Nova’s pov
“Where are we going?” I asked, trailing quietly behind her.
Lady Everest shrugged, snaking her hand into her hair.
“You will know when we get there, for now, go to your maid and check how she’s fairing.” she beamed, brushing her hair to the back.
That being said, how did she know about Shayna? How did she know whose maid she was?
“My lady?” I called, rather in a question. Lady Everest halted on her track and turned her face towards me.
“Yes, your Highness?” her lips pressed in a thin line, and she furrowed her brows, urging me with her smoky eyes to tell her what was on my mind.
“By any chance… No! How did you know about my maid, and how did you know that I was grounded?” it was my turn to arch my brows, lady Everest gulped and then smiled awkwardly.
“Let’s just say,” she paused, tilting her head to a side, “no offence,” she grinned, hitching the back of her neck.
“None taken.” I smiled awkwardly, staring right into her face.
“I have always wanted to know what the king and his friends were up to.” she shrugged and I stared at her weirdly.
“Why’s that? If I may ask.” I thought the two were only acting like a sworn enemy, but I think there was an untold story.
“Your husband, Prescott,” she pressed her lips together, sighing before proceeding with what she was about to say. “He has two friends. Wharton, whom he made the royal Beta, and the other one, Ulrica, who happened to be one of the elders’ granddaughter,” she smirked, looking above my shoulder and waving at someone.
“We’ll discuss it later, I have to go.” she tapped my shoulder and walked away from me.
“Lady Everest…” I trailed off when she was completely out of sight.
Hold on, what’s going on with her? She seemed weird!
I shrugged her thoughts off my head and made my way to the infirmary. She told me to go see Shayna and that she will come to me, later, right?
I entered the tall building, the guards bowed to me and I nodded my head in response to their greetings.
I walked up to the private section and saw Cinder, resting her head against the white wall.
“Cinder?” a wave of guilty surged through me when I saw her standing in the same place I had left her the previous evening.
“Your Highness! Did something happen? I’ve been worrying about you, you said you’ll come back, is everything all right?” I rushed up to her and pulled her to myself, caging her in my arms.
“I’m sorry for not coming back for you. I’m sorry for making you worry about me.” I sniffed before releasing her from the bone-crushing hug.
“It’s okay, your Highness. I am your maid, and I can worry about you, please let me worry about you,” she mumbled, I moved my thumbs to her cheeks and wiped out her tears.
“Did have had anything?” I asked, staring at the bags around her eyes.
“Nope, I haven’t.” she shook her head and I moved out of the way.
“Go back to your quarter, eat, take your bath and rest. You can resume your work tomorrow.” I moved my hand to her hair, tucking a few strands behind her ears.
“Will you be all right?” Cinder asked, I nodded my head and she smiled warmly at me.
“Thank you, your Highness!” she bowed before walking away from the waiting room.
I walked up to Shayna’s infirmary room and peeked inside the room through the keyhole.
I gasped, seeing Shayna sitting on the bed. I grip the doorknob and twisted the door open.
“Shayna!” I threw myself at her, crushing her bone as I wrapped my arms around her tiny body.
“Princess, you’re going to break me into two.” Shayna groaned, her voice was croaky and low.
I hastily released her from the hug and gripped her shoulders. Staring into her eyes that seemed like she was forcing them to remain open.
“Are you okay now? How are you feeling?” I sat down beside her on the bed, checking her body which had been patched with plaster.
“I think the Doctor is going to kill me,” Shayna mumbled, gripping her IV with a hard stare.
“Did he do anything funny with you?” I yelled, standing up to my feet.
“No! Not like that.” she hissed and brought her legs down from the bed. “This IV itches and I told them that I am fine, I want to go back to the maids quarter. This place sucks, I am tired of laying on this stupid bed. The smell of the medicines makes me feel so out of it.” she whined, her eyes swimming with tears. She hitched her arm and I pulled her to my chest, rubbing her back gently.
“You’re not fine yet, Shayna. Just one more day here, I promise to take you to my quarter so I could watch over you. If you’re with me, no one will touch you, okay? I am now the Queen and no one dare touch you, not on my watch.” I whispered into her ear, Shayna busted into tears and I blinked back my tears.
I felt back for making her go through such pain. If I hadn’t brought her here with me, she wouldn’t be sitting on a hospital bed now.
I caused her pain and I was ready to repay her kindness by putting everything I have on the line, just to keep her safe.
“Are you okay, your Highness?” Shayna grumbled, I wiped my tears before disengaging from the hug.
“Everything is all right!” I faked a smile, Shayna seemed to notice something but she shrugged off her shoulders and leaned back on the bed, resting her head on the headrest.
“Congratulations on your Coronation. I’m sorry, this is coming late.” she shut her eyes and I smiled out of tears.
“Thank you!” I sniffed, drying my cheeks with the back of my palms.
Shayna didn’t say anything else, she sighed before flapping her eyes open.
“How is he treating you?” she raised her brows, I smiled before nodding my head.
“Better than before.” I lied, I couldn’t bear to tell her he was still the same. I can’t cause her unnecessary worry not when she was still recovering from what his kindhearted friend did to her.
“I am glad!” Shayna blurted out, “I want to sleep.” she let out.
I got up from the bed and walked up to her, I lifted her feet off the ground and dropped them on the bed, I rolled up the duvet and covered her with it.
After tucking her into bed, Shayna drifted off to sleep almost immediately. I sighed in relief.
“I’m glad you’re okay, and I am sorry for everything.” I brushed her hair backwards, only to reveal a huge plaster on her forehead.
I sighed sadly before putting down her hair to cover the ugly-looking plaster.
A knock came on the door, startling me. I moved my gaze to the wall clock to see that it hasn’t been up to thirty minutes since I got here.
“She’s here already?!” I groaned, dragging my feet towards the exit to get the door for her.
“Lady Everest, is it about time to leave?” I flung the door open to reveal the shock of my life.
“Your Majesty!” my eyes widened in shock, my jaw dropped and I felt my heart sank into my stomach.
Why is he here? How did he know that I was here? Did the guards tell on me? Did he look for me in my room? Did he visit his building?
“Come with me!” he groaned, he turned around and walked away from me, leaving me to stare at the back of his head.
“I’m dead!” I knock down to the floor with my grip tightened on the doorknob.