Chapter 265: Side Story 5: Frida Faces Reality

Frida looked down at the children and carefully wrapped them up. Since coming to the palace, no one has been in charge of the children’s care. Glancing to the right, she saw Violette sitting casually watching her. It was strange. She had seen others wearing her uniform, and they made sure to do chores, but Violette never did and only watched.

Shaking her head, she pushed the thought out and looked at the two children. Carefully tucking their hair into the blanket, she smiled as the children looked like little burritos. "Have a good sleep, Balder, Astrid." Kissing her fingertips, she touched their foreheads. Despite the strangeness of the children’s care, she had come to like it. It was the only thing that gave her purpose in the foreign land. If it wasn’t for them, she may have gone insane.

"Please look after them." Frida politely said to Violette before running out of the room. It didn’t matter; no one could understand her other than the Emporer, and he was terrifying, more than Helga. Whilst she learnt that Helga was cruel and hardly seemed human, Alfred made her feel a different fear. The deep chill he carried in his eyes was enough to paralyze her.

Even though he scared her, she also felt a little thankful. He had forced her to start taking lessons. Lessons to speak the native language. He had given he the chance to actually live in the new world she found herself in. Opening the door to the nearby room, she saw her teacher. He was another terrifying man. Looking at him, she had gotten used to the sight of four soldiers around him at all times.

"Hello." Frida gave a small bow toward Halfdan and took a seat. The man looked at his guards and scoffed, then took a seat.

"Shall we start?" Not wishing to waste time, Halfdan opened up a book and placed it in front of Frida. But looking at it, she couldn’t help but wish to do something else.

"Actually." Pushing it away, she stared at him with a small smile. "I’m more curious about you. You are the only other person I know from our homeland."

"Fine." Halfdan shrugged and closed the book. Leaning back into his chair, he scratched his beard with his hand but stopped, remembering he had no fingers. "So. What?"

"I mean. Helga knew who you were but she never really explained the past with you. So I’m wondering, who are you?"

"I was a Jarl, then I went on the Great Raid. Ran off and lived in the Empire for a while before I let myself be captured."

"That’s it." Frida frowned, having expected more, but Halfdan refused to indulge her. "Then what about Helga? You knew her. What did you think."

With a small smirk, Halfdan’s eyes looked into the distance, a small hint of nostalgia in them. "She..." Dryly chuckling, he smiled. It was the first Frida had ever seen it. "She was one of the most interesting things I have ever seen. Batshit crazy, don’t get me wrong, but I’ve never seen someone like her. Our home. It is foreign to the people of this land. The brutality that we live with. But her, she took it to a new level. For most, a sacrifice was holy; a raid ensured their village ate. But to her, it was all sport. She indulged herself in the most taboo pleasures one could experience."

"She wasn’t human. But she was not a God." Halfdan chuckled once more, and Frida fell into thought. "What about you? Why are you here? You not like those zealots who followed her."

"I don’t know." Frida sighed and thought of home. "I just ended up here after there was no way to escape. My father sent me as a hostage to Helga. There was a chance to escape, but I couldn’t. The children. When they burnt down Helsita, no one cared to try and save them. So, I chose to be the one to do it. I could have left with Brede and the others, but it would have meant that those kids would have died. So I took my chances and got on her boat. I hoped we would return home one day, but I don’t think that will ever happen now."

"Don’t linger on it." Halfdan shrugged. "This new land is quite good. No harsh winters, abundance of food. Well, the Emporer is the only problem. He despises us."

"Us?"

"Maybe only me. I don’t know. But it’s for good reason." Looking at Frida’s questioning face, he smiled and shook his head. "You want answers, ask him yourself. I already lost a hand because of things. It’s a miracle I’m still alive." Halfdan looked at his guards and smiled. "You’re in a good position, however. You are the nanny of his children."

"So?" Looking at him, Halfdan couldn’t believe she didn’t realise how much power she could have in the future.

"They may take the throne. Depending on when it happens, you could rule for them." Halfdan mouth opened wide as Frida looked at him like an idiot. "The Crown Prince is a cripple, you know. Do you think that kind of person can rule an Empire? No. Those kids will."

