Reborn As A Maid

The silence finally fell on the palace.

While the tournament crowds were still celebrating Kai Viper’s win and discussing tomorrow’s match, somewhere far in the distance from them, in the royal district, the silence had found its place in the corridors of the palace. This deep, profound silence was full of sounds of unexpressed thoughts, fears, and doubts.

Queen Lilia stood alone by the high window. Her silhouette was outlined by the silver moonlight.

From her high place on the roof Seraiya looked beautiful – bright rooftops of the houses, quiet streets. A perfect view of her kingdom, built by her own hands, by the hands of the person she could not remember anymore.

Lilia could not relax.

She pressed her fingers to her chest – there was that unusual ache again. Just as usual, each time when she saw Raven, that peculiar feeling came back to her again, as if it was the fragment of the song she could not remember.

"Why?" Lilia whispered into the silent corridor.

There appeared a soft golden light beside her.

Aurelia appeared in front of her, floating in the air. The Divine Sword of Light shone in the darkness, filling it with its golden glow and warmth.

Lilia turned to it, speaking quietly. "Aurelia."

The sword answered with the pulse of golden light.

"Tell me something." Lilia pleaded. "Why do I feel strange whenever I’m near Raven?"

Aurelia was silent – it glowed in the silence.

Lilia frown her brows. "You recognized her, didn’t you? You felt it the first time when you saw her. Was it her?"

The sword flashed with the pulse – acknowledgement or hesitation.

Lilia turned to the sword again, her voice filled with emotion. "Do you know who she is?"

Aurelia glowed brighter but still remained silent.

Lilia sighed, lowering her head. "You’re terrible at answering the questions."

It flashed again, perhaps apologetically.

Lilia forced a smile, feeling a little bit easier after this. "I guess, it’s my fault to expect such answers from the sword."

She turned back to the window again, watching the moonlight on the roofs outside.

But her expression soon became more serious.

"Still..."

She remembered herself falling during the tournament match – the sudden feeling of imbalance, the surprised gasps of the audience, the stone rushing at her face. And then Raven was here, her arms catching Lilia in an impossible way.

At the moment their hands touched Lilia felt it – there was a flow of warmth, there were strange memories that were not her memories. There was a warm afternoon, a laughing girl, a pair of small hands in hers, a promise she could not remember.

And then there was nothing.

Lilia touched her hand as if trying to revive this feeling. "I’ve never seen her before."

Beside her Aurelia was shining.

Lilia looked at the sword again. "But my heart does not believe me."

No answer followed, only the gentle shine and warmth of the Divine Sword, the silent comfort without any explanations.

Lilia closed her eyes, her voice full of longing. "Who are you, Raven?"

That night later Lilia left her chambers.

She had intended to return to the royal library and bury herself in the old books and legends but sleep would not come and the silent corridors of the palace beckoned to her.

But instead of going to the library, while walking by the silent corridor she suddenly stopped.

Someone was standing beside the open balcony, a figure bathed in the moonlight. White hair. Familiar pose. A presence that made her heart leap in her chest.

"Raven?"

Jennie turned, her silvery hair reflecting the moonlight. She was surprised to see the Queen.

"Your Majesty."

Lilia smiled – despite all her confusion, her smile was warm. "You don’t have to look so frightened."

Jennie straightened immediately, her posture becoming even more formal. "I’m not frightened."

"You’re standing as if you’ve been caught stealing something."

Jennie looked at herself, then relaxed, giving a sheepish smile. "Sorry."

Lilia came closer to her, her steps were soft. "Could not sleep either?"

Jennie looked outside, her eyes distant. "I suppose not."

"The final?" Lilia sounded gently.

"Partly." Jennie answered honestly but incompletely.

Lilia stopped next to her, her shoulder was touching Jennie’s. "Kai Viper is formidable."

Jennie nodded. "Very."

"Are you afraid?"

Jennie thought for a moment. "A little." She smiled warmly. "But I’m looking forward to it."

That smile.

Lilia stopped.

There it was again – something inside her stirred, trying to remind her of something, of some images. A little girl, standing under the tree, laughing brightly. Smiling exactly like that. Lilia blinked, but the image disappeared.

