Kitanna
Chapter 50: AT YOUR SERVICE

Chapter 50: AT YOUR SERVICE

[MUSIC RECOMMENDATION: WALKING THROUGH THE DARKNESS ~ ZIOR PARK]

Nix walked casually to the queen dowager’s chamber. He didn’t wait for the announcement to end; instead, he entered the room. His sharp eyes took note of an elderly woman having tea, but he didn’t turn to address her. His focus was on the queen dowager, who was preparing for a walk outside the palace. Nix gave a slight bow.

"Welcome, Nix. I hope you have been keeping an eye on the princess. Let me know if anything is odd about her," Almaria said, looking at Nix through the mirror held in front of her.

Nix nodded but didn’t say anything. As he was about to leave the room, something crossed his mind.

"She had an issue last night; she fainted and kept calling for her mother," Nix said, observing the reactions of both women. Almaria abruptly got up, but then she sat back down, as if the other woman signalled her to do so. Nix took note of all this.

"Did she say anything else?" Almaria asked after clearing her throat.

"No," was Nix’s curt reply.

"Stick to her during the walk today; find out if she will say anything concerning last night again," Almaria ordered.

Nix gave another respectful nod and exited the room. On his way out, he carefully observed the other woman who had been present. He couldn’t help but notice her intense gaze on him. A slight smile appeared on his face, and he left the room.

Almaria dismissed all her maids the moment Nix left and stood up to kneel before her cousin.

"Lady Deonisia," Almaria began with concern.

"Who was that?" Lady Deonisia asked, setting down her cup of tea on its saucer.

"He is the guard I told you about who works for me. I made him Kitanna’s personal guard so he can bring information for me," Almaria replied, believing her plan to be cunning and beneficial.

However, Lady Deonisia’s reaction was not what she expected. The older woman seemed frustrated and disappointed in her cousin. The next comment Almaria heard washed the color off her face.

"You are just stupidly evil, no good judge of character. That guard who just left here is not at your service. You think he is your informant? He just gives you messages as he pleases," Lady Deonisia said, using her hand to cover her face in exasperation.

"But... He... Nix used to serve me; he has served me for years," Almaria tried to defend Nix.

"Did you not see his eyes? That young man has an extraordinary aura. He’s not just a regular guard. Are you blinded by his good looks? Do you have no fear of someone like him?" Deonisia asked in frustration.

Almaria scoffed, dismissing her cousin’s concerns. "Nix is not someone to be afraid of. Don’t worry; I have his tribe under my control. He doesn’t have a choice but to serve me," she said confidently.

"Now I really wonder who has who on their palm. For how long has he been working here?" Lady Deonisia queried her cousin, with her lips thinned in annoyance.

"He came from Wahels, I think at a young age, let’s say he has been working here for fifteen almost sixteen years. He came here few years after you left that’s why you barely know him, but he’s a good one" Almaria got up from her position and slide her leg into her shoes.

Deonisia sucked her teeth, no wonder she barely knew the guard, he was not in the palace when she was around. And the young man had already gotten under Almaria’s skin, or even Almaria decided to folly herself believing that the guard was someone that could be tamed.

"I will find out during today’s walk. Change the venue to the forest. Let’s have a little fun while we’re at it, and I see the princess still remembers a little bit of the past," Lady Deonisia stated before leaving the room.

Almaria sighed, finished her preparations, and exited the room, prepared for the walk.

At the entrance of the palace, the royal family gathered, ready to embark on their casual walk into the forest.

Larel stood close to Khelan, she was dressed in a plain gown with minimal accessories.

"For someone who claimed she has hunted before, you look scared," Khelan whispered into Larel’s ear.

"My King, it’s not that I’m scared. I haven’t been outside the palace since I got married. Look at Princess Kitanna; she is very much ready for this walk," Larel responded.

Kitanna was dressed in pants instead of a gown, with her hair tied up, leaving a few strands to fly freely. She smiled when Larel mentioned her name.

"My Queen, you’ll get used to it. Don’t worry; I’ll ask my personal seamstress to create walking clothes for you, just like mine. Simple and casual, easy to move in. You never know what might be lurking in the woods today," Kitanna grinned, glancing at Almaria and her cousin who stood beside their horses.

As the royal family got ready for their walk, Kitanna mounted her horse with ease, having experience in horse riding. Larel, on the other hand, was assisted by Khelan to get on her horse.

Almaria and Lady Deonisia were also helped onto their horses. With everyone ready, the royal family ventured outside the palace and entered the thick woods.

The weather was sunny as they ventured further into the forest. Kitanna couldn’t shake the feeling of being closely watched. She turned her head and saw Nix, who had his intense blue eyes fixed on her.

Even with her turning, Nix did not break eye contact, Kitanna directed her horse closer to Nix.

"Why? Do I look prettier out in the woods on a horse... like a damsel in distress?" Kitanna teased.

Nix didn’t look away and kept his gaze steady. Kitanna continued her playful banter.

Nix finally moved his eyes away from Kitanna to look at the new person that was now riding with them.

"Princess Kitanna, you seem to be too close to your personal guard. You keep smiling everytime you talk to him." Lady Deonisia who had just joined them, said to Kitanna, but her eyes were on Nix.

"Am I now? It seems you only take notice of things that should not be your concern."

Kitanna smiled, her tone carrying sarcasm.

"I guess I pressed a sensitive topic for you to reply this way." Lady Deonisia continued. She smiled internally to herself, two can obviously play the game.

"No, no, you seem to like engaging in discussions that don’t matter to your well-being. But if you want to know so much about my guard, don’t be shy. Ask Mother. In her loving kindness, she assigned her personal guard to me. I know you feel attracted to him too, but don’t worry; I don’t think age is a barrier here," Kitanna replied, with a mischievous grin.

Just then, her horse suddenly moved it’s back, causing Kitanna to fall to the ground. Nix, who was still steady on his horse, kept his gaze fixed on her.

Kitanna raised her hands, asking for Nix’s help to get back on her horse.

"At your service, Princess Kitanna," Nix said in a soft tone, dismounting his horse to assist Kitanna back onto her horse, as if he weren’t the one who had caused her fall to start with.

Lady Deonisia gritted her teeth in anger as she heard the comment Kitanna made, feeling insulted. She wanted to reply, when Kitanna fell from her horse. Deonisia moved back to continue her ride beside Almaria.

Kitanna who was now sitting comfortably on her own horse turned to look at Nix.

"Did I offend you? I thought you liked them old since you refused to take in a young wife," Kitanna teased again.