"Aren't you coming down yet? Do you just want to let Father know?" It was the voice of a familiar person.
"There's no need because I'll be next after I put this herb on Zariya." My heart softened when I heard his voice. There's something about me that makes me want to wake up but what I'm doing is too painful.
"In that case, I'll be the first to go downstairs."
I heard the conversation of two familiar people. Although I wanted to know if my suspicion that they were the ones talking was correct, I couldn't do it because I still felt pain in my head. I chose to close my eyes but keep my mind awake and continue to listen secretly. It will only take another pain when I insist more.
I can't wait for an answer. I just heard the door close, it looks like one of them has come out. Just a few seconds later, I felt something cold land on my forehead.
I could feel what the person next to me was doing. I heard him grind on what it was and again, he applied something to my forehead.
Is that the herbal medicine he is referring to? Probably yes.
"Even if you're asleep, there's no denying the beauty you have. But do you know that you look better when you see a smile on your lips?" I heard its sigh. "Zariya, when are you going to wake up? You've been unconscious for three days. You can't sleep long, there are people waiting for you."
Until now I don't know what's going on. Am I in the palace now? Are the words of Princess Amity true? Isn't that just a dream? But it's impossible! I know the conversation between the two of us is true. Nothing is impossible in this world.
I heard a knock on the door. The man immediately said it was open and he could enter.
"Prince Arsh, your Father King is calling you. You need to get ready," said the newcomer.
"I'm on my way," he replied without emotion. I felt him stand up and take my hand, and then I just realized that he had touched it with a kiss. "You'll take care of Zariya. Don't forget the herbs either. Don't lose your attention on her, obviously?"
"I will follow, Dear Prince," replied any of those servants.
The surroundings became quiet but I still could not hear the door opening or closing indicating that it had left.
It looks like he's just leaving.
Wait...
Even though my head was aching, I still forced myself to open my eyes. I could feel the pain all over my body, like I had the flu. My whole body seemed to break.
The white ceiling exposed me, I was still in the palace. I could not turn my head because of the extreme pain. I feel my neck will break when I move it. That’s why I just stayed in that position.
"P-Prince A-Arsh," I stuttered. I don't know if he's gone, as long as his name is the first thing I mention. The voice was just weak and I don’t know if anyone heard.
"Dear Prince, the Princess is awake!" The servant's voice was full of joy.
I heard quick footsteps coming towards me.
"Zariya?" Prince Arsh's face looked up at me. I automatically smiled, all the pain seemed to go away when I saw him. "You're really awake! Wait, is something wrong with you? Are you hungry? How are you feeling? What's wrong with you?" He was restless, traces of his concern.
I reached for her hand to calm it down. He also held my hand back. "W-What happened?" my first question to him.
He sat in the chair next to my bed.
"You were hit by Haya Kaira's arrow, Zariya. The arrow she used was mixed with poison so the wound you sustained is serious. I'm sorry, Zariya. I'm sorry because I put you in danger," he said regretfully.
"No, Prince Arsh. W-It's not your fault," I said. It was not his fault and especially not his obligation to protect me.
No one likes what happened. No one saw Haya Kaira let me stay. Also, it's my fault too. I lost my temper at that time so Haya Kaira took the opportunity to shoot me. The young lady is as smart as my Mother. Then they will attack you when you turn your back and are unaware.
Speaking of Haya Kaira, where is she now? What happened to him and Queen Emily? If we are already in the palace, does that mean we have recaptured the Kingdom of Norland? Norland defeated Lacandia?
I can't help but smile.
"Did we succeed in reclaiming the whole Kingdom?"
He smiled and he nodded. "Yes, Zariya. Peace has returned to the Kingdom. With the disappearance of Queen Emily and Haya Kaira and the fall of Lacandia, even the traitors in the palace have died. There will be no more war because there is no enemy left. will try to overthrow Norland. Everything is peaceful."
There was no equal joy I felt in what he announced. I am happy because they reclaimed their palace. Evil cannot really defeat good.
King Valor has regained the throne! The whole palace was peaceful again.
I mean, I also succeeded in my mission!
Prince Arsh lost his gaze on me when he turned to my hand. So I also looked at my hand which is now numb. He touched it but I couldn't feel it, I couldn't feel anything in his caresses.
My two hands are black and swollen. Even my feet were starting to numb as well.
What's going on in my body? Is this the reason why I feel bad? Because of this inexplicable wound.
"The poison is spreading," he whispered, making me even more nervous.
"Poison?"
He nodded. “Yes, Zariya. Haya Kaira used poison with her arrow to make sure it really touched the person she wanted to kill.
Is that really how Haya Kaira is mad at me? That even without her, she still rewards me? But I can't blame her, she just loved and was blinded by the extreme anger that prevailed in her heart. But it’s still not reason enough to kill.
