~~~~
Nothing quite brings out the activity in a kingdom like an attempted assassination. The days following the attack were like a whirlwind to Serena. The royal guard was mobilized in mass, Lady Ze was recalled back to the palace, and the nobility was in complete panic. The young maid was incredibly grateful for Lady Aphros’s presence, who guided her through the worst of it. Still, that didn’t save the young woman from several hours-long sessions of questioning and going over every detail of their day leading up to the assassination attempt.
“This has been a hell of a month,” Serena admitted to herself as she retired to her room. It wasn’t that different from the one she lived in at the fort, albeit a little bigger and nicer. Orion was even in the neighboring room. ‘To think, a few months ago, I was about as typical as they come. How’d I get so tangled up in the highest-level politics?’
“Serena, is that you?” Orion popped into her room. The young man didn’t look tired for once.
“No, I’m her evil twin,” Serena joked. “Hey Orion, how has your job been going?”
“Oh, Princess Atlanta is quite the refined lady,” the young man answered. “She certainly expects less of me than Lady Aphros ever did. I’d ask how your duty has been going, but…”
“The rumor mill has already run its course?” Serena asked.
“Well, it is rather hard to hide a gunshot in public. Even at a private high rise,” Orion explained. “The palace hasn’t made a public announcement yet, but it’s basically an open secret among the palace staff and, according to some, the press.”
“Lovely,” Serena threw herself face-first into her bed.
“Is it true you deflected the assassin’s bullet with a table knife?” Orion inquired with his usual sincerity.
“Who the hell told you that?” Serena sprang up.
“So, it isn’t true then?” The blonde asked.
“Of course not. Can you?” Serena barked.
“Well, I’ve never tried. I saw Lady Ze do it once, though,” Orion admitted.
“I…really? Oh, never mind. Don’t believe everything you hear, okay?” Serena slumped back onto her bed.
~--~
In the following days, Serena found her usual escapades with Princess Irene were joined by an entire squad of palace guards. Thankfully, having about a dozen well-trained men and women at her side made it much easier for Serena to corral the princess. Thus, less time was spent chasing the girl across the halls, and more was spent shuttling her from place to place.
For once, they were actually on time to each of Irene’s various lessons, not that it mattered much as the little girl still refused to hold still or pay attention. Then again, even her teachers became guilty of the same thing. Most spent their times constantly looking over their shoulder, afraid that another assassin would burst into the room. The squad of guards certainly didn’t help diffuse the tension any. At one such lesson, one of the teachers nearly suffered a nervous breakdown and stepped out to calm themselves. In their absence, Lady Aphros slipped into the room.
“Leave us,” Aphros ordered the guards.
“But, my lady,” the leader of the squad replied.
“Leave us,” Aphros repeated with authority.
“As you wish,” the squad reluctantly stepped outside.
“Is there a problem, Lady Aphros?” Serena inquired.
“Nope, just wanted to check on you two,” Lady Aphros put on her usual smile, but it was noticeably forced.
“Well, the princess…” Serena looked at her charge. Irene skipped about the room without a care in the world.
“Yes, she’s always been like that,” Aphros sighed. “She takes after her mother in that respect…Anyway, how are you feeling?”
“Overwhelmed, uncertain, concerned,” Serena found herself doing the same nervous ticks as all of Irene’s teachers.
“That’s to be expected,” Aphros nodded. “Anything in particular?”
“Well…I never got a chance to ask you because of the insanity of the last few days, but,” Serena gathered her thoughts. “I noticed we were going to be attacked before it happened. I only avoided the bullet because I realized someone was going to shoot us before I even knew they had a gun.”
“That’s also to be expected,” Lady Aphros nodded.
“Huh?” Serena was left even more confused than before.
“Let’s just say, there’s a reason why your family is chosen exclusively to serve the royal family,” Aphros winked. The blonde then reached into her pocket and retrieved a small, cylindrical, black object. “Here, you might need this in the near future. You’ll know when to use it.”
