A Queen's Redemption

Chapter 9- It's Started

Three months later…

*Serene’s POV*

I watched from my window as the Prince and his entourage landed back in the palace walls. It’s been three months. I sighed as I thought back to the last day I talked to him. Weirdly enough…I found myself missing him. I’d barely known the guy, it was strange.

I had woken up to Hazel sitting in the chair beside me, and she informed me that Prince Amir had taken off 2 hours prior. She looked pretty sad and forlorn and I remembered his request to me about keeping his sister company while he was away. I realised what he meant looking at her face and even though my mind told me to do it…I couldn’t turn down his request. We became good friends in the following weeks. At least…until I stopped showing up.

I looked up just in time to see Lillia come running into the room and jumped onto me.

“Hi Rene!” she said smiling ear to ear. It was amazing to see the transformation she made from when I brought her home months ago.

“Hey pretty girl. Had fun at school?” she nodded her head so quickly I thought she'd have whiplash. 

“Uhuh. We had a semi-free day today. We played games sang songs, and we even visited Jameson's memorial for a little while. We sang to him there too.” she said the last part quietly.

My smile fell a little at that.  

Jameson…

We were cut short by a loud knocking on the door. I heard muffled voices before mum came into the room.

“Qasim’s outside to see you dear.”

I took a deep breath, kissed Lillia on her forehead then went out. I plastered a fake smile on my face when I saw him, but one look told me he wasn’t happy.

“Glad to see you made it home safely.”

“Uhuh.” he was all he said while he kept staring at me. “You’re wanted at the Palace.”

“For what reason?” my face turned stoic. He raised an eyebrow.

“You are the Prince’s feeder are you not.”

“I’ve already donated enough blood to last him at least four more weeks. When it comes time for me to replenish those, the nurses that pay home visits have agreed to come here to draw it.”

He narrowed his eyes at my answer. “Why?”

I cocked my head in confusion.

“Why and when did you come up with that routine? Didn’t you have a perfectly good one not too long ago?”

I kept my poker face and steeled myself for what I was about to say.

“As you said, I’m the Prince’s feeder. My only obligation is to him, no one else. And the only obligation I have to him…is to donate my blood. Nothing more. And I don’t have to be at the Palace to do so. With that being the case I don’t have any reason to be going to the Palace.” The loud cry of a raven rang through the area and I felt my blood run cold.

I quickly stepped back and started to close my front door. “With that being said, I’m happy and glad you’ve all returned safe and well." I knew he heard the wavering in my voice as his eyes widened before they turned to slits. "Goodbye.” before I closed the door and leaned on it. I quickly placed my hand on my mouth to stop the sobs from escaping as tears ran down my face.

It hurts. It hurts so much.

“Rene..”

I looked up to see my mother and Lillia standing there with concerned and scared looks on their faces. Before they could ask anything I ran past them to my room and bolted the door closed before sliding down it and burying my face in my hands and hugging my knees to my chest.