Dragon Kings Book 2: The Shining King| J.H. FF ✓

Anxiety

The next morning was quiet, I awoke in bed next to Pearl. Sitting up I noticed Jungkook had moved from his sleeping spot. I sighed and slipped out of the bed, making sure to be quiet so I wouldn't wake Pearl. I carefully opened the door only to be greeted by a Guard and Pearl's handmaids. They bowed to me and I lowered my head to them briefly before making my way past them and out into the hall. I walked briskly back to my room with Hoseok so I could put on some clothes. Once I arrive my handmaids were already there and had a dress picked out for me. I bathed and they helped me dress, do my hair, and put the temporary crown I'd been given on my head. Hoseok had a crown custom made for me but it wasn't ready yet so I had been given a simple Golden circlet crown for now. It was simple but cute.

I sat in the dinning hall alone while eating my breakfast. The only people I saw were a few palace attendants and kitchen attendants. Some were cleaning, and two kitchen attendants were making sure I had what I needed. It was strangely quiet, despite how many people were in the palace still it didn't feel quite as warm or alive. Or maybe I was just missing Hoseok.
Pearl had been busy resting after breakfast, though I did join her for a walk in the garden after lunch later in the day.

"Everything is just so... connected." She said softly as he held out her hand, moving it in a circle as she seemed to be feeling something. "You'll be overwhelmed by it at first, it's an intense feeling to have. Though, don't take my words to heart too much. I'm a different kind of Dragon, a full Dragon. Not just a maiden as the books say." Pearl spent a lot of time in the library reading up on past rulers and the people of this world in general. Typical, I thought. She cares deeply about everything and everyone she comes in contact with, so her taking the time to learn all she can was very... well, Pearl.

"I've been feeling more strange than usual." I spoke up, really I thought I was just thinking in my own head.

"Oh? Pains?" Pearl asked.

"Oh, no no... Nothing like that. It's a lot of stuff."

"Care to share?" She giggled softly.

"I just... I feel like I'm not really here. Like I am, but I'm not. I can see those red tulips, I can feel the light breeze against my face, I can smell all the flowers, I can even hear the fountains but... I don't feel like I'm here." I tried to explain, but I wasn't sure what I said was coming out right... or out the way I wanted it too. I just felt... off and I didn't know how to get her to understand what I meant.

"Well... maybe it's part of the transition. I transitioned fast, so I don't know all the things you can feel. I wish I did though, maybe I could help you more." She spoke more seriously as we walked past the yellow flowers. Conversation continued and became lighter, we were reminiscing about our days at the club, the others- our other family. As we laughed and rounded the fountain on the east side of the large garden I suddenly dropped to my knees, my dress flailing out around me as I folded my arms over my waist. The crippling pain ran through me quickly, but not quickly enough. I had lost my breath in that second and all I could hear was Pearl's gasp. I let my head lower slowly to the stone path beneath our feet. Soon it was gone, but my legs wouldn't move out from under me.

"I... I can't.." I breathed out, feeling like my chest had something heavy laying on it. Something new was taking over now as I coughed and sucked in deep breaths of air.

"Guards!" I heard Pearl calling but her voice was muffled, like she was speaking with something over her head. Within moments I felt two sets of hands lift me and carry me. I tried to see where we were going but I was struggling to find my breath.

"What happened?" Tae's voice came as muffled as Pearl's as I lost the battle to keep my eyes open.

"She's having an anxiety attack. She seemed in pain." Pearl's muffled voice strained in my ears. Soon I was being placed on a bed.