Reborn As A Maid

Finally, the white walls of Seraiya came into view.

In the bright morning sunlight, the stones of the ancient capital seemed to glow beneath the bright sky. The blue and gold flags of the Kingdom of Seraiya waved above the enormous gates of the city.

Jennie stopped.

The breeze brought a smell of freshly baked bread, blooming flowers and the river nearby—a smell which she realized now that she hadn’t missed before that moment.

Closing her eyes...

"...I’m home."

The words slipped from her lips in such a whisper that only Snow heard them.

The majestic white wolf smiled, his golden eyes soft. "Feels different?"

Jennie nodded, still looking ahead. "Yes. When I left, this city wasn’t so lively."

The way leading to the capital was teeming with travelers.

Long lines of wagons carried merchants selling exotic goods of faraway lands—silks from the east, spices from the south and beautifully made weapons from northern forges. Noblemen in gleaming armor rode proud horses, showing their banners. Adventurers chatted loudly about their battles, sharing scars and stories. Mages in colorful cloaks talked about new spells, while wandering scholars rushed towards libraries in order to make records of the tournament for the future generations.

Every language from the continent seemed to ring here.

The Greatest Fight Tournament had made Seraiya the center of the world.

Roxy twirled happily, her arms outstretched. "This is amazing! I’ve never seen so many people!"

Sniffing the air several times, Snow said: "I smell..." He pretended to think deeply. "...twenty-three types of grilled meat."

Jennie smiled brightly. "You counted?"

"I’m a professional."

Guardians were inspecting all travelers politely before letting them enter, their actions being efficient despite the massiveness of the crowd.

When it was her turn, a young knight smiled respectfully at her, scanning her registration papers. "Reason of your visit?"

"The Greatest Fight Tournament," Jennie answered calmly.

The knight nodded, putting her stamps on the papers with a quill. "Contestant?"

She hesitated only for a second—her hesitation was noticed only by Snow.

"Yes."

The knight sealed her registration papers with the royal seal. "Welcome to Seraiya. We hope that your stay will be pleasant."

"Thank you," Jennie replied, her heart becoming warmer from his words.

And when she entered the gates of the city...

Memories came rushing back.

She remembered how she entered this city for the first time after her reincarnation—being confused, being a stranger in her own body, being burdened with a past life that she couldn’t remember fully.

But now...

She entered the gates of this city accompanied by the people she called her family, being the owner of three Divine Swords and having hopes in her heart.

The streets became almost unrecognizable.

Fountains appeared in the squares of the city, their clear water shimmering in the sunlight. Flower gardens were created instead of empty lots, their flowers swaying in the breeze. Wide streets connected districts that had been separated by crumbling alleys before. Children were running safely in the streets, laughing without fear.

Jennie looked around... She saw everywhere evidence of the work of Lilia—a queen who had taken a wounded kingdom and turned it into a beacon of hope.

Smiling quietly to herself, Jennie said: "You really fulfilled your promise."

Roxy tilted her head, curiosity appearing in her emerald eyes. "Which promise?"

Jennie shook her head with a small smile, still looking at the city. "Old memory."

As they were walking through the capital...

Musicians were playing lively songs in the plazas, their melodies flying in the air. Blacksmiths were hammering hot steel for the tournament competitors, their forges roaring with fire and determination.

In all inns there were posted banners:

NO VACANCY

Groaning dramatically, Snow’s ears drooped. "I knew that we should have come earlier."

"We’ll find somewhere," Roxy said brightly.

Searching for almost an hour, they reached the quiet inn situated in the secluded street—a nice place with vines on the walls and flower boxes hanging from windows.

There was a sign above the door of the inn:

The Silver Feather Inn

Unlike all those noisy inns close to the arena, it was a calm and cozy place.

An old woman, who was an innkeeper here, welcomed them kindly, her eyes smiling. "Do you need some rooms?"

Jennie nodded, feeling hope growing inside. "Yes, if you still have some."

The woman smiled widely. "You are lucky. I still have one family room left."

"Great!" Roxy said, clapping her hands.

The room looked on the peaceful courtyard with lots of flowers—roses, lavender and other flowers swaying in the afternoon breeze. The room itself was simple, but comfortable—one could see two big beds besides the huge window with its soft quilt and a fireplace with a clean hearth in one corner.

Snow looked around the room approvingly, his tail wagging. "Not bad."

Then—he jumped happily to one of the beds.

But Jennie caught him just before his landing—

"No."

Snow opened his eyes wide in surprise. "What ’No’?"

"You are not sleeping on the bed."

The wolf looked insulted, his ears falling. "I have been sleeping beside the royalty. I have defeated Demon Generals. I am a Divine Wolf."

