The Second Life's

LXV - Attack Triggered

I put the fork and spoon I was wearing to the table. I cleaned my mouth with a napkin before I finally stood up and took my work file out of the room.

The train was parked in front of the palace, I got into the train, assisted by the coachman. From inside the carriage, through the window, I could see Ava standing on the roof of the palace waving at me. I can only smile and understand his behavior.

I returned to the Imperial Palace. Arriving at the palace, I was immediately greeted by Jack. He was wearing a suit that was the same color as me and the rest of the palace users.

Blacker.

“You'll take care of it,” I said to Jack, giving Jack my work file. “Emperor is where?”

“Emperor is in his room,” replied Jack while looking down. “Does the Queen want to see the Emperor?”

“Of course,” I said for sure. “As a wife, I was supposed to be next to my husband and at the same time comfort him.”

Jack did not give any response. I glanced at him and went straight into Idris' room. I was wondering ..., if Rose Hindley was with my stupid husband, or not. The servants passed me by while greeting me.

I hurried to open the door to Idris' room, without knocking.

Justright. When I looked up at the bed, Idris was there together ... Rose Hindley's. They were hugging while lying in bed. Even when I entered, they were unaware of my presence. Very friendly these two couples.

Prangs!

The sound invited their attention. I purposely dropped a small urn on the table so that they would know of my presence. Idris who saw me so behaved like a husband who was caught by his wife cheating in general.

“What's up, My husband? Why are you surprised like that?” I glanced at him sharply. I emphasized the word 'My husband' so that Rose Hindley could know what her status here was. “My hand accidentally nudged this urn. I'm sorry, My Husband.”

Idris jumped out of bed and approached me. Before he gets closer to me. I raised my hand forward. Codes not to come any closer.

“Here is a broken jar, My husband. Your legs can hurt,” I said attention snobs. “I'll call a waiter to clean up this mess.”

“Ah, you're right, My wife.” Idris looked at the shards of the urn that he had almost stepped on. “Almost just.”

Hm, my finger should have been slightly slowed down for him to step on the shards.

“Why are you here?” rose Hindley asked in a tinge. He put on a challenging face at me.

“I'll be out for a while to call the waiter. We have to talk, My husband.” I came out ignoring Rose Hindley.

People don't seem to need me to take it seriously. Just wasting time and energy. I called the waiter who had just passed me and asked him to clean up the little mess I was doing and told Idris to meet me in the indoor garden.

While waiting for Idris, I sat quietly in the indoor garden chair while daydreaming. The palace is still crowded to entertain Mother Idris. About a minute I waited, the door of the indoor garden opened.

I thought it was Idris, it wasn't. Coming in was Hendery— with a grim countenance and a thin smile that she had to give me. I can only put a confused face on him.

“Halo.”

“There can I help you with, Mr Franklin?” calm down.

“I was just looking for a place to rest and instead met the Queen here,” replied Hendery. He was sitting in front of me. “What does the Queen do here?”

“I'm waiting for the Emperor. There's something I need to talk to him about.”

Hendery scrunched his forehead. “I just saw the Emperor go to the back garden with Miss Rose Hindley.”

“What?”

Husband is useless.

“Let's. I'm tired of both of them.”

The deg!

This bad feeling again. My heart feels like it's squeezed from the inside. This unpleasant aura makes me nauseous. It's a feeling I'm afraid of, and it's very familiar. Could it be Consort Sienna?!

No way .., I thought Consort Sienna wouldn't come to the palace. It turned out that I was too careless to let go of my surveillance on the most dangerous person. Does this have anything to do with the cleaning Ava did? Maybe .., maybe.

“Queen? What's up?” Hendery caught my discomfort. Lips clenched. I can't think clearly. I held on tightly to the necklace I was wearing and took as many breaths as I could before finally exhaling it out. “You're not feeling well?”

I'm mumbling.

He's close.

The next second, I only heard the sound of glass breaking and my body being hugged by Hendery as he leaped towards me. We fell to the concrete floor, and Hendery protected my body with his body so that I wouldn't get hurt or feel pain.

I would love to say thank you, but right now I am focused on an arrow stuck in the wall. Hendery helped me get up and get the arrow.

An arrow that felt foreign in my mind. I peeked at a paper linked to the arrow that Hendery was currently reading.

Your servant is in my hands. Don't challenge me.

My eyes widen. It must be Isla! Then it's clear that this arrow was sent by Sienna. To be honest, I am still in shock. I need a drink.

Hendery led me back to my seat after he cleaned a small piece of glass from an indoor garden chair. He crouched down in front of me and looked at me with worry and curiosity.

I can only duck. The uncomfortable feeling I felt just now had disappeared in an instant. This must be an early warning from Consort Sienna. He bluffed by giving the arrow. Without Hendery's help, the arrow won't actually hit me.

“Do Queens know what this letter means?” ask Hendery.

“I don't want to discuss this with you first,” I replied slowly, after a few minutes of silence.

I never thought Hendery would hold my hand. “Queen said we agreed to work together, right? Why does the Queen not trust me?”

“Because you could have asked something bigger to someone else and turned against me. You will greatly uphold power.”

“Queen ..”

Cleks!

The door opened, and Idris entered with Rose. They were shocked to see Hendery's presence with me. Idris glared furiously and pulled me away from Hendery.

I grimaced at Idris' rough and painful clutches. I hurriedly pulled my hand from him with all my might. Rose Hindley seemed happy that I was treated that way.

“Why are you alone with him?!” snapped Idris. “My answer, Charlotte!”

“Ah, hypocritical base. Judging her own husband ..., even though his behavior is not much different,” said Rose Hindley.

Are they blind? Did they not see the chaos in this indoor garden?! Argh, you crazy fuck!