Playlist: Darkside by Neoni

Soldier by Tommee Profitt featuring Fleurie. Enjoy reading!!!

The palace broke into a frenzy afterwards, with maids and guards rushing in and out of the king's chambers. With a terrified heart, Maya barked out orders but she still couldn't wait for the doctor to arrive before Dexter received treatment. Having had her own share of poisoning attempts, she knew how dangerous this things could be.

"What time is the doctor arriving?" She asked, as she paced around the room, her voice strained. By now the king was already in bed, shielded from sight.

" He should be here soon, Your Majesty." Rosa replied, equally worried. Maya glanced at Dexter who was already losing color. She can't wait till the doctor arrives. He might have been dead by then. Banishing the thought, she turned to Rosa, a frantic look in her eyes.

"Get me all of the herbs that are available in the palace, mortar and pestle, a pot and a jar of water. Hurry!"

She rushed back to his side, tears slipping out of her eyes. "Please, Dexter. Stay with me. You'll be fine and I would find whoever did this to you."

He coughed again and Maya felt her heart breaking into bits, gut wrenching pain searing through her. She bit back a sob, her lips trembling. She had good knowledge about herbs and after living in that hellhole of a palace for five years, even better knowledge of poisons and antidotes.

There has to be something she could do to neutralize the poison before the doctor arrives. Rosa arrived a while later with everything she had requested. After chasing all of the maids away, she looked through the herbs and recognizing a few, she threw them into a the pot and started to boil them with the fire Rosa had set.

She took a couple others and began grinding them together in the mortar. Her hands were trembling the entire time, but she pushed through with teary eyes. Once the contents in the pot began boiling, she poured it into a small bowl and squeezed the miry liquid she had gotten from grinding herbs together into the bowl. Gingerly carrying it, she rushed back to Dexter's side, placing the bowl to his lips.

"Here, take this. The doctor will check on you in a bit. But you have to drink this first." She began softly, urging him to take it.

He gently collected it from her and took multiple sips. She touched his forehead and saw it was burning hot but his body felt like he'd been dipped in ice. "Try not to throw it up. You ingested poison, you need this to neutralize it." She said when Dexter began making gagging noises.

"Get me a bowl of cold water. And a towel. She ordered coldly at Rosa as she watched Dexter drink half of the content. The latter bowed and immediately rushed out of the chambers, leaving them alone.

"I can't have any more." He said, his voice scratchy. He pushed the bowl back to her. She collected it, placing it on the bedside table. He coughed a bit more, clutching is stomach in pain.

" It's okay... That's enough." She whispered, holding his hands. He glanced at her, his eyes brimming with unspoken pain. " I feel sleepy." He admitted, squeezing her hands.

"Don't close your eyes! Don't close them. Stay awake please...." She choked, her voice trembling. He slowly shook his head.

" I won't." He said, his hoarse voice reassuring. " I'll keep looking at you."

"That's it. Keep looking at me." She said, tears slipping out of his eyes. Rosa arrived with the bowl of cold water and towel and Maya immediately set to work, cleaning off the sweat of his body. Her fingers trembled as she did so, but her eyes blazed with anger.

"I'm going to find out who did this...." She mumbled to herself as she cleaned him up. "And when I do..." She trailed off, gritting her teeth. "That person will wish they had never been born."

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In the middle of the chaos, Nicholas had slipped out once again. He had waited till he saw maids and guards going back and forth from the King's chambers before finally escaping. He'd done it. A feeling like joy rushed over to him. But he couldn't celebrate just yet. He had to be sure the king was dead first. Then after, he would go and rescue the queen.

Since everyone was distracted, they paid little attention to their surroundings and he was able to escape without a hitch. He immediately journeyed towards the empty shack he had been hiding in for over a week. There he found Fleurie waiting for him.

"Did you do it?" She asked the moment he walked in, rising to her feet, her face hidden in a cloak.

"Yes. The palace was in turmoil when I left." He replied, glancing at her. He watched as she broke into a grin, a satisfied look crossing her features.

"Good, now we just have to wait for the good news." She replied. He nodded,

"I'll be taking my leave now." She said brusquely, making to leave. Nicholas watched her, stunned.

"That's all?" He asked, stopping in her tracks. She turned to look at him, an empty look in her eyes.

