Chapter 4 Truth, Plan, Allies

HELVISA'S POV

I woke up from a smell of familiar perfume. Armina was sleeping soundly beside me. Hmm, I really need to pee. But the way she tangled her legs like this it's impossible for me to move without waking her up. With her breast brushing against my arm, her hands wrapping on my stomach, and that perfect smile on her face as she sleep, good dream perhaps.

That's nice. She hardly has sweet dreams nowadays. "Hmmmm ..... " oh, she finally turned around her back to me. I took this chance and got up. I smiled when I saw my thigh were 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's almost 5 am, I decided to get myself ready for today. After I'm 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's kinda nice to see the sun rise every now and then.

In Hell, we don't get to see stars or the moon or even the sun. We only get to see flames, flames that slowly but painfully eat every wandering souls. "There you go again with those distance looks." Armina stood beside me. "I have some news for you." I motioned for her to continue. "The queen know about us." Oh did she? "What now? She's going to hang up? 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's not me who keep a distance stare at the view. "Something wrong Armina? Does it hurt?" She shake her head. "You know I can take it." She winked. I chuckled. "Why are you worried?" She shake 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 it's done, it's already 5 am." I chuckled. Armina took this chance to knocked on the prince's door before walking into the dark room.

"Your highness?" Surprisingly this room are 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 will be fun. Calling the crown prince just by his name. "Alright, Gaultier, why aren't you scared of us?" I asked directly. There's no need to hold myself anymore since we called each other by first name bases. "Maybe .... because I feel comfortable with you rather than with humans."

Oh. That's a first. "Gaultier?" That girl are waking up huh. "Gaultier." She called for her brother. "Yes. I'm here sister." We watched him waking 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 kneel beside the bed. She placed her palm on her 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 having this nightmare ever again?" I rolled my eyes. Why does she want to have the same nightmare in the first place?

She nod 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 shoulder for support. I stand beside a wall and rest my back on it while crossing my arms across my chest. "Do it." I commanded. When I saw Armina's eyes turned white, I know she's 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 aside but I pulled her back to me. "Do you want the princess to lost her memory? Relax. Armina just trying to make her forget about the nightmare." I loosen 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 up and then burn us? Drown us?" The queen was speechless by my sudden question bombardment. "I ..... I .... why would I drown my children's saviour?" She manage to say. I shrugged my shoulder. When Armina released her hands from the girl's head, she bow to the queen. I was curious to why Reina didn't move at all. I ignore 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 to the princess's memory. I saw .... the queen ......" she turned to the loving mother and place her trembling hand on my shoulder. "Helvisa, the queen ..... she's ... 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 respond. "The princess saw it all?" Reina nodded. "She was right beside the queen when it happened." I clicked my tongue. Why does the queen insisted on staying with that useless king? It's not because of the kids well being. I'm sure of it.

What is in your mind Gisele Gavreau?

***

I never dream of ever been on a yacht before. This is actually kinda fun for a change. The soft breeze gently hitting my face and whole body. Hmmmm... I wish I could go naked right now. She personally request for me to accompany her and I have 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 worried about my well being if you're with me." That brat!

"At first I have no idea if I should believing in this superstitious claims but, Gaultier never lied to me before and seeing my kids still alive today, make me a believer of what my father once believe as well." Oh, that reminds me. "Who is your father?" She turned to me with ... I don't know that reaction though. "You never have manners before huh?" I simple shake my head. "You know who I'm truly am. I don't do good."

The queen laughed. "My father, he's an explorer. He likes to travel whenever he's free. He's also a legend and myth believer. He believe that creatures like you exist, living among us humans. He's right, somehow." Im curious about something. "You're not a believer?" She shake her head. "I thought it was bull." What a nice thought she have.

"Well, we're standing and breathing in front of you. For 500 years if you curious about it." Her mouth ajar open. "You're old!" I Keep my stoic expression. If only I have a dime when everyone said that in front of me, I could afford to built my on 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 rape you?" Her eyes widen after I said the last part. "How .... it's impossible for you to know that!" Is that anger I'm sensing? "It's possible. Your daughter had that reoccurring dream, the source, because she saw what happened. She heard what he did to you." The queen walked away from me. I probably said too much.

"It's my fault?" She asked before dropped to her knees. The guards surrounded her and asked if she's alright. One of them helped her up and carried her to her room. "You suppose to be taking of her!" The head of security yelled at me. It took everything inside my body to not bending his body like a steel rod. "I am taking care of her by telling her the truth." The guard face palming himself.

