HELVISA'S POV

I woke up to the smell of a familiar perfume. Armina was sleeping soundly beside me. Hmm, I really needed to pee. But the way she tangled her legs like this made it impossible for me to move without waking her up. With her breasts brushing against my arm; her hands wrapping around my stomach and her smiling as she slept, she seemed to be having a good dream perhaps. That was nice. She hardly had sweet dreams nowadays.

"Hmmmm ... "

oh, she finally turned her back to me. I took this chance and got up. I smiled when I saw my thigh was completely healed. I turned to Armina and leaned in. "Thank you for everything." I kissed her forehead.

"Hmmm ..."

I chuckled and went to the bathroom.

Because it was almost 5A.M., I decided to get myself ready for today. After I was done preparing myself, I walked out of the bathroom and noticed Armina sitting on the edge of the bed.

"Thank you."

She waved it off and went to the bathroom as well. I waited for her at the balcony. Even though it has the view of the boring sea, it was kind of nice to see the sun rise every now and then. In Hell, we didn’t get to see stars or the moon or even the sun. We only got to see flames, flames that slowly but painfully ate every wandering soul.

"There you go again with those distant looks." Armina stood beside me. "I have some news for you."

I motioned for her to continue.

"The queen knows about us."

Oh did she? "What now? She's going to hang us? Burn us? I would like to see that." I chuckled.

"How is it possible for you to laugh at this situation?"

I smiled. "Because if I don't, you guys will say I'm expressionless." But this time, I noticed it was not me who had a distant stare at the view. "Something wrong Armina? Does it hurt?"

She shook her head. "You know I can take it." She winked.

I chuckled. "Why are you worried?"

She shook her head. "You'll know soon. Come on. It's about time."

I followed her out. I was surprised to see Reina and Eris are the first to stand in front of the prince door. "That's a first."

Eris sighed. "We can't help it. The princess woke us up by banging on our door, asking for a glass of milk."

Reina yawned. "By the time we were done, it was already 5A.M.”

I chuckled.

Armina took this chance to knock on the princes’s door before walking into the dark room. "Your highness?"

Surprisingly, his room was tidy. "I'm here." He was at his study table, reading a book.

"Didn't you sleep, my prince?" Armina asked.

"I did. Elaria woke me up. Now, she's the one who's asleep on the bed." Oh, I didn't notice she was there before. "Are you okay, Helvisa?" He asked with a little worried tone.

"I'm perfect, prince Gaultier."

"We're friends. Just call me Gaultier. No need for such honorific."

Oh, this would be fun. Calling the crowned prince just by his name. "All right, Gaultier, why aren't you scared of us?" I asked directly. There was no need to hold myself back anymore since we call each other on a first name bases.

"Maybe ... because I feel more comfortable with you rather than with humans."

Oh. That was a first.

"Gaultier?" That girl was waking up, huh. "Gaultier." She called for her brother.

"Yes. I'm here sister." We watched him wake his sister up.

"I had that dream again."

Dream? I was curious and stared at the princess on the bed. "Reina, would you mind?"

She nodded and knelt beside the bed. She placed her palm on Elaria’s forehead and closed her eyes. "It's a reoccurring dream about the death of her mother."

I nodded in understanding. "Armina, can you?"

Armina went to the princess's side and helped her to sit down. "This will sting a little, okay. But before I proceed, do you wish to not have this nightmare ever again?"

I rolled my eyes. Why would she want to have the same nightmare in the first place?

She nodded her head.

"Okay." Armina placed her hands on the princess's head and smiled at her. "I'll make sure you'll never have the same dream ever again."

Reina placed her hands on Armina's shoulders for support. I stood against a wall and rested my back on it while crossing my arms across my chest.

"Do it." I commanded.

When I saw Armina's eyes turn white, I knew she was doing her spell.

I placed a finger on my lips when the queen entered the room.

"What in the world is happening?" She wanted to go to Elaria's side, but I pulled her back to me.

"Do you want the princess to lose her memory? Relax. Armina is just trying to make her forget about the nightmare." I loosened my grip on her wrist when she finally relaxed.

"My death, huh?"

Oh, she knew?

"Why are you here anyway? Want to fire us? Burn us? Hang us and then burn us? Drown us?"

The queen was speechless from my sudden question bombardment. "I ... I ... why would I drown my children's saviour?" She manage to say.

I shrugged my shoulders.

When Armina released her hands from the girl's head, she bowed to the queen. I was curious to why Reina didn't move at all.

I ignored the queen and went to my friend. "Reina?" I called out. "REINA!"

She finally blinked her eyes and looked at me with confusion written all over her face.

I sighed.

"I ... didn't mean to go way back into the princess's memory. I saw ... the queen ..." REINA turned to the loving mother and placed her trembling hand on my shoulder. "Helvisa, the queen ... she ... was rape right after giving birth to the princess."

