Chapter 331 - [Bonus ]Repaying The Kindness
Esther still didn't answer her. Sensing her hesitation,? the Queen made a gesture that she understood the girl's dilemma... "Perhaps, are you reluctant because of your extraordinary abilities?"
The blond girl let out a faint smile, which told the Queen that she guessed right. "I believe you prefer to live alone because you wish to live a quiet life, and the fewer people you contact with, the lesser the chance your abilities will be exposed. However, my dear, after helping the Queen of Megaris, it will be impossible for you to go back to your hermit-like living. There will be many people curious about you. Even at this point, I believe it is not only my son trying to find out about your background. So, since it is impossible for you to keep yourself hidden, isn't it better for you to be by my side, where they cannot touch you?
"Moreover, don't you want to try staying among people instead of hiding all by yourself in the forest? We can have meals together, oh, and if you have hobbies—do you like painting? Needlework? Playing instruments? Wait, you wield a short sword, don't you? You can become my sparring partner. Doesn't spending time that way sound better for a young person like you? Sounds appealing, isn't it? Why don't you give living with me a try?"
Esther was still silent and the Queen didn't know what was going on in her mind. She could only sigh.
"As I owe you my life, as a rule of the Ivanovs, I have to repay you, and my life is not cheap, you know? I simply do not want my saviour to live an unhappy life. Such a wonderful and kind girl you are, I wish to repay you by giving you a good life."
Queen Theodora then reached out to gently squeeze Esther's hands.
"I will stop here and will no longer persuade you. You know your situation best. If you need something else, you can tell me—and no, you cannot say you need nothing and then disappear from my sight. Do not ask me to let you go without being given a chance to repay you. If you won't let me repay you, my conscience will never let me rest, and I will never be able to live a peaceful life. Do you want that to happen, hmm? That I become an ingrate who does not know how to repay your life-saving grace?"
The caramel eyes of the young woman closed themselves as she let out a long shaky sigh. She would never want anyone to suffer because of her. When she opened them, there was tenderness in her resigned gaze.
"I agree to stay with you," Esther said slowly, "but one day I will leave, and at that time, I hope Your Majesty won't stop me."
The Queen let out a delighted laugh as she squeezed the young lady's hands again. "Thank you, my dear. I won't stop you but…do me a favour, that the one day you are referring to should not come before five years."
'Five years?' Esther thought with curiosity. 'I have been wandering everywhere for so long, five years is not much for me. In fact, it's just the right length of time…'
Queen Theodora felt truly glad Esther agreed to what she said. The Queen had thoughts about keeping her by her side since the moment she regained consciousness and found this young lady next to her.
She had countless questions about who this young lady was and why she was living in the woods. She also remembered that this young lady possessed powers, and since she was not an ordinary person, she must have troubles of her own. She truly wanted to keep Esther by her side, and she was glad it worked out perfectly.
Queen Theodora studied the smiling young woman, and she felt a certain kind of intimacy with her. It was a strange yet funny thing because despite being a total stranger, Esther gave her a sense of familiarity.
Queen Theodora appeared more relaxed after she had gotten Esther's promise that she would remain by her side. The Queen then invited her to have lunch together in her chamber.
Esther was aware of the immense difference between their social status—the distance between royalty and commoners was like heaven and earth, so she did not dare accept it. Moreover, the woman in front of her was not just any ordinary member of the royal family, but the mother of the Crown Prince and the one and only queen of this kingdom.
"This… I? dare not accept such an offer, Your Majesty," Esther replied. The fact that she was labelled the Queen's person had already somehow spread within the estate, and when she was on the way to the Queen's room earlier, she had already been on the receiving end of envious stares.
"Oh, dear. Of course, you can and you should. You are my saviour and I am indebted to you. You don't have to think about our status," the Queen insisted.
Esther could only reluctantly agree to it. "But… only this once. Even for nobles, it is an immense honour to dine with the Queen. I am but a commoner. After this, please treat me? like any of your other subjects, Your Majesty."
The Queen merely smiled. "Fine!"
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Meanwhile, Prince Theron was busy handling the matter of the attack. Because of the relentless pursuit of the royal knights and the soldiers provided by the western aristocrats, it only took them half a day to catch all the rebels who were still alive. Many of them could not run far due to their injuries, while the others were caught because the borders of the western territory had already been blockaded by the guards the moment news of the attack was reported to their territory lords. Among those who sustained heavy injuries, most were caused by the powers used by Esther when she was trying to protect the Queen inside the forest.
"Send them to Blackhelm," Prince Theron instructed his knights. "I want them locked in the underground torture chamber for several nights. Make the trial public, and schedule the execution upon my and my mother's return."
"I have received your orders, Your Highness!"
As everything was settled, Prince Theron wished to inform his mother about this personally. He called one of his trusted knights to pass a message to Queen Theodora that he wished to have a late midday meal with her.
'How long has it been since the last time we ate together?'
Even though they were both living in the Royal Palace of Megaris, he hardly got time to spend with his mother due to his busy schedule as the Crown Prince of this kingdom. He remembered that when he was younger, he often looked forward to them eating together in her garden. He was reminded that as her son, he shouldn't neglect her despite his schedule. Now that they were outside the palace and things were nearly wrapped up, he could take some time off to stay with her.. She was injured, almost did not survive the ordeal; he didn't wish to leave her alone and wanted to use this time to be with his mother to take care of her as her son.