Reborn As A Maid

The Grand Royal Arena seemed to come alive, vibrating with life.

Over fifty thousand spectators occupied the huge stands. They were shouting loudly so that it sounded as if their voices were shaking the stone walls of the ancient building. Flags of the most powerful kingdoms of the whole continent proudly fluttered in the wind. They symbolized the unity of people.

Warriors were standing in the competitors’ waiting zone, proudly wearing badges that they received after the preliminary battles.

Jennie stood silently at the front of the area. Her silver hair was gleaming in the morning light. Her face remained expressionless but she was trembling because of some inexplicable feeling.

Roxy leaned against the railings and happily observed the audience. She couldn’t stop staring at the crowd of spectators and her emerald eyes sparkled with energy.

"I’ve never seen so many people in one place!" Roxy exclaimed.

Her proud Honorary Guardian Snow smiled and said in reply:

"I’ve never seen so many humans gathered in one place," he added.

"But wait. The Queen hasn’t even arrived yet," Roxy replied.

Three deep horns echoed around the arena in succession.

Three royal trumpets sounded simultaneously, silencing all the spectators.

Cheering instantly faded away and gave way to silence.

Every spectator stood up, raising in unison.

Every knight took out his sword and saluted, moving perfectly in sync with others.

Every competitor looked towards the royal entrance, holding his breath.

First of all, Arthur Queens entered the giant arena through enormous gates. He was dressed in elegant ceremonial armor colored in white with gold decorations. Arthur walked confidently but every step and gesture showed his carefulness and control.

Lucas Queens followed him and his appearance was even more imposing than that of his father. He wore dark-blue cloak of the Commander of the Royal Knights. He was ready for any danger and his right hand was resting on his sword hilt.

Two rows of elite royal guards followed the Kings. They walked in silence and every step echoed rhythmically. Perfectly polished armor reflected the morning sunlight and looked like huge mirrors.

Nobody spoke.

Only the sound of synchronized footsteps resounded in the arena.

Arthur stopped in front of the royal platform and pronounced with his rich voice:

"Citizens of Seraiya. Honored guests. Welcome."

He made a polite bow towards the royal gates.

"It is my honor—to present Her Majesty. Queen Lilia Kingheart."

The huge gates opened.

A young girl appeared on the light of the morning sun.

She wore elegant white-and-gold royal gown decorated with silver wyverns. Their shining wings glinted with sunlight. A sapphire crown rested on her beautiful blonde hair. Calm and kind eyes of Lilia surveyed the crowd with dignity and warmth, seeing everybody in the stadium.

She didn’t wear the crown arrogantly but with kindness.

At her left side rested the magnificent sword, whose golden scabbard was glowing as if the sun has poured its warmth there.

Aurelia.

Divine Sword of Light.

When Lilia approached to the spectators, the blade glimmered a bit as if it was pulsing golden light only Queen could feel.

There was whispering voice in her head. It was a voice of ancient times. It spoke only with the owner of Aurelia:

"...She is here."

Lilia stumbled for a moment, breaking her composure.

"...Here?" she asked quietly.

But nobody answered to her anymore. Only warm echo remained in her heart.

Everybody applauded.

"Long live the Queen!"

"Your Majesty!"

"Queen Lilia!"

Thousands of voices combined in one powerful wave of adoration that shook the very heavens.

Lilia smiled and waved, catching the sunlight with her fingers.

And the applause became louder.

Jennie was observing silently from the competitors’ waiting area.

She hadn’t seen Lilia for more than a year.

That vivacious princess who had once been so scared of herself, who doubted everything, and who was sure that she will never be enough was gone forever.

Instead, before the whole continent stood the confident queen, who managed to earn the love of her subjects by means of compassion and strength.

Jennie smiled gently. There was pride in her heart.

"You’ve done it, your Majesty. You became the ruler you wanted to be."

There was no jealousy in her eyes. There was no regret. And there was no longing for the past.

Only the pride of someone who used to believe in Lilia when nobody else did that.

Queen Lilia addressed the audience with dignity, her voice ringing above the arena.

Then she slowly turned her gaze to the competitors.

Hundreds of faces of knights, mages, mercenaries, hunters, and adventurers. Each of them had its story, each of them had a dream.

One after another.

And then...

Lilia’s eyes paused for a second on a silver-haired girl calmly standing among all of them.