"I don’t care," Jennie folded her arms, not giving way. "And you are still dusty."

Snow looked at his paws, his dignity falling away. "...A little."

Roxy laughed loudly. "A little? You were rolling down the hill yesterday."

"It was tactical."

"There was no battle."

"I was practicing."

"Sure," Jennie smiled, her serious expression softening. "You can sleep on the carpet beside the fireplace."

Snow fell down on the floor with a thud, his huge body sprawled out on the wooden boards. "It’s discrimination against fluffy heroes."

Roxy giggled uncontrollably, tears gathering in her emerald eyes. "I’ll get you an extra pillow."

"...Filled with feathers?" Snow lifted one ear with interest.

"If you behave yourself."

"...I accept your conditions," Snow considered it for a moment and gave his tail a cautious wag.

When they unloaded everything they had brought to the inn, Jennie slipped out.

She needed to walk alone.

The streets of her hometown welcomed her with every step.

Those cobbled paths she had walked along since she had reincarnated here, buying her first bread in the same bakery with golden pastries making her stomach growl.

She recalled the small bookstore, where she used to sneak and read ancient books about the world she had been born again into.

Those children still ran around the fountain, playing and laughing aloud in that same city square.

The buildings in the capital had undergone renovation or improvement.

But others remained the same as she recalled.

She paused right in the middle of that square.

The city was growing.

People were smiling now instead of being afraid.

Hope instead of uncertainty was in every eye.

Jennie gazed towards the distant Royal Palace towering above the capital of Seraiya. The white towers were shining brightly under the warm afternoon sunlight, their spires pointing high, towards the sky, like the fingers trying to catch it.

Behind those high walls waited Lilia—though none of them knew it yet.

Jennie pressed her hand to her heart, listening to its steady beat.

"It really is home."

And with each of her steps, the distance between the Sword King and the Queen was decreasing more and more.

The rays of afternoon sunlight were warming up the streets of the capital of Seraiya, painting the long shadows in golden colors.

The crowd in the streets had increased even more as new contestants kept coming to the greatest fight tournament.

Merchants were selling weapons and armor of their customers, haggling and yelling. The street performers were making juggling and fire-breathing shows which gathered applause and gasps. The Royal soldiers kept directing the crowd with practiced ease, their moves being efficient amid the hustle.

After leaving the inn, Jennie, Roxy and Snow started walking along the streets to look around.

"What a beautiful city," Roxy whispered, admiring the rows of colored flowers along the streets. They had the petals in red, yellow and violet shades.

Snow sniffed the air and his nose flared. "Expensive one too."

"You judged it by the smell?" Roxy asked and burst into laughter. It was the sound of a happy, carefree girl.

"The roasted meat in this tavern costs twice as much as yesterday."

"And you know it," Jennie smiled and shook her head. "You pay attention to the food."

"Yes, I do."

The trio finally reached the immense Royal Arena.

The workers were running in all directions, their moves being fast and purposeful. The carpenters were building new spectator stands, their hammering sounds resonating everywhere. Royal mages were reinforcing the magic barriers surrounding the arena, weaving the patterns of protective energy. Many knights were supervising the process of the preparation.

In the middle of all this commotion there was a familiar figure.

The hair of the man was now longer than what Jennie recalled and some lines appeared around his eyes—as the proof of his burdens. But his posture was majestic, his commands were clear and exact; every knight listened to him without question.

Arthur Queens.

The Royal Hand of the Kingdom.

And—

Jennie’s father in her current life.

Jennie subconsciously stopped walking.

Her blue eyes became soft and her breath stuck in her throat.

"...Father."

This word slipped from her mouth as nothing more but a whisper, blown away by the wind.

Arthur was calmly examining the blueprints with several officials; his finger was drawing some lines of the arena.

"Increase the seats in the east. We’re expecting another five thousand spectators."

The young engineer nodded quickly and his quill started scratching the parchment. "Yes, Lord Arthur."

Arthur turned to another official, his voice firm and commanding. "The medical tents should be placed near the arena. Every second counts when there is an injured contestant."

"Got it."

Jennie looked quietly at him; her heart was swelling with love.

He hadn’t changed. After a year, he was still putting the safety of others before his own comfort—a virtue he possessed for as long as she remembered.

Gentle smile appeared on her lips.

Roxy noticed that Jennie stopped, gazing in awe at the distant man. "Jennie?"

She followed her gaze with interest in her emerald eyes. "Who is that?"

Jennie hesitated, the words getting caught in her throat. "... Someone I respect."

Before Roxy could ask any other questions—

Sudden applause came from the nearby training grounds.

The group of Royal Knights were watching a practice arena, praising somebody loudly.

