Chapter 56: Where have I seen you?
The following day, a palanquin was dispatched from the royal palace to the old palace. The Mother Queen stood at the front of the palace with her minister, who now asked her,
"Are you sure you don’t want me to come with you, Mother Queen?" Aziel looked worried.
"I can take care of myself, Aziel. What I need from you is to look after Lucretia, considering her weak health," the Mother Queen instructed him. She said, "Maya is making sure to keep people away from the palace by imposing difficult conditions. Let me go and see what has been going on in my absence and also take a look at the wilted rose. With Noor now here too, she will stay by Lucretia’s side, so you won’t have to worry too much."
Aziel informed her, "Lady Lucretia’s health has continuously deteriorated, and the medicines have been of no use."
The Mother Queen said, "Lucretia’s health had taken a hit many years ago, ever since William stopped seeing her with the same affection he once had for her. It is only now that it is physically evident." She paused for a moment and then continued, "Our traditions and culture allow a king to take more than one woman, but with the idea that the woman and her children would be well taken care of. Sometimes it isn’t just about putting a roof over their heads or food on their plates. It is about love, and when there’s no love, there is pain," she sighed.
The old woman climbed inside the palanquin, and before the men carrying it began to move, the minister assured her,
"I will keep you informed."
"I expect nothing less. I will visit in the near future," the Mother Queen said, and soon the palanquin set off.
Back in the royal palace, Anastasia cleaned one of the guest rooms with Theresa. With the news about Lady Evin falling sick and the wedding being postponed, most of the guests had decided to leave the palace one by one out of fear that the palace had been touched by ill fortune. First, it was the deceased King William, and now Lady Evin was on the brink of her death.
Noticing Anastasia’s worried expression, Theresa asked, "Has there been any progress with Lady Evin’s condition?"
Anastasia shook her head, "None. I would say she was dead if it weren’t for her pulse."