"Let me guess. The king?"

Reina nodded. "She can't bare another child because of it."

I hummed my response. "The princess saw it all?"

Reina nodded. "She was right beside the queen when it happened."

I clicked my tongue. Why did the queen insist on staying with that useless king? It was not because of the kids’ well-being. I was sure of it. What was in your mind, Gisele Gavreau?

***

I never dreamt of ever being on a yacht before. This was actually kind of fun for a change. The soft breeze gently hit my face and whole body. Hmmmm... I wished I could go naked right now. Gisele personally requested for me to accompany her, and I had no choice but to agreed to follow her to this important meeting. I was hoping for Armina to come with me, but she refused and used the prince's name as her reason to say no. I sighed heavily.

"Why are you sighing? Is it boring to be my chamberlain for the day?" The queen asked while walking towards me.

"Why do you want me? Why not Armina? She can be your escort if that's necessary."

The queen chuckled. "Hmmm.. maybe because my son convinced me to bring you instead. He said you caught a moving bullet with your bare hands. And he said he will not worry about my well-being if you're with me."

That brat!

”At first, I had no idea if I should believe in his superstitious claims, but Gaultier never lied to me before. And seeing my kids still alive today, made me a believer of what my father once believe as well."

Oh, that reminded me. "Who was your father?"

She turned to me with ... I didn’t know that reaction though.

"You’ve never had manners before huh?"

I simply shook my head. "You know who I truly am. I don't do good."

The queen laughed. "My father, he was an explorer. He liked to travel whenever he was free. He was also a legend and myth believer. He believed that creatures like you existed living among us humans. He's right, somehow."

I was curious about something. "You're not a believer?"

She shook her head. "I thought it was bull."

What a nice thought she had. "Well, we're standing and breathing in front of you. For 500 years if you’re curious about it."

Her mouth was ajar. "You're old!"

I kept my stoic expression. If only I had a dime for when everyone said that in front of me, I could afford to build my own kingdom by now. "I have a question if you don't mind."

She nodded.

"Why do you stay by the king's side after he raped you?"

Her eyes widened after I said the last part. "How ... it's impossible for you to know that!" Was that anger I was sensing?

"It's possible. Your daughter had that reoccurring dream. The source was because she saw what happened. She heard what he did to you."

The queen walked away from me. I probably said too much. "Is it my fault?" She asked before dropping to her knees.

The guards surrounded her and asked if she was all right. One of them helped her up and carried her to her room. "You’re supposed to be taking care of her!" The head of security yelled at me. It took everything inside my body to not bend his body like a steel rod.

"I am taking care of her by telling her the truth."

The guard facepalmed himself. "Taking care of her until she fainted?”

Oh, he had got a point there. "I'll deal with this." I simply said and went to the queen's quarters. I heard a faint sob coming from the bathroom. I knocked a few times before opening the door. I felt something tug at my dead heart when I saw her crying on the floor. Armina would kill me if she knew about this! What should I do? I couldn’t just leave her like that. "I'm ... so-rry." I couldn’t believe those words actually came from my mouth. "I'm sorry." I said while pulling her body and hugging her. I felt her body tremble as she cried on my chest. For a queen to be this vulnerable, I must had screwed things up.

"Nobody should know about what happen to me. And yet ... you all did.. my daughter did... my princess."

Hmmm... what should I do?

"If it makes you feel any better, Armina removed that part of her memory. It's for the best."

She just continued to cry on my chest. My arms wrapped around her fragile body, and hers wrapped around me as if her life depended on it.

"It's time for you to rest. We have a long way to the meeting." I said before picking her up and carrying her to the bed.

As her body lay on the silky bed, she instantly went to sleep.

I accidentally saw her breast when I tuck her in. "What a nice view eh." I said under my breath and went to sit in a chair while watching her sleep.

My eyes wondered around this room. When I saw the paperwork, I knew my hunch was right all along. The king didn't even rule the kingdom. She did. She made all the decisions alone while the king was busy with the younger female humans.

My eyes caught something that reminded me of my past life. Pirates. I read every detail in the papers, and I also came across a paper that mention out how the army from Grugary kingdom wanted to ... oh no ... so this meeting ... Was actually to prevent all of this? The island was on the verge of being attacked, and she was trying to end it in peace?! How naive could she be?!

"What are you doing reading my paperwork?"

I lost track of time when I heard her voice. "You want to end this war? In peace? Is peace even in the human dictionary of life?" I mocked.

"I have to try. Right?" She got up to a sitting position. "I don't want my children or every child in my kingdom to face a war. I don't want any of them parentless because of this silly war."

"I've seen war. I fought in one a long time go. Death comes whether you like it or not."

The queen stood up and went to the table where I was sitting. "You suggest for my kingdom to go on and accept their war declaration? As you may realise, Helvisa, I have a small island that’s somehow in the way of Grugary's power expanding. We have no experience in wars. Charlene probably does but not us. Not me."