Inside—

The young commander was disarming three knights in quick succession with a perfect precision. His sword was moving smoothly from one blow to another. No unnecessary move—just perfect practiced efficiency.

The defeated knights were looking at him in admiration, their swords lying scattered in the dirt.

"Incredible..."

"I didn’t see his blade even!"

The commander smiled friendly and helped them up, holding them by their hands with reassurance. "One more time. Only by standing up you will improve."

His brown hair was gently swaying in the afternoon wind. He wore the armor of the Royal Knight; it was adorned with a crest on the breastplate—a soaring wyvern inside golden laurels.

Lucas Queens.

The commander of the Royal Knights.

Jennie’s older brother.

Jennie’s smile grew wider and her chest was filled with warmth. "...Big brother."

Lucas looked almost the same as she remembered. Perhaps, he was a bit broader in the shoulders, more experienced. But his kindness and the gentle encouragement of his subordinates remained unchanged.

He laughed in response to complaints of one of the younger knights. It was a bright laugh.

"You have got stronger, Commander."

Lucas scratched the back of his head, blushing a little. "I’m just doing my job."

The surrounding knights laughed together, their friendship showing in every gesture.

Snow silently looked from Jennie to her brother, his golden eyes narrowing with understanding. "You know him too?"

Jennie nodded, still gazing at her brother. "For a long time."

She didn’t say anything more.

Snow understood enough.

The training session ended with Lucas dismissing the knights with a clap on their shoulders, while he walked to the arena himself with resolute steps.

For a brief moment—

Lucas crossed paths with Jennie.

Not far enough apart.

Lucas gave a polite glance at the silver-haired girl with his eyes carefully studying her face, trying to figure out where he had seen those features somewhere before.

Lucas flashed her a courteous smile. "Enjoying the city?"

Jennie’s smile shone with excitement. "Yes, it’s been... long."

Lucas nodded, unaware of the peculiar phrase that he had just heard. "Good, I hope you’ll have fun at the tournament."

"Thank you."

Lucas gave a respectful nod and—

Didn’t realize that he had just addressed his younger sister.

Arthur followed the same route later, having done his inspection of the castle.

He passed the girl on his way just like Lucas did.

He hesitated for a brief second—a pause so quick that no one but Snow had noticed.

It was something about those calm eyes that reminded him of something, of a feeling almost like déjà vu.

There were plenty of people who took part in the tournament already—he couldn’t remember everyone’s face. The memory was dismissed.

"Good afternoon."

Jennie bowed politely, her heart overflowing with emotions. "Good afternoon, Lord Arthur."

Arthur returned the smile, his eyes crinkling with kindness. "If you need help during the tournament, feel free to address the Royal Knights."

"I appreciate it."

With a single nod, Arthur continued walking away.

Jennie watched his retreating figure, her heart overflowing with unexpressed words.

Neither Arthur nor Lucas had recognized her.

After all, the cheerful little girl who had left Seraiya a year ago grew up, and she had long hair now, and her eyes gained the confident look because of the number of battles.

More importantly—

Neither of them could even guess that they might run into her this way.

Roxy looked between Jennie and the two departing men. "You were staring at them."

Jennie blinked, pulled out of her daydreams. "Was I?"

"For several minutes."

Snow nodded, his tail swishing. "Even smiled."

Roxy crossed her arms with a pout. "So—who are they?"

Jennie looked at Arthur and Lucas one more time, at those men who were important for her in so many ways.

A feeling of happiness, love, longing and hope filled her chest.

"They are..." Jennie paused, thinking about what she should say. "...People who once protected me."

Roxy smiled, having understood. "They must be really important."

Jennie nodded, her voice barely audible. "They are. But—" Jennie turned away from the arena, her mind made up. "It’s not time yet. I want them to see how I grew up before they find out who I am."

Snow gave a knowing grin. "So you’re planning a surprise."

Jennie chuckled, the sound ringing brightly. "Maybe."

Up high above the arena the banners of Seraiya proudly flapped in the wind, blue and gold fabric glowing in the sunlight.

Arthur continued overseeing the tournament, paying attention to all the details.

Lucas went back to training the Royal Knights.

Neither of them knew that their sister and daughter whom they believed long gone was nearby.

Fate brought them back together in the same city.

The recognition, however, would have to wait a little bit longer.

Jennie turned her face to the setting sun, the golden beams coloring the whole city in orange and rose.

"Tomorrow," she whispered. "I’ll see you tomorrow, Lilia."

In some room of the Royal Palace Queen Lilia Kingheart stopped by the window, her heart unexpectedly beating rapidly.

She didn’t know why.

But she felt it—

That something beautiful is coming.

And tomorrow everything will change.

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