'Your highness, sorry to disturb you but it would seem that the queen has come to visit'
........................….
Asha's eyes widened in shock. In his previous life he was never visited by the witch, that gave birth to him, personally especially while he was sick. He wondered why now of all times did the queen have to visit. Asha was shaking not sure if it was because of the cold, the fear or the rage he felt.
Emily hated the queen both for the blatant neglect and the manipulation of her own blood. If not for the prince awakening, Emily would've taken him from the castle given him a good life. A sinking feeling settled in her stomach. She knew the queen wouldn't visit for no reason.
'Asha lay down I'll dispose of the bowl … and Asha hide the toy'
Asha brought out of his stupor nodded and used a napkin to clean his face while Emily did the rest.
The door opened to reveal 5 women two at the back who were maids, two at the middle who looked to be of noble origins. At the front and center was a tall petite woman with soft light blonde hair and bright sparkling blue eyes.
The woman's eyes landed and gave a smile that could brighten any room she walked into. The modest full length green gown she wore accompanied with an arm length white glove. A picture of modesty, innocence and purity. The perfect mother, the perfect woman Queen Elizabeth Nasha Patagrale.
It took a lot of his exceedingly small strength he had not to tremble at the sight of her. 'Welcome mother' he put on a fake smile 'What brings you -' he was interrupted by a coughing fit.
The queen approached him visibly worried. 'Are you alright darling? I was told of your condition, although it was not this bad when I received the report.'
She sat beside the prince as she brushed his hair to the side to feel his temperature. 'You're so warm. My poor baby' She quietly checked his face. 'Your face is so red. This is what happens when you train in the rain no more training for you okay?'
Asha didn't respond. The queen took this as a sign to continue to scold him. 'My son I understand that you take the sword seriously but you must also focus on your health.' She hugged him and patted his head. 'You're much more important to me'
The women who accompanied the queen all began to praise the queen and gushed about how much of an amazing mother she was. They were amazed by how much of a fuss she was making for her son.
Asha stared. He wanted to openly yell and mock her. This woman who is supposed to be a perfect mother abandoned and neglected her youngest child for 12 years. He wanted to yell, to scream but couldn't because he knew Emily would be punished in stead of him. Asha glanced at Emily who was standing at the side glancing downwards while still watching the queen and Asha. He could see her fist clearly clenched. He wanted to console her but knew he couldn't not with so many eyes on them, especially the queen.
He stared at the woman who had given birth to him. If it was before he came back in time, he would've believed the act she played. Her pretty and innocent face was enough to fool anyone. He understood there was no point in reviewing the past. Apart of him (a very small part) in the past, wanted to believe it was bad influence for the queen but through out the whole time in the castle she never once took off her gloves when she had to have physical contact with him.
He squeezed the blanket as he was suddenly reminded of how the queen whipped him with any long item whether if it was wood or an iron rod. He remembered how the queen would add nails and broken glass to the whip she used and would mercilessly flog and hit him. He became terrified of the woman.
He was forced to watch as she would cruelly kill his loyal knights and attendants one by one. He was powerless to stop his mother from torturing Emily to the point she begged Roseneath to end her life just not in the way she wanted. She happily did so and even leave their bodies in his cell to rot. He could still remember the smell and the faces of the people he cared for all lifeless.
He couldn't get rid of the fear he had for the queen. It didn't help that his body was sickly. His body clearly remembered his time in prison. He was helpless just like he was back then.
The queen fed herself the praise. She wondered why the child refused to speak. She wondered if there was something wrong with him. She glanced at the maid whose gaze was cast downwards but still somehow watching Asha. She sighed inwardly; she'll need to remove Emily from his care. Unfortunately, it was easier said than done. She was the dowager queen's personal maid and her lady in waiting. On top of that she was assigned to that thing by the former queen. If she were to interfere with this it would've been seen as an act of disrespect to the dowager queen.
She continued to smile and rubbed his head. The women gushed at her gentle and caring manner towards the prince. The women sang praises to the queen. The nobles wishing their sons would be as diligent as the son the queen raised.
........................….
'I can't stand them'
'I know you can't but -'
'How can that woman call her self a mother when she blatantly neglected her son, maltreated him and even abused him'
'I know but -'
'On top of that she barged in to a sick child's room just to use him to feed her own ego'
'Wait! Where are you going?'
'To do something about it'
........................….
