"You"ll have to put this in Zara's drink at the banquet," the spy said, handing Gwen a bottle.
Gwen looked at it curiously before asking, "what is it?"
"Stop asking so many questions Gwen, just do as I say," the spy answered looking slightly annoyed, and Gwen nodded.
ZARA'S POV
I sat in front of the mirror, and Carl helped me style my hair. I had asked Lia to do it but Carl insisted that he wanted to do it himself. He even applied makeup to my face and I was amazed at how perfectly he could do it.
"This is how you put make-up on someone," Carl said in a mock tone, and I smiled, knowing he was talking about the day I put make-up on him.
"You are the most beautiful woman I've ever seen," Carl complimented, and I blushed.
"You're only saying that because I am your wife," I replied and he chuckled.
"Zara, even before you became my wife, from the first time I saw you, I thought you were the most beautiful woman I've ever seen."
When he said that, I felt my heart throb in joy. My cheek also heated up, and I was smiling like someone who won a trophy.
"But you were very mean to me when we first met, how come you thought I was beautiful?"
"I know I was mean, but it doesn't change the fact that you were and is still beautiful. Now forget all that, and come with me," Carl said, stretching out his hand and I took it. he placed a light kiss, on my hand, before leading me to the banquet.
...
Many people came to the banquet to celebrate the coming of the heir to the throne of Everton. And each of them, both rich and poor, came with a gift, some of great value, and some, of little value, which they handed to Zara, wholeheartedly.
"My dear, fathers, mothers, brothers, and sisters, words can't express how grateful I am that you are here today to celebrate and share in my moment of happiness, to celebrate the greatest gift life has given to both me and Everton. Words can't express the joy I feel, knowing that soon, I'll become a father," Carl let out, a bright smile on his face.
He tilts his gaze to meet mine, "I'm going to make a toast. To my queen and the heir of Everton," Carl yelled, raising his cup of wine in the air.
"To queen Zara and the heir of Everton," The crowd, chorused and I smiled, also drinking the from my cup. But in my case, the wine was replaced with milk, because I couldn't have wine.
"Queen Zara, this is for you," a servant said, handing me another drink.
"What is this I asked?" Looking at the drink.
"Your majesty, it's something that will help both you and your baby," The servant said, smiling at me.
"My queen, I'll taste it to make sure it's safe," Myla who stood beside me muttered, taking the drink from my hand.
She took a sip, before passing it back to me. "My queen, you can have it, it's not poisoned," Myla muttered, giving me back the drink, which I collected and drank.
"Do you want to come with me to the garden?" Carl asked, leaning closer to me.
"Of course," I replied, taking his hands in mine.
...
Carl and I walked out of the banquet, holding hands and I felt a slight ache in my stomach, but I ignored it.
The reason I agreed to go to the garden was so I could be alone with him, and finally express my feelings. I want to tell him that I love him. Because for some reason, I was feeling uneasiness. My heart was telling me to confess already.
"Carl," I called, once we got to the garden. I held his hand, looking right into his eyes, which were filled with nothing but love and admiration.
"I want to say something," I muttered, taking a deep breath.
How hard can it be to confess my feelings, I told myself.
"Carl I just wanted to tell..." I said but was cut off by an ache, this time more intense than the first one and I groaned, holding my stomach.
"Zara, are you alright?" Carl asked, wearing a concerned look and I sighed, nodding my head, that I was. But it felt like my breath would seize at any moment.
"Carl, I love you," I blurted out. I felt like I needed to tell him before it was too late.
The look on his face was priceless, he looked shocked, happy, and at the same time worried.
"I love you, Carl. I wanted to tell you that day on the boat, I wanted to reciprocate your feelings, but I didn't know how to," I told him, my breath, coming out hard.
Carl grinned. "Zara, I'm so happy to know, you feel the same way, but I want you to tell me again after you feel better because right now, you don't look so well," Carl muttered, putting his arms around my waist to support me.
Argh! I yelled when the pain increased. This time becoming unbearable. It felt like there was something inside my stomach, squeezing my organs.
Argh! I yelled again. "Carl help me, help me, it hurts, please help me," I cried, holding my stomach.
Carl immediately lifted me in his arms, taking me back inside the palace.
"Carl, our baby, I don't want anything to happen to our baby," I let out in a low voice when I felt something dripping from my legs.
I couldn't take the pain anymore, I felt my eyelid, closing on their own, even though I tried so hard to stay awake.
I wanted to know what was happening to me, I wanted to know if my baby was safe.
"Carl, please hurry," I whispered, before finally succumbing to sleep.
CARL'S POV
When Zara screamed in pain, I wanted to lose my mind. My heart was in a state of turmoil, it was pounding so fast against my chest, and I was finding it hard to breathe.
"Zara," I called when she didn't say anything again.
"Zara, say something," I yelled, but she didn't reply. instead, I felt her body become stiff against mine and I almost stop breathing too.
I felt fear, a fear that I never knew I had, and it was threatening to consume, me whole.
"Zara," I called again, but this time, in a whisper, running toward our chamber.
Guards, I yelled and two guards came running. "I want you to get the royal physician immediately," I yelled, sweat dripping down my forehead.
"Zara, please say something," I pleaded.
...
Soon the physician came running alongside Catherine and the others. They all had worried expressions on their faces.
"Carl, what happened?" Catherine asked, and they all turned, giving me a curious look.
"I don't know Catherine, that's what I want the physician to tell me...
The physician examined Zara for a while, checking her pulse, and her mouth, then he turn to me.
I could tell by the expression on his face, that all was not well.
" Tell me, tell me what's wrong with my queen," I rasped, getting impatient.
"Your majesty, I'm afraid to say this," he muttered, looking hesitant.
"Just tell me," I growled, and he trembled.
"Your majesty, it seems the queen was poisoned," he blurted out, making everyone in the room gasp.
"What do you mean, she was poisoned? no, she can't be, no one would dare," I yelled, wheezing, my heart aching. I didn't want to believe what he just said.
"My king, you have to listen. Queen Zara was poisoned, and the poison used is a rear kind, called the purple Vine. The reason I even know it is because I've seen someone with a similar case and she didn't survive."
"Don't say that sir Thomas, don't tell me that. I know my Zara is going to live, she will."
The physician sighed. "My king, there is only one way the Queen will survive this and that is if you get the purple lotus."
"Then what are you waiting for send someone to go get it."
"Your majesty, it's not that easy to find because we don't have it here in Everton and I don't know if any of the other kingdoms have it. The only one I'm aware of is Neptune, you can find the purple lotus in Neptune."