Rayah woke up and checked her surroundings, she found out that she was no longer in the village but in her bedroom.
Rayah sat up on her bed thinking about everything that had happened that evening.
"I don't know why it got triggered." Rayah then got up and went to stand in front of her large ornate mirror. She could see that they had helped her change and her hair had been washed and packed with a pin
"Well thank goodness cause I felt so dirty."Rayah said.
Rayah used one of her fingers to press on her forehead lightly and a diamond light appeared on her forehead. Rayah looked at the light on her forehead. The light glowed before it disappeared.
She didn't know why she fainted earlier. The diamond had always helped her curb her heart failure and she had lived just fine for years.
"It must be because I was stressed while in the village."Rayah thanked the heavens Pearl reached there on time to help her.
Someone came into Rayah's room which made Rayah turn away from the mirror.
"Pearl" Rayah said.
"Rayah, you're awake." Pearl approached Rayah.
"Yes I'm awake." Rayah had a soft smile.
Pearl hugged Rayah as soon as she got to her.
"Oh Rayah, what happened." Pearl was referring to Rayah's passing out.
"It's nothing, I think I was just stressed." Rayah answered.
"Why don't you wanna tell me what happened to you, one of the guards said you were running after a woman. Who was she."
Rayah seemed to think about it.
"Do you know her for you to have chased after her." Pearl asked.
" why won't you say anything."
"Um, she looked like my mother a lot, I just asked to speak with her but she ran off instead." Rayah answered.
"Your Mother?" Pearl didn't know what was going on with Rayah thinking she saw a woman that looked like her mother the late Queen. Pearl didn't know what to say.
"I know it sounds crazy but she did really look like mother."Rayah responded.
Pearl just stared at Rayah like she had grown three heads before she sighed.
"What makes you think so Rah" Pearl decided she would listen and try to believe Rayah.
"She had the same silver hair and facial features. Believe me." Rayah replied.
"Silver hair?" Pearl thought anyone could look like anyone but this person had silver hair. This news deserved some attention. Pearl hadn't seen anyone who had silver hair like Rayah and her mother the late Queen.
"Yes" Rayah sighed. "I mean I know my mother is dead so I don't know why I thought she might be my mother, it was stupid of me to have thought she was my mother enough to run after her." Rayah said in a sad tone.
"It's okay Rah, you were not stupid at all, you were just being curious." Pearl responded.
"It looks like I have a problem with being curious" Rayah stated.
"What do you mean" Pearl didn't understand what Rayah meant by that statement.
"I offered to go out to get the wine you asked for at that time in the eatery because I saw a crowd and was curious to see why they had gathered so I saw going out to buy the wine as an opportunity to find out." Rayah said.
"Oh."
"Yet being curious should not be called a problem Rah, that's not even something one should worry about. If I were in your shoes and saw someone that looked like my mother, I sure would have gone after her, the only difference would be that I would have caught up with her while you couldn't." Pearl said as in matter of fact.
"Are you feeling better? Why'd you ask that I shouldn't get a doctor to check on you, now that's something to be curious about." Pearl said.
"We had to sneak you in so mother wouldn't find out and call on Mr Samson to check on you." Pearl continued.
"Should I get someone bring Mr Samson?" Pearl asked.
"No, no"
"Why" Pearl couldn't understand why Rayah was being this way, refusing to see a doctor.
"Like I said I am totally fine, I don't need to see Mr Samson."
"Okay if you say so. Let's go have dinner, aren't you hungry."
"Yes I am . I missed lunch."
Rayah and Pearl both went down to the dining room. The Queen came in a few moments later.
"Mother" Rayah Stood up to curtsey
"Good evening Mother." Pearl greeted too
"Yes" Queen Lisa replied.
They all sat down and began eating.
"I hope you two have not been sneaking out and studying instead."
"Yes Mother" Rayah answered.
"Infact I am just coming back from the library. That's where I've been." Pearl lied.
