Isabel woke up with the rushing voices of people inside Hash's room. Although they're hushed, the whispers were still audible. She noticed a jug of water on the bedside table, which she swore a famous artist commissioned to a New York Billionaire. She grabbed the glass and poured water in it. Her hands were still shaking.
"Ah ah." She couldn't help but whine with the pain in her back. Everyone stopped doing what they're doing and rushed towards her.
"I'm so sorry Miss, we didn't notice you." Said a chocolate-skinned woman with a colorful turban as a headdress.
By her appearance, her rank was higher than the other attendants around her. Everyone was wearing a white cloth that looked like a hijab. Now that she's talking to someone local other than Hash, she realized that they're not talking in English.
"Where's Hash?" Her voice was like an unoiled machine, so dry.
"Prince Hashim is attending an important palace affair, my lady." She answered while helping her sit and feed her the glass of water.
"Thank you, are you the physician, he called to check my bones?" She might be the physician.
"Yes, my lady, I am the physician, you don't have a broken bone, however, your muscles at the back and hips are all swollen, we applied some oil and balms to relieve the pain, we also prepare a medicinal warm bath for you." Indeed, that's where the strong leafy smell came from, under her clothes.
"Please drink this potion to restore your strength ma'am, his highness didn't want you to feel uncomfortable during the competition tonight." The lady and her team carried her to a hall that looked like a personal swimming pool.
There were herbs, and flowers floated to it. Eventually, they carefully placed her in the pool. It was warm. Isabel felt they transported her back when she's a small kid when her Mom bath her with warm water in the bathtub.
"Your bones are okay, but your skin looked pale and something in your overall appearance doesn't spell healthy. I am sure that you have another disease."
They helped her rub the medicine water on her body.
"I would need few more days to observe to give you proper medication." The physician, gently scrubbed her body.
"I know I got the disease and I'm dying, doctor what competition did you mean?" This physician was pretty good for an ancient one. What the hell did Hash sign her up with.
"Are you a healer, too? why can't you cure yourself?" The woman asked in surprise she seemed surprised and couldn't believe she could be a physician. She looked too young.
"I'm not, but I know a lot regarding medicine. I can discuss more of the most practical remedies I have learned, but I need to know what the competition I'll be joining in tonight?" That made the physician even more surprised.
Did his majesty abduct this young lady from another kingdom? Her expression says that she felt sorry for Isabel for how her boss was harsh.
"Tonight will be the competition for the crowned princes." She answered while helping her wash.
"Is that a tradition here?" Her eyes widened and didn't know how to think anymore.
She stopped thinking altogether. They help dry her up after she's done bathing and put clothes on.
"My lady, you asked if this has been a tradition, but this is Prince Hahsim's request to his father." Said the physician. Isabel's eyes narrowed.
"Bastard." She muttered. She imagined her punching him in his guts.
"What thus the contest include?" She's so infuriated, but curious at the same time.
"I don't know my lady, but maybe the Lord Hashim's servant knows." The physician looked at her teammate and said.
"Let them in." The doctor left, and a new set of people came into Hash's room and made Isabel's level of comfortableness dropped.
They made her hair, there was this girl that was frustrated because her hair was straight and didn't have afro hair.
"Hi, my name is Isabel, what's yours." She asked the girl and smiled. With that, the girl got scared by her facial expression.
"Lo," she answered timidly. Now she looked more like she didn't want to work with her hair anymore.
"Lo, so what is the competition about?" She smiled more sweetly, but she didn't know that she looked scary than ever.
The girl's hand was shaking. She then kept staring at her supervisor, who was attending Isabel's meals. But the supervisor also evades the young maid's look to avoid answering as she herself feared Isabel's powerful aura.
This was the first time Lo encountered a person who looked different from the people of Novalia.
"Don't be scared. I'll not bite." Now she realized she intimidated them, but she continued smiling sweetly.
"M-my lady, the first activity would be a talent showcase." Lo, stopped combing her hair, to not shake too much.
"Uhuh, you're doing good Sweetie, go on." She crossed her legs and sip some water from the cup.
"After that, the Palace councilors will question all contestants, Lord Hashim himself, and his Majesty King Desmond." She shifted her knees and took the comb out of Lo and brush her hair.
"So this didn't happen before?" She questioned Lo as if she's doubting what she has said.
"When will it start?" Se probed, and then stood up, held the young girl's shoulders, and then let her sit in her own chair.
Terrified, Lo closed her eyes.
"Relax sweetie, I won't hurt you." she gave her a little massage to relax her.
"Tell me how many contestants are there?" From the looks of it, the young maid relaxed, eyes drooping and mouth slightly ajar.
"There are fifty, my lady. Twenty are taking part from the Kingdom and thirty from other nations, including yours." Lo's eyes are now closed she has enjoyed her massage.
"Perfect! do you know which contestant will probably win?" Isabel was now combing Lo's head while the other attendants were wondering what's going on.
"Everyone's bet from all the servants in the palace is lady Gwin, because that is His Majesty King Desmond's want for Prince Hashim, but one of the strongest contenders is Lady Mau from the Marshes." She said, inhibition completely gone.
"Well done Lo is Lady Gwin beautiful?." Of course, she must be otherwise the king won't choose her.
She started braiding. Although she didn't know in which kind of physical plane she was right now, dead or dying, she was determined to win Hash.
She was never been attracted to anyone like this before, not even to Phillip. Isabel opened her eyes and looked at her reflection in the metal mirror in Hash's room.
Everyone stared at each other, the kind that you saw on old soap operas when people obviously are talking about you, but in a hushed voice.
"So now tell me who is more beautiful, Lo, or Lady Gwin?" Everyone was in a bewildered state. Also, answering that question might get them in trouble.
"I know the answer, don't worry." She then laughed. She didn't mean it, but she sounded like a witch.