Awoken

Lightning.

I know at one glance that without doubt it's lightning that's flowing through the young prince's hands. He had unlocked his gift at the same age I did, only that he didn't cause harm like I did.

"Your majesty, you can't –" I turned to the doorway and I saw the knights and servants stopping Zachary from entering the room

"Let him in," I cut them off and they look reluctant

"Is he…" his eyes darted to the young prince's hand after looking at my direction

"Leave us," I told the knights and servants

"Yes, your majesty," they said and closed the door behind Zachary

"What happened?" he asked and I looked at the young prince

"His temperature rose up, he was burning and was convulsing earlier…" I trailed off

"Did his pulse beat at a rapid pace?" he asked and I slowly nodded

"Do you think his gift awoken after he almost died?" I asked and slowly looked at him

With that question, another question surfaced in my mind as I looked at his direction.

"Was that the same with you?" I asked and his eyes widened as his lips parted

"No…" I am not certain which question of mine he answered with that response of his

"Is he going to suffer like this longer, Zachary?" I asked him and I felt his hand on my shoulder after I felt his presence next to me

"Hey, Reagan," I looked up at him when he suddenly called the young prince

"Stop tormenting Patrice, wake up, and win that battle." He said and I heard contempt in his voice, as to whom that disdain is directed to, that I am not certain as he do not seem to direct it to the young prince

He suddenly held the young prince's hand and I saw how the same kind of glowing line, only in a different shade of white flowed from his hand to the young prince's arm. Then he placed his finger on the young prince's chest and gently pushed it, my eyes widened when he released his gift, I held his arm but he looked at me and gave me a smile, a genuine one.

His genuine smile made me trust him, it diminished the qualms I had for him after our recent encounter and heated argument where we ended in a disagreement.

"It'll help him," he said and I couldn't help but let him do what he must to help

The young prince began gasping, I looked at Zachary in worry and he just gently tapped my shoulder as if saying that it'll be alright and tapped the young prince's chest gently twice.

"Queen," he said weakly and his eyes flew open

"Malika!" I hugged him immediately as soon as I saw his eyes open

"Queen," he was panting so hard, catching his breath as if he ran for how many miles

"Congratulations," I heard Zachary said

"You made me so worried, Malika. You were unconscious for so weeks and… and…" my tears began flowing from my eyes endlessly

"Calm down, Patrice," Zachary was gently rubbing my back as I cried

"I'm sorry, Queen," the young prince apologized weakly and I released him from the hug

"I'm so happy that you're awake now," I said and smiled and he weakly smiled

"That took you too long," I glared at Zachary for what he said

"You refused to help." I shot back at him while glaring

"Thank you, King…" he said weakly and looked at Zachary

"What… what is happening? I don't understand." I looked at them alternately in confusion

"He had to gain his gift's loyalty, Patrice, he had to prove himself worthy." Zachary answered

"I'm so proud of you then, Malika, you won. You scared me a lot but I'm happy for you." I told him and hugged him tightly

"His gift is still flowing, you can get hurt." Zachary gently pulled me away from the prince

"Alright," I said and let the young prince go

"I'll have the maids prepare a meal for you, you must be famished." I said and he smiled

"Zai…" I looked at him and trailed

There was a knock on the door before it opened, revealing Sir Charles, Knight Stephen, Dame Maia and Dame Therese who all looked worried.

They knelt on one knee with their heads lowered before greeting, "Your majesty,"

"Rise," I said and they stood up, their eyes widened when they looked at the young prince

"The young prince is…" Dame Maia trailed off then they smiled in relief

"He's awake," I said and looked at the young prince who's smiling at them

"I'll get the maids to prepare food for the young prince, your majesty." Dame Therese excused

"We'll call back the royal physician, your majesty," Knight Stephen said and I nodded

They bowed with one fist clenched against their chest

"What brought you here, Sir Charles?" I asked Sir Charles after he and Dame Maia were left with the three of us inside the room

"I came to report about the ball's security preparation, your majesty." He said

"Hmm, how is everything going?" I asked

"There are knights posted at every three meter within the perimeter of the palace and there are knights doing rounds as well, we've scheduled the switching of shifts to be done every two hours to give them rest in between shifts." He reported and I nodded

"That's good, how about the decorations and the location of the ball?" I asked him

"I am not certain, your majesty, but I can call the head servants to report to you." He said and I raised my hand and shook my head

"I will see to it myself after the young prince gets settled, you may go back now." I said

"As you wish, your majesty, I will take my leave." He said and bowed down before leaving

"Your majesty," Dame Therese arrived with servants in her trail

The servants served several dishes before the young prince who is just looking around, familiarizing himself with his surroundings.

