Chapter 1

"Help us!". A man in peasant clothing cried "Help us oh mighty one".

" What is all this commotion!". A guard exclaimed, "Who dares disturb the palace before dawn, do you not fear the consequences of stepping in here?".

The man goes on his knees "I am a nobody seeking nothing but justice for my family, I have risked everything to come here, I just need to speak with his majesty".

The guard wears an ugly frown on his face "Who are you to seek the presence of the king? Do you not fear losing your head?, be gone before I lose my temper". The guard turns and was about to leave when the man suddenly grabs a hold of his legs

" I beg you, please, I rather die here than face my family".

The guard clenches his fist and immediately draws out his sword, he turns to the Peasant "So be it then". He raises his sword with both hands before the sword could land on the neck of the pitiful peasant the doors open

" Halt!". He heard the king's vicious tone exclaim

"Sire". He said before falling on one knee, the peasant crawls and quickly does the same.

A young King appears walking majestically to his throne, with brown hair, green emerald eyes a pointed nose and a chiselled chin, indeed he's very good-looking, people in the palace say his face was kissed by the goddess of beauty"Speak". He commanded as he sits on his throne

The peasant crawls closer to him with his face on the ground  "Sire help us, my family and I have been put in a life-and-death situation".

" How so?". The king asks as he rests his jaw on the palm of his hand

"Sire, my family owns a small cotton business, and it's on the land my late father had left for myself and my brother, my brother suddenly came out of the blue one day and claimed the entire thing, destroying the one thing myself and my family live on, please help us".

The king lets out a sigh "Between yourself and your brother, who is older?".

" My brother sire".

The King continuously nods "I see...It is the law that the oldest own whatever the father leaves behind if there wasn't any written will, so there's no way I can help you, you may leave".

" Sire". The man cries "Please help me, my family and I won't survive! Isn't there a way for the law to be changed?". The King aggressively gets on his feet

"You dare question my judgment?".the king asked filled with rage, he wore an ugly frown with his shivering clenched fist

"Of course not".

" Do you wish to die!".

The man raises his head and looks at the king's face with his teary eyes "Sire.."

This very much angers the king "You dare look me in the eye! Do you have a death wish?".

The peasant instantly bows his head and stares at the ground "Forgive me, your highness, I didn't mean to disrespect you, I only wished for you to see the ache in my heart, they say the people's happiness is the king's happiness the people's sadness is the king's sadness".

The King takes in a deep breath " I'm done here". The King storms out of the throne room ignoring the constant pleading of the peasant, he did feel a little pity but what could he do? change the law because of a mere peasant?

Kingdom Agenvil, is a place of grace, it's known for its happy people and excellent monarch, well that was before, It hasn't been called that for a very long time. When the king died of an unknown disease at an early age this led to a terrible battle between the royal families because he left the seat empty, this was because his son was still just a child.

For 10 years the people of Agenvil had to suffer, for the kingdom was left in poverty because of the ongoing battle.

But once the crown prince was of age, he invaded the palace with a group of rebels to claim his throne, which began King Darius's reign. In other to restore the kingdom back to its former glory he had to wed princess Atara the second daughter of Emperor Marcus of the Treant Empire, the most prosperous empire of their time, they were known for their trades in gold, salt and copper.

The wedding did help bring out the people from poverty but wasn't the same as before. The King on the other hand had a name the people called him, the confounded one.

There's a rumour that goes around, that on the day of his birth there was an oracle that saw his birth was going to bring chaos to the kingdom and the late Kings arrogance led to the downfall of Agenvile.

King Darius indeed is a handsome lad, people often tell him he takes his father's looks and mother's nature, his appearance is fierce and hidden in his serene personality.

The Queen, on the other hand, is known for her pride, people worship her calling her their saviour, it is the king's marriage to her that brought the people out of poverty, she's adored.

The King enters the Queen's chambers "My Queen". He said with a smile on his face, she's sited on her bed holding a scroll, she had long blonde hair, almond brown eyes, a cute button nose and heart-shaped lips.

" My king". She got up putting the scroll away, the sight of her alone gives the king a warm feeling inside, it made him happy "Is there any reason you're here?".

" Indeed there is, I have come to seek the comfort of my queen".

She walks close to him "Did something happen your highness?".

The king lets out a sigh "I fear I have made yet another enemy of my subject, they believe I don't feel their burden but I do, they don't understand even a king's power is limited".

The queen responds bluntly "I have told you many times your highness that I do not wish for you to come into my chambers whenever you feel like it, I would like for you to leave".

