You are reading The Birth of Rekiya ❤️

What had she eaten?

The look on Ruki scared Rekiya to death.

Had she taken something that would kill her?

The small jump she did was even out of it because she wouldn't be able to count how many times she had jumped while practicing with her wooden sword. For someone who even trained when she had the wound.

Suddenly, it came to her mind.

The medicine.

The medicine that belonged only to the Crown Prince.

She met Ruki's eyes. "Mother I drank out of the–"

Ruki's hand flew to Rekiya's mouth before she had the chance to complete her sentence. "I've told you several times, Rekiya, you are a princess, and princesses don't shout." Ruki turned to Aliya. "My Lady, please wait for Rekiya outside and let me attend to her wound."

"Yes Mother." Aliya bowed and turned around, leaving the room with unanswered questions.

Rekiya immediately knew her Mother didn't want Aliya to hear what she was about to say. She still doesn't know much about the palace yet, but her mother had told her like a million times to be careful. "Mother," she resumed the moment Aliya's steps were no longer heard. "I drank out of the Crown Prince medicine. I was just so thirsty and wanted to drink out of his fine wine. I didn't know his medicine was also placed on the table. Now I remember he didn't take it when the Queen offered it to him."

Ruki was quiet. Her eyes were gentle and calm. She could tell Rekiya was starting to get scared. Exactly what she was avoiding. The Crown Prince's chambers would be full of nothing but evil. As much as she tried staying away from the Crown Prince and the Queen, a mother could tell Prince Dermin was in so much pain. Ruki had never seen him smile. Ruki had never seen him show mercy on anyone. Ruki had never seen him give out love. This was one of the reasons why she was so scared for Rekiya who was full of love and smiles associating with someone like the Crown Prince.

Rekiya's mouth gaped open, scaring Ruki to death this time.

Ruki raised her brows. "What?"

"Mother, the medicine is the reason why the Crown Prince's back never healed. Mother, he has wounds on his back that look just like when he had them," Rekiya said, then grabbed Ruki's hand. "Mother, we have to tell the Queen. Someone is using the Queen to hurt the Prince. He could die if he doesn't heal Mother."

"Shhhhhhh…." Ruki placed her right index finger on her lips, moving her eyes to the door of her room to see if any maid was there. Then she sat down gently on her bed. She was staring at Rekiya. How would she tell her daughter that if they tell the Queen and try to save the Crown Prince, they will be in danger. These people will come for them. Kill them and no justice will be served because someone else will pay for their evil act. Rekiya would never understand, she thought. Even if they succeed in saving the Crown Prince, these people will find another way to get to him again.

Ruki held Rekiya's wrist. She moved her index finger away from her lips. "Rekiya, we can't."

"Mother,--"

"Shhhh…. Listen to me Rekiya."

"The Queen will protect us."

The Queen! Did she just hear her daughter say that? The Queen whose position is being threatened too.

"We can't let him die. The Queen loves you Mother."

"No!" Ruki yelled, dropping Rekiya's hand very quickly. She brought down her voice. "The Queen loves no one other than her children. The Queen prioritizes no one other than the Crown Prince and his younger brother. Only Rekima and I love you the most in this entire world. And my sister who lives in another Kingdom. Including my late mother, and also my late father. No one else, and not even…. The King you call father."

Rekiya was shocked at how her Mother's voice hardened while she was talking to her, even when she tried not to shout.

"Our lives will only be wasted, Rekiya. They will kill us with no one to fight for our innocence."

A tear fell from Rekiya's eyes. The fear was evident in her eyes. But what could she do, she had to protect her. Ruki thought. She didn't mean to scare her.

"My dear Rekiya," Ruki said. She moved her hands to Rekiya's face and wiped the tears that was rolling down her daughter's cheeks. "This is why you have to speak less Rekiya. Not even your friend, Aliya can be trusted."

Rekiya hugged her mother and cried so hard. She could barely understand everything Ruki told her. She just couldn't watch Prince Dermin suffering like that when she knew what was going on. But her mother was right about them being killed if found guilty or not. She couldn't count how many maids and manservants who lost their lives for what they never did. She cried and cried on her mother's shoulder.