Asha felt anger burning through her chest. He found it annoying that the queen was using him especially now that he was at his weakest. He was exhausted, now on his bed the psycho had him cornered and trapped. I have to find a way to get her out of my ro –
A sharp pain from his stomach caused him to freeze; breaking his train of thoughts. A sudden wave of nausea overwhelmed him. He felt sick. He was confused as he had thrown up earlier. Now he had to force him self to swallow back the contents his stomach had rejected. He was suddenly hit by wave of dizziness. He felt the room spin. He trembled on the bed. He felt terrible his body ached. He gave a horrified glance towards Emily.
Emily caught the gaze and realized that there was something wrong. Judging by the way Asha kept his mouth clamped shut, it looked like his stomach wasn't done. But why did this have to be now. She needed to help him but couldn't. she was shaking she didn't know what to do.
He was doubled over in pain. 'Are you okay?' the queen spoke with gentle softness giving a visible worried expression. His ears rang giving him a splitting headache. The women that the queen brought didn't help the situation get better. Asha knew that if he opened his mouth he would throw up right there.
The only people who didn't get the memo that something was wrong were the queen and her lackeys. The queen got irritated at the lack of response from the thing. She couldn't leave especially with her reputation on the line. She smiled and hugged him.
The women gushed about the queen hugging him. The queen gave a small grin hidden from the other ladies. She pulled away from him and cupped his cheek. 'It's alright my child you can tell me if something is wrong'
Asha was so tired. He was exhausted and frustrated. The queen was seriously getting on his nerves. Is my illness a joke to her. He felt another jolt of pain hit his stomach. He could feel the liquid rise up to his throat. The prince desperately tried to hold it back. He panicked unsure on what to do.
'Just let it all out'
And so, he did. The room fell silent. The compliments stopped immediately. The women all had collective gazes of horror. The queen was frozen as she gazed at the yellow liquid on her dress. Emily stood in shock scolding herself from wanting to laugh.
Asha couldn't believe what he had just done. Sure, did she deserve it? Yes, but he couldn't comprehend that he had done it.
The queen's maids were the first ones to react. They pushed the sickly prince to the side and quickly ushered the queen to get changed. The queen nodded still in a shocked daze. The other noble women soon followed the queen out of the room, shutting the door behind them.
Both Emily and Asha were left alone in silence. Emily soon after they left, broke it with a loud hollering laughter. Emily mocked the queen. A mother that's what she calls herself. She couldn't help but laugh. Her laughter brought Asha from his frozen state and soon joined Emily in laughing.
After a few minutes of laughing, Asha smiled as he watched Emily still wheezing at the situation he caused.
'That was quite satisfying' Emily said still snickering to herself. She smiled at Asha but ha d a hint of worry in her eyes. 'Asha are you alright? You just vomited again.'
Asha nodded though regretting it slightly. 'I'm fine… I just feel dizzy and nauseous …and a bit cold'
Emily walked over and placed a palm on his fore head. 'It seems that your fever has returned. I'll have to call the doctor later.'
Asha slowly nodded. 'Alright but first I'll need a bath and some new clothes.' Pointing to the stained clothes he had on.
Emily silently agreed. 'And I also need to change the sheets'
........................….
Asha shivered under the covers. He coughed, silently wondering when it got so late. After the bath, the doctor explained that he had caught a flu that made his fever even worse. He was told that he should stay in bed and avoid any source of stress until he was better. I am a bit relieved that I have a plausible excuse so that I can avoid my family. But the cold and the illness was a bit annoying. He'd taken medicine and also eaten food unfortunately for him it didn't settle well in his stomach. In the end the threw up again.
Asha felt a cold rag being placed on his fore head. He turned towards Emily watching as she pursed her lips and carried a worried gaze. 'Asha, you've gotten worse than you were two days ago'
Asha could only cough in response as he shivered to the non-existent cold.
Emily watched the prince, noting to herself how helpless look. 'Why don't you rest okay? I'll make sure no one disturbs you so just focus on resting. Do you have any request.'
Asha gazed at Emily. 'The lights, please leave them on'
Emily got worried about that but decided not to dwell on it. 'Anything else?'
Asha clinged to the toy he was cuddling. Emily noticing how his face got even more red.
'Uummm... could you stay' the prince rasped out; slightly embarrassed about asking for this request.
Emily softly chuckled as she pulled a chair close to his bed. She watched as Asha slowly drifted to sleep while holding her hand and the other cuddling the toy he asked her to buy.
........................….
'Oh my, how precious'
'I know right?'
'But xxxx, you shouldn't have done that'
'I know, I know okay. But … I couldn't leave him like that … and besides he was going to throw up eventually I just sped it up a little'
'...'
'Don't look at me like that. Anyway, it's good he's resting. They'll need to recover in order to fix this mess'