The king's eyes widen, but then again this isn't something he should be surprised about, the queen speaks to him as she pleases, she might be the only one who dares belittle him, she doesn't have single respect for him and she knows he can't do anything to harm her because unlike her the king loves and cherishes her. "All I ask is nothing but your emotional support and you still yet deprive me of that?"

"I have nothing to say to you". She goes back to her bed

With his feelings hurt the king leaves her. He knew from the very day he married the queen she didn't love him, but he kept hoping with time she might open up to him, but it wasn't so, she seems to get along well with everyone in the palace except him.

__________ Dawn, merchants of Agenvile seem to be all awake, they invaded the streets with their goods, and getting past them almost seems impossible, the men could harass women with their words however they liked and get away with it

" Pretty woman, something tells me you'll like what I have for you". A short merchant said holding a fabric "This is all the way from Otheiks, is the best you'll ever find and it will be all yours for just 2 gold pieces". He wears a bright smile showing off his teeth, half-rotten golden brown.

" uhm, no thank you, it seems like you got enough pieces already". A lady with black wavy hair said with an amused tone in her voice "Maybe some other time".

The merchant gets angry "You dare mock me? You don't even look like a Nobel, I hope your father doesn't sell you to the dogs". He spits afterwards

She simply ignores him, she's used to it anyway. Any woman should be.

"Baara!" she hears a familiar voice exclaim, she turns and sees a little boy running in her direction

"Philip what is it?". She asks concerned

He stops and starts panting "You have to come help us".

"What is going on?".

"I'll tell you on the way, we better hurry". They both run as fast as they could.

Reaching their destination they see a man getting thrown out of his house with his wife and kids helplessly on the ground in tears.

"Father!" the boy cries out running to him

The man embraces him

"What's going on?". Baara asks concerned, she sees about five built men in the house throwing their things away.

The man grunts "We can't afford to live anywhere no more, we're getting kicked out".

"How could this happen?".

The man draws his nose "My brother took the land and destroyed my business, I'm left with nothing, couldn't get help anywhere, and even the king ignored me".

Her eyes widen "The king? When?".

"Earlier today, he said nothing could be done, it is the law".

"Law my foot, what kind of King ignores his people in a desperate time of need?. Isn't there anywhere else we can seek help from?".

The man slowly shakes his head "No there isn't, it's all over, I'm sorry Baara".

"No please, let's try begging your brother again, please uncle".

He forces a smile "You just go on living your life, don't worry about us".

Baara walks close to him and takes his hand "How could I not? You took me in after my parents died, is the least I can do, I promise I'll find a way to help you ". Suddenly a cock crows, Baara gasps "I better be going, hang in there uncle, even if I have to meet the king myself, I will take that chance". She runs off leaving a small pouch in his hand

"Be careful!" He yelled hoping she would hear, he watches her until he lose sight of her, and he noticed the pouch "what is it?". He opens it and sees pieces of gold "that girl...."

Baara runs as fast as her legs could take her, with her heart racing and sweat dripping, she reaches the palace gate

"Where have you been Baara, do you want to get us both in trouble?". The guard at the gate whispers frightened

She replies with her panting tone "I'm sorry, something came up". She bends down and tries to catch her breath

"You better hurry to your post then". She nods and storms in

She quickly goes to her quarters and changes into her maid outfit, she runs to the assembly hall where all the maids gather in the morning to get assigned their various duties.

She sees the others were already lined up, and the head maid already sending them on duties

She tiptoes and joins the others

"Baara, good for you to join us". The head maid said with her eyes concentrated on the scroll she held

Baara gulps "I'm sorry ma'am, I-I overslept"

The head maid scoffs "In my days you don't even get to sleep a wink, we were treated like actual servants, you all are lucky there are shifts now, back then you got to serve day and night!". She yelled

Baara bows "Forgive me, ma'am".

"Well then, Baara you will be serving at the Queen's quarter today, through out today, that is no sleep for you".

"I understand ma'am".

The head maid clears her throat "Well then, you are all dismissed, the night shifters must have left their posts by now".

They all bow and chorus at the same time "It is an honour for us to serve the king". Before they scatter.

Baara is a mere servant in the palace, she was first brought to the palace when she was 15years old. After the death of her parents she was left in her uncle's care, he did raise her well but his wife saw her as a burden and sold her off to the palace as soon as she got the chance, Baara never resented her, she often sneaked out of the palace to check on them. It's been 8 years since the palace became her home yet not once has she seen or gone close to the king.

It's forbidden for anyone except royals and nobels to look at the face of the king, especially for maids, the only time that's possible is if they sight him from a distance but if they are to be caught there's a possible chance for them to loose their heads.