ALMIRA
~~
I felt so heavy hearted after listening to Evelyn's words. Goosebumps appeared on my paled skin and my body was beginning to feel hot and sweaty.
I tried to calm down but my body wasn't in accordance with me.
My heart was pounding hardly in my chest and my airflow felt restricted. I couldn't breathe and it was getting obvious with the way I was gasping and clasping unto my chest.
"Child..." Evelyn called, her eyes wide as she stared at me. She seemed to notice what was going on and was starting to get bothered by it.
"Almira dear, are you okay?" She shifted closer to me, grabbing my arm and staring down at my eyes instantly.
Concern spread like flat butter on her face, revealing the fear she was feeling.
I tried to relax, forcing myself to inhale and let go of the air I could find.
Thankfully it worked as I could now breathe but I was still feeling affright as my heart was yet beating strongly against my ribs.
"I... I'm fine." I spoke but Evelyn though didn't seem to believe me.
Her eyes were piercing into mine scrutinizingly, her concern boldly stretched on her face.
"I'm sorry I told you all that." She said ruefully. "But I had to."
"It's okay." I didn't want her to feel bad. Besides I was glad I got to be reminded of how much messed up my life was.
"I already knew I could die any minute here but I guess for sometime I forgot about it all but began to feel much comfort but you reminded me and advised me to feel quite cautious. You don't have to feel bad about it."
My tone was reassuring and calm, hiding the lots of troubles I felt inside me.
She gazed at me for a while and nodded, almost like she was convinced herself.
"Alright. You need to rest, you seemed tired."
Just as she said so, my stomach growled,
nearly startling the both of us.
"Oh my, you haven't had your lunch!" She sprang up quickly from the bed, a stunned look on her face.
I would had most likely laughed at her expression if I wasn't mentally stressed out already.
She left to get me some food while I tried to push up my head onto the pillow but I swiftly winced, feeling the healing wounds on my back stretch.
"Ah." I mumbled, frustrated with the pain.
I badly wanted to get healed so fast, so I wouldn't get to feel anymore pain but I knew that wasn't possible.
It would take weeks to completely heal so I had to unfortunately bear and contend with the pain and discomfort that follows.
I thought of Charlotte and instantly frowned. I abhorred her since the day she hit me.
I couldn't bring myself to like someone who wants me dead.
And besides Evelyn didn't like her either so I wasn't alone.
I sighed heavily trying to push away those thoughts and then stared at the novels before me.
All were light weighted and had beautiful painted covers, of either a couple holding hands or just staring at each other.
I blushed at the sight.
If mother were here, she would never had allowed me read or even see this.
She despites books that talks of love and relationships, she says that was too delusional and too immoral for a young maidens to read.
Father was just like her but much stricter. He would punish me immensely and then make me read atleast a hundred educational books to mollify him.
But thankfully, Mabel was always there to help me. She would always sneak in novels of these genres for me to read.
Of course she sometimes doesn't want to obey my orders in fear of angering my parents, but she however ends up obeying them all.
I chuckled and made to open the pages but just then Evelyn walked in, with a tray of covered dishes on her hands.
She set them on a stool before me and slowly uncovered them.
There on the dishes were omelette and flat bread. She also brought a jug of water along.
"Here you are." She handed to me the plate of omelette.
I smiled appreciatively and dug into the food.
I ate quickly, guzzling the omelette and hastily grinding into the flat breads.
Thankfully it wasn't anywhere hot as it would have scorched my tongue and burnt my throat.
I drank the water from the jug and turned to take a look at Evelyn, only to see her looking at me worriedly.
I was befuddled. Was she still worried about Charlotte and the king?
Seeing my stare, she gently took hold of me, a huff leaving her mouth.
"Almira...." She paused, as if to calm herself. "His highness is back."
I was astonished and felt rather uneasy.
Of course I knew he was on his way but I never thought he was return now.
I had hoped and perhaps prayed for him not to return so soon but it seemed like even the heavens were against me.
I bit my lips, my teeth slightly quivering as I tried to take a deep breath, to control my raging thoughts.
