You are reading The Birth of Rekiya ❤️

"Rekiya."

A smile danced on Rekiya's lips towards her dear friend, Aliya. Her greetings were different from the days when she embraced her dear Aliya in a friendly hug. She was slowly growing weak. Her own eyes closing out of exhaustion. Rekiya had quickly changed back into her clothes. Her body boiled like she had been placed on a burning firewood. New wounds opened up on her body. She couldn't let anyone see them. Thank God for her dresses, they were made to hide things.

The bowl of fish stew in Rekiya's hands shook lightly. Even her hands suddenly seem frail. It all happened in the presence of Prince Dermin who had been stealing glances at her. So perfectly that no one had caught him yet. There was a lot about Rekiya that made everyone get attracted to her and notice her in a room full of plenty of people. It was her bubbling self. Her charisma. Her energetic spirit. Her smile. Her sense of humor. Her beauty. She was all in all. She was always happy.

If Prince Dermin had chosen not to notice all. He noticed one out of everything. Rekiya was not her bubbling self. She was really not herself.

Rekiya took the bowl of fish stew that had enough fishes in them to the Ladies Rekiya would marry if she were to be a man. Certainly not for love. Aliya, becoming her Queen. The rest become the Ladies of the palace.

Rekiya came before them. They were the Ladies whose future seemed bright. Who were ranked high out of other Akugba Ladies outside the palace. They would be the luckiest in the whole of Akugba Kingdom if the Crown Prince chooses them all. Old and young would bow to their feet. Being the Crown Prince's wife, is also being the mother of Akugba Kingdom in due time, because one day the Crown Prince shall become the King. The one whose command can never be disobeyed or dishonoured. A King whom the villagers recognise as their lord. Any woman chosen by him would have her life changed forever. These Ladies would do just anything as their parents had instructed them to woo the Crown Prince. Even if chosen as a concubine.

Rekiya felt so sorry for them that her chest hurt. She had never seen Prince Dermin raise his head to acknowledge them. He had never said a word of greeting not to talk of having a conversation with them. Rekiya wondered how they lived in silence. How they lived in pain. They must be hurt. Emotionally, they must be heartbroken. But they knew they had entered the palace for a reason.

Rekiya took from the Crown Prince fishes to honour them. "His Highness is blessed to have you all. Please remember to take care of your health and eat well Ladies," she spoke calmly, but jealousy and malice danced in the eyes of the Ladies, sending cold gestures back to Rekiya for being closer to the Crown Prince. More than any of his maids. Aliya was the friendly one. She was Rekiya's friend after all.

Yasmine and Thopar's excitement was visible. They would be worth watching with the smiles on their faces if captured and put in the book of history. Prince Dermin's behavior was exactly when he was eight. Tasting every food laid before him one after the other. Prince Dermin paused from his food, his voice coming out in a subtle manner. "Thopar, can you tell me I didn't eat them all alone."

The sound of Thopar's laughter filled the room. "Your–"

"Shh…don't say it." Prince Dermin withdrew his hand from the last plate immediately. "The meat is not done."

Thopar chuckled. "Your Highness, you've not even–"

"I can tell. The pepper looks really hot too."

Thopar and Yasmine chuckled almost at the same time. That was just an excuse for people to think he didn't finish his food. Truly, he would either have two or three spoons of every meal each. He had been eating that way for almost five months. He never had an appetite, but now, it seemed his appetite came back with the intention to eat anything called food. He ate as if he had been starved for days. 

Not only was he hungry, but his body wasn't burning under those black garments. He wasn't feeling weak. The pain from his wounds was so minimal unlike the days he felt irritated. When the Crown Prince's left hand came back on the table this time, he reached for the cup of wine sitting in the middle of the table, but Rekiya beat him to it. Though it wasn't the same cup he was reaching at anyways. The Crown Prince's eyes followed Rekiya's hand movement. He stared at her with curiosity in his eyes. This time, everyone saw his eyes raking the beautiful Rekiya.

The other Ladies were pissed.

Why is she taking his wine?

Why is she so mannerless?

So what if she is his sister.

Their eyes were spitting hatred towards Rekiya.

Rekiya dusted all the mean looks she was getting. A smile grew on her tired face. She had grown so pale. Her face, growing red spots. Her lips had become dry, ready to peel. "This is for serving the Crown Prince wholeheartedly." Rekiya said, then immediately a chuckle escaped from her lips. She raised her cup so high, and slowly brought it down to her lips.

Prince Dermin waited for her to taste what she had carried. As much as he could offer his enemy to taste from the awful, tasteless and extremely bitter drink concocted together as his medicine, he wouldn't offer it to Rekiya, but she had taken it all by herself, and she didn't drop the cup until it was empty. When she did, something else caught Prince Dermin's attention.

Prince Dermin snapped his neck in Rekiya's direction, shooting a sudden look at her. He had seen the red spots sitting all over her face, and from her wrist to her elbow when she drank the medicine.

Rekiya caught the look of confusion on Prince Dermin's face. His eyes were burning with curiosity that needed to be quenched. His frown deepened, his eyes shooting daggers at Rekiya to speak, but silence settled. Silence settled in between them. No one would talk. Rekiya knew there was no hiding. Whatever the maids added to the water. It was starting to take effect on her body. She was in pain. Her eyes were heavy. Her skin irritated the hell out of her to the extent she felt like scratching herself so deeply. The look on Prince Dermin obviously showed he wanted answers from Rekiya, but she wouldn't explain. She had seen nothing. She would say nothing.

Rekiya smiled, chasing out the strange atmosphere with her voice. "Your Highness," Rekiya lifted another cup towards Prince Dermin. "You should take your medicine now before it gets cold."

Medicine?

The one she had taken or the one she prepared for him? Prince Dermin's mind began to welcome many thoughts.

He did the unexpected.

He wouldn't have done that if he was in his right senses. He wouldn't have. But his mind troubled him so much that he thought Rekiya was about to collapse.

He grabbed her hand.

Prince Dermin grabbed Rekiya's hand. It was too sudden, that her frail hand loosened its grip around the cup and in one second, the cup of tea hit Prince Dermin's body.

Gasps broke out in the room.

Mouths gaped open.

Eyes widened in shock.

Including Rekiya's eyes. The tea was hot, yet he didn't flinch or curse her. Was he that used to pain? Rekiya's eyes felt sorry for him despite her own pain that made it look like she was about to lose her life. She stared at him. His eyes were so deep, so dark, and clearly fixed on her. She wanted to watch him more. She wanted to really know what he looked like. To tell him she would protect him as long as he wasn't mean to her. As long as he treated her mother and sister nicely and not looked down on them. She would protect him. She would save him.

Prince Dermin turned to the other Ladies in the room. "I want you all to continue your food outside."

"Hmm…"

"Ehnn…"

"Your Highness."

"I said you all should get out of my room. Now! Do not make me repeat myself." Prince Dermin repeated, firmly, watching the door open very quickly as maids hurried in to pack the Ladies' tables and helped them out.

A loud bang came from the door as they all walked away, closing the door behind them.

Rekiya's eyes then slowly closed as if she had been waiting for that moment. Her dry lips tried to open in the process but she collapsed right away, resting her head on Min's chest.

A/N
Guys ☺️ I thought Rekiya doesn't like this guy. Yet, she found herself trying to help because he looks like someone who doesn't have all the love she was given by Ruki and Rekima, her elder sister.

She can't tell the Crown Prince anything because of how mother warned her several times, but I hope the Crown Prince would get to know what's going on exactly.

You can read Chapter 22 immediately ☺️
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