With a wave of her hand, the empress gave the signal to the maid standing behind her. It was a subtle movement, hidden within the fold of her elegant sleeves, seen only by those closest to her.
So now she thinks she needs to help me after playing such a nice trick, sorry dear mother but things won't go according to your plan.
Gritting her teeth Rossaria closed her eyes, she was feeling a burning sensation spreading across her body. The pain was excruciating, but she knew better than to cry out. She had to endure her hardships silently so she could achieve her goal.
But when the maid got nearer to her, fate had an odd sense of timing.
Thud!
Rossaria's facade weakened, her breath quickening as her body threatened to give in to the pain. She could no longer hold it in. Her lids grew heavy, and her head spun. And then, in a moment of surrender, she collapsed.
Sounds slowed, time seemed to stretch, and then it happened without warning.
The hall erupted into a bewildered gasp, accompanied by startled yelps and muffled laughter.
"Kya," the royal consort Greece yelled out of fear.
The abrupt change in circumstances astounded her.
The maid swiftly approaches the fallen Rossaria.
"Rossaria!" the prince Philip exclaimed, concern etching his voice. He was rash in front of the collapsed Rossaria, He knelt beside the fallen Rossaria, disregarding the disarray around them. "Call Imperial physician Callias over here," he screams.
"Wait, Philip," the Empress said, coming to her senses when she realized that someone else was observing their actions towards Rossaria. She bowed to the Emperor and said, "Your Majesty, may I borrow your personal knight for our daughter?"
The Emperor gestures to his personal guard while nodding.
The Emperor's personal guard Knight Milvana cautiously entered the hall and bowed toward the Emperor and the Empress then carefully cradling the unconscious Princess Rossaria in her strong arms.
"Milvana, take my daughter to my room," the Empress orders.
Milvana nods and takes the Princess to the Empress's room.
The grand room, adorned with intricate tapestries and elegant furnishings, emanated an air of tranquility and authority. Sunlight filtered through the tall arched windows, casting a warm glow upon the opulent surroundings. The Empress's exquisite taste and sophistication were evident in the room.
With grace, Knight Milvana walked towards the Empress's four-poster bed, its crimson silk sheets perfectly smoothed and intricately embroidered with delicate golden threads.
Slowly, Knight Milvana laid Princess Rossaria on the bed, ensuring her comfort and ease. The red velvet curtain was adorned with golden threads. The curtain slides slowly open with a light tug, concealing the laid Rossaria behind it.
The Empress approached the bed and opened the curtain, she gently touched caressing then she removed Rossaria's veil with care. Her eyes flickered with sorrow and tears started falling from her eyes.
"Y-Your majesty our daughter she is." the Empress couldn't finish her words due to sobbing.
The Emperor moved forward and grasped when he saw Rossaria's face.
Lady Seraphina, a renowned healer and herbalist with vast knowledge, was summoned by the Emperor as his trusted advisor.
As Lady Seraphina entered the chamber, her eyes widened in surprise as she glared at the unconscious sleeping Princess Rossaria. She examined the princess with steady hands and perceptive eyes, first checking her temperature and then her pulse, looking for any indication of what might have caused her abrupt collapse. The room held its collective breath, awaiting his diagnosis.
Subsequently, Lady Seraphina's gaze settled on the veil concealed behind Rossaria's hand. She examined the veil with great care and turned to face the empress, her voice full of inquisitiveness.
"Your Majesty," Lady Seraphina began, her tone respectful yet curious, "who is the servant responsible for attending to Princess Rossaria?"
Empress Keira paused for a moment, considering Lady Seraphina's question. Her gaze shifted towards sleeping Rossaria, Finally, the empress spoke, her voice graced with regality.
"Lady Seraphina, I must confess that Rossaria does not have a servant assigned solely to her," Empress Keira explained. "We only discovered her four days ago, and every Royal member is required by our court rules and customs to select their own servants. However, my daughter woke up today, so I temporarily allowed a few of my servants to look after my daughter."
