Reign of Betrayal in the Palace

Chapter Two: A dream come true

Sharon rushed to the washrooms as soon as she alighted from the car. So nauseated she was that she could not make it before throwing up by the door to the ablutions. That was not the first time she was experiencing that feeling. It had been happening for almost a week, almost two months since her unforseen encounter with Prince Ben.

Her loud retching attracted June's attention. The two had decided against spending the night at the hospital as Prince Jason took to rest after the surgery. When King Jades' chauffeur had been instructed to drop Victoria at her place, they had decided to come home as her residence was along the way.

The two never got along well and they were different in character and preferences. While June was petite with long black hair and glassy eyes projecting from a smooth, oval face, Sharon was of a blond complexion with brown hair that she wore in a ponytail and small eyes that were almost lost in a round face. The latter was also a bit chubby and curvy.

At twenty nine, Princess June was the second born in the Royal family after Prince Ben while Sharon was the only child of countess Barry and was celebrating her twenty-fifth birthday that fall.

"Here, girl," Princess June started, extending her a glass of water. "What is up? Are you okay?"

"Well, I don't know, but I think it is the change in weather," she demurred, accepting the glass of water.

"I don't know, but I think it looks more like a change in your reproductive physiology," June tauted. "C'mon, I think I heard you throwing up yesterday!"

"Me, no! I think your imagination is playing tricks on you. Why should you even think of it?"

"The wise said that walls have ears. I hope it isn't what I'm thinking. Anyway, it is none of my business," she said, strutting towards her room.

"At least you are right on that! You should mind your own damn business, you know what I mean?" Sharon reiterated, satirically.

"Oh, yes, how should I mind my business when all you do is screwing all around here, little nymphomaniac?"

"I'm sure you know that that is better than tying the knot more than five times with more than five husbands within a span of three years! If I didn't know where you come from, I could have called you a gold-digger. Perhaps you haven't found one long and thick enough to fit your wide canal?"

"You know what, you miscreant? You are overstepping your boundaries!" June fumed, turning back towards her. "I'm not, and will never be your equal!" She said, punctuating the sentence with a slap across Sharon's face.

Disturbed by the loud quarrelling, Prince Ben appeared on the scene as Sharon was starting to pull on Princess June's hair.

"Stop behaving like adolescents for heaven's sake!" He howled at the two, trying to separate them. "What is the meaning of all this?"

"Ask her! I think there is something trying to adjust itself in her uterus that is making her to not only vomit, but also to become loudmouthed!" June chided.

" What! That is no way to talk about your cousin. She is more like a sister, you know?"

"Sister, my foot! Have you two been seeing it that way?" She walked away, without waiting for an answer.

"Come, let's take you to your room," Prince Ben said after Diana had walked away. He held her hand and pulled her closer. "Are you feeling okay?"

"I'm, um, just fine," she responded, sniffling. "I just need to rest."

"Sure, but what is she suggesting? I mean, what is wrong with your uterus?"

"Gosh! The little, sniffing devil knows about us!"

"Impossible! I mean, how can she when we have been so cautious? Could you have given her cause to start thinking so?"

"If she knows, which is highly suggestive from her manner of talking, I swear she didn't get it from me. Besides, it is only a matter of time before the bubble bursts," she said, sobbing softly.

"What 'matter of time' are you talking about? What bubble?" He posed, perplexity written all over his face.

"I told you to stop this thing, but you couldn't. Now see what you have done!" She said, touching her tummy.

"What! You mean, you are. . . what?" He asked, stepping back.

"Yes, I'm carrying your baby!"

"Impossible! It can't be! Tell me you are pulling my leg!" He repeatedly said while violently shaking her shoulders.

* * * * *

Two rooms away from where Prince Ben and Sharon were having their heated argument, Princess June was on phone with her latest date in her quarters. She had some impeccable trait of not letting little skirmishes bother her. Like the altercation she had just had with Sharon. It was already buried in the deep recess of her memory as she chatted with Fred.

Two years younger than her, Fred was a moustached, tall man with long cheekbones that boasted of a handsome, athletic figure. Currently, he was a director of an exotic, horse-breeding company that was co-owned together with Prince Jason and her. Diligent and a go-getter, only one thing marred his long track record of accolades. His origins and family background were questionably unknown. All that was in the public domain was that a maid who used to work in the palace had suddenly disappeared only to resurface twelve months later with a bundle of joy which she abandoned at the gate. Then she vanished without a trace.

It was suspected that the father of the child was among the palace workers, but since no one had laid claim, King Jades had taken the child in and put him under the care of one of the maids. He ensured that he got the best education and sponsored him through college. Fred was the one who had approached Jason and June to start their own company. After the company had become a success, he had bought his own house and moved out of the palace.

