[MUSIC RECOMMENDATION: NOTHING ~ KIM GUN MO]
Axilla sat inside the carriage, and as it moved far away from the palace, it dawned on her that she was really leaving on her own accord. Last time she left because of circumstances, but now she left because she wanted to. The thought made her a little scared; occasionally, she would look through the carriage window to catch a final glimpse of the palace.
"You know we haven’t gone far; you can go back if you want to, Axilla," Larel called her attention, noticing how often the girl turned her head back.
Axilla shook her head, "I really want to go, just that..." Her voice trailed.
Larel noticed the girl was holding back, "Why are you leaving the palace?" She asked, trying to give her room to think about it.
Axilla bit her lips. Why was she leaving? Was it so she could apologize to the young master? That would be insane of her. Then what was her actual reason? She tried to think of something. She lacked nothing back at the palace; she had her freedom, surrounded by everyone that loved her. But why did it suddenly feel empty when she heard the young master had left? Was it truly because of him that she was leaving? These questions conflicted with Axilla’s thoughts.
"I... because I... I left the palace because..."
"You don’t have to know the answer now, but just make sure you’re not being forced. Outside, there is another world altogether. Nobody would tell you how to live your life or anything. You just have yourself and what you want to do," Larel remarked, noticing the look of worry on the girl’s face.
Axilla bit her lips, "I would just serve you then, as a maid." She muttered.
Larel chuckled, "When Queen Kitanna allowed you to leave the palace, it means you’re now a free soul. I heard you were never a maid to start with; you just came to help the princess at that time. Axilla, you’re now a free soul. You’re not embarking on this journey as my maid, and me too, I don’t think I want a maid anymore. I want to train Labre under normal settings; I’ll learn everything I need to make him a normal boy," including how to cook, Larel completed in her mind.
Axilla bit her lips. She was not a maid anymore? Yes, she was never born as one, but... but... if she wasn’t a maid, then what would she be doing? The thoughts overwhelmed Axilla; she was going to an unknown land as a free soul.
"You don’t have to be worried; take it step by step. Carefully write the pages of your life the way you want it, and make sure to enjoy every bit of it. Don’t waste it because a second chance is not always assured." Larel’s voice sounded a little distant as she remembered how her life had started. She had been so in love with Khelan, dreaming of their beautiful family one day, but in the end, her heart was broken to pieces.
Axilla allowed the words of Larel to sink into her bones; also, the words of Kitanna resounded in her mind. Then the image she had seen that night replayed in her mind. Was it what the outside world was like? Everyone smoking and doing atrocious things with people they didn’t know. Axilla gulped; she decided to take it slowly until she understood exactly what she wanted. It was the beginning of a new journey for her.
At Odel, Nix and his men confiscated the herbs that made people high in the village. While closing down shops that sold them, before they could arrive at Hubert’s inn, the man had already packed his things and escaped from the village.
The people who had been addicted to the herbs were moved into separate rooms, keeping them there until they finally withdrew from it. It was not an easy task; at the end of the day, Nix and his men were so exhausted, and it had just been a day since their arrival.
"Your Majesty," one of Nix’s guards bowed to him.
"Your room has been made ready," he announced.
Nix got up from the chair he had been resting on, making his way to the room he was going to sleep in that night. Opening the door, it was a decent-looking room, with a bed and a chair. On the table was a small candle that was almost burning out.
Nix removed his shoe and climbed on the bed; his whole body ached, but a warm bath was a luxury around a place like this. He couldn’t wait to finish his job and go back to his wife. Kitanna’s brown eyes flashed in his mind again, reminding him of her usual mischievous grin.
"I hope you’re okay, little wild eye," Nix muttered, settling properly on the bed to sleep when his hands touched something. No, it was someone.
Nix swiftly brought his sword, which he kept close, and he drew it, pointing at the intruder.
"Who sent you?!" He barked, feeling irritated with the idea of another woman that was not Kitanna, in the same bed with him. A naked woman at that. Nix’s eyes narrowed when he saw the woman push aside the blanket, revealing her bare chest.
The woman sat on the bed without saying anything, her eyes looking straight at Nix like she didn’t understand the question that was directed to her.
It was as if the candle burned brighter for a moment, casting its brightness on the woman’s face. Nix noticed something on her neck; he moved closer for a moment, and this made the woman smile like she had achieved what she came for.
Nix blinked; it was his father’s amulet. The last time he saw it was a day before he died. What was it doing on this woman’s neck now?
"Who are you?" Nix muttered, now looking at the woman’s face, but it was very unfamiliar. Who was it that was playing with his head then?
The woman finally spoke, "Your father sent-"
"Get out!" Nix barked, not allowing the woman to complete the rubbish she wanted to spout.
Taken aback for a moment, as the reaction she got was not what she expected. The woman tried to touch Nix.
"The next word would be with your head on the floor." His voice had turned cold and pissed off; he didn’t want to indulge in the game this woman and whoever sent her was playing.
The woman scrambled out of the room. Before she could reach the door, she heard Nix say,
"Wait." The woman smiled victoriously for a moment; no man has ever resisted her charm, maybe he was back to his senses. She thought.
Nix got down from the bed, grabbing the chain from the woman’s neck. He pushed her out of his room and locked the door. Not wanting to lie down on the same bed, Nix moved to sleep on the chair dangling the amulet on his hand.
"Who are you?" Nix muttered.