Pain's more trouble than love is worth, but that pain also feels good when you're with me.
.........
Maya fell unconscious after being hit by an arrow and remained unconscious for two days.
(Two days later...)
Maya slowly opened her eyes and saw a blurry figure coming toward her, telling her something. Dazed, she couldn't understand the figure's face or what he was saying.
She fainted again. On the third morning, she woke up wide-eyed.
The place didn't resemble the maids' quarters she always stayed in. Instead, it looked like a dormitory for princesses and high-born women.
She sat up in bed and looked around. No one seemed to be there. Slowly, she stood up, her chest covered with a large bandage.
As she moved her left arm, her chest throbbed, so she clutched it and cautiously walked to the door of the room.
Then, "Where are you going? Wait a minute!" a voice called from outside the door.
A woman with long hair and skin as white as blush to the touch appeared outside.
Seeing the girl, Maya was shocked and overjoyed.
"What!!! How did Sahana come here?" she thought to herself, rushing towards the girl and hugging her.
The people present exclaimed, "What is she doing? A lowly maid, how can she hug a royal lady?" They tried to stop Maya.
She stopped them with her hands and held Maya close.
Tears streamed down Maya's eyes like an inexhaustible river.
"Do you know how much I've missed you, Sahana?" she asked.
Nisha, with a soft smile, inquired, "Who is that, Sahana? Me?"
Maya immediately released her grip, straightened up, and looked at Nisha's face. Confused, she was about to speak when the maids interrupted.
"What are you doing? We are watching. You lack respect and humility. Your Highness, will you intervene? Didn't anyone teach her how to behave?" the maids scolded Maya.
"Be quiet. Who gave you the authority to scold Maya now?" Nisha silenced the maids in an instant and smiled at Maya again.
"Maya, don't mind them. You can call me whatever you like," she said lovingly.
Maya's eyes widened in confusion. "Forgive me, Your Highness; I did it unknowingly," she apologized.
"Maya, I don't think it's wrong. You can call me what as you like , from today, you are not just this palace maid, but my best friend. If you hadn't saved him that day, what would we have done? You have saved not only the prince but the entire kingdom!" Nisha declared.
Nisha and Maya then conversed for a while.
Afterwards, Nisha prepared to leave.
"Maya, I must go now. Mother will be looking for me. I will come again tomorrow. Be careful," Nisha said. As she was leaving the room, something suddenly occurred to her. She quickly returned to Maya and grasped both of her hands.
"Maya, tomorrow night is the Vesak festival. Rudra, Prince Shesha, and I are going to celebrate it. You must come with us," she said and departed.
Maya was utterly bewildered. "How did Sahana come here? If she entered the story, then why is she acting like she doesn't know me? Why doesn't she remember me?" she pondered, pacing back and forth in the room.
Then, the delicious aroma of chicken curry wafted into her nostrils. Her stomach rumbled with hunger.
"Ha... I'm hungry for something else! What smell is that?" she mused, pursing her lips and rubbing her stomach.
The maids then entered her room, carrying numerous dishes on exquisite plates. Dushi was among them.
Seeing her, Maya's face brightened.
"Dushi, is that you? I'm so happy to see you," Maya exclaimed.
"Do you know how worried I was when I heard you were hurt? I came to see you twice, but you were unconscious. How are you now?" Dushi inquired affectionately.
"I'm fine now. I'm alright. First, you sit down," Maya said.
Maya and Dushi conversed while the other maids left. Dushi served Maya food.
"Did you eat?" Maya asked, looking at Dushi.
"Not yet," Dushi replied.
"Come! Let's eat together," Maya insisted, making Dushi sit with her to share the meal.
"Maya! Do you know something? Tomorrow night, for the first time, prince going to attend vesak festival and her highness wants you to join with them."
"Hmm... I know. Her Highness Nisha told me about it."
"Are you going to go with them?"
"They invited me to come with them."
"You are so lucky, Maya!"
"After many years in my life, I am hearing these words again today," she said with a sigh.
"Don't worry, Maya! Everything will be fine for you now," Dushi assured her.
While talking to her, Maya noticed the red lotus flower mark on the side of Dushi's neck.
"This mark... it belongs to the Ratshasha clan. How did it get on her neck? Not only that, but only after entering this story do I know that such a character exists. But what is the relationship between her and the Ratshasha clan? Who is she really?" The thought raced through her mind, but she didn't show it.
As evening approached, Maya, restless to remain indoors, stepped out of her room and wandered into the garden, pondering about Crown Prince Shesha.
"Shesha is the kindest and warmest character in the story, but now he seems the opposite. He is always giving me the cold shoulder, and he didn't even come to see me, even though I saved him. But he doesn't care about me at all," she thought as she strolled through the garden.
While she was deep in thought, Shesha appeared behind her and stood silently observing her. Unknowingly, she muttered aloud, "Why is the Prince giving me the cold shoulder?" As if he had heard her, Shesha stood watching Maya, a smile playing on his lips at her cute behavior.
Suddenly, Maya turned around and bumped into Shesha's chest. She slowly raised her head and looked at him. Her heart pounded, and Shesha's ears and cheeks flushed red.
Concealing his blush, Shesha said, "What are you doing here? Come to my place. My maid is not feeling well, so today you're the one who will assist me with my work. Come with me," he said, walking towards his mansion.
"What?? Is his heart made of stone or something? Can't he see that I'm not fully recovered yet? What kind of attitude is he showing towards me? He is so annoying!" she thought as she followed him to his mansion with a long face.