The broken queen

29

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A few days later, Irisa was awake. Aaron did not visit her once, each time the door opened, she would look up in hope waiting for him but he never once showed up. She wondered if was still in Palace or if he had eloped with his lover.

Nancy did everything to take care of her. She refused to allow Irisa to move around even though Irisa had told her several times that she was fine, nobody believed her.

"I cannot continue to stay in bed Nancy, I need to work!" Irisa stated.

"You cannot my lady, the physician has asked you to rest and prepare for your labor," Nancy replied.

"I do not believe that the physician has asked me to stay in bed for one month?!" Irisa retorted.

"He did not, but it was left to me to make the decision, and I have decided you need to rest." Nancy shrugged.

"Nancy you are fussing over me too much, I do not wish to lie in here because I am with child."

"Nancy, you are my lady, not the other way around, why should I listen to you?" Irisa folded her arms like a child.

"My lady, do not act like a child, this is for your good, we do not want what happened the last time to happen again, you must rest," Nancy stated again.

"Nancy... please... I need to go..." Nancy shook her head and rolled her eyes. "Now rest, I will visit you again soon."

****
Irisa stopped and blinked, Nancy narrowed her eyes. Irisa was standing in front of the garden, staring at her. She should be in bed but she was standing in the garden watching Nyx and the other lady-in-waiting. They were talking loudly, playing games, and laughing.

"Irisa, why are you here? You should be resting!" Nancy said from behind her.

Irisa did not care if she was caught. She had originally visited the Palace garden to enjoy the scenery and get some fresh air and peace of mind. Instead, she found out that her lady-in-waiting had been invited to the palace, and now they were having fun with Nyx.

She had not seen the ladies in a long time because she had been busy, ruling the country. She could not believe they would accept such inivation, it was a betrayal to her and humiliation.

"Announce me," Irisa commanded at a guard, who nodded quickly.

"Announcing the arrival of the Empress of Kaley! Empress Irisa!" the guard yelled.

The lady-in-waiting all turned, their eyes widened, as they realized who had just shown up. Consort Nyx was also rooted in her spot, a cold drink in hand, staring at the Empress, as she approached them.

"How rude! Are you not going to the Empress?" Nancy snapped, bringing them out of their reverie.

They all sank to their knees quickly, realizing the trouble they were in. Nobody needed to tell them Irisa did not like Nyx, she was pregnant and a direct threat to her and her rule, anyone would want then gond and the fact that Nyx was not dead yet was shocking.

The ladies-in-waiting did not particularly like Nyx, they were just curious to know who had taken Aaron away from Irisa. Irisa was always smugged, she believed that she had so much power and she was untouchable but now there was competition, they had to know who it was.

"We pay respect to Empress Irisa." they all greeted, while kneeling and bosing their head.

"Consort Nyx pays respect to your Excellncy." Nyx greeted slightly bending and bowing her head.

Irisa tilted her head. Nyx's bump was showing slokwy, she wondered how fast Aaron must have gotten her pregnant, she hated feeling that way, she hated that her childhood bestfriend that she had thought died of the plague was pregnant with her husband's child.