Chapter 10: Maria’s Inner Thoughts

Maria was saved by the former Duke of Dimortyil Duchy. Throughout childhood, she was abused by the Nightinshade organisation. The scums, who preyed on the weaker sections of society. The so-called higher-ups told her that her parents sold her to them the moment she was born. After being saved by the former duke, she pledged her loyalty to the Dimortyil house. Even though she was educated by them, she devoted herself to being their humble servant. She wanted to pay them for all they had done for her. After her saviour's death, she became his son's maid. She did whatever was asked of her. One day, her master asked her to spy on Sharon Charatshore, the emperor of the Charatshore Empire. He told her to pave a way for herself such that she would become Her Majesty's maid. It kind of shocked her. The person in question was his fiancée. He told her, 'I don't trust her with our empire. Even though she is my betrothed, I can't trust her. Sharon is a tyrant. For now, she was implementing policies that would strengthen the weaker sections of our society and also uplift the commoners' status. But how long? She is unpredictable. Maria, I want you to become her paid. Win her trust and spy on her. Inform me of every single detail about her activities.' Maria readily agreed with her master. She entered the palace with the help of her master. With some simple tricks, she slowly increased her rank and finally became Sharon's paid. She even showed her fighting skills. Although she never said anything about her ability. When asked, she said— 'It's my mana. I conjure arrows and a bow with the help of mana. I don't have any ability.' She lied to the emperor. Except her master, no one ever needed to know. When she first saw Sharon, she was awe-struck by her beauty. The rumours were true. While her beauty was highly noteworthy, her personality was not. Her master's words were true. She was unpredictable. She could never predict her mood. Her master was indeed correct. A ruler shouldn't have that kind of behaviour. She was a tyrant. Whatever she said was absolute, and she never analysed her actions. One day, Sharon shocked Maria. For the first time, she thanked her. No... to be precise, for the first time in her entire life, someone thanked her. Ever her master didn't ever thank her. Maria was confused by her words. If others who had never thanked her for anything would suddenly thank her, she would feel strange. But this was Sharon, a very unpredictable woman. So, she brushed it off like nothing. Then, after some time, Maria heard that the emperor had visited the knight's grounds and trained with them. She also brushed it off. The emperor suddenly ordered her for a night activity. As her trusted maid, Maria always accompanied her for some night activities. It may be for drinking or crushing the rebels, or anything else. She had to always accompany her. Yet, this night activity shocked her. Sharon brought her to a secluded dungeon in the Languin forest. Earlier, she brushed her off when she asked about their night activity tonight. Then, Sharon, with her own accord, told her that they were here to clean an organisation called 'Nightinshade.' Maria's blood ran cold. Did she know anything? Did she have to kill her? No, she can't. As she was contemplating, Sharon uttered some words that astonished her to the very core. Her reaction was as if somebody told her that the sun revolves around the Earth. Sharon told her that she always noticed Maria's reaction to be tense and a bit weird when the term, slavery' was mentioned. She never thought that the emperor would be this perceptive. Also at the same time, she was relieved. Her identity was still intact. Agreeing, she and Sharon entered int dungeon. The scene inside shocked her. It brought back her memories. She killed every person who was responsible for their suffering. Just when she was about to kill the last person, Sharon stopped her. Normally, if any other person had stopped her then, she would have killed them right there. But it was Sharon who stopped her. The very person who helped her gather much-awaited revenge. Sharon reasoned that the man would help them release the other captives. Finding the reason logical, she relented. What changed her perspective of Sharon was when she freed the captives. Seeing her crying after the little girl thanked her, who was crying with gratitude and relief. It was as if time had stopped for Maria. For the first time in her life, she doubted her master's words. A person who could shed tears for others... thThereas no way she would do anything to hurt them. Even she had never seen the emperor cry. Yet, she cried for the captives. Even her saviour didn't cry for her when he saved her. Yet, a part of Maria wanted to see her cry even more. What would happen if something similar happened to Sharon? What type of face would she make? She quickly discarded that odd thought from her mind. She should focus on the freed captives. The emperor told her to handle them and went together with that man to free another captive. She protested, but was shot down by her. It didn't sit well that she was with that man alone. After handling the freed captives, she followed after them. When she found Sharon, she saw that she was being hugged by a weird red-haired fox woman. Without any thought, she shot an arrow towards her. The only objective for her was to separate her from Sharon.