Lady Seraphina studied Rossaria's pulse, then said "Your majesty can you summon them here for interrogation."
Empress Keira smiled faintly and nodded in agreement. "Indeed, Lady Seraphina,"
After a while Lady Beatrice and Darla were summoned by Empress Keira to stand before Lady Seraphina, their faces filled with trepidation. The air in the room was heavy with anticipation as Lady Seraphina, known for her astute observations and keen intuition, prepared to unravel a lingering mystery.
Lady Seraphina said to Lady Beatrice and Darla, "Gentlewomen, I have noticed Princess Rossaria's discomfort." Her voice was full of concern. "Has anyone among you sprayed her with perfume?"
Lady Beatrice, her gaze fixed upon the ground, responded softly, "No, my lady. We haven't used any fragrances on Her Highness."
Darla, her eyes darting nervously, echoed the same sentiment, "Indeed, Lady Seraphina. We have refrained from using any scented products."
However, Lady Seraphina, a master of perception, sensed something amiss. Her brows furrowed, and a spark of suspicion lit up her eyes. She gently inquired, "Then has her Highness come into contact with any orchid flower fragrance recently?"
Darla's eyes expanded with realization as Lady Seraphina said those words. "T-Thats." Darla receives an intense glare from Lady Beatrice.
"Maids from Empress palace care to explain what is Lady Seraphina saying?" Furious, Emperor Callisto uttered those words.
Lady Beatrice's hesitant glare met with Empress Keira's clod sharp gaze, and she trembled in fear "Y-Your majesty the princess woke before we could be prepared attire so we used Tenth Princess Mirhama's attire for her and it seems like the Princess Mirhama used to like orchid flower fragrance and scent." With a quivering voice, Lady Beatrice spoke.
Lady Seraphina's features were washed with understanding. "Your Majesty", she said sympathetically, "Her Royal Highness is suffering from an allergic reaction to the orchid flower fragrance. I will get on writing a prescription right away."
Then Lady Seraphina turned and said to the Empress, "Your Majesty I implore you to be mindful of the scents you wear in Princess Rossaria's presence from now on. Her well-being should come first, for the time being, so let us ease her discomfort."
Empress Keira gave a nod in agreement to what Lady Seraphina had said, telling the maids to get pen and paper for her.
In that delicate moment, Lady Seraphina prescribed Rossaria and instructed the maids how to brew the medicine.
Then after the medicine was prepared Lady Seraphina fed Rossaria the medicine,
Rossaria groaned, her long eyelid fluttering, she grits her teeth, her face creased in pain. Lady Seraphina clutched her hand and said "N-no, Your Highness. Please attempt to reconcile the bitterness and refrain from gritting your teeth."
Gently, the empress helped Rossaria sit up, The courtiers watched, their jesting subsiding as they realized the gravity of the situation. The empress was known for her strict composure, but in moments of genuine concern, there was a raw vulnerability that emanated from her.
"Child how are you feeling," she asks in a firm yet compassionate tone. "Mother will punish those who do wrong to you, child." Tears start falling from Empress Keira's green eyes.
The courtiers whispered among themselves, exchanging glances of sympathy.
"Your Majesty," she cried out, her voice filled with anguish. "P-please don't cry Your Majesty," Rossaria holds the Empress.
The courtiers' panicked murmurs arose from them as they exchanged worried glances.
"No, child doesn't cry, or talk, Stay seated for now," Empress Keira said softly yet firmly, a touch of care in her tone. "Forgive your mother child, your mother won't be this ignorant from now on."
A flicker of sorrow passed across Rossaria's pained expression, her green eyes welling up with unshed tears.
Lady Seraphina rose from her chair and bowed toward the Emperor "Your Majesty I write and instructed the maids what their Highness further needs and it will be good for her Highness's health if she can rest alone without any disturbance" she said with grace.
The Emperor nodded his head and ordered everyone to vacate the room and left Rossaria alone.
Emperor Callisto holds Empress Keira with care and then takes her from Rossaria's side and leaves the room.
(***)