…
After freshening up and changing her clothes, Emilia makes her way to the study hall to clean.
Still adjusting to the strange peace of the morning, she is met by a firm figure standing guard outside the door.
"Your Majesty," Robert said, stepping forward, his head deeply bowed in salute.
Emilia smiled at him, and nodded her head.
"You don't have to go inside."
She blinked, perplexed.
"What?"
"The King has relieved you of your duties in the study hall," Robert explained to her, and Emilia was even more puzzled.
"He has also allowed you to return to your quarters."
Her eyes narrowed, and she tried to fathom Lucas's meaning by this.
She remembers his words last night and this morning, how can he easily let her return without as much as a word?
"Your Majesty," Robert called, seeing she was lost in thoughts and Emilia shook her head.
"I understand," she told him.
No matter what Lucas is planning, she is more than satisfied to return to her own space.
Also, she needs to get on with the lead her brother sent her.
"I would leave immediately then," she said, turning aside quickly to get her stuff from the room, but Robert stepped in front of her to stop her again.
Emilia raises a brow, wondering what the issue is.
Robert lowered his gaze briefly, almost apologetically.
"His Majesty also instructed me to stay close. I've been assigned to serve in your quarters from today."
Emilia stared at him, stunned.
She had known Robert from when he was just ten, and he had always stayed beside Lucas, even through the fierce war back then.
How could he easily ask Robert to serve her instead?
"Is it because of what happened the other day?" Emilia asked, guessing.
She didn't expect Lucas to be so concerned about it that he would even let Robert serve at a lower level like her palace.
Robert shook his head negatively.
"I am simply following the King's instructions."
"The orders are only to ensure your safety, your Majesty" Robert answered.
"I have instructed the maids to deliver your things earlier,"
"Please allow me to escort you," he told her.
Emilia exhaled, knowing she couldn't dissuade him.
"Fine."
---
When Emilia arrived at her quarters, the doors swung open and Alice and June rushed out, their eyes wide with joy and relief.
"Your Majesty!" Alice cries, her voice cracking with emotion, barely managing to stop herself from throwing her arms around her and bowing on her knees instead.
"You're really back!" June beams, knowing the same.
"We thought..." she paused, stopping for a second.
They haven't seen her in more than a week and are only able to hear how she is faring from the rumors flying around the palace, which makes them very anxious and worried.
Alice wipes her eyes with her sleeve.
"We heard all about the rumor that the King is trying to dethrone you… and then that Miss Catherine is going to take your place soon… We didn't know what to believe!"
"Where did you hear that?" Emilia asked , surprised.
The discipline in the dragon palace is very strict and yet, rumors still manage to circulate outside it.
"The servants from the concubine's quarters were bragging about it and disrespecting us at every given opportunity," June explained.
Emilia's chest tightened.
"I'm sorry I couldn't send word."
"You don't have to apologize to us," June replied and huffed.
"We were the ones losing our minds! You should've seen Alice pacing all night, not until this morning, when we heard the news that…"
"That's enough."
Madam Allison's stern voice cuts through the corridor.
Both June and Alice cowered at her voice and backed away from Emilia slowly.
Madam Allison bowed before Emilia, her eyes filled with relief at seeing her well and turned to June and Alice, her arms crossed and her expression tight.
"The Queen has just returned, and you bother her with baseless gossip," she scolded.
"You should go and prepare a warm bath for her immediately and instruct the kitchen to prepare a healthy feast for her."
"There is no need for that," Emilia said quickly, stopping them from going ahead.
"I don't need to take a bath now, and I'm not hungry yet."
Last night's own was traumatizing enough.
"But your Majesty…" Madam Allison tried to protest, but Emilia shook her head slightly.
"I would have the servants bring some refreshments for our guest then," she said, and June and Alice noticed Robert behind Emilia for the first time.
Because of their excitement, they didn't see him at all and glanced at each other, perplexed.
Everyone in the palace knows who Robert is, the one who has served the King the longest.
It is even rumored that the King trusted him more than Thomas.
"Thank you, Madam Allison," Emilia murmured.
With a firm nod, Allison leaves them alone.
Inside the chamber, Emilia sank into a soft chair, suddenly aware of how tired her legs felt.
Robert stood near the door, taking guard immediately.
June hurried to her side with a glass of cool water.
"Here. You look pale."
"Thank you, June."
Emilia sips slowly, letting the cold calm her nerves. Alice fusses over her robes while June fluffs the cushions.
Robert, meanwhile, hadn't moved.
He stays at his post by the door like a statue, her eyes following her every motion.
That stare began to crawl under her skin.
"Are you going to stand there all day?" Emilia asked, raising an eyebrow.
"I'm here to protect you," he replied dutifully.
"Then protect me from the chair. You're making me nervous."
"I can't sit at the same table as you, Your Majesty."
Emilia chuckles softly for the first time in days.
"You don't have to follow all those rules," she told him, but his expression remained serious, and he didn't move.
"Are you really going to stand there and watch me all day?" she asked, surprised by his stubbornness, and Robert nodded gently.
The servants who Madam Allison ordered arrived with a variety of meals and Emilia instructed them to set them on the table.
"You protected me a few days ago, so you deserve more than a meal. Have some." she stressed her words.
Robert's brow twitched. He said nothing but his face shows discomfort at disobeying the rules.
"Don't worry, the King's not here," she said, patting the seat beside her.
"Here."
He hesitated.
"Do you want me to stand too? Would that make you more comfortable?" Emilia threatened lightly.
That did the trick. Robert sat immediately.
Emilia bursts into laughter, the sound light and warm.
Alice and June glanced at each other, surprised by the rare sight. It's the first time they've seen her laugh so easily.
They both grinned as well, deciding to relax in front of Robert.