"I can assure you .." I stop her from blabbering about inexperience and experience. "These large scale kingdoms will not stop until your island is in their grasp. You think accepting defeat before you can even fight back is the solution? Once you sign that truce, you will lose your kingdom. Somehow, I think the people who attacked the prince and princess earlier this week are part of their major plan. Take a piece of paper, and I'll explain to you the information Charlene gathered.” What was I doing, helping this human?!

***

After convincing the queen that I should be wearing something other than the maid’s outfit, the only clothes she had were her black pantsuits. We were currently walking along the hallways towards the designated meting room specially booked for this matter.

All this time we had no idea that the island was on the verge of war. It was always so peaceful in our eyes. Now that the truth literally slammed in my face, I had the slight need to protect the island Armina and the others loved to stay in.

"Do you think this strategy will work?" The queen asked when we waited for the door to be opened.

"I cant say yet. I only did what I can from Charlene's investigation. If she's right, there's a chance Grugary will take your island." I simply said.

We both march into the meeting room.

"Oh, ... Queen Gisele and ..." they seemed to question my purpose to be in the room.

"My chamberlain and personal advisor." Smooth save.

"Armel and Noel didn't take your place for today?" Is he mocking her?

"No. I decided to finally come in person."

This man looked like he was not fond of Gisele being here. But for her, she looked like she’d been in this situation many times. ”I hope you read thoroughly our plan to just accept defeat before war even strikes our beloved island."

Our island? He was from Gavreau?

"I did, prime minister, but I have something to present."

All right, queen Gisele, show me what you’ve got.

She passed the paper I wrote earlier.

The prime minister and the others gasped when they read it.

"You want to defy them?! You want to defy such a strong country to protect an island that has no future whatsoever?"

The queen nodded. "As far as I know, our island has the most advanced weapons and tanks in the world. I don't see why I should be backing down."

I heard the prime minister click his tongue when he looked away. He acted like he was not fond of this idea. Did he want the island to surrender without fighting?

"Are you insane!" The other man stood up from his chair but apologise to the queen. "Your highness, we can’t win against this war! Are you trying to kill our soldiers? Our citizens? Please rethink about this."

Gisele stood up from her own chair and placed both hands on the table. "I'm sure we'll win this war."

"Nonsense! We can't win against such a strong country. Do you want the name Gavreau to be banished from the very face of this earth?" The prime minister stuck to his original plan avoiding counterattack.

I cleared my throat when I thought it was my turn to speak. "If I may interrupt, I'm sure we will win this war. I'll bet my life on it. If we surrender now, the island of Gavreau will be gone forever. Why shouldn't we prepare for war. There's no harm in keeping your island safe."

"And who are you supposed to be, outsider?” It seemed like I hit a nerve.

"I am Helvisa. The Gavreau royal family’s personal chamberlain."

The prime minister along with the other men and women who sat at the round table laugh at me.

"We're listening to a servant?! How stupid can that be? How can we listen to a SERVANT?!" The prime minister yelled.

"Not to mention, she talks like she can beat these Grugary Kingdom elite soldiers.” A woman scoffed. "You'll be dead before their king could say charge."

The ministers laughed at me.

Oh, I think they would be surprised by the way Armina’d work this out later on.

I slammed my hands on the table with so much strength. I felt Gisele pull them. Probably worried that the table might break. ”You’d be surprised by how many allies the queen will have after this meeting is done." I stood up and helped the queen to carry her stuff. "By next week, meet us again at the palace. By then I'll be introducing you to them."

I was sure the queen might be confused, but she will understand later on.

The prime minister smirked. "All right. Show us how many allies will protect the little island that only will be banished!"

The queen straightened herself up and turned her back to them. "We're done here. Let's go."

I glared at them before following the queen back to her yacht.

"What are you doing?! Do you know what will happen to my image if all of this is a lie? Please tell me that you have a plan."

I chuckled at how worried she looked. This was almost like a show for me.

"Why are you laughing at me?!"

I looked away and smiled. "Don't worry your little head about the details. I have my own way to deal with this, but I do need more information about Grugary calvary power."

The queen seemed to have second thoughts about trusting me. "All right. I'll trust you. I hope everything will be resolve before they strike us."

"Oh, don't worry. By next week, your allies will come to see you. I promise you that."

She touched my shoulder. "That's another problem, I have to allies. Why are you insisted of that?"

Hmmm. Why? That was a good question. "Trust me, you do."

The queen rested her head on the railing while I looked at the horizon. "Why do you help me, a mere human?

“That's a good question. Maybe ... "Because your son made me swear to protect your life with mine. I have nothing to say except to accept his condition." Gaultier could be very persistent. As persistent as Armina could be.

"He said that? And you obliged?” She smiled.

"You're different than any royal queen I've met before." She was absolutely different. "That’s probably the other reason." I added.