Their Princess

Chapter 17

I was more needy in the morning, so we got home later than we planned. But the brothers didn't leave any stone unturned to fulfill my wishes. I knew I was getting greedy, but I didn't care. I just embraced their love and affection. 

Why deny something you want? Or worse, feel guilty about it?

Before leaving for home, we went to the event that Tod told me about. I asked the brothers how they got the tickets, and they just told me not to worry about it. 

It was an art event. And if you know me you should know how much I love art. Alerix bought me so many art supplies like paints, canvas, sparkles, glitters, brushes, etc. I'm so excited to paint something for him.

Back at home, everything returned to normal. Like we never went on that trip. Or nothing happened in the pool. But the word "normal" isn't applicable in my life. 

My dress skirt goes up each time I step forward. When I wore this white floral dress in the morning, everyone looked at me in awe and adoration. Rey went as far as calling me his little fairy. I was so glad that I went with this material and style. It made me feel feminine and naughty, which is my thing.

Tears are flowing freely from my eyes. Pain has become so unbearable now that I've got to grit my teeth hard to stay conscious. I can't do this. I run toward the building that adjoins the castle where I know Eli and Zed are holding a meeting. I tried not to disturb them. I even went as far as to hold my pain for 3 hours, locked in my room. But now I can't.

Nera and other helpers were busy tending to the brothers' meeting requirements, so she did not go suspicious. Also, I told her that I was taking a nap, so no one checked on me.

I heard that a lot of the brothers' employees have come here. Normally, they don't hold meetings at home, but things seemed urgent today. Neri told me that the extra building beside the castle was for these emergency meetings only. This way, brothers can work near home without leaving home.

But I was one step away from ruining their urgent meeting. I enter the home office building and see helpers coming out of two big double doors. They stop at their tracks, probably looking at my disheveled state.

I pay them no mind and push my shoulder against the heavy door to open. The room is filled with approximately twenty people, sitting around an oval shaped table. Eli is on the front, facing a man on his right who is reading for the group. It takes him a second to realize that I'm at the door.

“ Eli…” I sniffle and run toward him, my arms open.

He frowns and rushes toward me, picking me in his arms. 

I cry harder in his arms. I know the whole room is watching us but I can't help it. The pain is too much. “ Baby, what happened? Why are you crying? Are you hurt somewhere?” He touches my body for injury. 

“ Eli, It….hurttsss.” At this, he freezes.

“ Hurt? Where are you hurting, baby? Tell me.” He demands. Zed rushes toward us with a glass of water.

“ Here, drink this.” Zed says. The moment water goes in my mouth, I'm throwing up. “ Sh*t.” 

I was already in pain, and now I'm heaving up. Just great. Eli rubs my back and holds my forehead while I throw up. When I'm done, I put my head on his shoulder.

“ Shh…it's okay. You're fine.” I notice that my tears are still running, but the pain has subsided slightly. Eli picks me up and takes me to another room where he washes me. 

When we are done, he brings me to the castle in hurried steps. I see some helpers watching me from the corner with worried eyes. He sits on the couch with me on his lap.

“ Sir, is everything alright?” Neri asks worriedly. 

“ Where are you hurting, baby?” Eli asks.

“ My ear and head. It hurts so bad. I…” Eli frowns and starts to check it. But the moment his fingers go near my ear, I'm screaming in pain, bile rose in my throat, and I'm throwing all over him and the couch. 

“ Oh my.” Neri exclaims. I cry harder seeing the mess I've created. 

“ It's okay. Calm down. Zed, call that healer now.” Zed does as Eli says. He is hugging me to his chest and rubbing his hands on my back soothingly. 

Neri comes forward with a cloth and starts to clean me. Tears fill my eyes at her motherly gesture. I want to hug her, but then I look down at my state. Guess it has to wait.

“ She is on her way. Give her to me, Eli. Go wash yourself first.” Zed says. 

“ Will you be fine, baby? I will be back in five minutes. Okay?” I nod at him in daze. He pecks my head lightly and passes me to Zed.

—----------------------------------------------------

Rey is swaying my body with his, left and right, while Eli is talking with Alerix on his tab. He is mad that we didn't inform him about my state. But the truth was we got distracted. 

The healer gave me some painkillers and asked if I had had any brain injury in the past. When I denied it, she asked a few more questions and left. She didn't understand what was happening to me, but I think Alerix knows something that we don't.

“ Let me talk to her first. Move the screen toward her, Eli.” Alerix says. 

“ Just keep your voice down. Her head is still hurting.” Eli informs and moves toward me.

I open my eyes to Alerix’s soothing voice “ Hey baby. How are you now?” His voice somehow reduces my pain.

“ Hurt.” My head and ear hurts when I speak, so I keep my answers short.

“ My pretty girl. You're so strong. I will make everything alright. Okay? Now tell me which ear is hurting my baby?”

“ Right.” I mumble, my voice low. Alerix sighs heavily. 

“ Alerix, do you know the reason why? Tell us now.” Eli asks, frustrated.

“ Yes, I think I know. It's her translation chip. We need to call Uncle Harlin. He put it in her ear.” Hearing that stupid scientist's name, I'm starting to have another headache. Why can't this man do one thing, right? 

He teleported you. Yeah, except that.

I still remember when I teleported here, scared out of my mind, and didn't understand what was happening. But this scientist had the audacity to suggest experimenting on me. Thanks to my stars that day, the brothers were there. They were skeptical of me in the beginning and even hesitated when Alerix said he was taking me home.

I didn't know what they were saying that time, but after getting a translation chip, I got the gist of their conversation later. I never asked him why he helped me when even Eli was against me.

I don't want to go there but with the speed the car is moving I'm sure we will get there sooner than later. I look at Rey, who is still holding me in his arms in the back seat while Eli is in front with Mr. Nol. Zed was left behind to handle business meetings and some other work. 

“ Rey Rey, I don't want to go there.” I finally told him. 

His chest moves heavily as he sighs. “ I don't like that place either, baby. But we've got to go there. As soon as you're good we will leave that place. Okay?”

I give a single nod. I think it's best to get there faster and solve this because my pain medicine has started to  wear off. 

I want to go home.