9. Exile

Twenty questions, we tell the truth

You've been stressed out lately? Yeah, me too?

Something gave you the nerve

To touch my hand

It's nice to have a friend

Regiana's pov

I woke up in a dark room with a little light emitting from the TV. On the TV the 'Crown' was playing. Martin was sitting next to me with a blanket around him. He was not paying attention to the show in front of him, he was in deep thought.

His eyes were red and had dark circles under them. His jet-black hair was messed up as if he had run his hand through it many times. I coughed a few times, trying to indirectly say that I need water. Martin's head snapped so fast in my direction that I felt pain in my neck. He hurriedly poured water into a glass and helped me drink it. It felt as if there was rain in a desert after a thousand years, giving relief to all the plants. I chugged the water greedily, trying to drink up every single drop in the glass.

After quenching my thirst, I looked around my surroundings. I had an IV hooked on my hand, my clothes were changed into a cotton nightdress. I looked around and I caught my reflection in the mirror, my red hair was like it was in a braid with a few locks out of place, my lips were chapped and my cheeks had a purple bruise. My forehead was wrapped in a cotton bandage. My arms had faint red marks from the rope.

Martin was suspiciously quiet, rather scared. (Do I look that bad?) "Spill the beans, Martin," I said trying to cheer him up. He stood up and I thought he was going to leave but instead he pulled me into a bear hug. I hugged him back and then patted him when his bear hug turned into a bone-crushing one. He looked at me with a big smile on his face. "Spill the beans? I will need to spill a sack of beans! You were in a coma for a week and everyone visits you from time to time. At night I stay with you and Amora and Mom change you into new clothes every day. King Louise & Queen Annabeth came to see you and they shed a lot of tears. Cayden and Nadia also came to see you. When the doctors reported that your situation is critical, Cayden got angry and he beat up Bates so bad that Dad had to stop him. Bates is now breathing the air of the jail and by the parliament's order will have to renounce his title and go into exile."

My heart dropped at Bates's punishment. Exile. A five-letter word, it has the power to destroy the future. Being away from your own family and staying on foreign soil is hard. I know how it feels. I tried to argue with Martin about the punishment asking him if he could request the parliament to cancel this and forgive his behavior. There was a loud rap on the door and Martin got up saying his time was over, he headed out.

The next person who came in surprised me. It was Cayden. It was not Prince Cayden, it was my friend Cayden. He was in his sweat pants with a copy of 'If I stay'. I looked away, trying to distract myself. Though Bates did the wrong thing, I felt bad for him, he didn't deserve exile. He is still young and had so much more to explore. I thought about the moment I saw guiltiness and sadness in his eyes as if he didn't want to this but rather he was forced.

Before I could ponder over this thought, I heard a loud sound and then saw Cayden's book had fallen on the floor. He was looking at me in surprise. "Should I call the – the doctor?" He stuttered. I shushed him and patted the spot next to me. He picked up his book and sat next to me but I could feel the slight hesitation so I pulled his arm close to me.

"How are you feeling?" He mumbled. "Like I have been hit with a truck" I admitted. "So, what are you doing here? Don't you have someone else to entertain?" I sarcastically said. "I didn't want to leave my friend alone again, I already lost you once. I felt so guilty that I didn't talk to you when I met you again or checked up on you when you didn't show up for lunch. I feel like I failed you." He confessed emotionally. I sighed and hugged him, trying to soak up all the sadness.

"I was on a journey. Learning life from new eyes. I know this may sound weird but while I was in a coma, I met my mum. She gave me a piece of advice and a warning, after hearing her I ponder about my future. The whole week I have been running behind Father trying to impress him, but he is not the end-all - it is the parliament's decision. I am the true heir of the crown but the people and parliament need to see that I am a capable queen. The question is how?" I explain. I told him the truth, after all, he was my friend.