Reborn As A Maid

Chapter 12: Chapter 12 - Kidnapped Princess ( Part 2 )

The abandoned castle slept in the pale moon light.

Cracked walls covered with old stone, climbing vines filling broken windows and leaning tower of dying giant.

Inside, firelight was flickering.

Crimson Wolf Brotherhood made temporary camp out of central hall.

Sitting in the middle, leader of group.

Garrick "Iron Wolf" Vargos.

Warlike man, scar on cheek, thick fur cloak hanging from the armor collected on battlefields over the years. In his eyes you could see hunter’s patience who never returned without prey.

He was rotating coin in his fingers.

"Night Veil doesn’t like mistakes," Garrick said calmly.

Around him his men tensed up.

Beside him sitting his second-in-command Rogan, huge brute with two-handed axe on his shoulder.

"We didn’t fail. We got wrong target," Rogan muttered.

From darkness, lean figure was adjusting his hood.

Silas, tracker, spoke.

"The prince was not in the carriage. My mistake, I misread escort formation."

Coin in Garrick’s hand stopped rotating.

Silence.

Soft laughter.

"Honesty," Garrick said. "Rare quality in men who wish to live."

Fourth figure was leaning on wall.

Vera, wind mage, was twirling thin dagger between her fingers.

"So what now? We still have the princess."

Garrick’s eyes narrowed slightly.

"Yes."

"And the little noble girl."

Silas frowned.

"She’s not included in the contract."

Rogan shrugged.

"Then we throw her away."

Garrick raised his hand.

"No."

His gaze was looking towards the locked hall deep inside ruins.

"She stays alive."

"For leverage."

He was leaning back.

"If Night Veil’s client is patient enough, then we’ll get paid."

Vera smiled faintly.

"And if not?"

Garrick didn’t change his expression.

"Then we improvise."

---

Inside the locked chamber...

Princess Lilia was pacing in circles.

"This is unacceptable!"

"They will regret this!"

Jennie was calmly sitting on cold stone floor.

Hands were still bound.

Face expression unchanged.

She looked almost...

bored.

Lilia stopped.

"Why are you so calm?"

Jennie was tilting her head slightly.

"Panic won’t improve escape speed."

"That’s not the point!"

"It helps sometimes," Jennie added.

Lilia stared at her.

"...You’re weird."

Jennie nodded politely.

"I’ve been told that before."

Lilia was sitting down heavily.

"My father will come."

"He always does."

Jennie was looking at the door.

"He will."

Short pause.

Then she added softly,

"And so will mine."

There was something strange in that sentence.

Not fear. freeweɓnøvel.com

Not hope.

Certainty.

Lilia frowned.

"...Your father is strong?"

Jennie blinked.

"Yes."

"...How strong?"

Jennie was thinking for a moment.

"Strong enough to become the shield of the kingdom."

Lilia nodded slowly.

"That sounds impressive."

Jennie added quietly,

"But unnecessary."

Lilia frowned again.

"Why?"

Jennie was looking at her hands.

"Because we won’t be here long."

Lilia blinked.

"...What?"

Jennie was smiling faintly.

"I told them not to panic."

"I didn’t say I would obey them."

---

Outside the chamber...

Rogan was approaching locked door.

"Still no noise."

"Maybe they’re crying," Vera said lightly.

Silas was shaking his head.

"The smaller one isn’t normal."

Garrick was standing.

"Open it."

Iron door was squeaking.

Light was spilling inside.

Both girls were turning around.

Lilia immediately stood.

"Finally!"

Jennie was staying seated.

Garrick’s eyes were landing on her first.

Something about her calmness felt...wrong.

Too controlled.

Too aware.

He frowned.

"You two will be moved in the morning."

Lilia shouted, "You’ll regret this!"

Jennie was speaking calmly.

"You should leave this place."

Rogan laughed.

"Boss, the kid’s giving orders now."

Garrick ignored him.

He was looking at Jennie.

"You’re not afraid."

It wasn’t a question.

