Chapter 49 - Operation Border Hopping Part One
"Hmmm… How long was that maid in your service?" Ceilie asked. She had some understanding of how things worked in the royal and noble households, thanks to Ray always talking about it. The inner court fighting was something that came with being in a household with many wives. Ceilie was surprised at how violent these things can turn out to be with beating people to death, poisoning, and sometimes things worse than death like drugging girls with aphrodisiacs and having servants r*pe them. And this was just a fraction of the things done.
This meant just because a maid had been at your side since the day you were born did not mean much when human greed and false promises could make these servants turn their back on their owner in an instant. Some fancy jewelry here and better treatment there can turn a loyal maid who acted as your sister into a vicious villain who will stab you in the back just because of a jade ring. Ray had even told them a story of two sisters marrying the same man. At first, everything was great between the two until one became pregnant and the other slowly lost favor. The one who lost favor became full of jealousy and greed, wanting her husband's attention. She set a trap to make it look like her blood related sister had committed adultery and the baby in her belly was not her husband's child. The husband did not even think twice before beheading the poor girl. And these were girls who had just come of age. All fifteen to sixteen years of age who are acting in such a vicious manner.
"She was with me for five years after my nanny was called to my younger sister's side. But Little Lim, although younger than me, was a very hard worker. I treated her very well; there was no way she would betray me." Princess Tilia really did not understand what Ceilie was getting at.
"Did this Lim girl ever suddenly have nicer clothes or jewelry that a servant really shouldn't have? That was not gifted by you that is." Ceilie asked.
"Now that you mention it. I saw her wearing a new set of earrings with precious gems embedded in them. You don't mean to sa… No, that's impossible! Little Lim would never…" Princess Tilia did not even finish what she was saying because she knew down deep that this might be the case.
"So let me get this straight. Are you saying that this Lim girl sold out Tilia for a little bit of benefit?" Kana asked. She had been listening to the two, and it sounded like one of the books she had read, well, part of a book she read since it seemed to be a series. It was about a girl fighting for her place to become an empress. The name of the novel was something, something phoenix.
"That is exactly what I am saying. Her maid that she had trusted with her most confidential secrets had sold her master out at the first sign of benefits. My guess is one of the princes promised to make her his concubine. This would elevate her status to something close to a noble, guaranteeing her a better lifestyle where she would never have to work as a servant again.
"This at least lets us know how the word was spread. I hate to tell you that it was more than likely the maid spilled the beans. " Ceilie couldn't say this with one hundred percent certainty, but it was the best place to start if Princess Tilia ever decided to check into things.
"Ngh… Kana, can you share your blood with me and make me a dragon? The more I see the bad side of humans, the more I wish to not be one…" Princess Tilia had tears in her eyes. To be betrayed by someone she trusted did not feel good. She had treated Lim as her sister. They even had slumber parties without the other maids knowing where they would talk about this and that.
"Tilia, we said we would help as much as we can, and we promised Pepelt that we would protect you. But we are not going to stand by your side just because we promised Pepelt anything. I do not know if I can speak for Ceilie. But I have come to take a liking to you and see you as a friend. Ceilie and I want to have a peaceful life which is why we are heading to the Rural Kingdom in the first place. But that would be pointless if we let the humans invade and disrupt our peaceful lives if we had a chance to stop it. I will not say I am out to save the world, but I do want to live a peaceful life and level up so I can cast cool spells. What I am getting at is I will accompany you to the capital." Kana wanted to begin her new life free of worry, but it seemed it was one thing after the other she was getting involved in. Although she did not want anything to do with war this time around, she did not mind sticking her snout into the mess. Only because if Rural was invaded, she would be on the run again.
"I am with Kana on this. In my life, I have only trusted a few people. My parents and Kana. But Tilia, I will put my trust in you and watch to see if you can stop this war. Otherwise, I will take Kana by the tail and run away with all my might. We have had enough of fighting humans. "