"Your Majesty?" Jennie’s voice cut her train of thoughts. "Are you alright?"

Lilia quickly smiled, hiding her confusion. "Yes."

Jennie looked at her sharply. "You looked like you remembered something."

Lilia’s heart stopped beating. "Did I?"

"Yes." Jennie looked away as if she had spoken too much. "Sorry. I should not have said that."

"No." Lilia’s voice was softer than she expected, almost pleading. "Don’t apologize."

Jennie looked at her again, surprised.

Lilia smiled, her expression was gentle. "I have been having strange memories recently."

Jennie became motionless, her body tensed. "Memories?"

"Fragments." Lilia looked outside where the moon shone silver lights. "I see the places I’ve never been. I see the people I cannot remember. I hear the voices sometimes."

Jennie’s heart clenched painfully. She knew exactly what those feelings meant – the memories, the fragments, the desperate attempt to find the meaning in the vague images. The name Leonis popped in her head unexpectedly. She suppressed it.

"Maybe it is a dream." She offered her voice carefully neutral.

"Perhaps." Lilia smiled weakly but her eyes were troubled. "But it feels real."

Jennie looked at her really. For a moment she wanted to tell her everything – about Leonis, about Rudy, about those strange memories she had, about the fact that looking at Lilia made her heart ache with some unknown pain.

But she did not. Not now.

Instead she asked, her voice soft. "Do you remember those people?"

Lilia slowly shook her head. "Not clearly."

"Anyone important?"

Lilia fell silent and her eyes went far-away. "There is one person."

Jennie held her breath. "Who?"

"I don’t know," said Lilia.

The princess felt unexpectedly disappointed.

"I remember someone," her dreamy voice floated towards her. "Someone who was very close to me."

"Why did you lose her?" whispered Jennie, tightening her throat in a knot.

"I don’t know," Lilia repeated.

It was like a blow straight to the heart.

She tried to meet Lilia’s eyes but failed.

"Raven?"

Jennie instantly smiled, showing her pearly teeth. "I am alright."

Once again. This smile. Once again. Strange feeling.

Lilia looked at her in horror. "You do that all the time."

"Do what?" asked Jennie, confused.

"You smile when you are suffering."

Jennie was taken aback and her smile froze.

"You were doing that when you helped me during the tournament," whispered Lilia.

Her eyes darted down in shame.

"And now," Lilia added with a sigh.

Jennie was at loss of words – she didn’t know what to say.

But then Lilia smiled and her voice became tender. "I used to know one person who did that."

Her heart started pounding in panic. "Someone from your memories?"

"Yes," she answered and looked at the moon. "She always tried to make other people feel good, even if she was hurt herself."

Her fingers twitched, becoming tighter and tighter.

"She sounds familiar," she thought.

"You remind me of her," whispered Lilia, gazing into her eyes.

"I don’t know why," confessed Jennie.

"I think I liked her," she said, looking at the moon dreamily.

"Do you want to remember her?"

"Yes," she answered immediately, without a second of hesitation. "But I’m afraid."

"Why?" Jennie looked at her, her heart aching.

"What if to remember her means to remember that I have lost her?"

Jennie didn’t have an answer because she understood. Better than Lilia herself could understand.

They stayed in silence, enjoying each other’s company and the moonlight.

Neither of them was eager to leave – as if an invisible cord between them was pulling them together.

Lilia studied her face, noticing the familiar features. There was something in her – something very familiar. Not her face, not her hair. Something more subtle. The way she positioned herself, putting her weight on the tips of her toes. The way she listened, listening attentively. The way she was looking at other people before she thought about herself.

Lilia suddenly smiled. "You remind me of someone."

Jennie looked at her and her eyes lit up with interest. "Again?"

Lilia laughed softly. "Sorry."

"No, it’s fine," she answered warmly.

Lilia tilted her head and studied her more attentively. "You’re doing it again."

"Doing what?"

"Making this expression," she waved at her with her hand carelessly. "The one which means that you are thinking about something which you don’t want to tell to other people."

"What expression?" she asked, puzzled.

Lilia smiled tenderly and said, "Exactly this one."

