Royals of the South

Chapter 1: Freedom

"Finally we're out of here," he says and dries his eyes that swelled tears that he wasn't aware of with his worn out shirt.

You let your fingers lightly brush against his cheek and smile back.

"Now, now, stop crying. The palace attendants will be here any minute now," you say and before you two can walk out the tiny space, someone knocks at your door.

You open it and sees madamé Rosa standing in the doorway looking as irritated as always. You bow your head to her and was about to greet but she shushed you by shoving a sack to your chest.

"What-" you were cut off when she spoke.

"You both will wear that to the palace. 'Tis your last day here so might as well shed from those worn out clothes," she looks away.

You never really expected her to give you something because for the most part of your stay here, she was always mean to you.

"Thank you madamé," you bow in gratefulness and she leaves without a word.

You and Sunoo quickly cleaned up and changed into the nicer clothes madamé Rosa gave you. It is an emerald casual dress that goes down to your ankles and to your wrists. Sunoo puts on a flowy white blouse with frills on his cuffs and a pair of brown trousers. You two wore a new pair of brown leather sandals that is of the finest ones.

"You look beautiful y/n," Sunoo appreciates and you look at him and smiles.

"You look so good in that color Sunoo," you smile from ear to ear.

It was really long ago when you two last wore decent clothes. So seeing your brother look like that makes you happy.

"I wonder what madamé Rosa ate that she acts kind and gave you these," Sunoo wonders as he slips on his sandals.

You shrug and completely just ignored the topic itself. Maybe she felt really bad for mistreating you, that was how she apologizes. You still feel bad though so you just let it slide.

Just minutes after you two has dressed, another servant came to you. And told you that the palace attendants are here to fetch you.

You and Sunoo walk straight to the double doors and your owners are waiting for you there with sour looks on their faces. Loosing you two means they'd have to buy another set of servants that would actually cost more than you two. The look of dismay is painted all over their faces.

Though you were relieved that you and your brother is finally not their property, you still bow to them as you exit the mansion. They couldn't even do anything so without looking back, you and Sunoo walk straight to the carriage where a woman is standing.

You both bow to her and as soon as you exchange pleasantries, the carriage carried on the road as you all make your way to the palace. In the East kingdom, you know where the roads are going but since you two has arrived 8 months ago here in the South kingdom, you were mostly locked up in the mansion and was never allowed to leave until said so.

You watch Sunoo look out the window as the horses' steps disturbs the dust on the ground that the sun has dehydrated for almost 2 months now. It hasn't rained in this kingdom and it's fairly odd to you since it almost rained atleast once each week. Curiosity is painted all over the lad's face as he watches the scenery pass by. Sunoo's eyes are filled with amazement.

"Lady y/n, sir Sunoo," the attendant sought for your attentions.

You both looked at her and waits patiently. Although it's quiteweird that you were called lady and sir again, it wouldn't even change anything.

"Have you eaten breakfast?" She asked.

Sunoo looks at you and you heave out a silent sigh.

"We haven't eaten anything since yesterday. Our owners- I mean our past owners were furious when the letter from the palace came in yesterday." You answer with melancholy although you were used to it.

"Oh good lord. What kind of owners are they? Keeping such healthy children from food," she clicks her tongue and rolls her eyes.

Whatever her name is, she must've find that really awful and inhumane.

"No worries, I shall feed you once we enter the palace. Give you a few more extra clothes and show you your quarters. I assume you don't have a place to go after your duties everyday so the king made sure to give you space in the palace," she smiles.

"What a benevolent and generous king his majesty is. However, we don't really know why we got this fortunate since we're only mere servants," you say and held Sunoo's hand.

"That's not what madamé Rosa told me," she shrugs.

Madamé Rosa?

"What do you mean? I'm quite confused," you say.

Quite frankly, you have never thought about it in your head why she would do that. Unless-

"Has she sold us to the palace by any means?" You ask out of horror.

The attendant must've seen that flash through your eyes so she quickly mutters.

"Oh dear no. Rosa is a good friend of mine. On the day you arrived at that mansion, she told me about you two. You both didn't look like a servant to her," she said.

You remember coming into the mansion. The clothes you two wore were of the finest linen, silk and leather. You didn't have any callouses in your hands nor on your feet. Your past owners sold those and gave you rugs to wear which has irritated your skin but 'twas better than being naked.

You knew everything about running such a large house though and so is Sunoo who has thought the head gardener how to read and write.

"She said she was confused at first why you two are sold as servants when you could pass as nobles. I don't know if I'm allowed to say this but Rosa once tested you if you could read so she left numerous recipes on the kitchen and see if you could make them and she said you did perfectly fine." She finishes.

"So madamé Rosa-" you were cut off again.

"Yes!" The attendant exclaimed. "She requested for your release and in return, you two can work in the palace. Said you two don't belong in there with the scums," she says with a nasty tone.

You were about to say something when you hear the large gates open and more soldiers appear beyond the gates.

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