" Let me take you back to your chambers, the Queen will understand"
"Thank you" Xerxes nods, offering his arm for support. He leads her back to her chambers, his steps slow and careful. Once inside, he closes the door and turns to face her his expression serious."Shall I get the doctor?" esmeray shakes her head drinking a glass of water.
Xerxes frowns, his gaze flicking to the door "Enter," he calls out, his voice firm. A maid enteres the room, his gaze intense "Prince Mateo the queen has requested your presence"
Prince Xerxes tightens his grip on Esmeray kissing her forehead "I will be back. I will send one of your maids to keep you company"
The prince made his way down to hall back to the celebration. "My queen you called for me" Queen Sophia with a grin on her face, looks around not spotting Esmeray "The princess where is she?"
"Forgive me, but the Princess had to retire...she was not feeling good"
"Ugh, those first weeks of" in a whisper she continues "pregnancy are the worst"
"Yes, I can see. Anyway you needed me mother?" The Queen guides Xerxes to a closed room where the King has been waiting. "A family gathering I see"
The king gets up from his seat, walking towards his Queen, "Son, we have some unsettling news, heartbreaking news" Xerxes looks at both his parents, his body tense "What news?"
The Queen looks away, wiping away a tear "We received some news regarding your sister, the Princess" Xerxes freezes he has not heard about his sister in a while. "What and her?"
"Unfortunately she was poisoned, the doctors and healers from the Elba Kingdom are doing their best to heal her but they don't know if they can" Xerxes cuts the queen off, anger showing in his face "Is she alive!?"
"From what we know she is in a coma, that's not all. She is pregnant and they fear they might lose the baby" Xerxes eyes widen at the news, his sister poisoned? Its only been a year since she married the Prince of Elba, now her life has been tempted with. "Do they know who did it?"
"Yes, it was a maid of hers, we do not know the details but-" before he could finish Xerxes inturpts "Since when? Since when has she been in this state"
"The news got to us, just this morning, the Elba Kingdom is four days away from us, so we assume it has been a week." Xerxes knows the sensitivity of the situation but he can not ignore the thought of his sister being in harms way. "I will gather a few of my men and will leave tonight. I will personally look after her"
The Queen stops himself at his track "What about your wife? She is pregnant too and needs you" Xerxes stops his mind telling him to stay but his heart tells him to go "She is capable of looking out for herself, please keep her company mother"
The King knows there is no point of stopping Xerxes especially when it comes to the safety of his sister, Princess Stella. The Prince quickly and quietly gathers a few of his men. That night he left for Elba Kingdom, not saying goodbye to his wife. The party continues unaware of the situation that's been happening.
The journey to the Elba Kingdom is long and arduous, but Xerxes pushes on, driven by the need to save his sister. As he approaches the kingdom, he demands to see the King, explaining who is.
King Julius greetes Prince Mateo welcoming him to his beautiful green kingdom "Your majesty I have been expecting you. I am sure you are tired but most importantly worried for your sister. Please allow me to personally guide you to her chambers, while your men rest" King Julius guids the Prince through his castle in the direction of Princess Stella's chambers.
He knocks announcing his presence, Prince Jackson opens the door "Prince Mateo is here to his sister" Prince Jackson opens the door revealing a sleeping Princess. Her face pale as if she hasn't eaten in days. Here hands small and fragile like glass that could break with a gush of wind.
Xerxes leans in kissing Stella's forehead 'I am here now sister, get well so I can take you home' he whispers to her before turning his attention back to the Prince, her husband.
With a serious almost threatening tone he asks "How did this happen? Was her food not being watched?" The King senses the dangerous aura around Xerxes, he knows he is capable of destroying his kingdom in a blink of an eye. "The maid who has been in charge of her confesed she's been slowly posioning her. We have launched an investigation-"
"If it's alright with you your majesty I would like to see the details myself"