The Royal Spare (COMPLETED)

21-Of Tears And Facades

The doctor said that I was fine. Aside from the sniffles and random coughing, my fever was gone and I shouldn't be getting anymore headaches but I felt like I was going to have a migraine from the memory of what happened and I could barely breathe from my fear and anxiety.

"Are you sure you're feeling well enough to join the banquet, Your Highness?" Cora asked as she poured a cup of tea for me. She stayed in my room all day, so did Lady Marian who even read some of my favorite poems to keep me calm.

Sir Eduardo and the chamber maids who fussed over me all morning, making my bed, adding more pillows on the couch by the window where I was to sit to get some sun, giving me foot rubs, serving breakfast and then tea and then more pastries and soup, asking every five minutes if I needed something, were called downstairs to help in the preparations for the banquet.

I wondered if it would be easier for me to forget what the dauphin did if everyone did not fret about me so much and if my room was not more guarded than the Royal Treasury. Although, I have to admit that their concern was touching and being surrounded by them was comforting.

"I wouldn't miss to honor my hero this evening, Cora." I answered, as I calmly sipped tea. "Who knows what could have happened to me if..." I stopped as my eyes caught my bed and my mind drifted to a horrific place. Suddenly, I wasn't so calm anymore. My hands shook, my lips quivered, my heart raced in my chest and tears brimmed my eyes as the memory of the dauphin's weight pinning me down, his hand tightly gripping my wrists and muffling me with his hot breath on my neck as I fought him off came back to me. I tried so hard to fight him off. But I couldn't. I was too weak. I...

"Your Highness!" Cora gasped and rushed to my side. I didn't realize I was crying until she started wiping my tears with her handkerchief.

"Oh, you poor child. You're shaking." Lady Marian said as she wrapped me in a maternal embrace. She was the closest thing I have to a mother since my Mama passed away.

"My darling, you are traumatized. You're certainly not well enough to join the banquet tonight." Lady Marian told me as she gently stroked my back.

"No!" I answered between my sobs as I looked at her. "I won't fail Aidan. I owe him that much."

Lady Marian looked stunned. I never talked back to her.

"I'm sorry." I sighed. "I... I can't stay in this room." I said and immediately got up then ran to my mother's bedroom.

I locked the doors and buried myself under the covers. They still smelled like my mother. Her perfume was sprayed on the bed and the pillows every morning. I still felt her there, comforting me like she did when I was little and I lay on her lap as she combed her fingers through my hair until I fell asleep.

***

An owl hooting in a tree beside the window woke me up. Feeling slightly better and refreshed, I ran to the huge glass window to watch it just in time to catch the red, purple, pink and orange hues of the sunset paint the sky.

I closed my eyes and took a deep determined breath as I made a decision to fight the fear inside me and live my life full of happiness. Who knows how and if that decision works out but I was sure that I won't let the rotter Prince Alphonse steal my joy.

***

"Maiena!" My father immediately rose from his seat when I entered the Royal Dining Hall. Everyone else that was present did the same.

I smiled timidly, hoping the simple black Versace cut-out velvet gown that I chose at the last minute was befitting to the occasion. In some way, I felt like a wallflower who didn't belong in that room full of brave, confident and spirited men and women. My heart just wasn't where it used to be and my spirit was conflicted.

A part of me said, "Fake it til you make it, Maiena. Just be here and celebrate with them. You did just get saved from being raped by the man you are honoring tonight."

While the other side of me said, "You're an idiot! You can't just fake it. They'll see right through you. You are a coward and a weakling so just go run back to Mommy's room and cry."

To be honest, I wanted to do that instead but I had to be there. For Aidan.

I took a deep breath and smiled wider. "Please. There's no need to rise. Go on and enjoy your meal." I told them. I walked straight to my father as everyone else resumed eating.

The King was seated at the end of the long table with my brother Nikolai to his right. To his left, which was my usual place, was Aidan.

My heart suddenly beat faster when I saw him. He looked so handsome in his gray suit. It was also the first time that I was seeing my saviour since the incident.

My father received me with a tight hug and so did my brother who immediately pried, "Are you sure about joining us tonight, Tesorita?"

"Yes. I should be here to personally thank my Knight in shining armor." I answered as I turned my gaze to Aidan who looked down on his plate.

Why is he acting so odd? Just last night, he was a vicious lion beating the life out of the dauphin and yet there he was looking like a harmless sheep.

"Of course." My brother replied. "Have a seat beside Aidan and eat. You look half your normal weight already." He exaggerated as usual.

The Crown Prince escorted me to the empty seat beside Aidan while the latter pulled the chair for me. My brother planted a kiss on my temple before going back to his seat while Aidan waited for me to sit down. I thanked him quietly after.

He bowed and replied formally, "My pleasure, Your Highness."

He then returned to his chair and wordlessly continued with his meal. My heart sunk when he didn't turn to look at me again.

Ignoring the food in front of me, I grabbed the wine glass and drank from it. It was going to be a long night.

***

A/N:

I know what you're thinking. Poor Princess Maiena. Will she ever heal from the trauma? And what is up with Aidan? Why is he acting so weird?

I guess we'll find out soon enough. ☺

Here's the prompt for this chapter.

Thank you for reading.

xoxo,
Deng ❤