Jennie.

It was impossible to recognize her clearly at that distance. Still, there was something peculiar which stirred somewhere deep in Lilia’s heart... Something she wasn’t able to define.

"..."

Why? Why did that girl seemed so familiar to her? Like somebody she knew from another life at some time she couldn’t recall anymore.

Without realizing that, Lilia looked at the silver-haired contestant one more time.

Arthur saw that. "Your Majesty?"

"...No, it’s nothing. I simply thought—" Lilia paused, frowning slightly. "—I saw her somewhere."

Arthur looked in the direction Lilia was watching.

"Their badge says ’Raven’. ’White Sword Hunter,’ I guess." Arthur said thoughtfully. "She easily passed the preliminary stage. Her sword skills are... outstanding."

Lilia nodded. "So that’s Raven...?"

However, even after she turned away from that girl, the feeling wouldn’t fade away. It stayed somewhere deep in her heart like some ancient memory.

From below, Roxy noticed how Jennie was looking at the royal platform with the distant smile on her face.

"You’ve been smiling ever since the Queen appeared."

Jennie blinked, blushing slightly. "Have I?"

"Mhm." Roxy leaned her head to the side, observing her friend. "You look... happy."

Jennie turned her gaze downward, smiling slightly. "Yes, I do."

There was curiosity in Roxy’s emerald eyes. "Did you know her before?"

Jennie was silent for some moments.

"...A long time ago. I knew someone who believed in her."

After that, Jennie said nothing more.

On the royal platform, Aurelia glowed for a second.

The Divine Sword whispered. "...Sword King."

Lilia involuntarily touched the hilt of the sword. "...What do you want to tell me?"

The sword didn’t give any answer. However, the unusual warmth spread in her heart, making her feel strange comfort as if someone close to her was standing beside her.

Someone who used to laugh with her.

Someone who used to trust her completely.

Still, it was impossible to remember him/her. The name escaped from her mind.

Far below, Jennie kept looking quietly at Lilia.

With affectionate smile, she was remembering that shy young girl who needed her help as a maid and friend.

Both of them didn’t know that their destinies brought them together under the same sky already.

The first one remembered every single memory.

The second one remembered only the warmth it left.

The applause started fading as Queen Lilia descended from the royal platform, sweeping the stairs in her golden dress like the sunlight.

Arthur Queens followed Lilia respectfully, standing slightly behind her. Lucas Queens and several rows of Royal Knights surrounded the queen, protecting her with the subtle vigilance.

In contrast with most of the rulers, Lilia insisted on personally meeting with the competitors who passed the preliminary stage of the tournament.

"They’ve all traveled such a long way." Lilia said earlier that morning. "At least, I can show my gratitude to them."

"Your kindness is one of the kingdom’s main advantages, Your Majesty." Arthur smiled, his eyes crinkling.

The selected contestants were standing in a line along the marble corridor under the arena. Some of them bowed very deeply, pressing their faces toward the ground.

Others knelt, rustling their armor. Several contestants, who weren’t accustomed to the court customs yet, put their hands on their hearts, bowing.

Lilia met each of them with the same gentle smile and sincere words.

"Thank you for taking part."

"I wish you good luck."

Her kindness surprised many of the warriors, who were expecting from a queen the usual cold formality.

One of the grizzled mercenaries whispered to his companion with amazement, "She’s totally different from the nobles I knew."

Nearby, Kai Viper nodded approvingly, leaning his spear on his shoulder. "She treats everyone equally."

Jennie stood quietly at the end of the line, holding her hands before her.

She was watching how Lilia meets one contestant after another, her heart warming with every kind word.

"...She’s changed," she muttered.

"And for the better?" Roxy smiled, her voice being soft.

Jennie nodded, not taking her eyes from the queen. "Much better."

There was obvious pride in her voice. It spoke about the history they shared.

Snow noticed that. "You admire her very much."

Jennie answered her softly, whispering almost. "I always believed she would be an excellent queen."

Several contestants remained to be thanked.

Lilia moved on, greeting everybody with her sincere smile.

Then—

It happened.

The edge of her ceremonial shoe hit against the corner of a small marble stair. Her balance was disturbed. Her arms instinctively started waving.

"Oh—!"

The world seemed to freeze.