Rayah almost choked on her food. She couldn't believe her sister.
Queen Lisa wasn't sure she should believe the both of them.
"Did you meet someone today Pearl?" Queen Lisa asked
Pearl seemed to think for a brief second
"I did not meet someone new today mother."
"Then you'll meet him tomorrow."
"Who is he" Pearl asked
"Your Fiance." The Queen replied as if Pearl had not gotten mad when she spoke about it during tea.
Pearl became annoyed she dropped her cutlery
"Are you being serious right now mother."
"Why don't you meet him first, you will like him."
"I Am Not Getting Married To Anyone"
Queen Lisa did not bother to argue with her.
"Why did you suddenly decide to throw a fiance my way. I can't believe you'll have me betrothed to someone I've never met. This is outrageous" Pearl made to leave
"Pearl please stay " Rayah pleaded before Pearl sat back down just staring at the food in front of her with her arms crossed.
"Here" Rayah put some shrimps on her plate Pearl picked it up and ate it.
"Thanks"
Everyone was quiet for a while.
"Mother, please can tell me why you chose a fiance for me. Isn't that my decision to make"
"He is a good match for you, he will not be a dominative husband or take you away from the palace. You both will live here in the Palace even after getting married."
"You won't be so far away from Rayah. I know you will miss her if you had to live somewhere else."
"Is that even a good enough reason?"
"There are other reasons but you cannot know them now. This will be for your benefit I can assure you."
"What benefit can I get from marrying someone against my will"
"Pearl be quiet. You do not talk back at your mother." Queen Lisa reprimanded.
"He is a prince from a far away kingdom, his name is Prince Siko of Hali. You wouldn't know that kingdom."
"Prince Siko?" Rayah asked looking surprised.
The Queen looked displeased at Rayah for interrupting.
"Rah do you know him?" Pearl asked Rayah.
"No.....no. The name sounded familiar." Rayah forced a smile.
"Was he the one you met at the library?"
Rayah took a glance at Queen Lisa who seemed interested to hear her answer.
"Uh? Nope. Definitely not a prince, I mean he's not the Prince Siko of Hali mother mentioned."
Pearl could deduce that the Prince Rayah had met at the library was the Prince mother talked about earlier.
"Oh okay."
"Yeah"
"Rayah this should be the last time you'll interrupt me while I'm talking. Is that clear."
"Yes Queen Mother."
Pearl just rolled her eyes.
"You should fix your manners before the dinner banquet next week. We don't want the guests wondering how you were brought up this way. I don't want People blaming me for that when it should be your late mother."
"Mother!"
"I can't believe you. I and Rayah are done eating."
" right Rayah?"
"Right." Rayah said in a sad tone.
They both stood up and left the room. Rayah suddenly started coughing while they were heading to their chambers.
"Rah are you okay?" Pearl asked worriedly.
"I'm fine" Rayah continued walking like nothing happened. Pearl stood back watching Rayah while wondering what must be happening to Rayah.
"Rayah why can't you tell me if something's wrong. You passed out earlier in the village and now you're coughing." Rayah stopped walking and turned back to look at Pearl.
"Why don't you want to see Mr Samson, you're not okay."
"Always worried like a mother hen. I have something to tell you." Rayah signaled for pearl to lean closer.
"That prince I met at the library, is your fiance."
Pearl rolled her eyes. She expected to hear the reason why Rayah didn't want to see a doctor.
"Or you mean your Prince Charming. I already figured that out."
"Why didn't he tell me he was engaged to you, he only said he came for some business with the officials."
"Well as you can see I am that Business"
"Don't say that pearl , maybe it was a forced bethrothal by his Parents."
"I don't care, it only shows he is not manly enough to allow his parents force him to accept." Pearl said before the diamond on Rayah's forehead showed and started glimmering.
"Ra... Rah..... Rayah" Pearl pointed out to it stammering. She was more than shocked to see such thing happening before her.
"Rayah what's going on ." Pearl eyes were beyond widened.