“Lady Aphros?” Serena received the item. It was pretty heavy for its size and had a little button hidden on the side. Pressing it revealed it to be a cleverly disguised dagger. “Lady Aphros, I could never…”
“Hush,” the blonde shushed her. “There may come a time when you’ll need to defend both your and the princess’s life. I know most would say a servant must save their master even at the cost of their own life, but I think that’s a little too sad.”
“I understand,” Serena nodded, although the dagger still weighed heavily in her hand. With Aphros’s help, she slipped the blade into one of the hidden pockets littered throughout her uniform.
“The other reason I came today was something that somewhat involves you,” Lady Aphros admitted. “Your cousin is being implicated as an element of the assassination.”
“What?” Serena was taken aback.
“A few of the higher nobles of a certain faction are looking for someone to blame,” Aphros explained. “Your cousin left on less than pleasant terms with the royal family, namely the third princess. Thus, she is seen as someone with a motive. Or at least, someone who could have information pried from them.”
“I understand that, but would she really…?” Serena started to say but stopped herself before Irene heard them. “I mean, that still doesn’t explain how they knew we’d be there.”
“Yeah, well, as the owner of said building, that’s of special interest to me as well,” Lady Aphros commented. Serena quickly noted just how poorly this situation likely reflected on the noblewoman. “There is something you can do for me, Serena, something only you’ll be able to.”
“Me? But I’m just a maid,” Serena pointed out.
“Yes, exactly,” Aphros nodded. “You’re also cousins with a certain someone who is a primary suspect. A cousin without previous contact, but perhaps enough in common you could forge a connection.”
“You mean me to…?” Serena realized the course of the conversation.
“After a little crash course on getting people to open up, I’d like you to speak to your cousin,” Lady Aphros stated. “Any information you can get out of her could be useful. Even the right reaction.”
“I’m not sure. I don’t know her, or if she’ll even speak to me,” Serena admitted.
“Then don’t go as a representative of the palace. Go as a family member looking for advice,” Aphros advised. “No pressure, but a few lives do hang in the balance. Not just the princess’s.”
“I’ll try,” Serena bowed.
~--~
Orion stood at attention alongside Princess Atlanta. The two were situated in the palace gardens; the latter sat in a reclining chair sipping tea while the former held a tray of sweets and biscuits. Despite the peaceful atmosphere, Princess Atlanta had a scowl on her face. Orion didn’t quite understand the girl’s moods at the best of times, but this was something else entirely.
“Orion, I’m discontent,” Atlanta proclaimed.
“I’ll go scare the birds out of the tree again,” Orion sighed.
“No, not that,” the princess corrected. “It’s this whole assassination business. Who do those people think they are, putting a hit out on my little sister like that?”
“I’m uncertain, my princess,” Orion knew to let her vent. ‘It’s nice to see her care for her sister,’ he thought to himself.
“Why didn’t they go after me instead of the little brat?” Atlanta continued.
‘Oh,’ Orion realized what she was actually mad about. “I’m uncertain of that as well. Perhaps they had a specific vendetta against your sibling?”
“That makes even less sense. She may be an uncontrollable brat, but she hasn’t wronged anyone,” the princess declared. “Except maybe her former attendants, but not enough to wish her dead,” Atlanta admitted. “Besides, even if they did want her dead, they wouldn’t have the money, connection, nor the resources to pull this off.”
“Ah yes, there is a talk over how they’d knew she’d be there, how they bypassed security and how they got up there in the first place,” Orion commented.
“This whole situation stinks of some deeper motive,” Atlanta declared.
“May I be so bold as to presume my princess already has a theory?” Orion bowed.
