Chapter 26: Chapter 26 - Green Poppy Request ( Part 2 )
And the next morning started in exactly the same manner as any terrible morning starts.
With Martha Morius.
Right now Jennie was standing in the Maid Training Hall holding three baskets full of freshly washed laundry.
Her hands were full.
Her patience was exhausted.
Her pride had disappeared long ago.
Around her dozens of maids were going about their daily routine.
Some were sorting out supplies.
Some were preparing tea.
And some polished the silverware like they were preparing themselves for the war.
The palace was as active as usual.
However, Jennie’s thoughts were far away.
Far away from the capital.
Far away from the palace walls.
And far away from Martha.
Namely...
Hunter Association.
---
The more she learned about hunters, the more interested she got.
They discover new ruins.
They find hidden relics.
They fight terrifying monsters.
They explore other continents.
They enter places untouched by civilization.
They live the kind of life Leonis used to dream about but he had never experienced.
Freedom.
Adventures.
Development.
The sword.
---
While...
Every morning Jennie organized towels.
How humiliating.
---
Eventually she reached the Head Maid’s office.
The elderly woman was sitting at her big desk and carefully studying the palace’s documents.
Just as she always did.
Her posture was perfect.
Her glasses were situated in their usual place.
Her expression was unreadable.
Dangerous.
---
Without raising her gaze, Martha said.
"You want something to ask me."
Jennie’s eyes narrowed.
"How do you do that?"
"I have an experience."
"That is suspicious."
"It is called observation."
Jennie was not convinced.
---
At last the elderly woman raised her gaze.
"What is it?"
Jennie carefully chosen her words.
"Lady Martha."
"Jennie."
"I want half a day off."
---
Silence.
Complete silence.
No bird dared to make even a small noise.
---
Martha was staring at her.
And Jennie was staring back.
Both of them were not moving.
Both of them were not blinking.
---
And then—
"No."
Her answer was immediate.
Quick.
Cold-hearted.
Without any hope.
---
Jennie sighed.
"I didn’t explain why."
"You want to leave."
"Yes."
"No."
---
What a great conversation.
Absolutely productive.
---
Jennie tried again.
"It is very important."
"No."
"It is related to my personal development."
"No."
"It will be beneficial for my future."
"No."
"It can save lives."
Martha stopped.
And at last—
"No."
---
Jennie was impressed.
Such determination was incredible.
Absolutely terrifying.
But really incredible.
---
For several moments Martha was continuing to study her documents.
Jennie was standing.
She was not leaving.
At last the Head Maid sighed.
That was an extremely rare event.
Almost historic.
---
"You are very persistent."
"I have learned that from Princess Lilia."
Martha frowned.
That was probably the most horrifying thing that she had ever heard from her lips.
---
The Head Maid put her pen aside.
"If I gave all of the maids the opportunity to go wherever they wanted whenever they wanted, the palace’s functioning would stop."
"Reasonable."
"I am glad that you understand."
"I don’t."
---
Martha was ignoring her.
---
But then suddenly...
An idea flashed in the Head Maid’s eyes.
A very dangerous idea.
Jennie understood it immediately.
Every time when Martha looked thoughtful, suffering started.
---
The elderly woman crossed her hands.
"Well."
Jennie blinked.
---
"...Well?"
---
"Yes."
---
Something was wrong.
Very wrong.
Martha’s quick and easy agreement was absolutely impossible.
---
The Head Maid continued.
"I will give you half a day off."
---
Jennie became suspicious.
---
"What is the catch?"
---
Martha smiled.
This was a smile of the predator seeing her prey.
---
"A flower."
---
Here it comes.
---
"What flower?"
---
"The Green Poppy."
---
Jennie frowned.
This name sounded somehow familiar.
---
Martha stood up and went to the cabinet nearby.
After opening it she picked an old book of botany.
Its pages were old.
There were ancient illustrations on them.
At last she stopped at one of those illustrations.
---
Beautiful flower.
Green petals.
Crystal-like center.
Elegant leaves.
This plant looked almost magical.
---
"The Green Poppy Flower."
---
Jennie examined this picture.
The flower was beautiful.
Really beautiful.
Its center looked like a translucent emerald crystal.
And there were tiny veins of mana drawn in this illustration.
---
"What is it used for?"
---
Martha’s expression became softer.
Little bit.
---
"It is one of the main ingredients for Crystal Bloom Tea."
---
Jennie was waiting.
---
"And?"
---
Martha looked horrorstruck.
---
"And?"
---
Probably it was not the right answer.
---
The Head Maid took a deep breath.
"As I was saying..."
---
She was speaking with the patience of the saint trying to teach the barbarian.
---
"Crystal Bloom Tea is traditionally served during royal celebrations."
---
"Okay."
---
"It calms the mana instability."
---
"Oh."
---
"It improves concentration."
---
"Useful."
---
"It is Queen Celestine’s favorite tea."
---
Now Jennie understood.
This was the key point.
---
Everything in the palace revolved around tea.
She had learned this already.
---
Martha pointed to the illustration.
"The flower can be found only near Crystal Marsh."
---
This name sounded rather dangerous.
---
Jennie was right.
---
"It grows once every few months."
---
Of course it does.
---
"The crystal bud has to be intact."
---
Naturally.
---
"Most importantly..."
---
This was it.
The real problem.
---
Martha adjusted her glasses.
---
"The flowers are guarded."
---
At last Jennie smiled.
So.
Finally something interesting.
---
"By what?"
---
The Head Maid answered calmly.
---
"The Green Serpent."
---
The room became silent.
---
Martha was watching carefully.
She was waiting for any sign of fear.
Or concern.
Or common sense.
Anything except...
---
Instead—
Jennie’s eyes started sparkling.
---
Her smile was gradually spreading across her face.
---
True smile.
Dangerous smile.
Such smile which Martha had seen just a few times before.
---
The smile of the person which was looking forward to a fight.
---
Somewhere deep in her soul...
Leonis KingHeart woke up.
The Sword King.
The warrior.
The man who once challenged monsters which were far beyond human comprehension.
---
Flower which is guarded by a monster.
Dangerous location.
Difficult objective.
---
It sounds much more entertaining than polishing silver.
---
Martha was staring.
Jennie was smiling.
---
"...You are excited."
---
"Very."
---
The Head Maid sighed.
For some reason...
She was not surprised.
---
Far away from the capital...
Beyond forests and rivers...
Beyond roads and villages...
There was a vast marshland under the warm afternoon sun.
Emerald mist was rising above the still water.
Ancient trees were growing in the swamp.
The mana was filling the air.
Wild.
Untamed.
Dangerous.
---
And somewhere in this marsh...
A huge pair of green eyes slowly opened.
Observing.
Waiting.
Guarding something precious.
---
The Green Serpent had detected a visitor.
Unlike Martha...
It had no intentions to assign some cleaning duty.
