For Kingdom's Sake

Chapter Three: Unwanted (Part 2)

I woke up throughout the night in cold sweats from the pain. The first time I noticed that I had a damp cloth on my head and there was a bowl of water next to me on my side table. Next to the bowl was a plate of basic food and a cup of water. All my insides felt like they were twisting and turning as I burned from the inside out, so eating seemed out of the question. I wasn't particularly thirsty either, but based on how wet my bed and clothes seemed from my sweat, I decided I should drink some of the water so I didn't wake with a headache from dehydration along with the rest of the pain.

The moment the water touched my lips, I realised just how parched I was. I immediately downed the whole cup. I knew I should get up and get more, but I was in too much pain. I quickly fell asleep again, waking many more times throughout the night, but each times nothing had changed. The pain would keep me awake until the exhaustion won out.

When the morning finally came, the sun's rays beginning to peer beyond the horizon through my window, though the sun itself would still take some time to show, I knew I needed to rise. I had work to do, and if I did not show up, people would grow suspicious. I could also put my position in jeopardy. I had been very lucky to start where I had, I did not wish to risk losing it so soon.

Once I had winced and groaned my way out of bed, I began to change. I could see a deep purple-black bruise spread out over my abdomen, and that looked like a layer of black oil under the skin of chest, lightening where the fatty tissue of my breasts hid it, but very evident travelling up towards my collarbone.

I stripped off and used the cloth and bowl of water to quickly wipe all the sweat off me. The area around the bruising was incredibly tender, but luckily the actual movement of cleaning myself did not bother my injuries as long as I didn't lean forwards, curling in on it.

After changing into my corset, underwear, and uniform I reassessed. Thankfully, my uniform covered enough that if anyone did see the edge of the bruise poking through, they would hopefully assume it was dirt. The corset ended up putting pressure on the bruising which I couldn't decide whether it was helpful or more painful.

I headed out to start my duties. I needed to have the hall cleaned before anyone woke. Luckily, thanks to the ball the previous night, most people would likely wake up late, so I could take a little extra time to complete my tasks if I needed to. The main problem would likely be the trips to the courtyard. Between my restless sleep and my body's general exhaustion from the pain, I was unsure how I would deal with that.

By the time I have finished cleaning the hall, I have started hearing movement inside the rooms. I go and fetch breakfast for Lady Phillipa before returning.

"It is simply too early!" Lady Phillipa complained, making me smile.

"Well, my lady, if you wish to return to your slumber I can remove your breakfast and return later so you may rest?"

Immediately, Lady Phillipa sat up in her bed where she had already been lying awake when I entered.

"No, I suppose it would not do to stay in bed any longer." She jumped out of her bed and practically skipped down to her sitting chair and side table where I had set up her scones with fresh cream, rose jam, and honey. She always had a healthy appetite and I knew the rose jam had been her favourite thing since arriving.

Once Lady Phillipa was ready, we went over her planned attire for the evening. Everyone would be in attendance for the announcement of the King's chosen mate.The thought made my chest throb painfully.

Why am I not good enough for him? The goddess made us for each other, why would he forsake that?

I did my best to hide my turmoil and pain. Either I did so very well, or Lady Phillipa was simply too distracted to notice.

"Oh, you should have seen him!" Lady Phillipa exclaimed with awe, recounting a boy she had met the night prior. "He was so dashing! He asked me to dance and even kissed my hand after. He walked me back to my quarters after, but never did anything disrespectful- why did you leave anyway? Someone said you were unwell and the girl who replaced you was not nearly as nice as you are."

My face turned red.

"My apologies, my lady," I curtsied my respect. "I unfortunately became rather unwell and ... collapsed on my way to dinner. I had not intended to leave you for the night."

"You seem fine now, are you okay?"

"I have luckily been able to return to my duties without issue."

Lady Phillipa raised an eyebrow, but quickly went back to raving about her suitor. They were planning to meet again at the ceremony that night. Lady Phillipa was convinced that they were mates and would find out when they were old enough. It wasn't unheard of to at least partially recognise your mate prior to coming of age, but it was uncommon. With Lady Phillipa's romantic obsessions it also seemed rather likely that it was all in her head. But telling her that now would likely only upset her and change nothing else, even if I had been in a position to comment. So I kept my mouth shut.

"I am going to take a walk around the garden," Lady Phillipa told me after she had finished telling me all about her suitor. "I may run into him there. I wish to eat lunch in the garden today, please ensure it is brought at the correct time."

With that, Lady Phillipa gave a big grin before leaping for the door, collecting herself as she left the room. I smiled after her, pleased for the joy she was experiencing. But being alone meant there was little to distract me from the pain. My smiled quickly fell and I let out a sob as the pain that I had been pushing through for hours seemed to realise it could now get to me, hitting me like a fallen tree.

I need to keep working, I need to clean the room so I can rest when I am done, before lunch.

I sucked in a breath and hissed it out. I needed to clean the room. It was hard to concentrate through the pain, but I had to. I decided to start with something simple. I would run the dirty dishes to the kitchen, then return to begin making the bed. I would work out everything else after.

Moving the dishes back onto the tray I had brought them over on, I made an effort to continue breathing deeply. It helped the pain a little, though not much. I took the tray and quickly made my way out of the room, keen to finish so I could give my body some of the rest it needed. Just as I walked out, however, the pain was suddenly increased as I walked straight into someone passing by outside.

Immediately sparks danced on my skin where we came in contact, heat suddenly building in a much more pleasant way than the hot pain I had been experiencing, and the smell ... that delicious scent seemed to almost be healing my pain. I looked up and met the eyes of the King.

Shit.