"your dress looks lovely" Qaya tried to make small talk, because she couldn't bear Zarela just awkwardly staring at her as they waited for refreshments.
"Thank you, I designed them myself. Your dress is also gorgeous"
"thank you. By the way, what honour do I owe to have you here in my room"
"you're unsure whether I am an ally or enemy" Zarela pointed out and gave a small smile.
"oh heavens, how do I say this without offending you" Qaya muttered but Zarela could still hear "all I know is that you're Awin's sister. There's nothing else...I don't have much information to go by"
"and my virtue of that, do you think I'll be an ally or enemy"
"I don't want to jump to conclusions, I don't know the full story"
"I imagine, you knew about my disappearance on the day you were engaged to Awin"
Qaya frowned, she was trying to remember, Zarela was referring to the King's banquet ceremony after the hunt, it was true that Zarela was missing. "Oh I remember, and your brother seemed pensive about it too."
"there's a reason for that. The great Awin, the tyrant king that fears no one, fears me, at least this version of me that is before you– Not the one that used to serve Melinda Charmale"
"you no longer work for her?"
"didn't you notice?"
"but why are you here?"
"I'll be getting to that but you'll also need to know why Awin fears me"
"you see, Awin sits on the throne illegally because I was the chosen heir. My father, for whatever reason chose me instead of Awin. My father is an evil man but that's how he was raised by his father. I had grown in a different environment, with love and good values, my father who noticed his error rather late decided to make me his heir to be a kind ruler but Awin didn't like this at all. So when father mysteriously died in his sleep, Awin was presented as heir because everyone else assumed that he was heir"
"before you ask questions, this is because my dad had made me his heir in secret. I am the only person, alive, that witnessed the ceremony. Awin got rid of the others. Awin would have killed me too but he couldn't risk it because our father gave me a special key that would be evidence of my inheritorship before the king makers. Awin needed the key to be legitimate and to pass the mantke to the next king and I was the only one that knew the whereabouts of the key"
"so?"
"I imagined he figured that he could search for the key by getting me on his side. And he found a great way to achieve that and to stop me from ever revealing that I'm the rightful owner of the throne. He made me lose my memories. Everyday, while I was held captive by his maids, he fed me the Oculus plant, and I became this docile person who did not know her past. I had splitting headaches, an addiction to bitter drinks like rum, feverish dreams of the past, and I easily became irritated because my mind acknowledged that there were gaps in my memory but I couldn't do anything about it but just relieve those nauseating symptoms the plant gave me."
Qaya kept quiet for a long time, these symptoms match up with what she'd been going through. Did Awin somehow feed her the oculus plant? Is this how she lost her memory. But how did Awin manage to do that and how long has he been doing this to her? She looked up at Zarela "so how did you regain your memory? Tell me"
"calm down, I thought you wanted to know why I'm here"
"just answer"
"I'm here because regaining my memory is not enough to stop the monster that is Awin. I've decided to play the long game that will surely defeat him and I need your help, I see you as a strong ally and in return I will help you regain your memory back. What do you think?"
"I think that's a splendid idea" Qaya smiled.
***
"I still don't understand why you'll let him be present for the briefing" Awin said as he pointed to a calm Zachary
"because he's also my friend and I trust him. Plus he deserves to know what the king is getting up to" Qaya defended
"well, it's not like he's going to abandon the king now that he's heard all his heinous crimes, or are you?" Rivan turned to Zachary who just kept mute
"I understand your sentiment, Rivan but my cousin has impeccable judgement, it might not be all the time but I trust her, so I will tolerate Zachary and I think you should do the same"
They walked into the bustling streets, everywhere was already feeling festive as people were selling items in advance for abunumas.
"I don't like this energy." Qaya joked "how about we split, Rivan and Jaslin you can go shopping together and then after an hour or so, we meet back here for dinner. I'll go sightseeing with Zachary"
"how come we do all the chores" Jaslin whined
"you're the one who's tolerating Zachary. And if it's so bad I'll go with Rivan and you'll stay with Zachary"
"you know that's not what I want, you're such a manipulator" Jaslin jokingly whined as Rivan dragged her off.
