Kitanna
Chapter 216: WORRYWART

Chapter 216: WORRYWART

[MUSIC RECOMMENDATION: BUTTERFLY ~ BTS]

When Axilla and Cortez arrived home, it was already late at night, so they both retired to their respective rooms without a word about what happened during the tea party.

Axilla removed everything she was wearing, except her thin and see-through inner garment. She sat in front of the mirror, looking at her reflection; her thoughts were blank and empty, but her expression was sad. For a fleeting moment, she remembered the words the women used on her, the name they called her ringing in her mind - ’Lowly servant!’

Axilla had never wished for much in life. Living in Wahels, she was content with life. No one was above the other; they ate from the same pot, treating everyone equally and with kindness. It was not until she entered the palace that she understood the hierarchy of things and how humans were graded from higher class to lower class. And she was among the lower class, if not the lowest.

During her stay in the palace, she did not feel it much, being treated with love and care. However, stepping outside revealed that people like her were regarded lower than dogs. With the way they were treated, spoken to, and fed, she never thought she would wish she was born of noble blood. But tonight, those women treated her that way because she was not one of them.

Axilla walked to her bed to sleep, deep down missing home, yearning for a place where everyone was treated with equal rights.

The next morning arrived quickly, and Kayla announced it to Axilla with a loud scream.

"Axilla!!!! What is this I’m hearing? Did Chief Cortez really claim you as his own last night?" Kayla asked with excitement.

Axilla rubbed the sleepiness off her eyes, wondering how the news spread so quickly. Using the bed cover to wrap her body, she asked, "How did you hear it? You were not even at the party, neither were you awake when we returned."

Kayla scoffed, "Is the servants’ news council a joke to you?"

Axilla raised her brow, "Servants’ news council?" She had never heard of anything so absurd.

Kayla rubbed her temples, "Sometimes you make me wonder if you are truly a servant. Your ears are like that of the noblewomen listening to only what concerns you. We servants listen to everything that passes. Everything." She replied proudly puffing her chest out.

Then she continued, "Last night, the maid girl who served in the kitchen at the tea party you went for, has a young male servant that is courting her, here in this inn. So she had to pack the leftovers and bring them for him last night. When she came, she told him everything that happened, then the servant boy....." Kayla stopped talking when she noticed she was derailing.

"That’s by the way, tell me what happened. I heard Chief Cortez slapped his first love on the face because of you, kicked the door down, sent everyone home, and threatened to come back for revenge." Kayla demonstrated dramatically.

Axilla almost shouted at the fake rumor. "Chief Cortez did not slap anyone, neither did he kick any door down. I don’t know your source, but it’s not what happened." Axilla held Kayla’s hand, trying to bring her to reality.

Kayla shrugged, "Always so humble. But he did claim you in front of everyone, right?" She pressed on, trying to gather more stories.

Axilla remembered Cortez’s actions and blushed, "Um... you can call it that." She covered her face with the bed cover.

As the morning progressed, Axilla noticed preferential treatment from others. Kayla explained that it was to curry favor in case she became Cortez’s wife. Somewhere deep down it Axilla she was happy to be called Cortez’s wife but because of the difference in their status she felt a little bit ashamed of it.

During the afternoon, Axilla saw Cortez talking to other merchants with a serious look. Wondering if his playful grin was just for her, Axilla stood there looking at him, Cortez always looked different outside. To others he was a cold merchant who only worry about his pocket but to her, Axilla, the man was like her guardian angel. Warm and intentional about all that concerns her.

As she stood there looking at him, Cortez finally turned to meet with her gaze and he smiled waving for her to join him. Cortez handed her a letter that arrived for her.

Excited, Axilla read the letter. "Princess Kitanna is having a baby, and Lady Larel has gone to stay with her until the baby arrives. Everything is well at the palace, and she sends her regards to you."

Cortez nodded, "That’s good to hear, maybe on our way to Avon for the wedding we would stop at Morado. If that’s okay?"

Axilla jumped up excitedly, "Yes, I would love that very much. Thank you so much." She smiled happily.

Cortez noticed her excitement and teased, "Are you that happy? Your parents would feel betrayed that their child enjoys the company of others. I’ve never heard you ask to visit your parents."

Axilla’s smile dropped, "I don’t remember my parents; I was trained by the Tribe leader of Wahels."

Cortez furrowed his brows, "You don’t remember them? Did they die when you were small?"

Now that the conversation was brought up, He had never heard Axilla mention anything about her parents, it was just the princess or the white Lord. It made him wonder what her parents would be like.

Axilla pressed her lips, nobody has ever asked her about her parents. So she grew up thinking it was okay not to have one. "I don’t know, I just grew up trained by the village head, so I don’t remember calling anyone father or mother. Maybe it’s in my distant memory as a child."

Cortez hummed, "Are you not curious?"

"Not that I’m not but I feel it’s not necessary. I am happy with the life I have now and I have people who make me feel like I belong somewhere. So it’s okay." Axilla explained. She had never conceived the idea of looking for her parents because she didn’t know she needed one. Her life had been okay without them.

Cortez nodded petting the girl’s hair slowly, "Let me know if you ever want to go back home and maybe find your parents." He comforted her.

Axilla shook her head, "I don’t think I would ever want that. But I will like to send a letter to someone can you help me with that?" She asked.

Cortez nodded, "Sure, anything. A carriage is leaving for Morado tomorrow if is too late I can send someone today."

Axilla hummed, "Actually, it’s not for Princess Kitanna, I know you asked me to forget about everything but I would like to reach out to Lady Jenna. Yesterday’s event must have left her worried too, she needs to know that I’m fine." Her voice had a tone of plea in it.

Cortez rubbed his temples, Axilla always worried about people but never about herself. "It’s not necessary but if you insist I’ll have someone send it to her mansion."

"Thank you" Axilla bowed with gratefully before leaving the room to pen down her letter.