"That doesn’t matter to me," Frida said happily. "I’ve seen what power does to people. Helga, my father. I’ve also seen what happens when someone loses things because of it. Those children. I only wanted them to be safe when I carried them through the burning town. Even now, I only want that."

"Then you’re a fool," Halfdan said callously. "You don’t have that luxury anymore. They are future contenders for the throne, and you will be the closest thing to a mother for them. Not only are they at risk, but you are, too. If you want to hurt someone, the best way is to target the things they hold dear. And a mother is one of the most sacred bonds someone can have."

"Maybe." Frida frowned but shrugged. "Maybe not. My father handed me off like a good. Helga killed her own father, and looking at you, I doubt you would care if I killed your parents."

"You’re right. But those are special cases. If you become something to those kids, then they will suffer if you die."

"I’m just a nanny, Halfdan."

"You’re right. Just remember who your allies are. Right now, you have two I can think of."

"Two? I thought no one cared for the kids."

"Things aren’t simple in the Empire. It is not like our home. Right now, you have two. The Emporer and his shadow. If he could have, the Emporer would have killed the kids by now. The fact he hasn’t means he can’t bring himself to. As for his shadow, he only sees the safety of the Empire. Those children offer an alternative if anything befalls the Crown Prince. Spares. Luckily, he is a loyal dog. He won’t kill the kids unless the Emporer orders it. My guess is he already has someone watching them other than you."

Frida squinted suspiciously. It was too much information she was being told. "Why are you telling me all this? I know you don’t actually care for my well-being."

"Boredom. You asked to have a conversation. We can start our lesson if you want. Esmond isn’t expecting me back for a while after all." She didn’t believe him. He was too cynical to actually care about her.

Frowning, she nodded, and Halfdan slid the book over to her, beginning her language lessons. Deep in her mind, she tried to understand Halfdan. Despite not wanting to believe his words, she knew they were true. He was a man who had been in positions of power. Even in the new world, he had somehow wormed his way into the palace, even if he was only a teacher. He had been like her father and definitely wasn’t an innocent person.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Leaving the room, Frida blankly stared into the distance as she thought about her conversation. She had only ever thought about keeping the children safe, but now, the harsh reality had set in. If they took the throne, what would her life be? She didn’t want them to, but what if it was unavoidable?

Walking without paying much attention to anything, she bumped into a hard object and fell backwards. Looking up, she saw a knight in pure black armour, holding the whilst of his sword. his cold eyes looked at her like a threat, and she knew if someone gave the order, he would cut her down without hesitation.

Looking behind him, she saw a beautiful brown woman. The hate she looked at her with was frightening, but Frida knew better than to cry out. She instantly knew who the woman was, seeing her in the throne room by Alfred’s side.

"I... gret...te...Empess." Bowing her head, she tried to get the words out as best as possible but understood how terrible it sounded. Isra only stared and scoffed, walking past with her guards. Looking at her back, she couldn’t help but feel a mix of awe and fear.

That someone could have that much hate in them only when looking at someone was terrifying. She knew that the children were bastards and that Helga had violated Alfred in some way, but for his wife to have that intense emotion because of it was horrifying. It made her think once again of Halfdan’s words. She was the children’s carer, and there was one person who would love to see the children’s death more than anyone.

Even though she felt fear towards her, she still couldn’t help but feel amazed by the woman. The tale of her childhood of the heroes and gods of the past played through her mind. The powerful woman who had carved out their place in history. She could see that Isra hadn’t only got her place from marriage. There was a power in her eyes that couldn’t be hidden. An air of elegance that only came from someone who knew they stood above everyone else.

It was hidden, but she had been around Helga long enough to know Isra was also trained. Her body may have been hidden, but her posture and the small bits of flesh she saw showed a woman skilled in combat.

Collecting herself, she ran back to her room, not letting herself get lost in thought again. Opening the door, she looked down at the children and smiled. It was all surreal. The small things before her had the chance to sit on the throne. To tower over the realm. She could never see it. They were small, fragile things. Thrown into a place that didn’t love them because of their origin.