Minnielle took the ring from Angelique and left quickly for the bank. “I promise to get everything sorted out, and you can apologize in person once you’re out!”
Angelique still remembered her words clearly. It had been 6 hours since she had left, and Angelique was more bored than ever. “I really want to leave this place.” she groaned. She had no change of clothes beside the nightgowns she was given and decided to wrap herself in the flowing robe to cover her thin dressing.
Her knuckles rapped the door. “Hello there? Is anyone outside? Can you please tell Alishe that I need a walk?” There was only silence. Angelique pressed her ear to the door carefully and could hear murmurs. “I know someone’s outside, please, let me out?”
The door clicked, and she stepped back as it slowly opened. “Can I come out?” she asked. The face of a knight peeked in. “My apologies Alishen, the Alishe has instructed me to not let you out.” Angelique racked her brains for a solution. “Can you make an exception just this once? I’ll only walk the hallway! I promise. I just need some change of scenery!”
The knights exchanged a glance and looked back at her. “Very well, but only for a moment.” The door opened and the grand hallway of the estate was revealed. Angelique seemed to shine brightly. “Finally, some fresh air!” she laughed, confidently marching out of the room. The nights seemed shocked at her appearance, messy hair, bare feet, and revealing clothing. “My Alishen, pardon our rudeness, but shall we call the maids over to change your attire?”
“No thank you, I’m fine like this. I don't like having too many maids around me anyway,” she said, starting her walk around the hall. Her hand rested on the ornamental lining of the wall as she walked, gliding past the patterns and textures all plated in gold. “What an expensive hallway. I’ve never seen such a waste.” She sighed. “Wouldn't you agree?” Her head turned to the guards following her, they stayed silent and didn't answer.
“It's just a shame, you know. I think everyone in this kingdom could benefit from these decorations becoming charity money, and yet here we are, stashing it away for no reason.” Angelique turned to face the guards, walking backward. “So, what are your names? Do you work with the Alishe’s private guard troop, or are you part of the state?” The guards looked at each other and answered. “My Alishen, my name is Sir Thomson, and this is my subordinate, Sir Richard. We are part of the Alishe’s private troop.”
“Ooh! How interesting! So, you reside on the grounds? Where?”
“The west field is where our barracks and training grounds are located.”
“I’ll have to visit sometime and thank you all for your service!”
“That's really not necessary my Alishen, we are only here to protect you and the Alishe, it's our job.”
“No! That's nonsense, even if it is just your job if you do it well you deserve congratulations,” Angelique recalled her own family chain of high-class restaurants, and how they visited and rewarded all of their workers each month with bonuses and celebrations. ‘That's how it should be, I should uphold those practices while I’m here.’
Angelique sat cross-legged on the floor in front of the large windows to the lake. “See that lake?” she said, the guards looking closer. “That's where I almost died last month. Can you believe it? But, I don't feel afraid of it, even though I almost died.” Angelique tared at its calm blue waters. “I find it more...peaceful, don't you?”
The door slammed at the end of the hallways. “What is she doing out of the bedroom?” the voice commanded. Angelique turned around her heart racing. It was Julian, slowly stomping towards her. His hand stretched out towards her and she quickly flinched back with a shout, shielding her face.
The guards both bowed. “I apologize to my Alishe, the Alishen insisted on taking a walk.” They both looked at Angelique quivering slightly, still shielding. Julian grasped her right hand and began to drag her back to the room as she struggled. “Let me go!” she pleaded, pulling back. ‘This is some serious deja vu, and I don't like how it will end.’ Angelique went limp and let herself be dragged by the wrist. ‘It's better to give in than lose my other hand.’
She was tossed into the room and Julian turned to the guards. “Go to your 2nd Commander and accept punishment. You do not take orders from the Alishen, but me.”
The guards were just about to accept when Angelique scrambled in front of them. “It's my fault don't punish them! I’ll receive their punishment instead! After all, they were only being loyal to you, I lied to them and said you would have allowed me out.” Julian's anger only rose, to the point where he couldn't even control his actions. “Guards, take her to the west barrack and allow her to receive both your punishments, now!”
The guards seized Angelique by both her arms and brought her out of the hallway to the spiral staircase. They were all silent as they walked downstairs. “So, what is this punishment?” Angelique asked, finally calming her racing heart. The guards stared at her. “My Alishen, you shouldn't have done that. Our punishments are easy for us, but for someone as frail as yourself, I don't think you’ll manage.” Angelique laughed. “I wouldn't have it any other way. I don't want anyone to take the blame for me, so just silently support me, now, what's this punishment?”
“10 laps around the estate border. For us, it takes 6 hours to run 10, so for 20 laps you'll most likely run for…” the guard took a moment to estimate, “20 hours, maybe?” The two guards stared into Angelique’s face. She did seem a bit uneasy, but said, “I love a good challenge. This will be easy. But, will I get to change my clothes?”
…
Angelique stared at the sprawling training grounds. There were swords clashing and men in shining armor fighting and laughing. The guards let go of her arms, and she walked calmly beside them, looking around in awe. “How incredible!” she whispered.
A man with a large body and short brown hair walked up to the group, a sword drawn in his hand. On his face, a jagged scar crossed his cheek. The two guards stood and saluted the man stiffly. “Greetings to the 2nd Commander.”
