CHAPTER 48

KEVIN
This is a nightmare. This is not real. I want to wake up from this terrible dream. My mom was poison and all evidences pointed at her. There's nothing she did to defend herself. It seems she wanted to be caught. I only wonder why she would do such a thing. She promised to be patient with my family and not let what they do get to her. Why would she get angry like that?
I may be mad at my family for going against Sia, but that doesn't mean I don't care for their life. I miss having her around, I wanted to check on her but I can't. I have to be fair in a situation like this. I would do my investigation, if she is found guilty, I have no choice but to give her the desired sentence.
"Your majesty, I have gotten the antidote for that kind of poison. It was well studied, luckily we have something that can stop the spread and heal your mother." The doctor said bringing me back from my thoughts.
I nodded, "Give her the necessary prescription. All I want is for her to be healed."
He bowed, "Allow me your majesty."
I sat down at a distance watching him treat my mother. Sheila was taken away by Nina a while ago since she won't stop crying. Robin came back a while ago, infuriated to know Sia is the suspect behind mom's poisoning. I reprimanded him, told him to leave and not cause any trouble. He had no choice than to go away.
I already warned him not to dare hurt her, anything that has to do with Sia would be handled by me. I still did not check on her till it was late at night. I thought I should check on her now that there's no one around. Perhaps she is going to tell me the truth this time around. I got to the dungeon and stopped in front of her cell holding a lamp in hand.
"Who's there? Who..." She stopped talking, she must have gotten my scent.
"Kevin? You finally came." She said excited holding on to the cell gate.
I sighed, "I want to know the truth Sia. Just talk to me, did you poison my mother or not? Are you trying to take the blame sir someone else? Talk to me Sia, please."
"Kevin, I told you before. Whatever judgement you pass on me, I'll accept it." She replied.
I groaned in frustration, "I am giving you enough chances Sia. Do you know the kind of judgement I am supposed to pass down to you? Death."
She nodded, "I know. Being out there is dangerous for me. I want to stay here and..."
I felt nausea again, I looked around and almost threw up. My heart felt bad seeing her at the dungeon, or I'll never know peace for not being able to avenge my mother.
"You have the right to believe whatever you want, I won't use that against you." She repeated getting me pissed.
"Anastasia! What is wrong with you? Is this a joke to you? I badly want to hear from you and help you out but you are making things worse by acting stubborn. This stubbornness wouldn't help you one bit. Talk to me now!" I yelled at her, my voice echoed through the walls.
She remained unmoved, not even afraid of what I can do to her.
"I have nothing to say about this. I am fine staying here, out there awaits me nothing more than death and troubles."
She is speaking in parables, I don't understand what she means at all. Frustrated, I turned to leave.
"It seems I have no choice than to make a decision. None of the judgement would be good. Good luck on that, I really loved you. I thought I could live forever with you but I'm wrong. I've lost you, goodbye Anastasia."
I left the dungeon and went to my study. I can't get my mind off the fact that Sia is going to sleep there all alone. The bed is not even made of cotton, she would have body aches. What if she has nightmares by midnight? I can't stop thinking about her, it's not easy for me to deny her just like that.
The door opened, Nina walked in. I dropped the book I'm holding and stared at her. She is the last person I need to see now, she might be part of the reason Sia did what she did to my mother. She stopped in front of my desk.
"Hi Kevin, I came to check on you and know how you are doing." She said with a flirty smile. Did I mention she's wearing a very transparent and short night gown.
"I have other things to think about. I don't have time to flirt with anyone. Sorry to disappoint you princess." I said rudely.
She refused to give up, "Look at me Kevin. Do you now hate me that much now? I have tried all my best to help you, why do you keep treating me this way?"
Silence.
This is because I have no idea what to tell her anymore.
"I have sacrificed a lot just to be back in your arms. You saw all I went through, you told me you would love me till the end of the world. What happened to that promise now?"
I scoffed, "That promise died along with you when you did. Go to sleep Nina, we have a long day tomorrow. "
"But..."
"Go to the bed Nina, now." I ordered this time around.
She turned to leave, "Good night Kevin..." She left the study and I found myself thinking about what is happening here. Hopefully nothing happens to my mother, that is my greatest fear.
