An Encounter With Sofia
As Mai made her way toward the royal chambers, preparing to answer the King's call, a figure suddenly stepped out from the Prince's chambers. It was Sofia, one of the palace servants who had often lingered in the background, seemingly unnoticed by most. Her eyes widened in disbelief as she saw Mai approach, her gaze shifting from curiosity to something darker—something that hinted at a hidden truth.
Sofia froze when their paths crossed. "You… you're her. The one from the royal hall," she said, almost in a whisper.
Mai stopped in her tracks, confused by the look in Sofia's eyes. "What are you talking about?"
Sofia's eyes flickered with caution as she took a deep breath and stepped closer. "If I were you, I'd refuse all of the King's offers. Nothing good ever comes from his promises."
Mai raised an eyebrow, her confusion deepening. She had never known Sofia to speak like this. "Why do you say that?"
Sofia glanced around quickly, ensuring no one was watching them. She leaned in, lowering her voice. "The King is not what he seems. There's much more behind the throne, and you… you would never want to be involved in it. Trust me, you have no idea what you're stepping into."
Mai stood there, her mind racing. But something inside her urged her to obey. She couldn't explain why, but a strange feeling in her gut told her Sofia's warning wasn't something to be ignored.
"I understand…" Mai murmured, turning on her heel, heading back toward her chambers.
Sofia watched her leave, a flicker of concern crossing her face. There was something she had not yet shared—something she feared telling Mai.
Later that evening, as Mai sat on the edge of her bed, her thoughts churned like a storm. The King had called for her, and yet she had refused. She could still see his furious expression, the disappointment clear in his eyes.
But as the silence of her room enveloped her, something within her stirred again—an urge to take action.
"Sofia…" The name came to her lips, almost instinctively.
Without knowing exactly why, she stood up and called for her. Moments later, a soft knock echoed on the door.
"Come in," Mai said, her voice quiet but firm.
Sofia hesitated at the door, her figure framed by the dim light from the hallway. She seemed unsure, nervous. The last time she had seen Mai, there was a raw power she had never witnessed before, and the memory made her uneasy.
"You wanted to see me, Miss Mai?" Sofia asked, her voice tentative.
Mai looked at her for a moment, then smiled softly. "Please, stop calling me Miss Mai. I'm nothing better than a maid in this palace."
Sofia blinked, taken aback by the honesty in Mai's words. She seemed uncertain but nodded, slowly approaching. Mai patted the bed beside her, gesturing for Sofia to sit.
"Sit with me, Sofia. Feel free. I'm not going to bite," Mai said, her voice warmer than before.
Sofia hesitated but then finally sat down, her posture still a little stiff. The silence between them was thick, but Mai finally broke it, her voice barely above a whisper.
"That woman in the portrait… she looked exactly like the one from my vision. The woman who spoke to me."
Sofia glanced at the portrait on the far wall, her eyes flicking toward the beautiful, fair-skinned woman who stared back with serene, regal features.
Mai's eyes searched Sofia's, waiting for an answer.
Sofia's expression shifted, her gaze flickering with caution before she spoke in a low tone, almost as if she were reliving a painful memory. "She… she was the Queen. The Prince's mother."
Mai's heart skipped a beat, the words hanging in the air like a heavy burden. The woman in her vision had been the Queen? She hadn't even considered it before, but now that Sofia had said it, everything clicked into place.
"The Queen?" Mai echoed, her voice shaking slightly. "But… she died years ago, didn't she?"
Sofia nodded slowly, her gaze distant. "Yes. She passed away when the Prince was sixteen. After that… he changed. Completely. He became cold, distant. He lost all respect for anyone, especially for his father. The King no longer ate with him at the royal table. That space... no one could ever fill it. Not even the King."
Mai absorbed Sofia's words in stunned silence. The weight of them was unbearable. She looked at the portrait again. The Queen's image was so familiar, yet filled with such sadness. Mai couldn't help but feel a strange connection to her.
"Why do I feel like I've seen her before?" Mai whispered.
Sofia's eyes flickered with something akin to hesitation, then she leaned closer, lowering her voice even further. "She's the reason the Prince is the way he is now. She was his anchor. Without her, he became lost, and no one could bring him back."
Sofia paused for a moment, her gaze distant. She seemed to be mourning the loss of something far beyond her control. Then, after a long silence, she added, "That was the day everything changed. The Prince was never the same after that."
Mai sat back on the bed, her mind spinning. She couldn't understand it all. Why was she feeling so strongly connected to the Queen's memory, and why was Sofia revealing all of this to her now?
"Why would she speak to me in my vision?" Mai asked, her voice trembling. "Why did she warn me not to tell the King anything?"
Sofia hesitated, casting another wary glance around to make sure they weren't being overheard. After a moment, she spoke in a whisper so quiet that it was almost lost in the air.
"She didn't want the King to have full control over you. She knew what he was capable of—how far he would go to shape the future, no matter the cost." Sofia's voice cracked slightly. "She didn't want him to use you as a tool, Mai. She wanted you to have a choice. To make your own path."
Mai's eyes widened, her mind racing. What had she just learned? The Queen... she had known?
Sofia stood up, her eyes full of sympathy as she looked down at Mai. "I should leave now, Miss Mai. We can talk more another day about this palace and its secrets."
But before she could leave, Mai grabbed her wrist gently.
"Wait." Mai's voice was soft but firm. "Tell me everything, Sofia. I need to understand. What happened to the Prince? What's the King hiding?"
Sofia paused at the door, her face pale and full of sorrow. She looked at Mai one last time, her expression filled with both sadness and regret.
"I wish I could give you all the answers, Mai. But for now… it's too dangerous. There are things no one in this palace should ever know. And if you don't leave this room now, you might find yourself trapped in the very same web of lies."
Sofia opened the door, leaving Mai alone in the silence of her chambers. The weight of the conversation hung heavily in the air.
Mai sat back down on the bed, her head spinning with questions. What woman had spoken to her in her vision? Why had she been warned not to speak? The more she thought about it, the more it seemed like a puzzle—one that would take all her courage to solve.