"Young Master." Naida bowed to the young man in the mask. "Did she finally come up with a proper plan?" He asked her. "Yes." Naida handed the paper with the proposed battle plan on it. He read it and nodded.
"This is better than the trash she sent two days ago. Give her the go ahead." He gave the paper back to Naida. "Malek is asking for an audience, young master." She said as she took it back.
"Why?" He asked. "He didn't say but repeated that it was very important." The young man clicked his tongue twice in annoyance. "He isn't about to tell me that that woman is pregnant, is he?" Naida bowed her head.
He smiled. "Tell him that since she said my mother can do it, she can do it as well." Naida stiffened. She knew he was cruel, but she didn't expect him to be petty as well. "Young Master. She isn't like Master." He looked at Naida.
"That much is obvious, Naida. Her attitude upon hearing those words is more crucial than the man. Personally relay the message to her and act according to her reaction." She bowed to him. "Yes, young master."
Naida made her way to the residences quickly and entered Mia's house. Malek greeted her in the front yard. "Ms. Naida. Has my request been granted?" Naida ignored his question. "Where is your woman?"
"I'm here." Mia walked towards them. "What are the points I need to redo?" She asked, holding her hand out. "None." Naida replied as she gave the paper back to Mia. "It was well done and approved."
Mia smiled. "That's good. Then I'll immediately gather the squad Captains and run through the initial plan." Naida nodded. "Also." She said, glancing at Malek. "Young Master said that since his mother could charge into the battlefield pregnant, why can't you?" Mia paused.
She looked at Malek. "You told them?" She asked angrily. "He didn't say anything, young master guessed and he was right." Naida clarified.
"Tell Young Master not to worry, I will see this battle through from beginning to end." Mia said and Naida smiled. "Good. Just for that answer you don't have to go into battle. "
Naida raised her hand and a doctor rushed in. "No problem, Ms. Naida." The doctor checked Mia's pulse. "Three months, strong and steady but she's been poisoned recently. It isn't strong but it would cause miscarriage if it wasn't cleared from her system." The doctor said.
"Poison? What kind?" Naida asked, the indifference in her eyes didn't change. "Contraceptive." The doctor answered as he turned to Naida. She nodded and he left. "The medicine can be picked up from the Pendant Tower." Naida looked between the two.
"Put your useless squabble aside. Once that girl gives birth to her child, she should already be on the throne. Do you understand?" Naida's voice became cold and her eyes narrowed.
"Must you be so cruel right now?" Malek asked. "You should be lucky young master is keeping you breathing." She took a step forward. "Unless you wish to change that now?" She challenged but Malek lowered his head. "No." He whispered.
She looked at Mia. "Talk your captains through the plan. Young Master wants people leaving this kingdom within three days." Mia scoffed. "Three days is-."
Naida took a step towards her. "Do you think we were as idle as you were? Drinking, eating and sleeping on someone else's protection while they are giving you a chance? The troops are ready and have been training." Mia stepped back, clearly pressured back.
"None of you have chances left. If you don't do this, then you will not live to see any other day." She turned and left them standing there silently.
"Naida!" A voice called out to her as she left the residence. The carriage that stopped in front of her, she knew well enough. The curtain was about to lift when she scolded. "The wind has a chill. What are you doing out here?" She hurriedly got into the carriage.
"Follow that carriage." Mia told Malek. He nodded and followed it at a safe distance.
"Opal. Did you sneak out?" Naida asked as she placed a hand warmer in her friend's hands. Opal smiled softly. "I did. They are treating me like porcelain." She admitted. "For good reason. Your body is extremely weak. Any chill could eventually escalate to your death!"
"It's not that bad." Opal waved her off. "It is!" Naida insisted. Opal switched the topic, knowing Naida was getting frustrated with her. "Who were those people you were talking to? Their voices sound familiar."
Naida was about to respond but remained silent. "Why don't you speak? Are you hiding something from me?" Naida sighed and Opal began coughing. Naida gently touched Opal's back but she was burning hot, as though she were on fire.
"Opal! You're burning up!" Naida immediately panicked. She hit the side of the carriage. "Immediately return to the Manor! As quickly as possible!" The carriage sped up and Naida patted Opal's back as gently as she could.
Opal coughed into her hands and Naida clearly here a 'splat' sound. The smell of blood filled the air. "I'm dead." Naida said fearfully and Opal's body slumped forward, onto her. She passed out.
"QUICK!!!!" Naida shouted frantically. The carriage went at a speed in the streets that it shouldn't have gone. Within a minute, the carriage stopped in front of the Manor. The doctor had arrived at the same time as the carriage, and it nearly knocked him over.
Guards rushed into the carriage and carefully carried out the unconscious Opal, her face covered by a veil. Naida got out after them. She noticed the doctor, rushed over to him, grabbed his arm and pulled him into the Manor.
"If anything happens to my mother, I'll kill you slowly and in the worse ways." Kain threatened Naida, who flinched back. "Mother sneaked out on her own, Kain. We should be glad that Naida was with mother or who knows what would've happened?" Rain patted his brother's shoulder, indicating that he should calm down.
"You want me to calm down? She met mother who knows where and had those people following her here! Who knows if she caused mother to be exposed to something?" Kain said angrily pointing at Naida.
"What? Naida, have you gone insane?" Rain took a step towards her. "I'll get back to you after we know the situation with our mother."
The doctor walked out of the room. "How is she?" Rain asked impatiently. "She didn't catch a cold, but her body is under stress which has made her extremely weak." He paused and sighed deeply. "She's fallen into a coma. There's no telling when she will wake up."
Naida's knees gave out and she fell to the floor. The brothers rushed into see their mother. Tears clouded Naida's eyes as her body shook in fear. This woman was more important than she seemed. Even if Naida didn't die, she would be in a position worse than death.