"Your pulse is stable now," the Royal Physician announces, rising and gathering his medicine box. "But you mustn't overexert yourself in the coming days," he cautions.
Yettiri nods, pulling her sleeve down. "Escort the royal physician out," she instructs Arya.
The Royal Physician bows and leaves the room alongside Arya. Yettiri sits up, leaning against the headboard with a weary sigh. She'd collapsed at the archery range earlier that day.
Yettiri retrieves the jade hairpin Lord Azryn gifted her and Yetsune on their sixteenth birthday. She clenches her jaw, the emotions welling up inside her. Tears stream down her eyes as she clutches the hairpin to her chest.
Night after night, she experiences the same nightmare- Walking through a dense, dark forest, screaming her sister's name as loudly as she can. But her voice only echoes back at her, filling her with a deep sense of dread. Then she missteps, tumbling down a steep hillside and landing hard on the ground. Groaning in pain, she attempts to get up but her body heavy and unresponsive.
She spots her sister's lifeless body lying beside her. She screams Yetsune's name, shaking her body vigorously, yet there is never a response. Eerie voices start echoing through the forest.
"Why didn't you find me? You let me die" the voices accuse repeatedly.
Then Yettiri clutches her head, shaking it profusely as she mutters, "I didn't," repeating the words before abruptly waking from the nightmares.
Hearing approaching footsteps, Yettiri hastily wipes her tears and inserts the hairpin in her hair.
Arya returns to the room, standing by Yettiri's bedside with a empathetiv expression. Ever since the incident where the First Princess aimed her bow at her, she's been cautious with her words. But her ill- feelings for Yetsune continues to grow.
Everyone only remembers the Second Princess is missing but no one seems to remember her aide. Erya who takes Yetsune's punishment every time she misbehaves and rebels against her parents is forgotten. Lord Azryn, Yettiri, Sersi and every single person in the palace, they are only focused on finding Yetsune.
Arya sighs silently, observing Yettiri's pale and sickly face, filled with both worry and resentment. Judging by the redness of Yettiri's eyes, Arya knows she must have cried in her absence, though Yettiri remains too proud to shed tears in front of her or anyone else.
'All these years, I treated you like my sister and master, but why is she the only one you care about?' Arya laments inside.
Sensing her hesitation, Yettiri inquires, "You seem to have something to say. What is it?"
"His Majesty has requested your presence at the dining hall for a meal," Arya answers.
Yettiri's gaze hardens. "Tell a maid to inform the King that I will be dining alone."
"His Majesty added that if you refuse again, I'll be imprisoned for failing to care for my master," Arya adds, eyes downcast. She assumes Yettiri wouldn't react to this.
But Yettiri springs up from the bed. "Did Father truly say that?" she asks in a weak but furious voice.
At Arya's nod, Yettiri bursts into hysterical laughter. Punishing the servant for the master's deeds was a punishment reserved solely for Yetsune. She used to wish their parents would treat them equally. But now that Yetsune is gone, they are finally starting to treat her the same way.
Yettiri continues laughing as she spreads her arms. "Dress me up," she orders. The sound of her laughter is filled with so much pain that anyone hearing it can feel.
Arya helps Yettiri change, styles her hair, and applies makeup to conceal her sickly appearance. Yettiri stares at her reflection in the bronze mirror, grazing her face with her fingers. She and Yetsune look so much alike.
"Dispose of all the mirrors in the East Palace," Yettiri orders Arya as she stands and storms out.
As Yettiri approaches the dining hall, the doors swing open to admit her.
"You're here," Lord Azryn remarks with a welcoming smile.
Ignoring both him and her parents, Yettiri takes her seat. She begins eating without waiting for the King, against tradition.
"You—" the King starts to scold, but the Queen squeezes his hand and shakes her head, silencing him. He sighs and begins eating, as do Lord Azryn and the Queen.
Lord Azryn steals glances at Yettiri as they eat. She appears weaker and thinner than usual. Despite the makeup, he can tell she has been crying recently. He shifts his gaze to his sister, the Queen.
Had he not heard her heart-wrenching sobs earlier that afternoon when he visited her palace, he might have thought her truly heartless towards Yetsune. He had instructed the servants not to announce his arrival, and through the partially open door, he had seen the Queen clutching a box of Yetsune's childhood belongings to her chest, weeping.
He exhales quietly and glances at the King. Among everyone in the family, he is the only unreadable person. Everyone here are be suffering silently but putting on a strong facade. Even he had spent the entire day in his courtyard with a bottle of his finest blossom wine, praying that Yetsune would appear and snatch it away.
"I will resume looking for Yetsune tomorrow," Yettiri announces, breaking the silence,
"You will remain in the palace," the King responds.
Yettiri sets her cutlery down. "I will go out to look for my sister tomorrow, Your Majesty," she drawls as she glares at her father.
"And did I not say you will remain in the palace?" the King retorts, his eyes bulging with rage at her defiance.
A pin-drop silence engulfs the hall. The Queen keeps her gaze lowered, lacking the strength to intervene. Lord Azryn's eyes dart between the King and Yettiri as they lock gazes in a battle of wills.
"You're truly heartless, Father," Yettiri's voice quivers. "I never understood your cruelty towards Yetsune. What did she do to deserve it?" She slams her fist down.
The King, struggling to maintain composure, responds, "I am a ruler before a father."
Yettiri retorts, "You are a ruler, not a father."
"Yettiri," Lord Azryn cautions.
"Do you want the world to know your sister is missing? Do you think I don't want to find her?" the King asks, surprisingly composed.
Yettiri scoffs. The Queen looks up at her husband, while Lord Azryn rubs his throbbing forehead, feeling guilty that he knows Yetsune's whereabouts but can't reveal them. The tension in the dining hall is palpable, silence weighing heavily on everyone present.