Livian Ponce
The nurse came back with haste and made me sit down again. I complied with her.
"Please, please. Stay with me a moment" I begged her, gripping her hand and looking in her soft eyes.
"Lady Viola, you will regain your memories and your body will heal. Please stay calm." She sat by my side and brushed my hair again.
"Miss, I don't know who I am, and who you are. Please, I am worried for my life." I started to cry but kept my voice under control as best as I could. I feel such profuse confusion and humiliation I had no idea what to do except cry.
"Do not cry Lady Viola. My name is Nurse Nevi. I work for the imperial family and all distinguished nobility of the palace. I was assigned specifically to you recently following your coma." She rubbed my back gently. She felt very motherly and I calmed down to a sniffle. She felt very kind and nice. I looked closer at her features, she was older than me but not old enough to be my mother. She had light brown hair with some wrinkles starting to form, probably from the stress of the palace. I leaned into her comfort as we sat on the grand bed.
"How long is my recovery expected to take?" I asked her softly. I think she picked up on my true concerns with recovery.
"It should be at least three weeks. You needn't worry, there is a law stating all nobility, including His Majesty, cannot ask workers or Mistress to perform their, duties, so to speak, until they are fully recovered when they become sick." She smiled gently at me and I felt quite a bit of relief as she spoke. I had three weeks to get better.
"You should do your best to regain your memories during this time, as it will be better to remember His Majesty to better prepare," She had an undertone of pity but covered it with her seriousness.
"Prepare?"
"Yes, to be a good Mistress to His Majesty, and also, to survive in the palace. It can be quite vicious." She continued to rub my back gently as she gave this news. It won't be long, I need to be ready, who knows what is to come?
"May I see, what was her name, Lady Livian Ponce?" I asked.
"Absolutely! It will be great for you to see her." She politely said goodbye before hurrying out of the room. I think she was excited for me to see someone, but also relieved to avoid the awkward conversation about what will be expected of me soon.
I took this chance to explore my room more. I was still slow, but I got up better and made my way around, clutching onto the wall. It was made of smooth, encrusted stone, but it was so cold against my hand. When I reached the window, I could see a beautiful garden just outside, with a heart-shaped fountain surrounded by swans with other nobility couples walking around sparsely. It must be a common area for love, how fitting for a Mistress chamber. The window, however beautiful, was covered with bars, as if to prevent anyone from entering, or leaving.
As I made my way over to the door, I saw it required a key to open, from the outside. I couldn't tell before, but I saw clearly there was no way to open the large wooden door without a key. This room while astonishingly beautiful was beginning to resemble more of a bird cage. There was an excited knock at the door as I stepped back.
I brushed myself off as I spoke, "Come in!". My voice is still rough as I speak.
As the door open, I saw a girl, younger than me, around 14 or 15 with light blonde hair off her shoulders with beautiful bright green eyes staring back at me. She was dressed in an elegant but simple green dress as she jumped forward quickly and gave me a tight hug.
"Lady Livian, please, Lady Viola has just woken up merely hours ago!" Nurse Nevi begged to no effect. I wrapped my arms around this girl, correcting my stance. Something about her makes me want to be more mature. She seems almost as a little sister to me.
"I am sorry, I just missed you so much Lady Viola! I am so happy you have woken up, is it true you have forgotten everything?" She asked nearly with tears in her eyes. She is so cute, I merely nodded.
"May I help you catch up?" She asked with such joy I smiled. I nodded for Nurse Nevi as she took her leave and we made our way over to the blue sofa in the seating area of the room. I was still slow but despite her energy little Livian was patient and caring enough to assist me. We were brought green tea by a maid as we sipped. I listened to her talk to me quietly about recent events in my life enjoying the company.
"Than, on the day of your ceremony to be the prized mistress of His Majesty, and his only Mistress, no one could find you! The ceremony went on, and afterward, we finally found you at the bottom of the staircase overlooking the landscape you love so much! I knew it, I told them to check there first when you were late but they said there was no way as it was too far and-" she was explaining with so much excitement. I could tell she knew me well but I was too shocked by what I was hearing.
"I had fallen down the stairs on the way to my own ceremony?" She nodded.
"It was awful, and we couldn't find you for hours. You were named Mistress despite not being present. You weren't too excited anyways, your family had sold you to that position because His Majesty had given up on trying to win your heart and buy his way to you being Mistress, so he went after your family," She continued. What a story I am being told. I took another sip of tea to coat my throat before continuing.
"Why did I not want to be with His Majesty?" I asked her.
She crutched down close to me and spoke to me in a whisper.
"Because of your lover, your heart was already won!" The shock smothered me with everything and I paused for a moment while little Livian was giggling softly with excitement.