Queen Lustia paced back and forth in Prince Xavier's room, anxiety gnawing at her chest. Her thoughts were clouded with worry.
'What will King Magdon think if Prince Xavier asks him to find a witch to heal Rara?', she couldn't stop wondering. The consequences of such an action—demanding help from the witches—could be disastrous.
She glanced at the pale girl lying motionless on the bed, her injuries still a mystery. How did she even get hurt?
From what they had investigated, Rara had never had a conflict with anyone, not in her entire life. Unless... Her thoughts drifted to that world. A cold shiver ran down Queen Lustia's spine.
She had briefly considered reaching out to the fog fairies for help, hoping they could shed some light on Rara's mysterious injury. But she quickly dismissed the idea. The fog fairies had been cold and distant with her before. They had made it clear they wanted nothing to do with her. They communicated only with Rara, not her.
The thought was dismissed just as quickly as it came. It wasn't worth dwelling on now.
Her gaze shifted again to the still form of Rara. It had been far too long since Prince Xavier had left the room. *Where is he?* The longer he stayed away, the more anxious she became. What if King Magdon had flown into a rage upon hearing about Rara's condition?
Just as Queen Lustia moved toward the door, it suddenly swung open with force.
"Where is she?" King Magdon stormed in, his presence filling the room, his eyes searching wildly for his daughter.
Queen Lustia stood frozen for a moment, taken aback by his abrupt entrance. He hadn't even noticed her standing by the door.
"My daughter..." King Magdon's voice was strained as he reached for Rara's hands, his face etched with concern and something akin to helplessness.
Queen Lustia turned her gaze toward Prince Xavier, who stood nearby, a smirk playing at the corners of his mouth. Triumph glimmered in his eyes, as though he was enjoying her discomfort.
An unexpected irritation stirred within Queen Lustia. She felt like a shadow, passed over by her husband as if she were invisible.
A pout formed on her lips. "Your Majesty..." she called softly, stepping forward.
At the sound of her voice, King Magdon looked up, his brow furrowing. "Dear, how could you not have noticed that our daughter is injured?"
"My dear husband, I've been waiting for you to come and see her," she replied, a hint of complaint in her tone. She tugged at his sleeve, her eyes downcast in an exaggerated show of grievance. "I came to check on her before you, but you... you didn't even see me..."
King Magdon, his face softening, cast a glance toward Prince Xavier, who was stifling laughter. A slight blush tinged the king's face as he shifted uncomfortably. He coughed, trying to regain his composure.
"It's my fault," he admitted, taking the queen's hand and squeezing it. "I was just so worried about Hara... I didn't even notice."
Queen Lustia's pout deepened, but she said nothing more.
Fearing they might disturb Rara's rest, they decided to move to the living room, where they could speak more privately.
Once seated, Prince Xavier broke the silence. "Father, what do you think? Should we find a witch to heal her?"
For a brief moment, King Magdon's face darkened, his expression becoming unreadable. He sighed deeply before waving his hand. "Let's wait for her to wake up. We'll ask her about her injuries then... we can decide after that."
His answer, though careful and measured, was clear. Even though King Magdon deeply cared for Rara, he was still unwilling to seek help from that world.
The atmosphere grew tense as Queen Lustia and Prince Xavier exchanged looks. They knew what that meant.
Somewhere in the palace...
The woman stood on the balcony, gazing out at the clear blue sky. Behind her, a line of servants and a middle-aged woman stood, head bowed.
"Is this news reliable?" the woman asked, her voice carrying a hint of command.
"Yes, Your Grace," the maid replied with unwavering certainty. "I saw it with my own eyes."
A sly smile curled on the woman's lips, her eyes narrowing with satisfaction. "Have you completed the task I gave you yesterday?"
The maid nodded. "Yes, Your Grace. He said he would meet you this afternoon."
Another satisfied smile crept across the woman's face, her mind already plotting her next move.
Back in Prince Xavier's room..
The soft murmur of voices reached Rara's ears as she began to stir, still groggy from her sleep. Why is it so noisy? she thought, a frown forming on her face. Can't I just get some rest?
Her eyes slowly fluttered open, and she saw two women standing face to face, their expressions filled with tension. The air was thick with unspoken words.
Queen Lustia spoke first, her tone firm but soft. "Why are you here?"
Consort Watelonu stood tall, not backing down under the queen's gaze. "I heard that the Chosen Lady was injured. So, I came to take a look."
Queen Lustia raised an eyebrow, her lips curling slightly in a forced smile. "No need. It's enough with me here."
Consort Watelonu's expression remained neutral, but there was a subtle edge to her voice as she replied, "Your Highness, my apologies. I'm afraid I can't do that."
Queen Lustia's eyes flickered with annoyance, but she kept her composure. "My ladyship, what do you mean?"
Consort Watelonu did not answer right away, choosing instead to glance at Rara, who was now awake and clearly aware of the exchange taking place. The tension between the two women lingered in the air, thick enough to be felt by anyone present.
A soft groan escaped Rara's lips as she attempted to sit up, her body protesting the movement.
Queen Lustia reacted first, her voice soft but firm. "Hara, lay back down. You're injured. You need rest."
Rara's throat felt dry. "I'm thirsty..." she murmured, her voice hoarse.
Before anyone could react, Consort Watelonu reached for the glass of water prepared on the bedside table, her hands steady as she handed it to Rara.
Rara took the glass, sitting up slowly, and drank deeply, feeling the cool liquid soothe her parched throat. "Thank you," she said, her voice much clearer now.
A slight edge of displeasure flickered across Queen Lustia's face, but she didn't comment. It was better to let Rara have this moment of care.
A knock on the door interrupted the brief silence.
Queen Lustia frowned, irritated by the interruption. Who is it now?
"Come in."
The door opened, and Prince Ariel entered, holding a bouquet of flowers. "Your Highness," he said with a warm smile, "I heard from my mother that Lady Hara was unwell. I came to visit."
Queen Lustia's expression soured instantly. Why does it feel like they're all trying to curry favor with her? She felt a stab of jealousy, as though everyone was ganging up on her.
"Hara," Prince Ariel continued, holding out the flowers, "I brought you these."
Rara's lips curved into a faint smile. She was just a commoner, someone who had been chosen by fate. Yet now, everyone seemed to be doting on her. The attention felt oddly comforting.
"Thank you," she replied with a gentle smile, reaching out to take the flowers.
But before she could, Queen Lustia snatched them out of the air, her voice sharp. "Hara just woke up. She can't be holding onto too many things."
Prince Ariel blinked, taken aback for a moment before stepping aside awkwardly, his smile faltering.
Rara's lips twitched in amusement. She could see right through Queen Lustia's actions. It wasn't about the flowers—it was about her rivalry with Consort Watelonu.