The Process Of Healing

Back at the palace, Zeya was once again cooped up in her study, working yet again despite having a tiresome day. Rowen had escorted her back here while Nevra and Arius stayed behind at the site to properly greet the guests, all of which were important figures that couldn't be disregarded.

The sudden appearance of a large shadow interrupted Zeya's focus, forcing her to cease her reading as she looked up to investigate.

"Nox?" She said the creature's name in a slightly surprised tone.

"My Lady." The creature greeted, twirling around the Roseabelle as if it was glad to see her. "Have you been well?"

"I should ask both you and Lex the same question." She replied, a small smile forming as she was happy to see a familiar sight. "Since I only see you here, I suppose it's safe to assume Lex is still busy?"

"... Lord Lexian is still in the shadow realms." It replied, confirming Zeya's suspicions. "It appears like the issues there were much more serious than we had suspected."

Before Zeya could ask any more questions, a hurried knock erupted from the door, before it slightly went ajar. It was Rowen, peeping through the doorway with a nervous expression.

"And what brings you here?" Zeya asked puzzledly. "Did you perhaps get news of Lex as well?"

"Um, actually Your Majesty." Rowen cleared his throat, walking into the study before opening the door to reveal a tall figure behind him. "You have a guest who would like to see you."

"... Very well." Zeya agreed before her attention went back to the confused shadow. "You may leave the two of us be, Rowen. You as well, Nox, I must speak this 'guest' of mine privately."

"Amrit." Rowen whispered to the Roseabelle before he left, hoping that the words he said to him prior had gone through.

"I know so stop your worrying." Amrit stopped the worried spell caster from going any further in the conversation. "Her Majesty and I will deal with this, peacefully."

Reluctantly, both Rowen and Nox obeyed Zeya's orders and gave the two friends some privacy to talk. None of them spoke a word until they heard the door close softly with a click.

"You look calm despite seeing me for the first time in ages." Zeya initiated the conversation first, not at all fazed by her friend's dauting presence. "I thought you'd be more upset."

"Surely you didn't expect me to throw a fit during a funeral?" He answered harshly, his voice devoid of any humor. "Not even someone as low as myself would go that far."

"I can never be too sure with someone like you, Amrit." She replied to his remark with a small smile, hands crossed around her chest.

Amrit turned to face Zeya directly now, meeting her gaze for the first time since she left Stygia. He was just like how Zeya remember him to be except, she could feel he had grown to be much more mature, just like the rest of her friends. His usual violet eyes were a shade deeper as they were masked by his relaxed hair, making him seem more threatening that intended.

"You're unfortunately a few hours late if you're here to convey your condolences." Zeya said half-jokingly, already expecting an outburst from her testy friend. "So, what brings you here to me?"

"Is that all you have to say to me after years of denying all of my visits?" He questioned, walking closer. "Not only that but you were also rather determined to keep it a secret from me when you decided to come back."

"... I was planning to tell you, and the rest." She responded truthfully despite knowing that it wasn't going to convince him. "But things didn't turn out the way I wanted and-"

"And somehow the Emperor of Exousia managed to find out before us." Amrit cut her off, his violet eyes filled with silent rage. "You think I haven't heard about that bastard barging into the palace to see you?"

"... How did you know about that?"

"And how exactly does that matter? He could've hurt you! Just what the hell were you thinking when he showed up uninvited?" Amrit continued on with his rant, apparently not hearing her question. "How did you even stomach being in the same room as him after what he's done to you-"

"Amrit." He cut his own sentence short when he heard the tone of Zeya's voice saying his name. "How the hell did you get word of that?"

"How could I not?" He spoke slightly calmer now but still upset nonetheless. "The maids were whispering about it throughout the whole damn palace when I got back, hell, it's so bad that it even reached the ears of my old man."

'The maids.' She furrowed her eyebrows in distaste, balling her hands in a silent rage. 'I should've gotten rid of them the moment I stepped foot in here.'

"... What was I supposed to do in that situation? Grab a weapon and just stab him?" She challenged, feeling a migraine on its way to torment her. "You and I both know how foolish that is."

"Do you think I'm enjoying all of this? Watching him feel right at home in front of me as if nothing was wrong? Imagine how I'm feeling if this is how upset you are."

She clenched her jaw in anger, glaring up at Amrit, who also had a similar expression as Zeya.

"... Not everyone has a life as carefree as yours, Amrit." She sighed, feeling the exhaustion finally getting the best of her. "I have relationships I have to maintain for the sake of this country, what about you?"

"... I- I cannot, fuck this up." She stammered, a vulnerability in her eyes that Amrit had never seen in the Empress before. "Thousands of innocent people had their lives taken for this treaty to be signed. I can't let it all go in vain, you know this."

"I could care less about that fucking piece of paper but what about you?" He grabbed Zeya by the shoulders, slightly shaking her. "I care about what you have to go through more than anything else. How- How can you be so unbothered by all this?"

"I never asked you to pity me." She whispered, pushing Amrit away from her. "If I could live with being banished from my own home for centuries, I don't think living like this is any worse."

"... I knew you were going to be like this but I still can't help but feel disappointed." He admitted, stepping away from Zeya. "However, if that is how you truly feel, I have no right to think its false."

"... Forgive me for not making time for the funeral." He spoke his final words before he left, his eyes devoid of any emotions, even the anger he displayed a moment before. "Have a good night, Your Grace."

"What a mature way to handle that, Zeya." She said under her breathe once Amrit had left, pinching her nose bridge in frustration. 'Now we're both upset.'

"I know you're out there." She said out loud all of a sudden, her voice echoing in the silence. "So come out, before I make you."

From out of thin air appeared Rowen, who avoided eye contact with Zeya out of guilt.

"Don't think you're getting away just because you're a shadow, Nox." She managed to stop Nox from getting to the nearest window. "Get back here. Now."

Obeying her orders, the tiny black cloud which was Nox raced to the safety of Rowen's neck, hiding behind it as it was too terrified to even look at Zeya in the eyes.

"Forgive us, Your Majesty." Rowen apologized with a deep bow, aware that he had made a big mistake. "We were just making sure that Amrit didn't do anything stupid-"

"Do you want me to forgive you, Rowen?" She asked, her tone neutral despite her intimidating aura.

"Of course, Your Majesty." He answered, surprised by the passive voice. "I'll do whatever it takes to get it."

"Then answer me this." She now turned to the redhead, her gaze menacing. "How much of the conversation did you hear?"

"... I heard all of it, Your Grace."

"Wonderful. Then I suppose I don't have to repeat myself, do I?" She smiled brightly, though her eyes told a completely different story. "Get rid of all the maids responsible for the rumors. Do whatever it takes to make them leave this place, even if it means killing them."

"I'll lend you Nox to make this easier for you. After all, it has been a while since they got a chance to eat." She stated, her attention now on the shadow. "And they will have to follow your every command during this period, do both of you understand?"

"... Yes, My Lady." The two replied in unison after a moment of hesitation, accepting their fate.

"Good. Then I suggest you go now if you wish to finish early." She waved them off to leave her alone. "Because I doubt they will want to leave quietly."