"Well, I'll let you know if anything comes up. That's all I wanted from you anyway." She said before walking out of the shack. He watched her, a weird feeling prickling at his heart. He isn't satisfied with the way he poisoned the king but this will have to do for now. At least, he's fufilled his objective. Revenge.

" We'll meet again soon." She mumbled as she reached the door before walking out of it. Nicholas felt odd as he watched her retreating figure. Did she just use him to fufill her objectives?

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The doctors finally arrived and Dexter got his treatment. Maya stayed throughout, watching as they fussed over him, not daring to leave his side. Dexter had managed to stay awake despite the excruciating pain. At one point, he'd begun to spit out blood. The second treatment was administered and an antidote was given to him, he'd gone unconscious.

According to the doctor, The king had narrowly escaped death but his body has been grossly weakened by the posion that's why he fell unconscious.

" It's all thanks to your proactiveness, your majesty." The doctor turned to Maya after he had finished checking up on the king. " If you hadn't used those herbs when you did, we may have never been able to save the king. The posion he ingested was a deadly one. A single drop could be dangerous." He stated, his voice somber.

Maya just stared at him, a blank look on her face. " Will he be alright now?" She asked, her voice devoid of all emotions.

" Yes he will, he just needs to recover from this. For now he's still he unconscious." He answered. "I have let some herbs and potions to be given to him once he wakes up. I'll come to check him from time to time." He added.

"Okay. Thanks for your help. You're dismissed." Maya said quietly. The doctor bowed and walked out of the chambers, leaving her alone with Rosa. She walked up to the bed, watching Dexter's pale face and laboured breathing. Something heavy settled in her heart, making it hard to breath.

"You should have some rest your majesty, I'll take care of the king." Rosa offered but Maya shook her head, adamant.

"I'll take care of him myself. You should call on the commander." She said instead, not removing her eyes from Dexter.

She heard the older maid sigh, " Yes, your majesty."

Geoffrey walked into the chambers, bowing immediately. "I heard what happened, I'm truly sorry your majesty. Will the king be alright?" He asked, worry evident in his voice.

"He'll live." Was her simple answer. Geoffrey looked relieved but it wasn't over just yet.

"Have you found out who's responsible for this?" Maya asked, her hands behind her back.

"No, your majesty. But investigations are ongoing."

Maya turned, pinning Geoffrey a glare. He darted his gaze to the ground, unnerved.

"Was there anyone who came to see the king today?" She asked, her voice cold.

"None your majesty, Except..." He trailed off, his eyes slowly widening.

Maya cocked a brow, carefully regarding him. " Except what?'

"Um... The king received a letter from princess Fleurie, along with some gifts, your majesty." Geoffrey explained, his gaze still on the ground. Silence fell and the air in the chambers grew heavy with tension.

"Let me see it."

"Right away, your majesty." Geoffrey answered, hurrying out of the chambers.

Dexter shifted in his sleep, clearly uncomfortable. Maya felt her anger rise. She clenched her fists. Geoffrey arrived with the letter and Maya read through it. It's just an apology letter, she noted.

"You said she brought gifts?" She asked, glancing at Geoffrey.

"Yes, your majesty." He answered.

"Where are they?"

"The king asked us to burn it but we're yet to." He informed her.

"Let me see what she brought."

Geoffrey led her to the pile of gifts she had brought to the palace. One by one, she started to go through all of them until she found one that looked out of place. She paused in her search, her gaze darkening.

"No one has touched the gifts yet, have they?" She asked, glancing at him.

"None your majesty."

"Then why is this one open? " She asked, folding her hands. She stood for a while, thinking it through. " It's big enough to hide a person too." She muttered to herself, going over it once more. Maya chuckled to herself as it dawned on her. She must've sneaked someone to the palace to do this. That bitch, Maya muttered underneath her breath, her blood boiling.

She took a step back, staring ahead with cold, unfeeling eyes. In a monotonous voice she stated her order. "Find Fleurie. Make sure to capture her alive. Do it immediately."

"Yes, your majesty." Geoffrey replied, hurrying out of the storeroom where the gifts where kept. Maya still stayed there long after Geoffrey, thoughts swirling in her head. Fleurie tried to kill Dexter. A cynical smile split her lips. This time around, she's crossed a line.

She's never letting this go. Ever.