Damion's POV
"Father!" I could see father collapsed on the floor. His eyes were turned back, his mouth was foaming, and entire body was contorting.
Ceaser came running, I could see him turning father to the side, since my reaction was too slow. Father needed me, but I didn't know how to react.
Suddenly I hear someone screaming "the future Queen, has disappeared."
"I saw her run away." Someone else said, I could hear gasps.
The whispers filled the hall, people making their own assumptions about Rahua.
"His Highness the former King, take him to his chamber" Ceaser rushed the knights and the maids.
What was happening? This was supposed to be a happy day of celebration, now has turned into this.
I don't know how to feel, I feel lost. I could see Ceaser talking to me, but I couldn't hear him.
Where is she? I look for her, but there's chaos in my head.
"Damion get it together. " Ceaser said in a low voice, gritting his teeth. "Snap out of it."
He was right, I had to get it together, I wanted to smack myself and make sure I wasn't dreaming.
I stood up. " Take my father to his chambers, no one is allowed to leave without reporting to the knight commander."
The chaos in the palace continued to escalate as accusations flew and tensions ran high. As I tried to process the sudden turn of events, the only thing I could think about was finding Rahua.
I pushed through the crowd, trying to catch a glimpse of her in the sea of panicked faces.
Her family was still here, as I approached them, they looked terrified.
"Where is Rahua?" I asked but it sounded more of a demand.
"W-we don't know. " Kira answered.
"She left before we knew what was going on." Her father spoke, his voice was low.
I couldn't believe that she would just run away when she was needed the most. There had to be a reasonable explanation for her disappearance. I know she is not that kind of person, but the faces looking at me waiting for me to react was starting to feel overbearing.
I left, the hall as my father was being taken to his chambers, I had to look for her, I needed her.
I finally reached the corridor that led to Rahua's chambers. My heart raced as I approached, hoping to find... I didn't know what I was hoping to find .. maybe her, or any clue that might tell me where she might have gone.
As I entered the room, I found it empty, the bed neatly made, and Rahua's personal belongings untouched.
Frantic thoughts raced through my mind as I tried to piece together what could have driven Rahua to vanish during such a critical moment. Was she involved in my father, the King's sudden collapse? Was she in danger? Or was there something more sinister happening?
"Where are you Rahua?." I whispered.
"Your Highness..." Loyd suddenly appeared, he was carrying an heavy expression" I am afraid I bring bad news. About your father..." Before he could finish I ran over to my father, today was supposed to be an uneventful day, instead I keep running around trying to understand what happened to the two most important people in my life.
*
My frantic thoughts raced as I gazed down at my father's still body, I felt my heart heavy with worry and fear. Rahua's disappearance coupled with his father's sudden collapse had shaken my emotional stability to its core. The weight of responsibility bore down on my shoulders, urging me to take action, to find a solution amidst the chaos that now engulfed me.
I need to access the situation, Ceaser is already looking into what happened in hall, questioning everyone, I need to do my part as the King, I turn to Loyd, my now most loyal advisor, "Tell me everything you know. What has happened to my father?"
Loyd hesitated, his gaze somber as he revealed the grim truth. "Your father, the former King, has been poisoned."
The words hung heavy in the air, sending shockwaves through my already burdened heart. The realization that someone within the palace walls had orchestrated this treacherous act filled me with anger, how could have I missed this?
"We need to find Rahua," I firmly stated, my mind racing with the possibilities and implications of her disappearance.
"About that ..." Ceaser had just entered my father's chambers he had grim look on is face," we have been talking with the maids. They all said they saw her run away, as they were called to assist the King, after someone they didn't recognise. He was wearing a cloak type of clothes that was hiding his face. "
"Why didn't they report this?" I asked furiously, someone had breached my Palace without anyone noticing.
"My guess they weren't paying attention to that due to the situation at hand. But there's a particular report of a maid, she is a personal maid from Lady Rahua, that you should listen." Ceaser opened the door gesturing the maid to enter.
She look timid and afraid, her body was stiff as if she was holding in something important.
"Tell your Majesty, what you just told us." Ceaser said to her in a low gentle voice, "it's okay, just tell us the truth."
I don't know why, she looked less afraid of Ceaser than normal, but I could see her trembling while facing me. "L-La-dy Ra-Rah-ua, normally would send us away, saying she didn't ne-need us a-all the time. " She was stammering but I felt it was because she was nervous.
"One time, Lady Rahua dismissed us, I was worried because the Lady looked somewhat scared, I prepared a tea for the Lady to help her relax, as I was about to knock I heard a man ... Man's voice inside of her room..." I don't know what expression I had made the maid shrinked in fear, Ceaser had to tell her to go on with her report.
"What were they talking about?" I interject, Rahua never told me about anything, I would expect her to tell me anything if her life was in danger... Or did she ... I stopped my thoughts before I could think of anything that would make me doubt her, I don't want to doubt her love for me.
"I am just a lowly maid, I don't understand many words they used, I know it was about the kingdom, they were talking about a something of sorts of hidden knowledge, and the King..."
"Stop!" I yell, my mouth moved without me noticing. " You can leave now." I say frustrated to, mind was racing, my heart was beating fast, I didn't want to think of a possibility that Rahua, the woman I love, could betray me .
She bowed and left.
There was still the royal doctor and my father's unconscious body, Loyd, Ceaser and me in the room.
"How is my father?" I asked the royal doctor, he had a dark expression, he seem to be bearing bad news all over is face.
"Not good your Majesty, I am afraid there's nothing more I can do. It's a matter of time..." I knew what he meant to say but didn't.
"Leave us." I barked more aggressively than I had intended. He ran away fast, leaving without protest.
I look at Ceaser standing before me and Loyd, the only two people I could trust with my life in my whole kingdom.
"Cirius" I summon in a low voice. I know my father never liked mages, he never sought to have healing through one, I never understood why. But now, this time there was no other choice.
Cirius appeared before me, his presence bring me a gleam of hope, as he surveyed the scene before him. His eyes lingered on my father's still form before turning to lock with mine. I could see the weight of responsibility in his gaze, the unspoken understanding passing between us in that silent moment.
"Your Majesty," Cirius spoke, his voice resonating with a serious tone, his playful demeanor was replaced with a grim one."I shall do what I can to save the former King," he approaches my father's still body, as he seem to be accessing the situation, he continues, "The type of magic required, I may not be able to save him, he needs a strong healer, this is a very strong poison. I don't think I would be do any good trying to heal him, with my powers. I may put him in a state of halt, where the poison is slowed down.
He said, turning to me "However there are risks involved, and the outcome is uncertain.Shall I proceed?"
I nodded, steeling myself for whatever was to come. I couldn't be this useless I have to be able to save father, and Rahua.
As Cirius began his incantations, the room was filled with a soft hum, an ethereal glow enveloping my father's body as the magic took hold. Father's body was now inside of a glowing cocoon.
I held my breath, my hands clenched into fists as I watched is still body floating over his bed.
"Ceaser, Loyd," I turned to them. "We need to find Rahua. I refuse to believe that she is involved in any treachery against our kingdom and me. There must be an explanation for her actions, and I intend to uncover the truth."
"Even though, I knew you would say that, you can't disregard what the maid said, Damion.
I am sure there is a explanation for everything, but understand that she may not be herself someone who wishes to betray the kingdom or you, but she may be involved with people who might. " Ceaser gave me an objective argument, I couldn't deny that possibility.
However, I couldn't find in my heart the will to mistrust her, she had showed me nothing but a quick wit, and loyalty, if she was involved in this there must be a reason.