I was assigned to polish hallway windows all day. Not the easiest chore I had, but also not the most difficult. I was thankful that at least it didn't require me to be out in the sun like gardening, and I didn't need to exert too much energy like doing the laundry. Still, when I had finished doing the windows on the eastern hallway, my last section for the day, I was on the verge of collapse. My nausea was getting worse by the minute, and I could barely stand straight.
"You look like you're about to die," 19 had commented earlier when we sat down for lunch.
I nodded miserably, not bothering to take out my writing slate to answer her. Yeah, I knew I must have looked bad, and I definitely felt even worse.
"Want me to bring you dinner to your room?" she had asked.
I smiled at her and shook my head. 'I'll manage,' I mouthed. But as I leaned heavily against the wall while weakly inspecting the windows I had just cleaned, I debated the merit of changing my mind and just requesting her to bring me some food. I was in no condition to have a proper meal, anyway, so there was no point in going to the pantry. A bowl of warm soup should be enough, and then I desperately needed to lie down and sleep.
I was just about to head to the north east hallway, which was 19's last section for the day, when I heard 1's voice. "Are you feeling a little better now, by any chance?" he asked, his voice tentative.
'No,' I replied testily, slowly making my way to the north east side.
"I have mushroom soup and ginger tea," Alessandro informed her. "Do you think that would help?"
I paused. 'Really?' Just the thought of having soup and tea was so wonderful I temporarily forgot my misgiving of not talking him until the next day.
"Yes," Alessandro replied, frowning. She was down to using one-word answers, a testimony that she really wasn't feeling well. Usually she was a lot more talkative than that – whether she was in a good mood or she was upset. "Can you to go my quarters, or do you want me to bring it to you?"
In spite of the pain, I managed a weak laugh. I had never heard of an emperor personally bringing food to a scullery maid before, and I was willing to bet no one in the empire had, either. 'I'll go there.'
"Are you sure?" Alessandro asked worriedly. He had never been to the servants' quarters, but he knew the layout of the imperial palace. And he estimated 20's room to be well over 10 kilometers away from his private chambers.
'Yes,' I confirmed, turning around and slowly walking in the opposite direction. I was already in the eastern hallway which was actually a lot closer to the emperor's quarters than my room.
When I arrived, I only had enough strength for a soft knock. But 1 opened the door so quickly it was almost as if he had been waiting for me to get there. "Come in," he said, taking my hand and gently pulling me to the dining area. Just like the before, I registered that we were alone this time as well.
I also saw that he already had the food prepared, and as I sat down to a steaming bowl of mushroom soup with slices of bread served on the side, he asked, "Where's the handkerchief?"
I pulled it out of my apron pocket and handed it to him, and he again tied it on my left wrist as I already started stirring the soup with my other hand. "Go ahead and eat before it gets cold," he ushered me.
'What about you?' I asked when I noticed that he was just staring at me and not touching his food.
"I'll eat later," Alessandro answered her. After she had finished about half of the soup, he got up and retrieved a pot of ginger tea, which he had left by the fireplace to keep it warm. "Here, drink this," he said, pouring the hot liquid to a cup.
'Thank you,' I told him gratefully, holding the cup with both hands and slowly taking a sip. 'It tastes delicious.'
"But is it helping?" Alessandro wanted to know. She seemed to be marginally better, but he could see that she still looked too pale and fatigued.
'Yes,' I smiled at him, taking a few more sips of the tea. The mildly spicy drink was easing my discomfort and I was beginning to feel drowsy. I tried to remind myself that my room was very far from the emperor's quarters and I had a long, long way to go, but somehow my eyes kept closing on their own.
"I have something else that might also help," Alessandro offered. He went to the other side of the room and got a hot water container. The doctor had told him that putting it on the woman's stomach will help relieve at least some of her pain. When he got back to the dining area, though, 20 was already asleep in the chair.
He placed the water container on the table and carried 20 to his bed. Then he fetched the container again, put it on her stomach, and pulled the sheet up to adequately cover her. This was the first time he had ever taken a woman to bed just to sleep. A lock of her hair fell down and he tucked it gently behind her ear. "Feel better soon," he whispered, kissing her on the cheek.