"Oh," Ruki moved away. "We have to attend to your wound."

••••••

The next day, Rekiya was declared sick to Yasmine, so she didn't go to the Crown Prince chambers. Rekiya walked around the palace soliloquizing. I have to save the Crown Prince. But how? How will I without being caught? Will I let him die?

He can't die.

He can't? Rekiya replied the voice in her head. What will happen if the wounds don't heal?

Do you think that's the only thing they are doing to him? The voice in her head said again.

They can't do anything more when Yasmine and Thopar are there.

But they succeeded hurting him through his own mother, the Queen.

Rekiya paused.

It wasn't just the medicine.

Tell him.

Don't tell him.

Tell him.

Don't tell him.

Tell—

Rekiya checked her hand and realised the leaves in her hands had finished. Of course….don't tell him…wasn't how she wanted this to end. She had to help the Crown Prince somehow, but how would she help—

"Put me down! How dare you carry a Princess like that!" Rekiya shouted after being lifted off her feet all of a sudden.

The culprit laughed so hard at Rekiya's drama.

"Who are you? Don't you know I'm a Princess! Don't be fooled by my dress and put me down, now!"

The response she got again was a huge laugh, struggling to release herself from the strong hands that carried her on the shoulder.

She got what she wanted. She was back on her feet.

She didn't expect who was standing before her.

"Brother."

"My beautiful sister," Prince Toro responded. His smile couldn't be more beautiful as his lips widened, revealing his gap tooth. Though small, it made his smile unique. He stood before Rekiya, his height hovering over her. "I'm sorry I startled you sister." He bowed. "I was only going to take you out to see what the outside looks like, Your Highness. I know mother wouldn't have done that, but I think you should know our Kingdom is one of the beautiful places anyone should see before their old age."

Rekiya, who was annoyed, and was about giving Prince Toro cold shoulders, cautioned herself. She was going to see what life outside the palace looked like. She had always wanted to. A huge grin took over her face. She looked around and back to Prince Toro. "Brother, I guess you didn't know. I love being startled a lot."

Prince Toro chuckled so hard.

"But, once you carry me, no matter how hard I scream, you can't drop me."

Prince Toro nodded. The smile on his face had no intention of leaving. Rekiya was sweet, and did little, but he found himself smiling and laughing. He raised a brow at Rekiya. "I should try it again."

Rekiya's nod wasn't once. Wasn't twice. She nodded like a thousand times and Prince Toro got it.

Yes, she was back on Prince Toro's shoulder again. "Who is that! How dare you!" She yelled, but not without smiling this time. Then bringing her voice down. "How dare you allow a Princess to walk! Run! Brother if Mother catches you and I, our heads will grow bigger."

Rekiya couldn't imagine her Mother shouting at her. The way Barbra looked most times, she could tell she was nothing but wicked.

Prince Toro giggled all the way through the journey. His laughter could be heard by anyone who passed them. What he heard was different though. He was told Princess Rekiya was proud, but he met someone else, and absolutely loved her.

Of course, Rekiya remembered what she saw the other day. The reason why she frowned at him when she first saw him again. Now, she agreed Mother was right. She must have imagined the whole thing that day, because she was closer to him now and saw nothing but his beautiful smiles. He was exactly what she heard about him. The most nicest, jovial and carefree Prince. Who wouldn't want to be around him.

"Wow!" A huge grin took over Rekiya's face when she was successfully outside the palace. He looked at Prince Toro, sending a quick wink towards his direction. Yes, Rekiya was now a he, after dressing in a man's cloth, and bouncing like any man would. The two laughed as they walked side by side.

A/N
Thank you so much for reading The Birth of Rekiya ❤️
Hmm...☺️ Rekiya and Prince Toro getting closer.
Lots of questions keep coming to my mind as the writer😁
Why wouldn't Prince Dermin let Rekiya call her brother?
Why would Prince Toro suddenly want to be close to Rekiya?
Do Aliya truly has a motive for getting close to Rekiya?
How will she really save the Crown Prince who acts very mean to her?