She didn’t understand but then Lilia burst into another laugh and –

Suddenly a memory flashed in her mind.

The sunny garden. Two girls under the big oak tree. The laughter. They were talking with each other and the first girl was laughing happily while the second was trying to be serious.

Then something funny was said and the laughing girl spoke but Lilia couldn’t hear what was said – she wanted to remember.

The picture grew clearer.

A white-haired girl. A familiar smile. The warmness which made her feel safe.

Her heart began beating fast.

"Jennie..."

Jennie looked at her.

The memory shifted – the white-haired girl grew up and stood next to someone, holding a sword. Lilia heard her voice, which was soft but confident.

"I’ll protect you,"

Her eyes widened and she saw the battle scene. Blood. The sword. A name shouted with all might.

"Jennie!.."

Lilia suddenly clutched her head tightly because it hurt terribly.

"Ah..."

"Your Majesty!" Jennie immediately ran to her and put her hands to help her.

Then their hands touched each other – and everything faded away.

Lilia stared at Jennie.

Jennie stared at her.

They didn’t move.

Her heart was racing and she was breathing deeply. That warmness. That presences. That feeling. She remembered it – and she had remembered it once, very long time ago. But where?

Lilia opened her mouth and her lips pronounced the name which she wanted to call. "Je.."

Jennie froze and widened her eyes.

Lilia stared directly at her eyes, searching for something which wanted to surface – the name, the face, the memory. She almost had it. Almost.

But then it disappeared.

She blinked and her eyes showed confusion. Palace. Moonlight. Jennie. Nothing else.

"Your Majesty?" Jennie asked carefully. "You were about to say something."

"I..."

She put her hand on her chest and felt how fast her heart beat. "I don’t know."

"Maybe you should have some rest," Jennie said gently, releasing her.

"Raven?"

"Yes?"

"Why do I feel so comfortable around you?"

She looked at her and Jennie looked away. "I don’t know."

"Usually, I’m very cautious to strangers," she said softly, sounding vulnerable.

"But not to you," Jennie said quietly.

"You remind me of someone whom I’ve known for many years," she whispered, amazed.

Her eyes became wet with tears and she turned to the balcony. "Maybe some people are just easy to trust."

"Perhaps," said Lilia sadly.

Jennie took one step back and her voice was barely audible. "Good night, Your Majesty."

"Wait." Lilia’s voice was sharp and urgent.

She stopped.

She wanted to ask – needed to ask. Who are you? Why do you remind me of someone? Why does looking at you makes me remember something? Why does my heart ache when you disappear?

But none of those questions crossed her lips.

She said: "Good luck tomorrow."

"Thank you," she turned and gave her a warm smile which reached her eyes.

That smile once again.

This thought surfaced again—the image of a girl laughing under the sun, radiating pure happiness and delight. A reaching hand toward Lilia, soft and warm. The promise that was made, forgotten with the passing years.

"Lilia’s eyes widened. "Jennie... "

But the memory was lost, evading her grasp like water.

Jennie had already left.

Lilia remained in the spot where her hand touched her fast-beating heart, watching the corridor into which Jennie had disappeared, questioning what was impossible to know.

Aurelia was floating quietly behind her, sending pulses of golden light, as if agreeing.

Slowly turning toward the sword, Lilia asked, "Did you see that?"

Golden glow appeared around the sword.

Looking at the corridor once again, Lilia asked quietly, "I almost remembered."

The sword stayed silent, just giving off its warm light.

Closing her eyes and feeling the ache in her heart, Lilia sensed the same warmth, the same pain, the same sensation of familiarity of the Raven who was supposed to be a stranger.

Whispered through the corridor, her voice quivering, she said, "Why do you feel familiar to me?"

Her voice quivered in the silent corridor.

Then Lilia looked at her hand, curling it as if trying to grasp something, someone who was not there anymore. And for a moment, Lilia almost felt a small hand clasped in hers, warm and familiar.

Memory of her childhood past.

Unfinished promise.

Name on the tip of her tongue.

And somewhere in Lilia’s heart, long since forgotten, a girl called Jennie was coming back to life.

But neither Lilia nor Jennie knew that remembering would be so hard.

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