Chapter 42

Chapter 42
For the first time in a long while, Jasmine sat down on her bed crying. Cara had the “leisure” of watching her Queen cry. She had never seen her in such a state. The Almighty Queen Jasmine who wasn't quick to sit and cry was here heartbroken, shedding tears like an everflowing river.

Cara looked on and didn't know how to comfort Queen Jasmine.

“But why?” Jasmine questioned Cara with blood shot eyes. She was so hurt.

Jasmine had never felt so miserable like she was feeling now. Queen Jasmine had been so excited on hearing that one of her sons wanted to see her. She had wondered who among her three sons was the one coming to see her.

As Maria Hall left her room disappointed, Jasmine hurried to the door and questioned the maiden who had come to notify her. “Which of my sons wishes to see me?”

“Melvin, hour highness”

Queen Jasmine was elated to hear that the same son wo had defender her in the dining room earlier that day was the same son coming to check ok her that evening.

“Oh! that's great news” Queen Jasmine said, grinning from ear to ear.

Queen Jasmine turned her head from side to side, her eyes searching for her son, Melvin.

“Where is he?” Queen Jasmine finally asked after futilely searching.

“Oh, your highness, he has gone back to his room. He said he needed to get something” the maiden replied pointing in the direction of his room.

“I hope I didn't keep him waiting for long” Queen Jasmine asked, a worried look quickly spread on her face.

“No, your highness, you didn't.” The maiden replied as soon as she heard the concerned note in Queen Jasmine's voice.

Adding as an afterthought. " Not to bother your highness, he'd definitely be back. It seemed like whatever he had to say was urgent”

Queen Jasmine felt so relieved to hear that. "Alright then, I'll just go see him, rather than wait for him to come see me”.

As soon as Queen Jasmine said this, she started for Melvin's room. “Your highness?* The maiden called out.

‘‘Yes?” Queen Jasmine called back, halting on her tracks and tilting her head backwards to look at an alarmed maiden.

“Oh, your highness, he said not to bother coming to his room. He had said he would come to you and that you should just sit and wait”. The maiden said her head lowered, not knowing what the Queen's reaction to this message would be.

Queen Jasmine spurn immediately at the drop of the maiden's last word.

"Huh?" Jasmine wondered if she had heard right. Why would her son ask her not to bother going to his room. She tried to imagine the manner at which Melvin must have said this to the maiden.

Probably with an irritated face, like she was some kind of unexpected and unwelcomed visitor, she thought.

Queen Jasmine kept staring at the maiden, embarrassment and hurt flushing her. The maiden had lowered her gaze to the floor to help Queen Jasmine not to feel completely embarrassed but this had only worsened things for Jasmine. Now, it was glaring that even her children didn't want her anywhere close to them.

It was not the first time that Jasmine had gotten one of those messages from her sons. Though, it had been a while since she last did but now, having to hear this from Melvin after his actions in the dining room made her feel disappointed. Queen Jasmine had really felt things were beginning to take on a brighter look and a new turn after breakfast but she was wrong.

Queen Jasmine stood transfixed as she revisited those good old days when she and her sons used to bond and converse well. She recalled how they would come to visit her and leave this exact message whenever she was in a meeting, sleeping or receiving a visitor but they were always sure to come back. But recently, since the new development, whenever her sons drop such a message, she knew that they would never came back to see her.

They have never really wanted her presence in their rooms and she wondered why. At some point, Queen Jasmine had began suspecting the boys. She would often think and feel that the boys were hiding something in their rooms and that was why they detested anyone visiting them in their rooms. She would often times shake her head and try to think otherwise.

Queen Jasmine recalled how on one occasion, while passing by the boys’ rooms, heading for the hall way, her curiosity had spiked up and she decided to actually pay the boys' room a visit. She had intended on going into their rooms one after the other searching for whatever it was they must have been hiding. Queen Jasmine had received information that morning that the boys had gone out to one of those ceremonial functions with their father, Matt, so she walked into the room casually not expecting to see anyone.

As soon as she opened the door, she jumped in fright. “Oh my goodness!" She exclaimed her heartbeat racing fast.

Benny who had been sitting cuddled up in his blanket, studying a magazine. Looked up surprised to see Queen Jasmine in his room. She didn't even knock, he thought.

Still staring at her, he said, “Good morning, your highness". As soon as he greeted, he returned his gaze to his magazine, trying his best not to make eye contacts.

Queen Jasmine on seeing this, had heaved a deep sigh of relief. Grateful that she wouldn't have to explain herself. She started towards the door but she halted at his question.

“Your highness, to what do I owe your visit?” He had asked, his head now raised to stare at Queen Jasmine.

“Oh, I… I… was… I… thought…”, Jasmine stuttered searching her thoughts for answers of any kind.

Finally getting an idea, she smiled. “Really Benny? Since when must I have a reason to visit and check up on my own son?”

Adding as an afterthought. “ I was passing by and decided to come check up on my sons.”

Queen Jasmine had hoped he was going to buy everything she was telling him but she thought otherwise when he only stared on.

Trying to take Benny's mind off the awkward moment, she decided to ask. “Where are your brothers? I passed by their rooms and it seemed awfully quiet".

It was now Benny's turn to be on the “hot seat”. The room had suddenly become hot. Sweat began to break out and Panic was written all over him. Holding onto the blanket tighter, he stuttered. “Ermm… they ermm... were… they…” He scratched his head vigorously, now searching for excuses. He had never really been one to lie and he wasn't good at it like his brothers were.

Resigning, he sighed. “I don't know where they are". He said in denial.

Benny knew his brothers would be angry with him for such a reply. He was supposed to cover up for them instead of just throwing them into the wind.

Queen Jasmine heard a creak as soon as Benny made this statement but she waved it off. She wondered how they could be brothers yet they don't know each other's whereabout. She shrugged.

“Alright, I'll take my leave now” Jasmine said as she pulled back the handle of the door.

Benny nodded. “Okay, your highness".

Queen Jasmine smiled at him and walked out of his room with all alacrity. As soon as she was out of the room, she let her breath out.

“Phew! That was so close”, she muttered as she hurriedly made for her own room.

Since that awkward incident, she had promised herself not to ever visit their rooms without actual consent, whether or not she was sure they had gone out.

“Your highness?”

Someone had called Jasmine, jolting her back to the present. Oh, it's Cara.

Cara was on her way to the Queen's room when she saw Queen Jasmine rooted to the spot, completely zoned out. It wasn't the first and so, Cara wasn't surprised.

Cara had to call out to her. She wondered if the Queen had been standing there for long.

Not until Cara's call did Queen Jasmine realize she had been standing there all alone, completely lost in thoughts. The maiden had left but Cara was here. Cara was always here, she thought. Her eyes glistening with tears.

Queen Jasmine looked at Cara with so much admiration but couldn't say a word. She just stood there and the only thing she wanted to do most at that time was to sit and cry. Let it all out. For the pains, the hurt, the betrayals, the embarrassment, the cruelties of life, for the abandonment. Queen Jasmine was already choking with the weight of all this and she knew she needed to let them all out. How? By crying.

She hurriedly made for her room and Cara followed behind. As soon as the door was closed behind them, Queen Jasmine sat on her bed. With her knees raised and her hands on her raised knees, she bent her head and wept profusely. Everyone had abandoned her… her mother, her father, her husband, her maids, now her children. She was already tired of life and she regretted being Queen.

Cara could only sit helplessly and stare on wondering if Queen Jasmine's change of mood had anything to do with her step- mother's visit.