Gray woke with a start, her chest rising and falling as her breathing came in quick, shallow gasps. The nightmare lingered vividly in her mind—the same recurring dream of her mother's disappearance that had haunted her for years. But this time, the dream had taken a darker turn. The shadowy figure that dragged her mother away had been wearing a crown. Not just any crown—it was eerily similar to the one Queen Eleonora wore at her wedding to King Theodore.
She glanced at the clock on her bedside table. 4:00 a.m. Knowing she wouldn't be able to sleep again, she swung her legs over the side of the bed and padded to the bathroom. The cool water from the shower did little to wash away the unease coiling in her chest, but it gave her something to focus on.
After dressing in a simple sweater and leggings, she grabbed the thick medical textbook she had been reading and made her way downstairs to the kitchen. The faint sounds of clinking dishes and soft chatter drew her in. To her surprise, Queen Amara was already there, helping the kitchen staff prepare breakfast.
The Queen noticed Gray immediately and smiled warmly. "Good morning, Gray. Couldn't sleep?"
Gray hesitated at the door, then stepped inside. "No. I woke up early."
Queen Amara waved her over to the counter, motioning for her to sit on one of the stools. "Come, sit down. You'll need this." She handed Gray a steaming cup of coffee, her tone motherly and affectionate.
"Thank you, Your Highness," Gray said, wrapping her hands around the mug.
Queen Amara raised an eyebrow and gave her a pointed look. "Gray, you know what? I don't mean to make you uncomfortable. But I've been waiting for you to come around and call me something other than 'Your Highness.'"
Gray blinked in surprise, unsure how to respond. "What would you prefer I call you?"
The Queen's expression softened. "I think Mother or Mama would suit just fine. You're part of this family now, after all."
A flush crept up Gray's cheeks. She opened her mouth to reply, but no words came out. Queen Amara chuckled and patted her hand gently. "No rush, my dear. I'll just keep waiting."
"I'll... think about it," Gray said quietly, sipping her coffee.
"Good," the Queen said with a knowing smile. "Now, why don't you continue reading your book? We're nearly finished here, and there's no need for you to help."
Gray nodded, pulling her textbook closer and flipping it open. The dense medical text was a welcome distraction from the thoughts swirling in her mind.
The soft scrape of footsteps on the tiled floor caught her attention. She looked up briefly to see Dale entering the kitchen, freshly showered and dressed casually. His usual rugged, battle-hardened demeanor was replaced by something more polished—clean-shaven, neatly combed hair, and a simple but crisp outfit.
"Morning," Dale said, his gaze flickering between Queen Amara and Gray.
"Morning," Gray replied absently, her eyes already back on her book.
Dale poured himself a cup of coffee and leaned casually against the counter. Queen Amara shot him a warning look, one that Gray missed entirely, as she muttered, "Mama, this coffee is really good."
The words slipped out so naturally that it took Gray a moment to realize what she had said. She froze, her eyes widening slightly as she looked up at Queen Amara.
Queen Amara's face lit up with a pleased smile, though she quickly masked it with a neutral expression. "I'm glad you like it, dear."
Dale, however, was not so subtle. He raised an eyebrow, his expression caught between surprise and amusement. "Did you just—"
A sharp glance from Queen Amara cut him off mid-sentence. He cleared his throat, his lips twitching as though suppressing his annoyance.
Gray, flustered, buried her nose deeper into her book and took another sip of coffee, pretending not to notice the exchange.
---
By 7:00 a.m., Gray was ready to leave for Elara Memorial Hospital. She was surprised when Dale offered to drive her, though she didn't protest. As part of their arrangement, they had to maintain appearances, and his chivalry seemed genuine.
When they arrived at the hospital, Dale stepped out first and opened the car door for her. Gray stepped out gracefully, clutching her bag. She caught the curious glances of hospital staff as they walked in together, but she ignored them, her focus on the day ahead.
Inside, they joined King Gregor and Queen Amara, who had arrived in a separate car. The royal couple greeted the hospital staff warmly as they made their way to the conference room.
The meeting was called to address the hospital's response to the recent building collapse incident. Heads of every department gathered, presenting their insights and recommendations. Gray, as the head of the Operating Room (OR) department, shared detailed accounts of the challenges her team faced and proposed solutions to streamline emergency response procedures.
"Dr. Gray's insights have been invaluable," the head of the Emergency Room (ER) department said, nodding toward Gray. "Her coordination and quick thinking saved countless lives."
Gray inclined her head modestly. "It was a team effort. Everyone stepped up when it mattered most."
King Gregor listened attentively, occasionally interjecting with thoughtful questions. "What about staff fatigue? Many of you worked tirelessly during the crisis. How do we ensure this doesn't happen again?"
Queen Amara added, "We've already discussed implementing additional support measures, but we'd like to hear your suggestions."
After thorough deliberation, it was decided that staff who had been particularly overworked during the incident would receive a one-week leave to rest and recharge. The announcement was met with heartfelt gratitude from the hospital staff.
As the meeting concluded, the other department heads filed out, leaving only King Gregor, Queen Amara, Dale, and Gray in the room.
Gray hesitated briefly before speaking. "Your Majesty, I wanted to inform you that I'm planning to take my leave during this time as well. My friend, Dr. Louise, has invited me to join her on a trip to Switzerland."
Queen Amara's eyes lit up. "Switzerland? That sounds lovely. You certainly deserve it."
Dale, however, frowned. "Why Switzerland? And why now?"
Gray turned to him, her expression calm but firm. "Louise has been asking me for weeks, and it's the perfect opportunity since my workload has lightened. Besides, I haven't taken a proper break in years."
Dale crossed his arms, his tone skeptical. "It seems... sudden."
"It's not," Gray replied evenly. "Louise has been planning this for a while. I just hadn't decided until now."
King Gregor chuckled, cutting through the tension. "Dale, let her go. She's earned it."
Queen Amara nodded in agreement. "She'll come back refreshed and ready to tackle whatever comes next."
After a moment of silence, Dale sighed. "Fine. But stay in touch. We don't want to lose track of you."
Gray raised an eyebrow. "I'm perfectly capable of handling myself, but I'll let you know if anything comes up."
With the matter settled, Gray excused herself to return to her duties. As she left the room, Dale watched her go, his expression unreadable.
---
Gray's day at the hospital passed in a flurry of activity. Though she looked forward to the upcoming trip, a part of her remained restless. The nightmares, the crown in her dream, and the subtle undercurrents of tension within the royal families weighed heavily on her mind.
But for now, she pushed those thoughts aside, focusing on the task at hand. Switzerland could wait, but the shadows of her past would not remain buried forever.