Oh my! This was it.... I might really die today.
"I don't know if we should be worried." She continued. "B...but I heard Princess Charlotte went towards his domicile the moment he arrived."
"Oh, she couldn't even wait for him to take a rest. How wicked could she be? She indeed wants me dead!"
"Lower your voice, Almira." She shunned. "The walls have walls, don't speak out things you could get punished for and besides... Am so sure she would discuss about you with the king. They were having tea together minutes ago, she might not bring you up."
"Might?" I muttered. The unsureness was so apparent it irked me.
I lost appetite for whatever I was having immediately.
Evelyn noticed but didn't say a word. She only gave a sad smile at me.
"I would be leaving now but I will be back. I need to know the current happenings between his highness and the princess."
"Isn't that dangerous?" I was perplexed. "It's like an intrusion to privacy, you could get punished if caught."
"You don't need to worry." She chuckled briefly. "It's not like am going to peep on them or something, no, I'm only going to ask the maids who were around them if they said anything concerning you."
"O...Okay." I felt a bit worried.
I was even beginning to hate myself for dragging Evelyn into my issues. But I literally didn't, it was she who is just so willing to help me and that too, so selflessly.
I gave a summary smile.
I really did own her a lot.
She was like the best thing to happen to me in this hell of a place and I was really grateful for that.
If she wasn't here, I didn't know how long I could had survive until now.
A knock on the door startled me.
It was too sudden, hard and prompt. It was like if the person behind the door nearly had no patience or some sort.
"Who is that?" I whispered to Evelyn, confused with the interruption.
It was quite normal for her to have visitors but I just didn't know.... I felt a bit of apprehension.
"I don't know..." She impulsively whispered back. "But it must be a maid, as usual."
I wasn't sure.
A maid couldn't had knocked that way... Hard and with no will to wait.
However, Evelyn ignored my obvious buzzing thoughts and aimed for the door.
"I'll go check. Stay and read the books."
Flashing a little smile, she walked meekly to the door and opened it only to see Luther's personal head guard, Orson staring straight at her, expressionlessly.
"Sire?" She called, surprise in her tone as she bowed to the floor.
I was appalled.
Why was he here? Was he... Was he here to kill me?!
I shuddered, staring round in fright not knowing what to do.
I contemplated on hiding somewhere but Evelyn's room had no good hiding spot and I could be easily found out even if I did try.
I was nerve-wracked. I could feel the sweats boiling out of my skin.
"Where is the slave, Almira?"
His tone surprisingly didn't seem to have even a jot of anger in it.
It left me wondering as to whether I could be thinking wrongly and overreacting.
"Err..." I could sense Evelyn's hesitation. "I hope nothing is wr...."
"It's not in your place to ask." He cut her off rudely, leaving a tensed atmosphere in the room.
I gulped in, my head filled with thoughts, thoughts I was trying hard to process.
"S..she is in but currently wounded. She might be in no place for visitors...err...."
She was cut off when he barged in, into the room, walking towards my direction.
Instinctively I snuggled more closer to the bed front, grabbing a pillow in a bid to shield myself.
But just as I was about doing so, I saw two figures one which was that of Orson and the other of a young girl dressed in a white garment with white collars and gloves.
Her hair was fixed in a bun and she held a wooden box in hand.
She looked more like a physician if I was not mistaken but Physicians were mostly old and males, it might be impossible to see a female in that field, especially one so young.
They were both gazing at me.
Orson with a complacent face and the girl with a bright and cheerful beam.
They didn't really seem like they were here to kill me.
"Hmph... His highness ordered me to check up on you." Orson said, breaking off the evaporating silence.
Check up on me? I was baffled. Perhaps, it might be to check if I was dead or alive.
I didn't speak. I was clearly yet living. He had obviously gotten the answer he wanted.
Orson gave the girl a look.
Understanding, she went closer to me, still maintaining her bubbly smile.
"Hi." She spoke, her voice pleasant to the ear. "My name is Keri, it's a pleasure to meet you."