“Of course, I do,” the princess puffed out her chest. “Not about how they did it, I bet that was all spur of the moment. Mere luck that my sister was out of the palace. No, I think this is but a part in grander conspiracy…”
~--~
Serena had never been in this part of the city before; the lower rungs of their fair metropolis were not a familiar sight. While the terms seedy and impoverished had long since fallen from the collective lexicon of her society, that did not mean there wasn’t a dark underbelly to their civilization. Beneath the layers of crystal and gemstones laid the old-world buildings, crumbling concrete, asphalt, and brick filled the young woman’s eyes.
This underground layer of the city was home to the outcasts of their society. The disgraced, the violent, those who did not fit in, and those who chose not to fit in. Serena instantly recognized a few former politicians among the thin crowds, as well as one or two infamously violent people. The culture shock left Serena feeling more than a little dirty.
The young woman had also attracted several stares, some curious, others were angry, and a few with intent. Serena couldn’t tell if they were waiting for her to do something wrong or if they were waiting for her to drop her guard. The black-haired girl decided to stay vigilant as she rushed to her destination. Thankfully, she had switched out of her maid uniform and into plain street clothes, which would hopefully deflect the worst of the attention.
“Hey, girlie,” a particular brawny man approached her. “You lost?”
“No, now leave me be,” Serena tried to move past him.
“Hey, that’s not very polite, now is it?” The man tried to grab her.
“Don’t make me use this,” Serena pulled her newly acquired hidden dagger on him.
“Woah, woah, no need to be violent,” the man backed off.
“Then leave me be. I’m busy,” Serena rushed away. ‘I’m so glad Lady Aphros taught me how to deal with people down here.’ Despite how the area presented itself, most of the individuals were not hardened criminals or in desperate poverty. Even these outcasts still lived relatively comfortably. After all, only 1% were working class, and the only members of the working class that should be here were Serena and her cousin.
‘Now that I think about it, if Aphros knew how to deal with them, does she comes down here too?’ Serena thought. ‘Best not to think about it,’ she dismissed the thought and finally found her destination. It was an old bar with a sign that read “Brando’s.” Serena pushed open the door and saw the interior mostly empty. There were a few patrons and a single bartender, but notably among them was a young woman with long black hair nursing a beer.
“Victoria Di-” Serena approached the woman.
“Don’t you finish that fucking name,” the woman snapped at her. “I told you, people, I’m not coming back.”
“I didn’t even say anything yet,” Serena was put off by the other woman’s aggression.
“I know you people. I can tell by your fancy smell,” Victoria sniffed. “You’ve got…her scent on you.”
“I’m not here to bring you back. I’m just here to ask some questions,” Serena explained.
“Oh wonderful, an interrogation again, I’m out,” Victoria began to stand up.
“No, advice,” Serena corrected.
“Advice, why would…? Oh,” Victoria laughed. “You’re the poor sap they got to replace me, huh? How is the little brat?”
“Uncontrollable and unyielding,” Serena replied.
“Sounds about right,” Victoria sipped her beer.
“So, you wouldn’t happen to know any tricks to corral here?” Serena began.
“Corral her?” Victoria laughed again. “If I knew that, do you think I’d be down here drinking this crap? You want my advice? I’ll tell you what I told the last few guys, run and don’t look back.”
“Last few guys?” Serena tried her best to sound confused.
“Let me give you some real advice, kid,” Victoria stated. Serena chose not to point out her cousin was likely no more than a year or two older than her. “If you hang out here too long, some folks can piece together who you are. Then they tell the shadiest kind of people, and those creeps come to shake you down for all the info in your noggin.”
“That’s…” Serena couldn’t find the right words to respond.
“But, there’s this thing about being a worker. They tell you nothing. They give you nothing,” Victoria ranted. “All they want from you is to follow that little brat like a loyal lamb until you keel over and die. That ain’t going to be me!”
‘What is she going on about? Lady Aphros has been nothing short of forthcoming with information,’ Serena thought. ‘At least, I think she has?’
