~{DEBORAH'S POV}~
*
Once I was done having my breakfast, my ladies in waiting filled me in on my schedule for the day and I discovered I didn't have much to do.
While Lauren was away, I had dutifully kept the kingdom in order since my father showed me how to rule. He didn't see it as a man's job alone and I was grateful for that.
Lauren wouldn't have much to do other than to rest, unless he finally announces his upcoming wedding with Peculiar.
But wait. My steps faltered as I became thoughtful while walking through the garden.
Why hadn't he announced this yet?
What is taking him so long?
The sooner he does that, the sooner I get out of this place.
Back in the past before I had died, he had quickly announced as soon as he came back from war that Peculiar would be his new wife but now, that seems to have changed.
Why?
Was it because I came back?
Now I was getting confused.
If things keep changing then how will I outsmart them?
"Don't you dare change on me universe." I loudly warned as I looked up to the sky and pointed my finger at it.
"Is anything the matter, your highness?" Dally curiously asked due to my weird behavior.
My past would never have done such a thing because I was very careful. By careful I mean extra careful. I never wanted to ruin my husband's reputation but now I don't care.
When he had taken Peculiar as his second wife in my past, I had begged him not to do it but he did it anyway while reminding me that he didn't love me but loved her.
And because of his blind love for Peculiar, she used that to her advantage by bossing me around. Whenever I tried to talk back to show her her place, Lauren would instantly shut me up and take her side. Due to that, Peculiar began to show her true character.
At first I thought she was just a naive young maiden and decided to help her out by befriending her but she used that to her advantage by telling lies to the king of how I would try to poison her food and hired people to kill her.
That was just the surface of what happened.
"I need to ride my horse." I said all of a sudden, surprising my ladies in waiting.
"Isn't that too early?" Peace asked in concern.
"Not at all, Lady Peace. I just need to clear my head."
Saying that, I headed in the direction the stables were located. It was a little bit far from the palace but I didn't mind walking all the way to get myself together.
When I needed a clear mind, I usually went for a ride but after the race I had with Lauren, I found so much joy and refreshment and I wanted to feel that again which is another reason why I was going there.
But before I could go farther, I found Fredrick walking towards my direction with a royal guard by his side, making me frown in curiosity.
As we approached each other, he bowed in respect and so did the guard before I asked where he was going.
"I am on my way to the stables, Mr Fredrick. Where are you off so early?"
"I am currently on my way to meet with the king who has sent to see me." He politely answered and I sighed.
What does the king need him for at a time like this?
"I will carry on then. Till you return." I bade him farewell and resumed walking, causing him to make way.
He was such a gentleman and I loved his company.
Since I spent most of my time riding horses, he was always by my side. He even showed me the secret to riding a horse like a professional which is why I was able to win against Lauren.
"My partners will be of assistance to you. Please enjoy your ride." He swiftly said and I waved my back hand at him in understanding without turning to look at him as I walked ahead.
It took a little more longer before I arrived at the stables and met with one of his partners who I was familiar with since he had two.
Once my horse was brought to me, I instructed my Ladies in waiting not to escort me before getting on her and riding down the evergreen field in easy strides.
I simply let Brave take me wherever she deem fit and while I was enjoying the scenery and fresh air, my eyes quickly zeroed in on someone coming my way.
He was on a cart which was connected to two healthy donkeys which pulled him. At the back of the cart was freshly plucked hay, neatly bundled up.
As we got closer since he would pass the path I was on, I suddenly recognized him.
He had long dirty blonde hair which was neatly tied up in a clean bun with a loose shirt which exposed his tanned chest on a brown pair of slacks and it made him look appealing to the eyes.
Despite that, it didn't move me.
"Greetings, you highness. We meet again." He cheerfully said as he slowed down to greet me.
"Likewise, gentleman. I didn't even thank you properly for helping me during my…. unfortunate fall." I said while lifting my head in pride.
He smiled brightly and didn't look at me with pity like the way others do, especially my ladies in waiting who thought I was not well.
"Anytime, your highness. It is really an honor to have come across you a second time." He said in genuine happiness and I smiled.
There was something about him I couldn't name. I knew him. I definitely knew him. And it was only after constantly reminding my brain that I knew him that it finally flashed a memory where we had met.
He was the one who had been stealing glances at me and sneaking into the palace with the pretext of doing his duty. That happened in my past before I had died. It happened after the king's return, a few weeks after he announced that he would be marrying a second wife.
Now I remember!
It was him!
Bernard.
Back then it was reported to me severally that I had a stalker but I didn't bother about it until the day I found him actually watching me one hot afternoon while I was in the garden alone.
It was quite disturbing and he had taken that moment to walk up to me and introduce himself while saying he had been wishing to meet with me and talk, even just once.
It was a harmless conversation I found helpful and touching back then since my life had been difficult. Although guards came to take him away for getting out of line and that was the last I saw of him. He never came to seek me which was strange because I looked forward to it.
"Bernard, right?" I softly said and watched how his eyebrows lifted in great surprise.
"Y-yes. Do you know me?" He politely asked, trying to contain his joy.
"I do."
"Oh my goodness, this is wonderful to hear. It really means a lot that you know my name, your highness." He gratefully said while grinning from ear to ear and I found myself staring at his reaction in fascination.
Not many men reacted the way he did and I loved this transparency. This was what I loved about him the day he had approached me and talked.
And our conversation was about how he admired me and wanted to be my coachman. He explained how much he needed that position to support his family, mostly his junior sister who was to enroll into a music school.
Although I had asked about him and discovered that what he said was true but he had long left the kingdom with his family.
But now, I had the chance to make things right.
"Would you like to be my personal coachman?"
His eyes widened in pure shock and the reins fell off his hands as he stared at me in disbelief.
"R-really?" He asked as if to be sure.
"Yes," I answered and accompanied it with a harmless smile.
I couldn't believe I had thought of using him to get to the king. However, I wouldn't have let the king have him impaled.
That wouldn't happen on my watch.
He got down from the cart and fell on his knees before my horse as he thanked me profusely. Surprising me.
"Please get up. I am not a god."
"You have no idea how much you just saved me, your highness. I will forever remain indebted to you." He went on to say and I sighed in pity.
"Don't say tha-"
"Hey! You there! Get away from the queen!" A loud voice interrupted me and I turned in irritation to see who it was just to find a royal guard with two others behind him.
"You there! Don't yell at him. I was the one who made him stop!" I snapped back at him and he blinked in surprise as his steps faltered.
"But he's a serv-" he tried to defend himself.
"He's my coachman from henceforth. Have Mr Fredrick show him what to do." I authoritatively said and they all blinked in confusion.
When I looked back at the man, he was left speechless as he stared up at me like I was a goddess.
Seeing this made me feel strong again, like a god and I wanted to bask in the moment until a messenger rushed into the scene while panting heavily as he delivered the news.
"You-your highness…the- the king wants to have Mr Fredrick impaled!"