A tragedy of one is a fortune of another

Is it because she was too full?

Alyssa tossed and turned on her bed. 

She already tried all the relaxing techniques she knew. Breathing in and out, counting…zombies…okay maybe that was a bad one, maybe that was the reason why she can't fall asleep. Instead of being able to loosen up, she became more tense. 

She stood up and walked towards the door, she gripped on the knob, hesitating if she should go outside for some fresh air--- but she thought better of it, the outside smells like chemical anyway. She let go of the knob.

But the thought that she could go outside anytime she wants made her feel better--- no curfew to stop her anymore.

Her mother, the queen herself, assured her when they were confined in the throne room. 'From now on, the palace is yours at night too, my love.' her mother implying that the amendment was already finalized. 'You're part of us now.'

Finally, she's on slowly becoming a true royal. Only the ceremony is left, and she would be the rightful princess of this kingdom--- nobody could tell her otherwise anymore. 

But at the back of her mind, there is a nagging voice, a small whisper that keeps on repeating in her mind. 

'We're trying to rescue you' It was Maya's voice.

'…prove me wrong.' it echoed.

Doubt. The words that made Alyssa question her own mother, her mother who had always been with her was tarnished by two strangers from the slumps. 

'No.' Alyssa went lying back on her bed and stared at the empty ceiling.

It was not doubt that the two implanted into her it was--- curiosity. 

There were just too much she doesn't know.

Yes, feeding her curiosity is the right answer. And with that she has to begin with the cure itself--- the water of the gods. It has a reason why it was called that, because it was a gift from the gods, but how could such a promising gift cause such chaos, death and… infection?

Anyone would want those precious to them to live forever. It's was an understandable desire, a reasonable wish that could be granted. But how could the good intention of Duchess Zenalda turned into a purge?

Duchess Zenalda's intention might not have been wrong, but her actions were. Illegally obtaining the water of the gods is a crime. Well, Alyssa's not the one to point a finger at others, she's got a few violations in her name as well. But even she had to admit that it was treason. But had the water of the gods worked, her pets would have been alive and healthy…and nothing of these mess would have happened. Why did it cause an infection when it was the cure itself?

Alyssa was confused. From the most practical to the most imaginative answer, she already thought about it. Not sure where to begin, she decided to stick with her original plan before the infection happened.

Alyssa was sure about one fact, Duchess Zenalda bought the water of the gods from the attendants, and the attendant…

'What was her name again?' Alyssa was trying to remember the name Maya gave to her. 'Yes…Lily.'

Maybe Alyssa could begin with that, she needs to talk with this Lily, and maybe Duchess Zenalda too.

She took note to ask Maya to summon this Lily.

Alyssa yawned. Finally, using her brain made her sleepy. 

But what if talking to them proved nothing? Revealed nothing?

Then maybe she could go to her mother and ask everything she's curious about. Now that she's part of the royal, surely her mother would tell her everything this time.

'Will she?' Maybe her Queen mother won't lie to her, but the Queen may still keep some secrets from her. Alyssa would have to handle this on her own for now. 

Then maybe she could prove them wrong--- Maya and Eli--- and let them eat their own words. Cursing the royal's name in front of Alyssa, they should have been thankful she allowed them to live--- for now.

Alyssa settled lying in her side, she closed her eyes.

She fell asleep, no dreams, no nightmares just...nothingness. 

***

Talks of dissatisfaction erupted at the mess patio.

"No food."

"…taking too long."

"…no staff in the kitchen."

"…only one day-chef survived…"

The royals already had enough of waiting. It was their first brunch since the incident. They gathered at the mess patio with a light heart, craving of the meal they missed. 

On the other hand, Alyssa did not mind waiting. She was still not hungry thanks to the feast she had last night. 

Alyssa brightened up when she saw Barny rushing towards their table. 

"Chief Barn." Alyssa teased. "Barny." She leaned in the table. 

"Princess," Barny bowed courtly towards her then whispered something to the Queen.

Her smile faded seeing that she was ignored, she sighted. She was happy seeing that Barny was okay. But it made her sulk seeing that her former attendant did not care about her well being as much anymore. 

'Barny's a Chief now.' Alyssa had to remind herself. 'No time for you anymore.' 

Indeed, the higher the position the stressful it would be. Maybe it would have been better had the old man remained as her personal attendant. Taking care of one royal is hard enough, how much more taking care of the whole palace with all the royals in it.

She wanted to visit Barny, she has a lot of things to update him on her life. But maybe this was just not the right time.

Her mother's eyes brightened up from whatever Barny told her.

Barny scurried away and did not bid goodbye to the princess.

Queen Kathy stood up from her seat. "Everyone," she clapped three times to get the attention of the room.

Everybody immediately stayed silent except--- someone was laughing from the other table. Duke Cliff was laughing out loud. Kiva was at his side, pleading her father to stop, she glanced to Queen Kathy and Alyssa apologetically. 

"I'm sorry my Queen," Duke Cliff said between his laughs. "My daughter and son are just too adorable." Duke Cliff patted his son on the shoulder. Ziloh stared straight, wearing a blank face. "I..I…" he wheezed in laughter, the whole room was waiting for him to calm down.

Queen Kathy glared at him.

Duke Cliff swallowed hard. "My Queen," he covered his mouth with his hand, and opened his other palm towards the queen, signaling her to proceed to what she's about to say.

"I know all of you are…famished." Queen Kathy regarded the room full of royals. "The kitchen prepared a feast for us, as a job well done in going through the little trouble we had here in the palace. All of you worked hard for being patient but waiting is no more…" Queen Kathy clapped two times. "Today, eat till your heart's content..."

The crowd whispered in awe as Chef Will and Maya pushed a long table in front. The table was filled with buffet platters a royal would salivate for. Air, land, and water animal brains were displayed on the table--- it was filled of purely brain meats. 

All the royals stood up and piled in line to have their turn. All the royals except for the two, Ziloh and Alyssa remained in their seat.

If Alyssa were just to be honest with herself, what the buffet table had was piled with so much variety of brain meat that it was the most unappetizing thing she had ever seen.

Chef Will and Maya pushed another table on the side--- identical to the one earlier.

Alyssa did not even need to stand up and look up close at the table to know there's nothing in there she could eat.

But she was not forgotten.

Maya placed two plates in front of her. One plate for a pesto pasta, and the other for the creamy leek and mushroom pie.

When Maya was about to turn and leave, Alyssa grabbed her by the wrist. "See me after this." She ordered.

Maya gave a curt nod and scurried away.

Chef Will gave two plates, same as hers to Ziloh. Ziloh took a bite of each plate and did not touch it ever again. Alyssa felt bad, there were many times like this where she could not even count, but she knew Ziloh had it worse than her. That somehow, Alyssa was not the outcast---- Ziloh was.

The foods served were supposed to be too much for the royals to finish, but they managed to clear up everything. Everybody was satisfied, even Alyssa was satisfied--- well, except for Ziloh.

"Let us all give a hand to our new Head of the day-kitchen, Chef Will, for providing us such good food despite of the circumstances."

Everybody clapped--- except for Ziloh--- as Chef Will shyly stood up in front. 

Alyssa scoffed just as the same time Ziloh did. They looked at each other from eye to eye. And somehow, they knew they were thingking the same thing.

There was only one way to get promoted to the highest position quickly, you just need to hope for one thing to happen--- for all of your colleagues to get killed.

But of course, none of the other royals was thingking this way. As long as they are well fed, they don't care about simple details such as those.

"A tragedy of one is a fortune of another." Alyssa said to herself.

Alyssa do hope though that may it always be the latter for her.