Treachery, Royalty, and Annoying Girls

Chapter 3, Part 4

I woke up the next morning in my bed with my maids standing over me. "Go away," I told them. "But-" Amara started. There was a smug tone in her voice that she was trying to hide.

"I said go away. That means leave me alone." Riley stood in shock at my tone.

The twins left the room. "As you wish, My Lady." Amara said before shutting the grand doors of my bedroom. Riley came back in a few hours later. "The royal family is wondering if you will be in your room the next few days."

"Yes, I would like that very much," I said without emotion. Not even an hour later, food was brought to the side of my bed. I waved it away saying that I wasn't hungry. I stayed curled up in my bed under the covers. I cried on and off the entire day turning away the other meals that came in. This went on for four days. Four days, I didn't eat anything at all and stayed in bed. It was around 9 at night when I willingly talked to someone. Andrew came in looking upset. "I've gotten word from the maids that you haven't eaten anything for the past few days."

I shrugged and went back to sulking in my covers. "Callix, you have got to eat."

"How can I eat when one of my friends is..." I paused not wanting to say the word.

"Dead?" He asked. I broke down into shaky sobs.

"She's gone, Andrew. We can't bring her back." He started rubbing my arm and laid down beside me. "It's going to be okay."

"Why is everyone saying that? Nothing is going to be okay." He shook his head. He got up and left the room without saying anything and I felt an instant pang of guilt. I started crying even harder than before. My pillowcase was soaked along with my comforter. I continued to cry for about twenty minutes before I heard my door open again. "Please, j-just leave me a-alone," I said between shaky breaths. "Are you sure?" Andrew asked.

"Fine, c-come in." I didn't have any strength to fight. He placed a tray of food on my bed and sat next to me.

"Sit up." I did as he said. I felt lightheaded from laying in bed the entire day. He placed the tray between us and picked up a piece of bread, spread some butter on it, and put it in my hand. "Eat." I took a bite and chewed slowly. It was really good but I didn't want Andrew to know that.

I put the slice of bread back on the tray. "Thank you." Is the only thing he said to me before he took the tray and left.

I was up the entire night. I couldn't sleep no matter how hard I tried. My maids came back in to tell me that I needed to get ready for the funeral. I sighed as I dragged myself out of the bed. Amara drew a bath for me and Riley brought a black dress.

I let the girls bathe me and dress me. I wasn't paying enough attention to know who pinned my hair up or did the makeup on my face. I was preoccupied with thoughts that ran in and out of my head from a few nights before. One thought pained me the most.

I never said goodbye.