“Oh, I see that look in your eyes. Confused, right?” Victoria muttered. “You think those nobles give a damn about you? You might think they’re keeping you in the loop, but they’re not. They only tell you just enough to string you along with whatever plan they have. You’re a worker drone kid, and you only exist to do what they can’t, or more frequently, don’t want to do.”
Serena didn’t reply and took a moment to soak in Victoria’s rant. She didn’t want to doubt Lady Aphros, especially considering how cordial she’s been. Still, the young woman couldn’t help but wonder what she wasn’t being told. This whole situation had grown far more uncomfortable than she expected.
“If it wasn’t for that stupid brat, I’d still have that cushy job in the palace,” Victoria grumbled. “Cooking and cleaning were no big deal, but no, I had to be made her personal servant. Such fucking bullshit. I’m not surprised someone put a hit on her. Even the nobles are sick of her shit. I know a certain few who are. I’ve spilled the beans on who before, and maybe I’d do it again. Course, I’m the loose thread in all this, the disgruntled former servant and all. I bet it’ll only be a matter of time before they come marching down to blame part of this on me.”
“There she goes again,” the bartender commented. “You best leave, little girl. Once Vic gets like this, she won’t be stopping for a while. You wouldn’t be the first to get her worked up like this.”
“R-right,” Serena sighed and stepped away. ‘Well, all I learned is that she’s been venting this to a bunch of people for a while. Of course, all that’s going to be useful for is helping someone pass the blame to her.’
~--~
“The truth is Orion,” Princess Atlanta explained, “I’ve made no secret of my more colorful opinions towards my youngest sister.”
“I see,” Orion nodded. “I wasn’t aware.”
“Well, we can thank Serena for keeping her under control for the most part recently,” Atlanta sipped her tea. “I haven’t felt the need to complain. Alas, that wasn’t so when…what’s her name…? Tori? Vicky?...That other maid was here.”
“Okay,” Orion remained professional.
“I may have vented on her for failing to control my siblings, and so did Lady Aphros. Perhaps that’s what contributed to her leaving so quickly and suddenly,” the princess revealed. “Now, in truth, I am merely annoyed and frustrated with my sister’s behavior, but not many know that. Now tell me, how easy would it be to misconstrue my frustrated venting as something more…vicious.”
“It would depend, but in the right hands…” Orion nodded.
“Now imagine someone wanted to tie this all back to me by prying my frustrated rambling out of a disgruntled former maid,” Atlanta theorized. “Next, there’s an inexplicable assassination attempt on my youngest sister. The only person with the slightest motive couldn’t possibly pull it off, but what if they pried the right kind of confession out of her?”
“It’d certainly be a bad look, but there’d be no way to convict you on such a confession,” Orion pointed out.
“There’s no need. The right political force would only use it to aid in their attempt to discredit me. It would cast doubt on my sanity,” the princess explained, “and more importantly on my worthiness as a successor. I know plenty who’d prefer the second princess over me as an heir.”
“That’s certainly a well-thought-out reasoning,” Orion nodded, his thoughts briefly turning to concern over Serena being caught in the middle of this.
~--~
‘Well, that was a bust,’ Serena sighed as she made her way out of the underground. ‘Aw crap,’ she spotted several figures moving to surround her.
“Don’t be alarmed. We’re not here to harm you,” the largest figure approached. They were all garbed in face and body concealing cloaks.
“Just stay back,” Serena fingered her hidden dagger.
“There’s no need,” the figure assured. “You wouldn’t be down here if you didn’t feel the same as we do.”
“I don’t…” Serena tried to reply.
“Don’t worry, we speak for Lady Aphros,” the figure explained. “I’m sure you’re as eager as we are to see this through.”
“Oh, and what would that be?” Serena played coy.
“We want the second in power,” the figure leaned up to Serena’s ear, “and I’m sure you’d love to be rid of that brat.” It took every ounce of Serena’s self-control to maintain her composure.
To Be Continued…
~~~~
Until next time, Read, Comment and Enjoy
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