Angelique looked up at him as he was almost two heads taller than her. The man stared down at her. “At ease, men. Who’s this little girl with you?” Angelique immediately interrupted what they were about to say. “I’m from the kitchen department! I’m here to receive punishment for breaking a row of dishes.” She said, bowing slightly. The guards blinked at her with bewilderment but stayed quiet.
The 2nd Commander looked at the two guards, who nodded. “Yes, she shall receive double the ordinary punishment, as per the Alishe’s orders. She also needs to change her clothes.” The 2nd commander looked Angelique up and down once again and ordered one of his servants to prepare her a new set of training clothes. “So, little miss, do you think you can handle it alone? Or should we follow you in case you collapse.” he chuckled.
Angelique shrugged. “Do what you please, 2nd Commander. I have no preference.” The commander accepted the clothes his servant brought back and passed them to Angelique. “These two will be your guides and will monitor your punishment. Now go, you can use the stalls over there to get changed.” He stuck his thumb toward a row of wooden shacks on the hill.
Angelique changed her clothes quickly, stashing her dress in the corner and putting on the loose shirt and knee-length pants. For shoes, she had thin slippers, and she used a wad of long grass to tie up her hair. “Let's go!” She cheered, walking from the shed and beckoning to the guards.
They walked as the sun set lazily on the estate until they reached the closest border. Angelique’s legs wobbled by the time they arrived.
“Do I just start running?” she asked, looking down the road. “Yes, just follow the road all the way around. It should be relatively safe.”
Angelique smiled at them. “Thank you! Make sure you both get some rest tonight and wish me luck!” She turned to the track and started running. ‘This was the dumbest decision I’ve ever made. I’m an idiot. What human being can run for 20 hours.’
Angelique stared at the moon rising in front of her. “This is going to hurt very soon.”
…
The first lap was finished when the moon was directly above Angelique’s head. It had taken an hour to complete, and she was left in great pain from just the single lap. ‘The old Angelique's body is frail. She not only has a body like a princess, but has sustained multiple injuries, lack of food, poisoning, and sleeplessness. ‘
Angelique passed the guards with a wave and kept going till she reached a blindspot. “I need food.” She huffed, forming a small snack and eating it quickly. Her legs, which had been shaking in pain, suddenly went numb, and they didn't hurt anymore. Angeqliue stared down at them with surprise, and then back at her food. ‘Can my food...numb pain!?’ She let out a gasp, balancing on her foot. It was as if she was a professional runner. She was once again light on her feet. “It must be true!” She said, recalling how her wrist was never in pain after she ate.
Angelique, with a new surge of confidence, ran the estate’s perimeter until daybreak, shocking the guards on duty, who had dozed off. The night concealed her face, but now that the sun was shining, they could see her smiling brightly as usual, not even breaking a sweat. But, just because she couldn't feel pain didn't mean she ran any faster or hadn't sustained injuries.
She finished all the laps after a full day, with only 5-minute breaks every two hours. Towards the end, all the knights had gathered for their meal, watching her finish her punishment. They cheered loudly as she crossed the finish line, a full 18 hours had passed. Angelique was teary-eyed from the dust of the road, and her face was red from the exercise. But she couldn't feel a thing, she simply joined the knights for a meal and laughed with them as they joked.
“I’ve never seen a maid with such strength! Truly impressive!” Howled one of the knights, hitting the table with his fist. They all clamored to chime in about how surprising it was. Angelique simply smiled with the others, enjoying the company of such joyful people. Then, a cry came out from the kill. The faint shouting behind them made them all turn, unsheathing their swords. It was Minnielle, dashing towards Angelique, tripping over her own feet. “Angelique!” She called, waving her hand. As she ran closer to Angelique, the knights held out their weapons. “Woah there, stay where you are.”
The 2nd Commander turned towards Angelique. “Are you Angelique?” he asked warily. Angelique let out a sigh and patted his arm. “That's me.” 'As the only Angelique in the estate, my covers blown...' The knights all murmured in place, and the 2nd Commander knelt down respectfully. “I apologize, my Alishen.”
Angelique froze and stammered a bit. “Stand up please, I would prefer if you treated me like a kitchen maid rather than the Alishen, so please, don't be so formal. And I deceived you first, I should apologize!” She curtsied to him with an imaginary skirt and laughed slightly. The 2nd Commander scoffed a bit and turned to the two guards. “Since you let her lie to me, you won't get any dinner tonight,” he said.
Minnielle rushed up to Angelique as the knights lowered their swords, and hugged her heavily. “I only heard the news just now, I’m so so so so sorry!” “Why are you sorry? I did it myself, and anyway, I’m not injured!” Her feet, which were buried in the grass were lifted out to reveal.
Angelique looked down at her feet and a silence fell over all of them as they stared. Minnielle had to cover her mouth as tears poured from her eyes. “Angelique...your feet! What happened!?” She sobbed. Angelique was surprised too. Her feet were bloody and bruised, more bloody than she expected. The 2nd Commander quickly lifted the Alishen into his arms. “Forgive me for holding you, Alishen, I must carry you to the medic tent, it won't be far.”
Angelique looked dully at her feet as they ran her to the medic tent. ‘How had I not realized. My food must be a really strong pain reliever.’ Angelique sighed and the world around her, with shouting, and the rustling of the bed as she was laid down seemed to drown out as she stared lazily at the top of the tent.
‘I’m tired…’
Comments (0)
See all