A New Friend

"Greetings, Nailah; your potion is ready, and I was about to send it over to you." The physician grinned as soon as Nailah entered his court.

Nailah beamed with a smile, and she said, "Thank you."

She grabbed the bottle and put it inside her dress so nobody could see it.

"I hope this is efficient?" she asked, giving the physician a rugged look.

"It is potent. No need to worry!" The physician assured Nailah, still grinning.

"Alright, I'll be on my way. Continue the good work."

Nailah stepped out, she sighted Raziya, and her mood turned sour instantly. She was walking with a maid holding her for support. Nailah laughed as she saw her condition.

"Just a little more, and you would have been dead," Nailah muttered. She hurried her step just to meet up with Raziya's pace and face her. Raziya flinched as her eyes landed on Nailah.

"So I hear you were beaten up," Nailah said sardonically, her face morphing to make a jest at her.

Raziya ignored her, training her eyes to the ground. She was sweating suddenly, and she never expected to see Nailah in the physician's court, so she wondered if anything was wrong with her or if she just came to terrify her.

"It's too bad I missed the show. I would have loved to be part of it, just to make sure that you didn't get to live." She smirked, enjoying her taunts at Raziya.

Raziya whimpered, but Sara squeezed her arms to give her strength. She looked at Sara, whose eyes held warmth.
"Be strong," Sara mouthed.

"It looks like so many people hate you because you murdered my brother," Nailah blustered, her smirk disappeared, and a scowl appeared on her face.

"Are we still talking about a dead man that is long gone and forgotten?" A sweet, calm voice came from a close distance.

Raziya turned in the direction of the voice, and it belonged to a gorgeous woman dressed nicely and elegantly. She had a warm smile plastered on her lips.

"Dini," Nailah groaned as she saw her. It irked her as she saw a smile on her face, which she knew was deceptive.

"What are you doing here?" Nailah questioned because Dini wasn't looking pale or sick. Neither did she see her around or notice her presence before.

Dini ignored Nailah's question. "Why are you frightening the poor princess who has done nothing wrong to you?"

Dini turned to Nailah with a grin still on her face. Nailah glared at Dini.

"Nothing wrong? She did me wrong when she killed my brother and stepped her foot on this land!" Nailah roared, losing her temper.

"Easy dear, you see, your brother was already destined to die that day, and unfortunately for your brother and the princess, the Princess was close by just in time to fulfill his destiny," Dini said to spite Nailah the more.

Raziya watched them both and wondered who the other woman was to have the audacity to talk to Nailah like that.

Tears obscured Nailah's vision. Dini's words were brutal to her, she felt like yanking her hair and flinging her to the hard ground, but she knew better not to.

"Princess, it's finally nice to meet you. I am Dini, the Alpha's first and most preferred concubine." Dini introduced herself, smirking.

Raziya could now understand why the woman spoke to her that way; she had more authority. Raziya liked Dini instantly because she was kind. If only she knew looks were deceptive.

"It's my pleasure to meet you also." Raziya smiled for the first time since the conversations started. Dini nodded.

"I will always be a friend to you and save you from the troubles of this bully," Dini said, turning to Nailah and sending a death glare at her. Nailah laughed as she listened to Dini.

"Friend indeed," she mocked. "I'd be watching to see where this friendship will lead. I will give you both some friendship privacy. Please carry on."

Nailah walked away. She didn't want Dini to ruin her mood, not today when she already had a big mission to accomplish.

Dini excused herself just after Nailah left them. Raziya was glad Nailah had gone so she could finally breathe freely and that at least a few people were kind to her because they knew she was no murderer but a princess who was paying for her mistakes.

Raziya gradually adjusted to her new environment, but she still missed home. She missed her mother especially and wondered what she was doing if she had finally moved on from her absence. She missed her father, her brother Prince Archie and her sister Princess Rana. Raziya wished she could see her again and apologize for all her wrongdoings to her, and she wished she could repair her relationship with her sister and show her that she has changed a little since she left.

THE TITASAL KINGDOM.

Rana noticed the door to Raziya's room slightly open, curious to know why because the door was permanently shut. She walked closer to shut it, and just then, she heard weeping and sniffing sounds. She walked in to know who it was.

On Raziya's bed, she found her mother seated. She clutched Raziya's favorite dress crying. The sight before her pained her. She felt her mother had moved on with Raziya's absence because she was doing excellently well, performing her Queenly duties without showing sorrow or sadness. Little did she know she was still hurting and frequented Raziya's room to cry.

"Mother," Rana muttered. Queen Heba looked up, noticing her daughter's presence for the first time since she had stepped into the room.

"I still miss her; I still miss your little sister," Queen Heba wailed loudly. Rana ran towards Queen Heba, holding her by and consoling her. She noticed her face was red from crying too much.

"Mother, we all miss her irrespective of how we want to put up an act to contribute our quota in running the kingdom's affairs so it won't crumble, so it's okay to cry." Rana consoled by patting her mother gently while she cried on her shoulder, still clutching Raziya's dress.

"I wonder how she is doing, if she is eating well, or if she is even alive." Queen Heba choked on more sobs.

"I know she is alive and doing well. She is a strong girl. I feel her presence with me every day. I pray to the protectors to keep her safe every single day, so don't be worried." Rana hugged her mother.

Ever since they both reconciled, Rana has gotten a soft spot for her mother and seen her in a different light. She loved her mother and knew Raziya would always be her favorite child, but she knew it didn't stop her mother from being a good mother to her and her brother.

Queen Heba hugged Rana. Also, she knew she was blessed to have a child like Rana, who was fierce like her father and compassionate like her. She knew she would make a great Queen someday and hoped she would marry right. After they had reconciled, She told herself she would pour out all the love she would give to both her and Raziya if she were still with them. Rana was her only daughter now who was close by, but she still missed her little girl every day.

Rana pulled out from the hug holding Queen Heba and looking into her eyes."Mother, it's okay. Everything will be fine and return to normal just give it time."

Queen Heba nodded gently as she cleaned her tears, trusting her daughter's words and giving it a little hope.

Rana smiled. "Let's go. It's dinner time already, and I'm sure father and Archie would be making their way to the dining room."

Rana held her mother's hands and led her out of the room, shutting the door behind them.

When they arrived in the dining room, King Zachary was already seated at the head of the table with Prince Archie beside him on his left. They both looked tired and famished, waiting eagerly to devour the food that would be placed before them. The maids were already busy arranging the table with different dishes.

Queen Heba took her seat beside the king by his right hand, while Princess Rana took a seat beside her mother.

"My Queen, you look disturbed. Are you okay?" King Zachary asked, concerned as he noticed the Queen's dull face. Archie looked up at his mother's face and saw her pale face. "Mother, is anything the matter?" He couldn't help but ask worriedly too.

Queen Heba smiled softly at her husband and Son. "I am fine; there's nothing to worry about."

King Zachary nodded, relieved, while Prince Archie reached out to his mother's hand across his side of his table, giving it a light and gentle squeeze. He knew his mother was still hurting from Raziya's absence. Everyone in the family was there because he had seen everyone in their sober time aching for Raziya's presence, but he didn't say anything further and just concentrated on his food.