I jumped out the window to head the cold Palace to sit under the tree we had talked.
***********************
I saw a person approaching the tree, looked like Scarlett.
"Scarlett? Is that you?" I asked, hoping she has gotten the hint.
"Yeah..."
"Yes it's me, Felix! Come over let's have another chat" I said with a smile on my face.
"How was your day?" I asked. I was amazed that she stilled hadn't figured out who I was. This place wasn't really bright but the bridge lanterns made the place enough to see another person's face.
She replied "pretty hectic, my test was to serve the king at the Eastern Palace. It wasn't so difficult but I kept making many mistakes. The king is perfect and I'm messed up. Even though I have until tomorrow I already think that I've messed it all up"
So her coming here was a test? I knew something was odd when only one person attended to me today instead of about six people.
I listened to the rest of her rant for about 10 minutes and mid conversation she stopped all of a sudden.
"I'm screwed! I have to leave now" she said as she stood up in a rush.
"Wait, let's go together" I said while i motioned for us to go together.
Had she really not realised who I was? I was going to have to tell her myself
We approached the bridge with lanterns so it was a little brighter, she abruptly stopped in her tracks.
At that moment, I guessed she must have figured me out and I turned back.
She scanned me from top to bottom.
"Perhaps, are you...?" She looked up at me, probably she couldn't bring herself to complete the sentence.
"Yes I am" I answered her unfinished question.
For the second time today, she got on her knees and said "Forgive me, I've committed a punishable offence by calling you by your name and using your token"
Why was she so quick to beg for her life? Maybe because I had threatened her the first time we met. Ugh, I hadn't meant that!
I got down to the floor just to reach her level and said "Scarlett, please raise your head"
She shook her head signalling "No".
I put my hand on her face and I rose her head myself. Then, she closed her eyes.
Why was she being stubborn?
"Open your eyes, it's a royal order" I said sternly and she obeyed. She wouldn't dare disobey a royal order.
I stood up holding her hand, if I hadn't done that she'd have remained that way. Her hands were so cold. Was she scared?
"Are you scared?" I asked her as we made our way to go the other side of the bridge.
"Yes I am" she said in a faint tone.
"Why? The rumours about me being mean?"
"NO, no Your Majesty " she was stuttering.
"Don't lie to me My Scarlett" I said knowing fully well that that's the reason she had been walking in eggshells since this came.
She stopped to look up at me in confusion and echoed the last part of my sentence "Your Scarlett?" She looked very daring like this. I liked it.
All she had being doing since morning was an act, now I knew she was not the most submissive person.
"Yes, My Scarlett! What did I say something wrong? I only met you twice but I already think you're interesting."
She had a confused look on her face.
She realised she had stopped her good maid act and quickly dropped her head again.
We continued to walk as I asked " I think you're interesting"
"Me? Why? How" she said while she smiled.
She had the most beautiful smile!
This time around she walked freely without walking as elegantly as a courtmaid should have been.
"Truth be told, you did make many mistakes serving me today"
"I know, I know. I have till tomorrow night to make up for my mistakes. Give me another chance please" she said while putting her hands together pleading.
We both laughed then I stopped walking and pulled her to the side behind a wall "shhhh" I said with my index finger on my lips.
"We can't pass the front door, they never saw me leave so me entering would be weird when I never came out in the first place. Do you understand?" I said.
"How are we going back??....Your Majesty??"
I pointed towards the direction of the window and said "We climb"
"Oh, that's easy. Lead the way" she replied.
"You should go in first, put your legs on the spaces in the walls. I made them for situations like this. Be careful" I said
"The wall is not so high, I could get in with just one jump." She did as she had exactly said.
Again! Interesting lady!
I climbed the wall and entered my room.
"How can you climb a wall so well? As a lady" I asked
"I used to be a pickpocket so that's..." she stopped dusting her hands against eachother as she realised what she was saying .
I acted like I didn't hear anything she said "I didn't quite get that"
"Oh nothing important, just childhood knowledge" she said while laughing nervously.
Pickpocketing?? How hard must her life have been?? I got more curious about her, I wanted to know more about her.
Whether she was going to get assigned to my Palace after her test or not, I was ready to find my way to get to be closer to her.
Something about Scarlett amazed me!