"Is there no cure for this poison?" I will ask. I could not help but fight the poison that was currently lingering in my blood.
Prince Arsh could not speak immediately. It still makes me wonder if he will answer my question.
I didn't even wait for the answer because I was alive when I thought of a way. "King Valor was also poisoned then and I was the reason why it healed. Because of my ability to heal, I cured the poison that was in his body. If so, I can cure myself too!" I have a bright idea.
That's right, only myself can heal me too. I will not waste any more time suffering from this disease. Fortunately, I was also blessed with strange powers like the Princes. After all, I'm really a Princess these days.
I was about to place my hand on my forehead when Prince Arsh took my hand and returned it to its former place. "You can't do that, Zariya. You shouldn't heal yourself," he restrained.
"Why not?" I have a question. My forehead furrowed because of what he said and did.
In fact, the poison would disappear immediately if I just touched my hand to my forehead while whispering in the air to heal me. The wound I received did not come from a higher position, so I will make sure that I can heal myself.
I was waiting for his answer but it still didn't move. He was like that before. I knew he wanted to say something but he forced himself to restrain himself from saying that.
"Prince Arsh?" my repetition.
He turned his gaze in the other direction. "Because when you do that, you will remain forever in this world."
Huh? What does he mean?
“Zariya, listen. You can’t heal yourself because I know you don’t want the result. You may regret it when you do.”
I was limited by what he said. In the words of Prince Arsh, my suspicion grew that he knew something about my mission.
"What do you mean?"
He still can't look at me. He remained silent.
"Trust me, Prince Arsh. What do you want to convey about me not being able to cure myself?"
At those times, it turned me on seriously. Take a deep breath first. "I know everything, Zariya. In the beginning, I already knew about your mission. Even before you set foot in the palace, I already knew everything and I just acted that I know nothing because that is what it takes to accomplish your mission. to change what happened in the past. I know you came from another world and landed here to fulfill the mission given to you by Tata Lucio. You are not the real Princess Amity, you are Zariya in the modern world."
I can not talk. I was shocked by his admissions.
He has known for a long time.
How? How did he know?
"Because I am the Prince who asked to have a second chance to achieve the peace that was denied us in the first life. Zariya, I am one of the reasons why you are here today. Only Tata Lucio fulfilled my request so you came here," he said again. He did not remove the stare from my eyes. "But now that our Kingdom has won and we have regained peace with your help, it may be difficult but I want you to be brought back to your real world."
Gradually I came to understand what it said.
He was the Prince in my dream before I came here, the Prince who asked before he took his life.
Prince Arsh!
"So you can't heal yourself because what will be in exchange for it is your lifelong stay in our world and we both know you don't want that."
But how is he? If I go back to the modern world, he will be left here.
If before, I would love to go back, but now I am hesitant because of Prince Arsh. I didn’t quite think I would end up at the point where I would have a hard time choosing whether to return to the modern world or stay here with him?
"You don't want me to stay here? You don't want to be with me anymore?" With every word I uttered, I felt pain.
"Not like that, Zariya. I really want you to stay but I don't want to treat you to your real family waiting in the modern world. We just borrowed you and now, it's time to bring you back."
"B-But how are you? How are we?" I couldn't stop sobbing.
He was determined to bring me back.
I will return to the modern world and leave him here.
He released the grip on my hand and took something from his pocket. He showed what he was holding, a necklace with a pendant of dried petals of a red rose inside a clear glass round shape.
He came over to me and helped me sit up. He helped me lean on the head board of the bed. He leaned over me and his face came even closer.
He arranged the necklace with a rose design and applied it to my neck. He slowly put it on me. "Zariya, the love I have for you is true. I love you not as Princess Amity, I love you in your true person. I love you as Zariya. And this necklace will be the symbol of the promise I will make it for the second time around." It also stopped for a few seconds and he just stared into my eyes before speaking again. "That anywhere in the world, any year, any human being, I will look for you and choose you over and over again."
He removed the herb that was applied to my forehead. Even a few strands of hair on my face he pulled out as well. He bowed even more towards me and applied the lip to my forehead.
"I will set you free now and I will wait for the right time, the right world and the right person to continue the story we started." His gaze dropped to my lips. It no doubt oppressed me with a kiss. "Zariya, I will look and look for you, I promise."
A smile drew on his lips after he kissed me.
"I-I love you too." I could hardly speak because the poison had spread quickly throughout my body. I am very weak now.
"Go back to your world, my love."
For the last time, I smiled at him. "I'll wait, Prince Arsh. I'll wait for you there."
Before I could close my eyes, I saw a bird enter the room.
Tata Lucio!
He flew round and round to the ceiling before it landed next to me.
At the same time as he landed, I lost consciousness completely.