They got down to work and start shopping.
Jaslin groaned "hey Rivan can we take a break?"
"but we're done shopping all we have to do is go back and meet Qaya and that aide"
"exactly my point, I'm thirsty...I need a drink before we make the trip back"
"wait here, I'll go get you something" Rivan volunteered and went to a nearby lounged to get a drink, but what he saw there stunned him.
In a green almost-sheer dress was Melinda dancing seductively in front of a man. The room was not well lit but he could bet that the lady was Melinda, she leaned and shared a very passionate kiss with the man. She whispered something in his ear and walked away to get something and lo and behold was the man with Melinda was the king. He did well to disguise himself but Rivan knew it was Awin. He was flabbergasted and just stood in shock.
"can I get a room?" Were the words that brought Rivan back to earth, he turned to the utterer, Melinda, who was shocked to see him.
"what are you doing here? Are you stalking me?" she looked around in fear hoping he didn't catch sight of Awin.
"no, this was purely coincidence"
"I'm not a fool, Rivan. I know you're obsessed with me but I can't return your affection. I don't see you that way, so stop following me around like a lost puppy"
"oh please shut up already, Melinda"
Rivan and Melinda turned to see a very annoyed Jaslin
"you're so full of yourself. He said he didn't follow you so take his word for it and shut up"
Melinda scoffed "are you sure, it's Qaya studying to be an advocate or you? Why are you always defending him? And do you even expect me to believe his excuse? Coincidence, yeah right"
"yes, believe him. How can he be stalking you when I brought him here?"
"excuse me" Melinda asked confused
"yes, you're not the one who can come here to cozy up and have some fun. If I want to cozy with my lover, best be assured I can without some self absorbed, wannabe journalist making a fuss about it"
Melinda looked away flushed. Not only was she wrong but they both had seen her acting all intimate with Awin, all she was praying for was that they didn't see him or else, Awin would stop seeing her.
She was saved by the receptionist giving her the keys to the room she asked for.
She hurried away leaving Jaslin and Rivan giving confused looks at each other.
"why would you say that?" Rivan asked
"are you offended? Am I that bad"
"I just feel that..." He was lost for words
"there was no other way to shut her up. Now she won't insult you anymore"
Rivan mood changed and he coldly asked that they go meet Qaya and Zachary. Jaslin held his palm in hers and gave him a comforting smile
"it must hurt to see the one you love like this. I won't say I understand but I hope you heal from this pain, I sincerely hope so"
Rivan smiled back, his foul mood left him and all he felt was gratitude for this new friend consistently standing up for him.
***meanwhile
Qaya and Zachary looked around eagerly. Suddenly, Qaya's mind went to her discussion with Zarela during the day. How was she going to survive, she couldn't stay in that darn palace and be eating the food, no matter how delicious. She had to go home.
She felt sad, The palace food and Zachary were the only things that kept her sane. So this revelation made her sad.
She turned to Zachary, will he turnnout to be like that and be treacherous?
Zachary caught her wistful gaze "is something the matter?"
She shook her head and shyly turned from him "it's nothing"
Zachary held her hand "Once you asked me who I'd choose between you or the king. When I heard it, I thought it was a ridiculous answer because until you I believed that I had no choice but to fulfill my duty to the king, infact my whole life, all I did was choose the most probable options, I could never comprehend the concept of choice like other people but you make me want to keep choosing you over and over again even when it's not probable. I never chose the king but I'll always choose you"
***
3 days later..
Qaya stood on the ledge of the balcony. Her eyes brimming with tears, defeat tasted so bitted, it mocked her.
"I should just die, Awin has won. He's finally broken me"
Who would have imagined that the joyful Qaya from 3 days ago can become a tortured woman who now stood facing death in her wedding dress, as the queen of Easteford