Surprised gasps echoed through the corridor.

Arthur’s eyes were widening. "Your Majesty!"

Lucas instinctively threw himself forward, stretching his arms towards the queen.

But he was too late.

Lilia was falling down toward the polished stone floor, her eyes widening with astonishment.

Before somebody else could react—

Silver-haired figure moved.

Jennie.

Without thinking, without hesitation... With the reaction of pure instinct—

One step forward, turn...

Her hand stretched forward.

Jennie caught Lilia around her waist, catching her so gently, that the Queen slid only slightly forward until she was standing comfortably against her shoulder.

Silence.

Absolute silence.

The entire corridor froze.

Slowly, the Queen opened her eyes.

Instead of the cold floor of marble, she discovered she was securely held by the unknown swordswoman. Her blue eyes met those of Lilia.

Neither of them moved for a second.

Something was stirring inside both of them—the warmth, the memory, something inexplicable.

Staring at familiar eyes, the heart of Jennie started beating rapidly.

"...Lilia..."

Her lips were about to say the name, but at the last second, she restrained herself from doing so.

Lilia blinked and asked in a quiet voice, "...Why... why do your eyes look so familiar?"

Jennie did not know what to say—her heart was beating faster than it ever did during the battle.

Pulsing gold rays of Aurelia revealed the presence of the Divine Sword in the hands of Lilia.

"...Sword King."

Exactly at the same moment—

Excalibur, Leviathan, and Tempest vibrated under Jennie’s cloak, their voices interchanging in the chorus of recognition.

"...Light..."

Both of the women could not hear the ancient weapons.

However, they knew something that made tears threaten to appear for some unknown reason.

Finally, Arthur rushed to the Queen. His worried face showed he was afraid of her wellbeing.

"Your Majesty! Are you hurt?"

Several blinks later, Lilia realized that she was leaning on Jennie. Her cheeks turned a faint shade of pink.

"Oh—" She quickly rightened herself, adjusting her dress with shaky hands. "I-I am alright."

She looked at Jennie with gratitude in her eyes. "Thank you. You saved me."

Jennie smiled sweetly and said in a gentle voice, "I am glad you are safe."

Again—the smile.

Lilia’s heart beat rapidly.

"...Have we—" She paused, frowning. "—met before?"

Jennie thought for a second.

Then she decided to be honest. "...Perhaps, fate brought us together."

Lilia smiled for no reason, her heart warming up. "It surely looks like that."

Several steps away, Roxy folded her arms, narrowing her emerald eyes.

Her cheeks were puffed slightly—it was definitely a pout.

"Hmph."

Snow glanced sideways, his golden eyes twinkling with amusement. "That pout again?"

"I am not pouting."

"You are."

"I am observing."

"Very intensely."

Snow looked at Jennie and Lilia smiling at each other, their conversation dragging longer than it should.

"...They are talking for too long."

He barely could hold back laughter, his shoulders shaking from it.

Not far away, Rudy Kiss stood leisurely near a marble pillar, watching everything very attentively.

An amused grin appeared on her face, twinkling with mischief.

"Oh... so it is."

She saw the Queen smiling kindly at Jennie, her expression being gentle and open.

Then she saw the clearly jealous expression of Roxy.

She smiled knowingly and chuckled quietly to herself, her voice being full of amusement. "Looks like I have got myself a rival."

She laughed quietly and shook her head. "This tournament just became far more interesting."

Lilia smiled gratefully at Jennie for the last time, her voice warm. "I hope we will see each other during the tournament."

Jennie bowed politely, her manners impeccable. "I will be honored, Your Majesty."

As the Queen went on greeting the rest of the contenders, she turned around for one last time.

The silver-haired swordswoman was already going away with her companions, her figure disappearing into the crowd.

But the strange warmth of Lilia’s heart did not disappear.

She put a hand on her chest and frowned with confusion.

"...Why..."

"...it feels like I have finally found the person who was lost a long time ago?"

Meanwhile, far away, Jennie touched the spot where she had just caught Lilia moments before.

She smiled to herself, her heart full of happiness.

"Welcome back... Lilia."

Neither of them remembered the whole truth.

One had forgotten the memories.

The other had hidden them under a different name.

But destiny has finally united the Queen and her best friend.

And somewhere in the shadows of the arena, a new Chapter of their story had begun.