A week after the funeral have passed. Those in the main royal family reside in the western palace as it is second to largest to the main palace.
That palace is where they temporarily reside until the rebuilt of the main palace.
It's atmosphere felt dimmed. The palace is where the royal children play and have fun with the king's concubines that held tea parties no longer holds its bright presence.
The concubines lost and royal children are still in recovery, some is in fatal condition, some can't recover from the trauma, while some grieve for their father and mothers who've lost their lives.
The king's study in the western palace is where Ronald, the prince regent currently reside and is where he does his work needed for the continuation of the kingdom's economy.
Ronald, working nonstop since his father's passing, led out a long sigh. "These work just keep piling as days go by. I don't know of Shinaiva had she made any progress of tracking those quislings, but I just can't sit by here for an eternity waiting for her plan. I need to investigate as well", he ponders.
On the other side of the kingdom, the slums, where Shinaiva is at. She walks around, glares and resentful faces look at her on every direction. Without any disguise, and not even trying to hide the fact that she's a royal family, her guards walks by her ready to fight.
"We've arrived", she said. The guards look dumbfounded. " Your highness, forgive my rudeness but where have we arrived exactly", a guard said. The guards didn't even arrived to a certain conclusion because they're at the front door of a more ragged house than the ones they've passes.
"This is where the former nanny of the royal family, Lady Nuria - currently reside", she explains. Shinaiva took a few steps to the front door and knocked three times. Before she were to land the 3rd knock, the door opens. "My if it isn't my royal highness, to what do I owe the pleasure", lady Nuria asks.
" You've been my nanny since I was three years old. You've guided me till 4 years ago, now, give me counseling that I'd need in times like these", Shinaiva said.
Shinaiva looked so sorrowful, almost as if she would have a breakdown of tears. Her eyes shone as tears began to form. "Your highness, I advise you not to stay outside", Nuria says as she offers Shinaiva to enter. Shinaiva nods and says to her escorts, " Stay outside. Don't come in unless I told you so".
Nuria offers Shinaiva a seat. "You highness, would you like some tea?". Shinaiva nods, "please I'd like to". Nuria walks towards her kitchen counter attached to the wall not too far away from Shinaiva's seat. "Forgive me your highness, unfortunately I don't drink jasmine tea so I can only serve you chrysanthemum tea", Nuria looked worried because she knew Shinaiva only has taste to jasmine tea. "Please no need to worry. It's been years since we last met surely you don't think I'm still the same- my palate has grown to a variety of tastes. You needn't worry".
Nuria led out a long sigh of relief. She smiled and continued brewing the tea. "Your highness have really grown ", Nuria mutters.
The tea is done brewing. Nuria prepares the tea cups and sugar to be used. " Your highness the tea is ready". Shinaiva gleamed like a child excited to try something new. Shinaiva took a sip of the tea and tasted that it was not favorable to her taste. " Your highness, there are sugar cubes on the table if it's too bitter -", "No I don't need it, this tea has a very sweet aftertaste but I'll be taking one or two sugar cubes". Unable to withstand the initial taste of the tea, Shinaiva took 4 four sugar cubes and had it melt in the tea. She took another sip and her face showed excitement of a new taste.
" Lady Nuria, forgive me for being off topic. But let me ask you a question - What would you do if the person you trusted most forgets you? Or if that person betrays you what would you do?". Shinaiva looked so stressed. Her eyes widened, almost from fear." Poor you. Having to experience two things at the same person. Or should I say two people you care about so much ", Nuria smiled so wide it almost felt eerie. Her smile extends till it looks close to the eyes.
Shinaiva couldn't say anything but sat there in shock. She couldn't believe what she had heard or why is her former nanny looked at her that way.
" What did you just say?", Shinaiva whispers. She noticed that her voice felt small. Suddenly Shinaiva felt a stinging pain in her throat ; a pain she'd never felt before. " It's unbearable", she held her throat hoping to calm down the pain. She tried to shout for help but she couldn't let out a single proper word.
" Your highness, it's best not to use your energy. Use it for the ceremony will you". Nuria sees Shinaiva struggling. Nuria scoffs at her. She looks at Shinaiva like some lesser insect. " Your highness...oh wait no... Shinaiva, I you must be wondering - Why would you something like this? This is not you. Well heck yeah I'm not". Nuria takes off her face to reveal that it's only a mask. It was Kristin, one of Eiko's colleagues.
Kristin sees Shinaiva tries to run away but she couldn't. Because the sugar cubes turned out to have drugs that has properties to make one lose voice and/or makes the body numb/weak.
" Don't worry you need not to struggle. Sooner or later you'll join you parents, your nanny to heaven or hell I suppose. By then you'll be happy", Kristin smiled wide.
Shinaiva looked at her, afraid. Her face turned white, her hearts beats fast. She no longer sees a human just smiling out of joy. Now she sees the devil smiling, enjoying her suffering. Shinaiva 's breathing became heavy, she starts to panic. Not too long that she faints.