“Stop talking too much, you will give me a migraine!” I heard the voice of Nadia say and wondered if it was a dream or in real life. I couldn’t open my eyes because, for whatever reason, my eyelids felt like logs.
“I can’t believe we are going to have a baby! She would be so overjoyed with the news!” Mary cried out, and Nadia grunted something concessional in reply.
Baby?!
I think that did the magic, at once my eyes flew open and my hand went to my stomach instinctively to observe. There was a moment of silence and then chaos broke through.
“Danika!” Nadia and Mary screamed at once.
“Oh, my! She is awake! Inform the King at once!”
“The doctor!”
“Hurry up!”
And two flighty arms wrapped me into a turbulent embrace. “Thank the goddess that you are awake. We had the worst fears of our lives for the past four days.”
“Four days?” I asked in apprehension. “What happened to me?”
“You fainted in the hallway that day, Danika… I was coming to meet you when I saw you falling down and before I would reach you, you have passed out!” Nadia narrated in a jittery tone.
I hissed as my memory went down the lane. I recall that unpleasant day and everything that took place. “What of Paisley?” I ensued in a hazy tone.
“She has been mopping around because the King announced at dinner that evening after crying over here when he saw you that he was not going to marry her. He told her father what she has been doing and she tried to deny it. The next morning her father left the palace in a fit. We didn’t really find out if he believed the King or not because we were here with you,” Nadia said, a plethora of happiness in her voice.
“What is this I h-”
The door swung open and before I will dart my eyes there, the King was by my side whilst my friends stood up instantly to give him room. “Can we be alone?” he asked my friends calmly for the first time. I smiled, he was getting better.
“Why are you smiling?” he asked.
I bobbed my shoulders and made to stand, which he rapidly helped me. “I am glad you are trying…” I said.
“It’s not like I have a choice, do I?”
I cracked up.
He took my delicate fingers in his and kissed them. It was so pure and an adorable sight to behold. I ran my eyes over him worriedly, like a mother hen. He looked thinner from the last time and his frame bonier. When he lifted his eyes to me, his sockets were sunken and his cheeks hollow. If I am being a good observer, I can tell from the black patch under his eyes that he hasn’t been sleeping properly either.
“We are pregnant,” he mouthed with a smile that seemed choked.
I already heard my friends say it but hearing him do, was an entirely euphoric experience.
“I heard them say it, in fact, it was what woke me up.” I chuckled, retrieved my hands from him, and touched my flat stomach. I could already imagine how he or she would look. Like their father.
“I have never been happier in my life, Danika,” he said as he broke down and I hurried to crush him on me. “Thank you so much…”
“Stop, okay?” I mumbled to him. “It’s our baby. We did it together.”
“Yes, only that for the first time in… I don’t even know,” he sniffed in harshly and tore away from me. “It’s been a while since I heard any good news.”
“Well, my King, we have one now…”
He nodded with a soulful smile. “Yes, we are getting married.”
My heart resumed beating in joy. “When?”
“This weekend. I am closing this Chapter once and for all. Today is Wednesday, by Saturday you should be fully recovered and then we will perform the wedding so that it would remain the Luna ceremony.”
“I am delighted, Ally,” I muttered, took his hands, and kissed him.
He kissed me fully on the lips and hugged me to him. “Not as much as I am.”
Time ticked faster until he eventually left and my friends returned. Mary had an impish smile on her face. “Why don’t you tell us where the camera is so that we can go and get it. Paisley went out today and her maid said she has been cleaning her room since she left. According to her, the place is looking like they ran a race in it.”
I listened intently, my mind at work about Paisley. Each time I hear her name being called, it gives me unpleasant goosebumps. “Then let’s go get it.” I made to stand and they obstructed me.
“Whoa, Danika! You can’t leave the bed in your condition. The King would kill us,” Nadia cried.
My eyes danced in my socket, looking at their frightful ones. “You guys think I am going to lay down here till my wedding?” They bit into their lips in thought. “I like to think I have convinced you, so move!” I pushed past them and wore my slippers.
“What is she even doing here instead of leaving with her father?” Mary asked.
“That is because when you are desperate for something that is obviously not yours, you tend to be stupid and do shitty stuff to get it!” Nadia provided to her.
“Can we go?” I asked and began walking to the door, neglecting the incessant pang in my head and rumble of my stomach. I will attend to them later. I have to get the camera and if we don’t find anything, I will toss the stupid item into the trash. After all, I am marrying the King at last.
“Be careful,” I urged my friends when we entered her room. It was looking clean to sparkle, meaning the maid had outdone herself for her insolent mistress.
I didn’t bother dawdling, I went straight to the place I placed the camera and made to take it, but then, I met empty space! My eyeballs expanded. I touched around, thinking perhaps it had moved or, I moved it, or whatever!
Nothing.
“What is it?” Mary asked, coming up to meet me.
“The camera is gone,” I muttered. Could it be they saw it?
“No way!” She fell to her knees and searched around the area. “There is nothing here. Are you sure you placed it here?” she asked.
“I am more than certain… you know what? Let’s get out of here before she comes back…” I started ambling out, not wanting to ruin my day with this. “I need a breath of fresh air, it seems this palace is suffocating me.”
“Maybe we can go for a walk at your favorite spot?” Nadia urged.
“I don’t have any…”
“I have…” Mary sashayed to the front. “There is this place Roland takes me. He said it’s very special to him.”
“Fine, anything as far as it is away from here,” I clipped.
Luther drove us to the special spot she recommended and we alighted from the car. It was an isolated beach, with short palms lining the sidewalk to the beachy area and the tranquil scent of pines and olives. I had asked Luther to stop at the entrance so that we can walk all the way in. I wanted to relish the magnificent ambiance.
“This place is awesome,” I said.
“I know, right? I’m glad you like it,” Mary tethered.
We walked in quietude until we turned the corner leading to the beach, and came to a surprising stop. Roland’s car was packed ahead of us in the small field facing the beach.
“What is he doing here?” I asked in awe.
Mary bobbed her shoulder. “He told me he comes here to think sometimes. Alone.”
“Well, it seems he would have to deal with our unwanted presence today…” I whipped and we started running toward the car.
Just as we rounded the corner of the car, we came to a screeching halt at the gruesome sight in front of us with equal facial expressions. Jaw-dropper.
Roland, on top of Paisley?
…