His Personal Maid — Chapter 48

The following morning Sylvester and all his soldiers and knights excluding just five of them left for the battlefield. They knew they had to save their region and not wait for the war to reach their wall before taking charge.

Sylvester had found more than a hundred guns and several bullets in one of the attics in the mansion. Through the night, the soldiers were trained on how to use it, not sleeping or eating and by morning, they packed up the supplies they could need and set out before dawn.

“Master is really courageous to face those people and many soldiers even left with them. I’ll praise the women who took it up to train and also go with them just to prepare them food and offer assistance in any way they could” Cassandra said.

Cassandra was talking more than usual and Desire knew it was because her brother was one of those who left. Desire wished she had been there to bid Chang farewell but she didn’t want to see Sylvester. She knew he’ll see just how sad she was to see him leave and she didn’t want him to have that power over her.

“Chang will be fine, my love. They’ll be fine before you know it” Desire assured her.

They had walked down to the others who were all sitting in the corridor and waiting silently for a heavy knock on the gate. Lady Nor and the court lady were attending to the kitchen matters while the rest of the maids sat. Some were crying for their families that they hadn’t seen in years and are not sure of their current status, while others felt sad about the entire situation.

When Desire looked in their eyes, all she saw was lost hope. With every gunshot heard outside of their walls, their heart leap out of their chest, sending them all to their feet.

Desire decided to take up the situation and address them all.

“Girls! I know we all are sad and worried about our families and friends who are outside this wall and I understand because I feel the same way too. But I’ll love to encourage us all that all we can do is keep the good faith and pray for their safety. Okay everyone?” Desire asked and they all nodded, feeling better.

“Let’s do somethings to keep our mind off all these, you, you and Mira” She pointed to the three girls, “Why don’t you go and help out in the kitchen or maybe help share the food?”

She continued that way and made sure she had something for everyone.

“Cassandra and Leah, can you go into the garden and see if you can get me any herb that might be useful while Fei and I check out the healers room and see if any supply can be found, we’re almost out of most of our supplies” The girls all stood up and went on about their work.

By evening everyone returned to the corridor, having a little bit of hope this time, since no one was brought back yet.

“You know he’ll be fine, right?” Ying touched her arm lightly from the back.

She turned and smiled at him.

“I know Ying”

Ying wasn’t able to go with them because of the disadvantage he had. His leg hasn’t healed enough for him to go on to a battlefield and it made him feel more guilty.

“I wish I was out there and not in here, that way I’ll be able to protect him” He nagged

“It’s not your fault Ying. It’s the situation of things” Desire tried making him feel better until Fei joined them.

“I have a confession to make” Fei suddenly announced, gaining the attention of both Ying and Desire.

“What’s wrong?”

“I think I’m pregnant” Both Ying and Desire looked at her surprisingly. Ying and Fei’s friendship had started when she was assigned to treat him after he was shot. He had liked the way she always managed to make him laugh when all she talked about was food.

“Just like that? How?” Ying asked

“How else does a woman get pregnant, Ying? I didn’t sleep with a goat” Ying and Desire laughed.

“This is not funny, you both. I’ve been vomiting all morning and I still won’t stop hating the smell of fish”

“That doesn’t mean you’re pregnant. Even if you are, who’s the father?” Desire asked

“Even though I prayed that he wouldn't arrive safely back from the war with his two legs intact, now I think I need to change my prayer. He’s the head of the knights here” Fei revealed and both Desire and Ying were surprised.

“The same man whose head is always in the clouds”

“Don’t blame me Desire. I fell in love with a fool and now I'm pregnant for him” Fei cried out.

Desire took her hand to check her pulse like her teacher had taught her. She couldn’t get any sign of pregnancy even after doing any necessary thing.

“What did you eat yesterday, Fei?”

“A lot of food” Ying looked at her disgustingly and left them both.

“Think, What was the last thing you ate?” Desire asked again

“I think the food they left by your bedside. I took it to my kitchen, heat it up and then ate it”

Desire hit her on the head, not thinking twice, making her scream out in pain.

“Why did you hit me like that?”

“You foolish girl. Shouldn’t the food you eat have a limit? You ate stale food and you expect your stomach to agree with you” Desire glared at her.

“You mean I’m not pregnant”

“I think so,” Desire replied.

Fei screamed out in happiness and started laughing like a mad woman.

“May he not come back with both legs” Dhe prayed out causing Desire to laugh

“Be careful what you wish for, Fei”

Two months later, the war went on, the soldiers were being brought back one after the other, but not as much as the people had feared.

Desire continued treating them despite her condition. Fei had always been there to help her ever since they realized that she was pregnant.

They knew who the father of the baby was but no one could ask her.

They could still hear the sound of the gun outside their walls. At night, Desire could hear voices, shouting outside the walls and wished to hear Sylvester’s voice during those nights.

They could say they had peace until one day when a body was brought in. The royal regalia looked familiar and Desire screamed when she saw who it was.

It was Queen Naomi covered in blood. She had been shot and she had lost a lot of blood.

“My Queen” Desire cried out.

“It’s so good to see you again, Desire. I can die in peace now knowing you’re fine” Queen Naomi struggled to say.

“What happened?” Desire asked, knowing there’s no salvation for the Queen. She had lost too much blood and she isn’t strong enough to go through the pain of cutting her open at her chest to remove the bullet.

“The palace was attacked, my warriors couldn’t save me and I couldn’t save either of them. Sylvester managed to get me out of there and told his men to bring me here” The Queen told her with her voice low already.

She was losing her strength. Desire couldn’t stop waiting. She wished the war could stop, she had lost too much, she didn’t think she could take it anymore.

“Enough with the tears, Desire. I’ll finally be at peace with my father, my mother, my grandfather, my sister and my friend, Fang”

Desire’s head sprang up at the mention of Lady Fang’s name.

“Lady Fang! Is she dead?” The Queen nodded as tears rolled down her eyes.

“Stay with me, Desire and promise me you’ll stay alive no matter what. Promise me, Desire” Desire kept on nodding her head as she couldn’t stop the tears.

Ying got to the scene and screamed at her, told her to do something but Desire explained to him that nothing could be done. Her pulse was too weak to cut her open, she’ll die during the process. Her breathing was heavy and she knew she had reached the gate of afterlife.

“Naomi! Naomi!!” She gently opened her eyes and saw that it was Ying who called her. She smiled as the memory of their childhood played in her head. She lifted her other hand and Ying held it tightly.

Desire cried out immediately and she felt her pulse drop. The hand holding Ying’s hand slacked and Ying quickly held on to her as tears ran down the brave man’s face.

They knew it was over; their Queen was gone!