Jennie was shaking her head slightly.

"No."

Long silence.

Vera was leaning closer to Rogan.

"She’s creepy."

Silas was whispering.

"She’s calculating."

Garrick’s hand was slowly resting on his sword.

"Name?"

Jennie was looking at him.

For the first time—

her eyes were sharpening.

Not child’s anymore.

Something older was slipping through.

"...I’m Jennie Queens."

Garrick’s eyes were narrowing.

Queens.

He didn’t recognize the kid.

But he knew the surname.

Minor nobles from capital region.

Irrelevant.

Yet...

Something about her presence felt irrelevant.

He turned away.

"Bind her again."

Rogan was stepping forward.

Jennie was sighing softly.

"I tried to avoid this."

Lilia blinked.

"Wait—what are you—"

Rope around Jennie’s wrists was loosening.

Not cut.

Not torn.

Just...undone.

Instant silence.

Silas’ eyes were widening.

"...What?"

Jennie was standing up. ƒreeωebnovel.ƈom

Slowly.

Naturally.

As if gravity just stopped affecting her for a moment.

Vera was stepping back.

"That’s mana manipulation..."

Rogan was raising his axe.

"Boss?"

Garrick wasn’t moving.

He was watching Jennie.

Fully alert now.

Jennie was brushing dust from her dress.

"I asked you to leave."

Garrick was exhaling.

"...And if we don’t?"

Jennie was looking at him.

For the first time—

her gaze was sharpening.

Not child’s anymore.

Something older slipped through.

"Then you will learn why silence is not the same as weakness."

Pressure filled the room.

Not magical.

Not visible.

Just heavy.

Like standing in front of blade already decided to kill you.

Silas was taking step back.

"...Boss."

Garrick was lifting his sword.

"Everyone."

"Kill her first."

Rogan was grinning.

"Finally."

Vera was raising her hand.

Wind was gathering.

Jennie was closing her eyes for a brief moment.

Then opening them.

"...Understood."

She was stepping forward.

And the air was changing.

Not loudly.

Not dramatically.

Just a single step.

Everything around her felt suddenly too slow.

Rogan was swinging his axe.

Jennie was tilting her body slightly.

Blade passed where she was standing.

Her hand was touching his wrist.

Soft motion.

Click.

His arm stopped working.

Rogan was freezing.

"...Huh?"

Jennie had already moved past him.

Silas was firing an arrow.

Jennie wasn’t looking.

She was raising two fingers.

Arrow was splitting mid-air.

Vera was releasing wind magic.

It was twisting towards Jennie like blade storm.

Jennie was exhaling.

Then—

she was stepping forward.

And wind was collapsing.

Not resisting.

Just ignored.

Vera was stumbling back.

"What is she—"

Jennie was picking up wooden plank which fell on the floor.

She was flicking it.

It hit Vera’s shoulder.

She dropped unconscious instantly.

Silence.

Garrick’s expression was finally changing.

"...No."

He was tightening grip on his sword.

"You’re not a child."

Jennie was looking at him calmly.

"I never was."

She was raising her hand slightly.

"I just chose to appear as one."

Garrick was attacking.

Full speed.

Full intent.

Killing strike.

Jennie was moving.

Not fast.

Not flashy.

Just precise.

Her fingers were tapping the side of his blade.

Sword was deviating.

Balance was breaking.

And in that moment—

Jennie’s palm was hitting his chest.

Not hard.

Just correct.

Garrick was freezing.

His sword was falling from his hand.

"...Impossible..."

He was collapsing on one knee.

Silence filled the ruin.

Silas was dropping his weapon.

Rogan was standing frozen.

Jennie was turning away.

"That’s enough."

Outside...

Footsteps thundered.

Armored horses.

Royal Knights.

Arthur Queens in the front.

Garrick barely was lifting his head.

"...Who...are you?"

Jennie was glancing back once.

Small smile returned.

"...Just a daughter who wanted to go home."

Then she was sitting down again beside Lilia.

Like nothing happened.