Elena; Queen of Ardorarias

Part 27; Regulations and Prohibitions

The clock shows at almost eleven o'clock in the evening. Elena still remained silent on where she was sitting at the moment. It had been more than an hour that he had not moved at all, only his eyes were paying attention to the surroundings.

The servants who were originally busy with their respective affairs slowly walked into their rooms, leaving Elena who was sitting with Farel and being watched by the five guards.

"How many servants live in this place?" the question Elena asked Farel.

Quickly, Farel opened the tablet which he carried with him wherever he went, "The palace employed more than three thousand maids and two thousand guards. There are five areas where the guards and servants live in the palace. One area holds about more than a thousand people."

"Five thousand people were hired just to be servants within the palace?"

Farel did not respond to Elena's words just now. What Elena thought was true. Roughly, more than five thousand people worked as lackeys in the palace. It is a waste of human resources in their country.

If just say four thousand people were given a much more decent job than just as a messenger, Ardorarias would also have made a profit. Ardorarias is still a developing country which has not been stable in many fields. Four thousand people could help advance the country if they were given better education and jobs.

"They're not married?"

Elena's question left Farel at a loss as to what to say. Elena knew that Farel had a lot of information about the State that she did not know about. Even the basic things like the maid's job in the palace only Elena had just found out. And this also makes Farel doubt, whether he should say the truth or not. Since Farel knew, Elena would continue to ask the next question.

"Yes, some of them are married and some are not."

"If they get married, don't they have children, right? And I see quite a lot of pretty old servants still working here." Elena turned to Farel, waiting for the information Farel would tell her, "Farel?"

And Farel finally gave up. His job is to serve and help Elena. Although she was commanded and employed by the King, Elena was the lady she had to serve. He must trust the people he serves, whatever and whatever the circumstances.

"Daughter Elena," Elena turned her head as Farel called out her name, "Don't you know that the court order is forbidden to marry?"

Elena looked very shocked to hear the information just now. What is the basis for the regulation of the servants and guards of the palace is forbidden to marry. It doesn't make any sense. Everyone has their own life, and the marriage ban is absurd.

After seeing Elena shake her head, Farel continued to give Elena the information he knew, "The servants and guards in the palace have their own lives. Although the ban was made by order of the King, they still violated the prohibition. The high officials of the palace understood this. They may marry but there are other restrictions that they must abide by. If they are pregnant, they are obliged to leave the palace and are obliged to return to the palace after their child is born. The contract was approved by the servants and palace guards. They obeyed the rule because they had already made a contract for their devotion to the King."

"Then their son? Don't they miss their kids?"

Elena remained silent. His gaze stared at the building around where he was sitting. A building that houses servants who serve the royal family. Many rooms still turn on the lights even though the day is getting night. And there were many shadows of the servants sitting pensively in their rooms.

The birth rate of babies in Ardorarias is very high and it is not comparable to the progress of the State. The government is pushing the rules to the people so that they can carry out family planning programs. In the neighborhood where Elena used to live, her father actively provided information about family planning programs. One reason is that it helps the economy of each family, and it works. Residents of the neighborhood around Elena lived first each family has at most three children. There are even some families who are reluctant to have offspring.

But who would have thought, the high birth rate came from the servants in the palace. They also certainly do not want to have too many children, but a promise of a ban made by royal officials who have been approved by the King that makes them like that. They were forbidden to meet their children and families outside the palace, so they tried to continue to get pregnant and give birth, so that they can return to their homes and meet their families.

"What about your family, Farel? Don't you miss them? Missing your mother, for example?"

Elena's question made Farel's face look angry and sad. Upon realizing that he was in eye contact with Elena, Farel immediately lowered his gaze. Apologizing for looking at Elena with an angry look.

"You've been sworn to follow what I said, Farel. Does that vow not apply to your sense of trust in me?"

Farel was made unable to dodge Elena's words. It is true that Farel has been sworn and swore to always follow and serve Elena, but that oath does not mean Farel has to believe in Elena. Farel was a strong young man with his attitude.

"So," Elena muttered softly, "It's not easy to trust someone, especially someone you just met. Even to believe in the parents who have given birth to us, sometimes doubt whether we should believe in them."

Elena took off from her seat and was immediately followed by Farel. Elena walked around the neighborhood where the servants lived. Every now and then he paused and threw a smile at the servants who were saluting behind their bedroom windows.

"I'm not forcing you to trust me, Farel. But if you keep something related about our country, you better tell me. It would be a great help to myself to refine and advance Ardorarias." Elena muttered after stopping her steps and turned her head towards Farel.

Farel immediately bowed his body and saluted, "I'm sorry I haven't been able to tell you everything, Princess Elena. I promise to tell you everything at the right time. Including information about your father's whereabouts, Doctor Daniel Rosamun."

The answer from Farel made Elena's heart thump. His blood flow suddenly seemed to flow rapidly into his head, and the longing for his father immediately approached Elena.

"I hope you can tell me that soon, Farel. Because I might need my father."

...***...