I saw how the servants would glance at the three of us from time to time, I smiled at the young prince when he looked at me.

"Where am I, Queen?" the young prince asked and I smiled

"You are in the White Palace of Astrae, you've been here for a while now." I answered

"We'll take our leave, your majesty," the servants bowed down and left

The young prince was about to take a spoon when it slipped from his hand, he looked at Zachary who's just watching him seriously and seems to be in deep thought, I cleared my throat to take his attention, only then did he seem to realize that he is scaring the young prince.

"Your hands feel numb?" he asked and the young prince slowly nodded

"That is normal," he said and took the spoon and a bowl of vegetable porridge

"I… I can feed myself, King." the young prince said

"Don't worry, Reagan, I was incapable of holding a pen for a week as well after my gift awoken." He said and gently ruffled the young prince's hair

"Patrice," he looked at me and I stood up while pursing my lips

He sat on where I was seated before and I watched as he carefully fed the young prince, the young prince is reluctant and would look at me like he's asking me to feed him instead, I'd give him an assuring smile.

Somehow, looking at Zairo right now, I have a feeling that he wants to make up for not providing help before.

"Won't you see to the preparations?" I looked at Zairo in confusion because of his question

"What?" I asked and he turned to me with a smile

"Didn't you tell Sir Charles you'd see the preparations yourself after the young prince gets settled? You should check on the ball's preparation." He said and I smiled sheepishly

"Yes, I will be heading to the Main Palace soon, I just have to make sure that Malika is alright." I said and he smirked before shaking his head and feeding the young prince

"Don't worry about Reagan, I can take care of him, if anything, I brought some of his servants to attend to him." He said and I sighed

"Alright, I'll leave you two then." I said and turned to Dame Maia

"Dame Maia, you can take a rest as well, it's an order." I said before she can reason out

"Yes, your majesty," she obliged and we went out of the young prince's room

"Tell your head servant, I'd like to meet them and the Blue Palace's head servant in the throne room." I told one of the servants we met on our way out of the White Palace

"Dame Maia, I expect that you're well rested when I see you at the ball tonight, or else, I'll relieve you of your duty for the whole day tomorrow, alright?" I said and she smiled

"Yes, your majesty," she bowed down and went to the Knight's quarters

I headed to the Main Palace and went to the throne room, I waited until the head servants from the White Palace, Main Palace, and Blue Palace, along with the head organizer of the ball for tonight to show up.

They all bowed down before they began reporting the details of the preparation for tonight's events.

"Thank you for your hard work." I told the head organizer of the ball tonight after he finished reporting

"It's my honor, your majesty," he said with his lowered head and knelt on one knee

"You may go," I said and he stood up before leaving

"Your majesty," A knight of the White Palace arrived

I can distinguish where each knight is posted basing on the color of the band hanging across from their right shoulder to their left waist; yellow for the Main Palace knights, dark blue for the Blue Palace knights and sky blue for the White Palace.

"Yes?" I asked

"The council members are here to meet with you, your majesty," he said and I nodded

"I'll meet with them in the council room." I replied and stood up then I left the throne room

"Greetings to her majesty, the glistening moonlight of Astrae," they greeted upon my arrival

"Greeting to you, council members," I replied

"What is the purpose of this meeting?" I asked

"Her majesty, the rumors of this ball being your means of announcing your marriage is rapidly spreading." The representative of Ilithiyas said and my eyes widened in amusement

"What marriage? That is nothing but nonsense." I said and gently shook my head

"But your majesty, the root of that rumor is the news that you've confirmed." Lord Valdez said and I sighed

"Oh, you mean the rumor about the young prince currently staying in the White Palace?" I asked him and he nodded

"He's awake now, his king is here as well, I am certain we can clarify the rumors." I said

"Now that you're here, why don't you report the states of your household?" I asked and they began reporting the states of each noble household of Astrae

"Also, I have a sudden thought, no, consider it an indecent proposal," I said earning the attention of my council

"Why don't we ask the common folks to nominate potential candidates to be the representative of each town in Astrae?" I asked

"What had brought upon such proposal, your majesty?" Lord Mares asked

"Listening to your reports regarding your household got me thinking, why don't we have representatives to report about the state in each town of Astrae?" I replied and they nodded

"Her majesty does have a point,"