I slept at the study through the night, occasionally checking on my mother. She remained on the bed, not moving or opening her eyes. Whoever got this poison, has a very powerful task. She must have gone too far to get it, I trusted her so much that I never saw this coming.
I could not sleep all through the night. I am so used to having her beside me. The bed felt so empty and cold without her. This is so difficult for me, why ate you doing this to me Sia? Because I couldn't sleep, I left my room for my mother's room. I met Nina in the room, she was sleeping on the couch.
Why is Nina in my mother's room? Isn't she supposed to be in her room, I can't believe she risked her own sleep so she could watch over my mother.
She opened her eyes when she felt my presence, she jerked up from the couch.
"Kevin, what are you doing here?" She asked rubbing her eyes and yawning.
"I should br asking you that question. I couldn't sleep so I came to check on my mom. What are you doing here? Shouldn't you be sleeping in your room? Where are the people I asked to watch over my mother." I asked her calmly.
"I sent them away. I couldn't sleep too. I am worried about her believe it or not. She treated me like her own daughter, how can I abandon her when she needs me? I want to watch over her. You should go back to your room, don't worry about her." She replied.
That's quite surprising and impressive.
"Thank you Nina, still I think you deserve your beauty sleep. Let the night workers do their job, I'm going to take it from here." I finally smiled after being unable to since my mother got sick.
"I insist that I want to be here. Please Kevin, I am lonely. I have no one to talk to, I am having nightmares, that's why I can't go back." She said worriedly.
She's having nightmares, that's why she can't stay in her room. That made me feel extremely sorry for her. I feel more than sorry that she's going through all this. Sadly, things changed when she arrived. It's now that I realized that I have been unfair to her. She also has been too clingy and disobedient, now I know what it feels like to be betrayed.
"The workers are going to watch over her. Let's go." I told her.
She became surprised, "Huh? Go where? Where are we going Kevin?"
"You don't need to ask. Just come with me." I replied bluntly.
I want out to get the maids and gustss to watch over my mother. Then I took Nina's have and led her to my chambers. I'll let her sleep in the room with me tonight because I also feel lonely. I got so used to having Sia with me way too much, and too fast.
She looked around the room as we got there, then back at me.
"What are we doing at your chambers Kevin?" She asked me.
"You'll spend the night here since you are having nightmares." I replied, then laid on the bed.
"But then, you used to sleep in this room with Sia. How come you are willing to change her place in just a few hours?" She asked an annoying question.
"I am not replacing her. I only want to keep you company for the night as a friend. You don't need to take it too personal."
She sat down on the bed and huffed, "I feel like a pushover. You are only using me to kill your boredom. Am I that useless to you Kevin?"
I sighed in frustration, "That's not what I am doing Nina. I have given you my honest reply. But you can go back if you are not comfortable with me."
She didn't say anything else for a while. She laid on the bed and covered herself. Then she faced me, I had to look away to avoid eye contact with her.
"Why are you avoiding my eyes? Is something wrong?" She asked me.
"Nothing's wrong. Go to sleep."
She sighed, "How time flies. I remember we used to stay on this bed together some months ago. You would tell me how you love me and would do anything for me. All that changed in a matter of months, that's too fast."
"That is in the past. I have a fiancee now, I would still ask you to respect that." I replied her.
She scoffed, "You still defend that woman after all she's done. Has it occurred to you that she is a witch?"
Now I am regretting bringing Nina into my room. She is making me angry by saying bad things about Sia. That's one thing I don't take from anyone, even if she is being accused of poisoning my mother.
"Nina! I have told you not to talk about this anymore. I am giving you a warning, go to sleep Nina." I ordered her.
She stopped talking and closed her eyes. I stared into her face, all our past memories came to me. I sighed, that's all in the past. Sia is my present and I still love her.
••••
I hardly slept through the night. Nina left my room in the morning, I also checked on mother when I woke up. I decided to go check on Sia after that. I saw her in a confused state. It seems she is sick and hiding it from me, then I asked the doctor to check on her.
I secretly hoped she would be fine. Of course I am so worried about her. He came back later and told me she is seriously ill and needs to be moved to the hospital. I approved for her to be taken there, I stood by the window and watched them take her away. She was chained, she looked at the window and saw me. I pulled the curtain and left the window, hopefully she's brought back soon enough.