He and June had been bosom friends since they were toddlers. His heart had been deeply pricked every time June married and divorced one husband after another as if the whole universe had conspired to keep them separate. He was therefore surprised when June had invited him for dinner one night. That very night, she had not only confessed her love for him, but she had also intimated to him her divorce proceedings against her fifth husband.

"Well, I was just wondering when you would make your intentions known to my parents," she said into the phone. "I can't wait to be sleeping by your side, you know?"

"True, I miss you even more," Fred responded from the other end. "I was planning on coming over this weekend, but what with Jason in hospital. We will have to defer it a bit untill he gets out. Besides, I don't think soon would be appropriate, get what I mean?"

"Why, who cares whether it is soon or later? Don't tell me you are getting chills down your spine thinking about what my Dad would say!"

"I don't know, but I have a feeling it won't be a walk in the park convincing him that I'm good enough for you!" He said, chuckling.

"Then all you have to do is declare your intentions and let me do the convincing."

"Still, I can't help having this eerie feeling that he has something against our relationship. There's a time I tried to bring the subject up, but his face got drained of colour. Well, I will be visiting Jason at the hospital tomorrow morning. Let's meet there."

"Sure, I'm also heavy-eyed. Goodnight, sweet dreams."

* * * * *

Victoria was surprised to find her mother peacefully sleeping. This was in complete contrast to the previous times where she had become almost insomniac due to the pain emanating from her left knee. She had been diagnosed with synovial Chondromatosis disease and put on steroids as they could not afford to pay for surgery.

Sharon could have tiptoed to her room had she not noticed that she was not properly tucked in. She was about to pull the bedcover over her when she opened her eyes.

"Oh, dear, you are back!" her mother started, relief written on her face. "What took you so long?"

"I'm sorry, Mum. It was some unforeseen circumstances," she responded. "I don't know if it was a blessing in disguise, or something else!" She added, quite hopeful.

"What do you mean? What happened? Oops! I had almost forgotten the incessant pain. Where are the drugs?"

"Here, let me get you some water," she said, reaching for a glass of water.

"So, why are you glowing?" Her mother persisted after taking her medication. She was only forty-five, but spending most of her time on bed had made her look older. In her earlier days as a maid in the royal palace, she had dreamed of becoming a Hollywood model. Nevertheless, despite the ailment, she still retained a bit of her exquisite beauty.

"On my way back, I ran into some goons who were bent on harming me. Guess who came to my rescue?" She posed, grinning.

"Your prince charming?"

"Literally! Prince Jason in the flesh! Can you imagine?" She added enthusiastically.

"Wait! Had you two met before?" Her mother asked, sounding surprised.

"No, why do you sound surprised?"

"Well, it is just that it is a bit unusual."

"I think he was just driving by when he heard my screams and decided to help. Anyway, for all his troubles, he happened to be the one who got badly hurt after rescuing me. I had to drive him to hospital in his big vehicle! Wow! You can't imagine how I felt being behind the wheel of such a powerful machine!"

"Is that the same vehicle I heard dropping you a few minutes ago?"

"No, the one which brought me is his father's, King Jades. His limousine is still at the hospital where he is recuperating after some surgery. I donated a pint of blood and I feel like that it isn't just a coincidence that we share the same blood group. Well, perhaps I'm just imagining, but did I say that he has the most beautiful, bluish eyes?"

"Stop sounding like the most starved adolescent! He is not in your league and you should stop fantasizing about him! Besides, if he happens to take another look at you, it will only be for his self-aggrandizement. He will probably use and dump you, do you understand?"

"Yes, Mum, nothing will happen. The good news is that his father committed himself towards ensuring that you get the best treatment."

"Why would he? You mean he knows me and my ailment?"

"No, he doesn't know you. He could not remember you when I told him that you used to work in the palace. Somehow, I briefly mentioned about your indisposition and he promised to take care of the treatment as a way of thanking me for the blood donation."

"Over my dead body! The last thing I need is his sympathy!"

"Why, Mum! The only thing standing between you and your full recovery is a simple, but expensive surgery which we can ill-afford. Is there something you are not telling?"

"What I'm telling is that I don't want anything to do with the royal family, and you should dissociate yourself from them forthwith!"

"It is hard for me to do that. I promised to check on Jason tomorrow morning. Besides, why should I involve myself in your beef with the family? You should swallow your pride and accept his help for treatment, unless there is something you are not telling."

"My dear child," her mother started in a sorrowful tone. "The past is part of our history, but definitely not a good place to dwell in. Some memories are too painful to relive, but try as much as we can, we can't bury them completely. Come here. Let me tell you a story."