Queen Scarlet slowly opened her eyes and found herself lying in her bed. A female maid was sitting beside her bed waiting for her to wake up. The moment when the queen opened her eyes and pushed herself up to sit, the maid's eyes lit up in relief.
"Your Highness, you're wake! She smiled softly from the core of her heart,
"What a relief..."
But the queen looked worried. She pulled her brows together as she spoke,
"Did the king... accept their deal?
The maid lowered her head slightly. She didn't want to answer her question, but after a moment of silent she replied,
"Yes, Your Highness. The king has agreed. He may have already been taken to their headquarters. He'll begin working for them tomorrow."
Scarlet's eyes dimmed, her voice dropping to a whisper.
"Oh... I see."
It was raining outside. The soft patter of raindrops echoed through the silent room of the castle. Scarlet turned her gaze toward the window, watching the rain fall for a long, queit moment.
Then, in a low voice, she told the maid to leave her. It wasn't a surprise. After everything that had happened, she needed some time alone to breathe, to think, to hold herself together. What she had faced today was too heavy to bear. The man she loved the most hadn't listened to her. And now, he had done the one thing she could never forgive. He had joined the very people she despised the most - the World Government.
The king knew how much the queen hated the the World Government but he didn't care. Scarlet understood he had no choice. They'd cornered him, threatening the kingdom, the people, even his own family. But still... something inside her couldn't accept it.
She wanted him to stand his own ground, she wanted him to refuse their deal no matter what.
But he didn't. He gave in.
The maid's eyes widened in shock by her word.
"But Your Highness, you just woke up! I can't leave you like this. After today's fight-you fainted! I was so worried... what if you still need my help?'
Scarlet looked at her gentle worried face and said,
"It's alright. I'll be fine," she said softly.
"I just need some time alone. And you don't have to be so formal with me. We're freinds, aren't we?
The maid hesitated for a moment. She tried to call the queen by her first name.
"Alright, Your — I mean, Scarlet," she said shyly.
She felt her cheeks were getting warm; Scarlet had just called her a friend. They had known each other for so long, but she had never imagined that a queen would say something like that to her maid.
"If you need anything... anything at all, jut call for me," she added softly.
She bowed slightly, her face still red, and forced a warm smile before queitly stepping out of the room.
Scarlet again turned her gaze toward the window. Outside, the world looked strangely beautiful. The rain fell softly under the dark sky. As she stared out, her thoughts wandered back to everything that had happened that day. Something settled in her eyes, soft but certain, like she had finally made a decision. A decision that meant leaving everything behind: her family, her daughter and her kingdom.
But why would she think of abandoning them? Why would a queen like her even consider it?Because ever since her childhood, Scarlet had carried a deep hatred for the World Government. She knew something about them. Something that the rest of the world didn't.
Elsewhere in the castle, the young boy from earlier was struggling to sleep. He moved left and right on his bed, trying to feel comfortable but it did nothing. His head heated up because sleep wasn't coming. Frustrated and unable to sleep, he finally got up and quietly stepped out of his room.
He started walking through the castle, thinking about what had happened earlier that day. The memories were filling him with excitement. He extended his right arm and threw an imaginary punch with excitement. Then pulled it back and swung a left hook, finishing with a sharp uppercut. As he moved, he made sound effects with his mouth.
"BANG! BOOM! BAM!"
He straightened up, still breathing lightly, his eyes were shining with energy.
"The queen looked so cool today," he said to himself, a wide grin rose across his face.
Still feeling amazed by her strength, he wandered aimlessly. Until he noticed from the upper cliff that someone just passed the castle gate. His grin faded, and shock took over his face. Then, he whispered,
"Queen?"
Queen Scarlet was walking toward the exit of the kingdom but her walk got interrupted by that young boy. He touched her cloth too tightly. That young boy the little man with the sword looked up at her with curious eyes and asked,
"Where are you going?"
Scarlet leaned down a little, gave him a gentle smile, and softly patted his head before replying.
"Don't tell anyone that I'm leaving, okay?'
The boy's eyes locked onto hers, his voice trembling.
"O-okay..."
Scarlet's smile softened.
"Can you do me a favor after I'm gone?"
The boy look confused by her words and asked,
"What is it?
Still smiling faintly, Scarlet said,
"I want you to take care of Lily."
The boy looked up at her, confusion written on his face..
"Take care of her? But how?"
Scarlet smiled faintly. Her eyes were warm but heavy with sadness.
"Teach her to be strong — stronger than me. Help her believe in herself, and in this kingdom. I know she's still young, but one day, she'll need to stand tall… just like a queen should."
She brushed her fingers gently through his hair and continued,
"And when that day comes, remind her what I couldn't — that kindness isn't weakness, and that even when the world feels cruel, she must never lose faith in her people."
The boy's eyes widened slightly, trying to take in every word she said.
Scarlet turned her gaze toward the dark sky.
"If the king ever loses his way... bring him back. Make him remember who he is, what he stands for. Don't let the world government take everything from us. They've already brought disaster half the kingdom... I don't want it to go any further."
She looked at him, at his eyes.
"I have something I must do. Because of that, I can't stay here with all of you. But once I finish my mission... I will return. I promise."
Looking at him with determination she added,
"I couldn't stop him... but maybe you and Lily will."
The boy held her cloak tighter, his voice was small but his heart was loud. It was full with determination.
"I'll protect her. No matter what. I promise."
Hearing that, Scarlet smiled at him one last time. It was a proud motherly smile that carried both warmth and sorrow.
"I know you will"
Then, she slowly turned away, her figure fading into the rain as the boy stood there, watching silently. The promise was burning in his heart because it was given by a very important person—the queen. It was his very first promise, which he was going to fulfill.