Two Swords and the Angel's Feather

River grinned; he had a surprisingly amiable face. “Wouldn’t it be better for me to take it than for you to drop it?”

Realizing that her hands were shaking uncontrollably, Ellen was reluctantly handed the tray to him. He lifted the tray effortlessly, then bowed slightly to the women before moving on. Ellen followed him in haste.

Her hands trembled. It was the first time she’d talked back to those aristocratic women. Perhaps it was because she had been too tense, but when she left, all the tension and fear came crashing, causing both her arms and legs to shake. She struggled to stay quiet as her breathing became haggard.

As soon as he turned a corner and the Countess’ sight, River stopped walking and looked at her.

“You did a good job.”

Ellen blinked and looked back at him. “Me?”

“There aren’t many in the royal palace who are willing to defend the Queen.”

Ellen bit her lip. “The Queen is a great person and doesn’t deserve to be bad mouthed by the nobles.”

“There also aren’t many in this palace who are truly loyal, so I’m glad she has a loyal maid of honor.”

Ellen lowered her head. She didn’t understand why she was so loyal to the queen either.

“It’s a political issue. It is unprecedented to have two kings and only one queen. People don’t like things they can’t understand, thus they blame the queen for everything.”

“I don’t understand politics,” Ellen murmured softly. River glanced at her with a smile. Somehow, the young woman was glad that they stood on the same side.

“In fact, I don’t either. That’s why I’m relieved to not be in charge of all the political issues.”

The guards who stood in front of the gate guarding the royal family’s chambers opened the door slightly when they saw Ellen. Ellen was about to leave after taking back the tray from River when River raised his eyebrows and grinned again.

“I told you my name, but I haven’t heard the Lady’s name.”

Ellen’s face reddened.

How can you be so rude! As Margaret would’ve said, “It is ridiculous for a maid of honor to have such terrible manners!”

She lowered her eyes and spoke quickly, “I apologize; my name is Ellen, the second daughter of Count Richard Gender Southorn.”

“Oh, I’ve seen Count Southorn before. I heard that he had a beautiful daughter.”

Ellen blinked and felt her face burning again. She hurriedly bowed, just like a dog.

Her hair must have covered the right part of her face very well.

“No, no. ‘The beauty of Southorn’ is my sister, Margaret, not me. Perhaps you’ve seen her, but she’s really beautiful. I’m, uh, that’s not me. “

River’s hand rose to her face. Normally, I would back off, but as of now I can’t move because I’m holding a heavy tray. Ellen just stared at him with her eyes wide open.

His fingers were rough as his hand descended from Ellen’s right cheek and tucked back her hair.

River’s expression did not change, smiling faintly. His eyes were as clear as an arrow as he looked at her twisted ears and scars.  Ellen stood still, unable to breathe, with her heart pounding faster than ever before.

“Beauty doesn’t come from the scars, Lady Ellen. I know that very well.”

He took away his hand and stepped back, bowing gracefully, before turning  and striding away.

For a moment, Ellen did not move, staring blankly at his fading back.

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“Come and sit with me.”

Celia patted the spot next to her. Ellen put down the tray and glanced at the bedroom used by the royal couple.

The first thing that caught her eye in the spacious bedroom was the bed that covered almost half of the room. It could probably fit five people and was more luxurious than what any other noble family could afford.

Besides that, there were only chairs and tables, just enough for the king and queen to relax in. Ellen sometimes wondered why the queen never came out of the bedroom even though it was so empty inside.

Outside the bedroom is a reception room where the king is received, and it was also connected to the drawing room. Today, the Iron King was in the drawing room along with an unfamiliar man. Ellen had bowed, not daring to look up, as she had passed by earlier.