Chapter 12 - Strange Royal Gestures

When next she opened her eyes she was greeted by Raquel's teary face.

"My Lady." Raquel fell on her feet by her bedside. "You made me so--so--" more tears. "So worried!" She finally blurted out.

Belladonna blinked, just trying to catch up with the world after returning from the land of sleep. Then she remembered, her eyes widened as the memories flooded in.

She jumped with a start, looking around like a frightened deer, her head ringing from how swiftly she had moved.

"I slept!" She exclaimed like it was the strangest thing that had ever happened to her. Her stomach growled at that moment and she fisted her hand against it, leaning forward slightly. "I'm hungry too! Arrgh, I'm so hungry."

Raquel's eyes lit up, she rushed up on her feet, stretching her hand to drag the trolley of food she had come in with. The wonderful aroma seeped into Belladonna's nostrils and it took everything in her to be patient for Raquel to hand her the plate instead of yanking it right out of her hand.

"I knew you would be, you have been--"

Whatever Raquel said after that, she didn't hear it. She gobbled the food like a famished animal, gulping down a goblet of water while stuffing her mouth with even more food at intervals, almost choking on it.

"Easy, my Lady. You might choke" Raquel giggled, that was certainly the first time Belladonna had heard her laugh without any trace of fear in her eyes or her voice.

With her stuffed mouth, Belladonna smiled widely at her. Raquel immediately looked away, horrified before bursting into laughter.

"My Lady!"

Belladonna giggled, her attention back on her food, not breaking again till was absolutely down with it. She made an attempt to stand up and Raquel stopped her immediately.

"Where to, my Lady?"

"To drop the plate." She smiled in gratitude.

Raquel shook her head, taking the empty plate from her.

"I am here to do that for you and render many other services." She dropped the plate in the trolley that was some distance away from the right side of the bed.

Raquel's voice suddenly became low and the carefree nature she had a while ago had now long evaporated.

An heavy sigh escaped her lips as she was lost in thought, mumbling underneath her breath with other inaudible words, "...only delayed.... it will still happen... Just like before...."

"What happened before?"

"W-what-t? Shall I serve you another portion, my Lady?"

She shook her head.

"You were saying something about something happening before and that it will happen again."

"I-I wasn't--"

The door pushed open at that moment and Colin walked in, Raquel immediately pushed the trolley to a corner, her back hunched like as if she wanted to hide away forever.

"Alive." He started, his face calm and observant as usual. "Good evening, my Lady."

"Good evening?!" She jumped to her feet and rushed around, almost slamming her heard against the wall.

"Where did the bathroom go to... Wait! This is not my room!"

She had remembered everything ealier, but somehow her hunger had made her forget.

"You are in the King's Chambers, my Lady."

"The King's--!" her voice trailed off as she quickly looked down at her gown. "By Ignas."

"I brought you some dresses, my Lady." Raquel said coming over to her with dresses on her arm, "which one would you like to wear?"

But Belladonna was far too bothered by other important things to concern

herself with a dress.

She leaned against the wall, still gasping for breath with her hand pressed upon her forehead to stop the sudden headache that had seized her.

"I am the bride... His bride. I was crowned!"

"Will you be alright with the purple, my Lady?" Raquel asked, laying the gown one by one on the bed.

"No blacks." Colin stated from where he was standing some distance in front of the door.

"Certainly, Colin."

"What will happen to me now?! A marriage?!" She asked looking at both of them. Raquel's lips trembled slightly, while Colin folded his hands behind him.

Even she knew that it definitely wasn't marriage.

"You will know in a year, my Lady." Colin finally broke the tensed silence.

"Why don't you tell me now?"

"Only the King truly knows." Colin stated in a finalized tone before looking away and standing up straight.

She looked at Raquel who almost tripped the bed while avoiding her gaze.

Did she know something?

"The King has requested for your presence."

"The King! What dress? By Ignas, what color shall it be, my Lady? Colin, why didn't you speak earlier?"

"He ordered that I allowed her Ladyship to be fully refreshed and fed before she makes an appearance."

Belladonna furrowed her eyebrows at what those words implied.

Care?

Her gaze slowly moved to the dressing table and the small ceramic tray that now had only a small amount of ash left in it.

Then it clicked.

The incense had made her sleep.

Dread crossed through her veins.

What had he done to her while she had slept?

She started searching for a bathroom, pressing down the doorknobs of the numerous doors by the right.

Looked.

Locked.

Locked.

Locked.

Locked!

Why were there so many useless doors?!

Then click.

A bathroom, at long last!

She hurried in, slamming the door behind her while she pulled her gown up to check herself.

Her eyebrows shot up in confusion, the hem of her gown still in her hands.

He had done nothing except put bandages on her cuts.

When she peeled the bandages off, she noticed that the cuts had also been treated all while she had been asleep.

There was a knock at the door at that moment and Raquel poked her head through the door.

"Colin said, that the King said, that I should help you treat your wounds when you are done."

She looked around, bewildered.

What was going on?

Why was the King being suddenly nice to her after asking for her to be thrown out from the dinning room. Why did he make her his bride? Why was he doing all these?

Was this a trap?