Aisha was in her room crying, while packing the things she considered more important as fast as she could. It would be sunset in no time and she knew exactly what would happen if she was still there at that time. It was tradition to stone any outcast who stepped foot into the Kingdom, so the people who had heard the King's decree would be ready to stone her to death after sunset, she had to get herself to safety as fast as she could.
She heard footsteps behind her and paused, she already knew who it was without looking back. She had been with them for so many months now so she had registered their scent.
She turned around to face her maids, Monica and Cecil, with tears rolling down their eyes. "I didn't do it, I promise I didn't," she said in tears.
Monica was the first to rush and hug her, then she withdrew immediately. "I am sorry my lady," she apologized immediately.
"We know you didn't do this, and we would do whatever it takes to prove your innocence," Cecil said while crying, she was sad that Aisha was leaving and it was obvious on her face.
Monica pulled them both into a hug and they cried on each other's shoulders. "You don't need to do that, you will only get yourself killed," she said in a soft voice while Monica consoled her by rubbing her palm on Aisha's back.
The three of them remained in that position, shedding tears like babies. They were all crying and consoling each other at the same time. "What are we going to do without you, my lady?" Monica asked while trying to fight back her tears.
"Yes my lady, our lives would become miserable the moment you leave this place, the other King's women will make life a living hell for us, please let us come with you," Cecil pleaded.
Their moment was ruined by the King's first wife, who interrupted them with the sound of her hands. She walked into the room clapping her hands and smiling evilly.
Aisha disengaged from the hug and stared at her with hatred filled eyes. She wished she could pull a dagger and stab this woman on the chest right here and now.
"Monica, Cecil… please excuse us," she said in a solemn voice and wiped the tears off her eyes with the back of her palm.
The maids nodded and disappeared from the room immediately, if they wanted to live longer than the next minute, then they wouldn't dare to hesitate for a second.
Queen Saudat watched them disperse and then she turned back to Aisha and chuckled. "That was a sweet goodbye moment," she said in mockery.
"What do you want, you got what you want right? You ruined my life, so what more?" Aisha fired.
"Calm down future empress," Queen Saudat mocked. "I only came here to congratulate you, the King is not beheading you like I imagined, I am impressed by the value you hold even after committing such a crime," she said and laughed.
"I know you were behind this, I have no doubts. I might be going away, but that does not mean that you have won. Mark my words Saudat, nemesis will catch up with you eventually and you will regret all your evil deeds. Your punishment shall be ten folds of mine and one day, I will be here, having the last laugh, I promise." Aisha stated while fighting back her tears, trying to stay strong.
"Hahaha… look who is making threats. Your biggest mistake was your compassion, our world is ruled by the wicked, so to be the top dog, you have to bury your good heart and bond to wickedness. If you had done that earlier, then our cases would have been the opposite. But now it's too late, you will be out of this Kingdom in the next two hours and you wouldn't dare come back if you love your life," Queen Saudat retorted.
"There is no peace for the wicked, nemesis will certainly catch up with you, and I promise you that this isn't over." Aisha said in a cold voice, with as much spite as she could gather.
Queen Saudat laughed and turned around. "Yes Aisha, it is over and you lost forever, the King is mine and the throne would belong to my son, believe me Aisha… you have nothing to win, goodbye outcast, I would come pay you a visit if you should survive a month away from this Kingdom," she muttered and walked away.
Aisha clenched her fist in anger then she slumped down and broke into tears. This was not the future she planned for herself and her child, she felt sorry for the poor thing in her womb, a royal outcast. He had been cursed even before birth, he would never be opportune to know his father or experience a father's love, he won't even be fortunate enough to live like a prince that he is, he would be born into a world of misfortune, that is if she makes it out alive.
Tears streamed down her eyes as she thought about it. Why did life have to be so unfair? The innocent perish while the guilty prosper. Her child was not the only person she was sorry for, she felt sorry for his father as well.
He had become a fool in love, a slave to the manipulation of his evil Queen. He would not even hear a single word against her as he considers her a saint. Only if he knew that she was nothing more than a green snake in a green grass, a wolf in sheep's clothing. She was his doom, his destruction, his end.
After Saudat was long gone, the maids returned to the room, each with their bags. Aisha stared at them in confusion. "Where are you two going?" she queried softly with scrutinizing eyes.
"My lady, wherever you go, we shall go with you, if you perish, we perish with you," Cecil replied.
"That is right my lady, we won't stay here without you." Monica said in support.
"No, what are you two saying? This is my cross to carry, I can't drag you two into this, I have to bear this all alone." Aisha replied, "Moreover, the King would have you two beheaded if he learns that you plan to leave the palace, you know that it is forbidden."
Monica waved her head in disagreement. "The only thing that can separate us from you is death, if the King would have to kill us, then so be it… our spirits shall stay with you always, there is no use of staying alive without you here," she said and Cecil nodded in agreement.
Aisha sighed and then smiled at them. "Thank you so much, I will see if I can make it possible," she replied, and then she hugged them again. These two were the only family she had now, she hoped that she wouldn't be the reason for their death.
To be continued!!