30. Lone Sickness

Since the daybreak into a new dawn, Tinaya has been preoccupied with loneliness; Nick did not come to her neither was Ellie. Well, she'd understand why Ellie did not come but what can she say of Nick? Was he keeping a grudge against her for doing nothing? That is unlike of him, they've fought beautifully well in time past and they were still cool the next day.

Why will he want to keep grudges?

She sneers after parading the room countless time, yet, she can't deny the number of times she peeped through the door; two guards still stand hugely by her door, which sends a shiver down her spine at every glance.

Their method of monitoring her makes her feel like being trapped in a prison and the thought of it makes her sick internally.

She look through the window again, listening to hear Nick whistling to her but she got disappointed.

Just then, Nurret entered, "My Lady, I brought your food."

She glares at Nurret till she drops the tray of dishes on the small table beside the bed. Her face grumpy, short of words to where she could start questioning Nurret,

"Nurret, where is Nick?"

She feels sophisticated as she asked, sitting by the bed, the food irritates her.

Nurret curtsied, her lips curved into smiles, "Prince Nickdrah has gone out with His Lordship, there is no way you will see him today,"

Naya raised her brow as Nurret explained, they've only spent 5 hours out of the day and it look like an eternity to her,

"What about Ellie? Still with Brother?"

Nurret feels itches within her as she arranges her dishes, she could feel how downfall her Lady is but who is she to interfere with her punishment? Or else she is ready to die, she whispers with a stain of pity,

"Lady Ellie has returned to her province since yesterday, she was escorted by Crown Prince,"

Naya huff, "Oops! It doesn't go well,"

Nurret heard her murmuring, her eyes spring more pity slant to see her lady unable to control her sadness, she turn to Naya after arranging the food on the tray.

"What did you say to me, My Lady?"

Naya still grumble in her voice muttering as if the world's burden was placed on her head, she sniff slightly, "You know Nurret, I can't be alone, I hate being alone and the guards out there her adding to my distress, I feel as if I'm inside a prison,"

"Can you tell Queen Mother about that? No one comes to visit me either!"

Nurret could only smile, once her lady is feeling this way, the only person that can cure her is her Prince, Nickdrah. She feels sympathetic that Nick can't be here,

Not at this moment.

"My Lady, right now, everyone is busy with his Lordship, I will relay your message to Queen Mother. Now, you need to eat, you haven't tasted any food since yesterday... Your highness, please don't starve yourself to death,"

Naya gaze astray, she wipes slightly on her nostrils as she feels some watery runs down, if only Nurret knew how sober she is, she won't talk about food,

"You can leave Nurret," She whispered.

No one understands her situation, and that is killing her inside, it'd be better she's locked in the prison than being isolated like a plague!

"But My Lady, I just want to watch you eating, I can stay with you as well,"

"No! Just go!!!" She squealed and slide under her blanket.

She gasped inwardly as she heard the screeching sound of the door closing.

Soon she dives into sleep,

Hours later, Naya's eyes rolled under her conjunctiva, seems half awake, she feels a wet towel mobbing her face, slightly she opens her eyes, her eyes seem blurred watching who was doing that to her, her lips light up with smiles,

"Nick, stop treating me like a kid," she whispered, slightly nudging her head to make the towel slip down,

Gradually her blurred eyes open widely, she gasped, readjusting to sit, "Mother!"

Her pitch squawk astonishingly to see Queen Malie sitting beside her with the wet towel in her hand, beside her was Nurret standing, they both look worrying.

Queen Malie pat her down to stop her from sitting, she mumbles from her eloquent gaze that gives a darling smile, "You woke up?" Her palm placed on Naya's forehead, still in worry.

"I think her fever has now reduced," She said to Nurret who nods twice,

Naya on her side feel as if she was daydreaming; Queen hardly visit her chamber, in fact, she could count the number of times she has come to visit her but what could bring her here? Was she sick? Hearing Queen refers to fever made her stunned when she could feel her strength.

"My daughter, you were burning! Do you have a terrible mare?"

Her voice was warm and alluring, Naya feels her body calm upon hearing her even though she scold her head for forgetting that Queen can read facial expression and interpret it to give the exact thing they were thinking without hearing their thoughts.

"Thank you, Mom!" She smiles hiding her fidget.

Queen Malie smiles in return, only Naya address her with Mom, even though she once was not used to it, it was not their language but she accepted when Naya told her the meaning, henceforth, she believes sometimes her human language can never be eradicated in spite she grew up with them.

"Mom..." Naya called, her throat itched,

The dryness of her voice made Queen Malie worry the more, she turn intriguing eyes to Naya, instantly, Naya feels some butterflies in her stomach,

She smiles inwardly.

She is so affectionate.

"Can't you tell them to leave my door?" She points towards the entrance, wishing Queen Malie could pity her torments,

"They should understand that there is no place I can escape to but the way they stood there makes me feel like I'm in the prison, it torments me that thinking about it makes me sick."

"They should make my door free, this way, my body will feel independent,"

She lamented, her voice hushed out one after the other like she won't last a minute.

Her lips clip together to hear what Queen will say.