"Taking care of her until she fainted??" Oh, he got a point there. "I'll deal with this." I simply said and went to the queen's quarters. I heard a faint sobbed coming from the bathroom. I knocked a few times before opening the door. I felt something tugging inside my dead heart when I saw her crying on the floor. Armina will kill me if she know about this! What should I do? I can't just let her like that.

"I'm ...... so-rry." I can't believe that word actually came out from my mouth. "I'm sorry." I said while pulling her body and hug her. I felt her body trembling as she cried on my chest. For a queen to be this vulnerable, I must screw 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 better, Armina remove 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 on mine as if her life depends on it. "It's time for you to rest. We have a long way to the meeting." I said before picking her up and carried her to the bed. As her body laid on the silky sheet 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 on a chair while watching her sleeping. My eyes wonder inside this room. When I saw these paperwork, I know my hunch was right all along. The king didn't even rule the kingdom, she did. She make all the decision alone while the king busy with the younger female human.

My eyes caught on something that remind 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 Gurgary kingdom wanted to ..... oh no ..... so this meeting .... actually to prevent all of this? The island is on verge of being attack and she's trying to end it in peace?! How naive can 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? Does peace even in a 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 children in my kingdom to face the war. I don't want any of them parentless because of this silly war."

"I've seen war. I fought it long time go. Death comes whether you like it or not." The queen stood up and went to the table where I was sitting on. "You suggest for my kingdom to went on and accept their war invitation? As you may realised, Helvisa, I have a small island that somehow in a way of Gurgary power expanded. 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 kingdom will not stop until your island in their grasp. You think accepting defeat before you could even fight back is the solution? Once you sign those truce, you will lose you 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 about the information Charlene gathered."

What am I doing, helping this human?!

***

After convincing the queen that I should be wearing something other than the maid outfit, the only clothes she has was her black pantsuits. We're 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 verge of war. It always so peaceful in our eyes.

Now that the truth literally slammed on my face, I have the slight need to protect the island Armina and the others love to stayed in. "Do you think this strategy will work?" The queen asked when we waited for the door to be open. "I cant say it yet. I only did what I can from Charlene's investigation. If she's right, there's a chance Gurgary will take your island." I simply said.

We both march down the meeting room. "Oh ... Queen Gisele and ......" they seems to question my purpose to be in the room. "My chamberlain and personal advisor." Smooth safe. "Armel and Noel didn't take your place for today?" Is he mocking her? "No. I decided to finally come in person." This man look like he's not fond of Gisele being here. But for her, she looks like she's been in this situation many times.

"I hope you read thoroughly our plan to just accept defeat before war even struck our beloved island." Our island? He's from Gavreau? "I did prime minister but I have something to present." Alright queen Gisele, show me what you got. She passed the paper I wrote earlier. The prime minister and the others gasped when they read them.

"You want to defy them?! You want to defy such strong country to protect an island that has no future whatsoever?" The queen nodded. "As far as I know, our island has the most advance weapon and tanks in the world. I don't see why I should be backing down." I heard the prime minister clicking his tongue when he looked away. He acted like he's not fond of this idea. Does 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 win against this war! Are you trying to kill our soldier? Our citizen? 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 strong country. Do you want the name Gavreau to be banished from the very face of this earth?" The prime minister stick to his original plan, avoiding counterattack. I cleared my throat when I think it's my turn to speak. "If I may interrupt. I'm sure we will win this war. I'll bet my life of it. If we surrender now, the island of Gavreau will be gone forever. Why shouldn't we prepared for war. There's no harm in keeping your island safe."

"And who are you suppose to be, outsider." Seems like I hit some nerve. "I am Helvisa. The Gavreau royal family personal chamberlain." The prime minister along with the others man and woman who sit on 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 talk like she can beat these Grugary Kingdoms elite soldier." A woman scoffed. "You'll be dead before their king could say charge." The ministers laughed at me. Oh I think they will be surprise by the way Armina work this things out later on. I slammed my hands on the table with so much strength, I felt Gisele pulled my pants. Probably worried that the table might break.

"You'll be surprise 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'm sure the queen might be confuse but she will understand later on. The prime minister smirked. "Alright. Show us how many allies will protect the little island that only will be banish!"

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 looks. This is 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 ways to deal with this but I do need more information about Grugary calvary power." The queen seems to have second thought about trusting me. "Alright. 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's 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 for accepting his condition." Gaultier can be very persistent. As persistent like Armina can be. "He said that? And you oblige?" She smiled. "You're different that any royal queen I've met before." She's absolutely different.

"That's probably the other reason." I added.