Bab 2. Switch

Princess Nathania faced a large mirror, looked at herself from head to toe, then muttered to herself "Like Nathan," she smiled.

Come to think of it, she had not seen Nathan's smile for several days. Since he was unconscious three days ago, Prince Nathan had not yet awakened.

"Thania wants to meet Nathan," she thought, she quickly took a step out of her room, after the queen, Diana, Jia and Helena left her alone in this room 30 minutes ago.

Princess Nathania walked slowly, creeping up as if avoiding something. She felt strange about herself, without her long hair and the dress she used to wear. However, now she had to wear boy's clothes.

"Prince Nathan?" Someone called her from behind. This woman's voice, which was loud and slightly hoarse, was no stranger to her ears

"Aunty Rekha?" Asked Nathania awkwardly, after shyly she turned her head towards the woman.

"Aren't you sick? Why hang around here?" Asked the woman named Rekha as she walked over to Nathania.

"Ehm...that, Thania- Nathan-" she said nervously, she looked down, thinking about what answers she could give, if she suddenly met someone like this.

"Are you all right?" Rekha bowed, her face became very close to that of Princess Nathania. Of course, Nathania, who was easily nervous, became even more terrified when she looked closely, she immediately became embarrassed.

Princess Nathania looked down, suddenly her head returned to remember her mother's message about 30 minutes ago, which asked her to stay in the room until her mother returned. Because of this, she has not been given any instructions to give answers to people who ask her. Because what everyone knows, Prince Nathan is still lying weak in his room.

"N-Nathan-" she answered haltingly, her legs trembling. Moreover, this woman continued to stare at her like that, making any child afraid.

"What happen, Rekha?" Someone came back, of course because this alley was a common place for people to pass by.

"Lady Valerie, I met Your Highness Prince Nathan!" She said and finally she took her scary face away from Nathania.

"Prince Nathan?" Lady Valerie asked, she walked while looking at the figure of a small child who stood terrified in the middle of the hallway on the second floor of the Sapphire Palace.

"Yes, I wonder why Prince Nathan is here? Isn't he sick?"

"Are you all right, Your Majesty?" Asked Valerie, smiling a little with her eyes cynical.

"Ehm...yes-" she replied, cold sweat began to flood her body.

"What are you doing in this place? Aren't you still sick?"

"Nathan!" Queen Alexandra appears from a distance, after seeing Valerie who she calls 'that woman' approach her son.

"Mother?" Princess Nathania immediately ran towards her mother to save herself from the attacks of questions that she didn't know the answer to.

"What are you doing here? Didn't you tell me to stay in the room until you came back?" She asked in a low voice so that the two women couldn't hear her.

"Sorry Mother, Thania wants to meet Nathan," she replied.

"What did you do to my son?" Asked Queen Alexandra, her piercing eyes directly attacking the two women who she knew always had a plot to overthrow her.

"We didn't do anything, Rekha saw him walking in the hallway and asked what was he doing? because what we know, Prince Nathan is sick. Is that right, Rekha?" Asked Lady Valerie who always spoke with a raised chin.

"Nonsense, if I see you guys approaching my son again. I will not hesitate to destroy the two of you!"

"To be very frank, Alexandra. I mean, Her Majesty The Queen Alexandra. But, take it easy, it won't happen again. Excuse me, Your Highness." She said.

"Oh I forgot to say. Today His Majesty asked me to accompany him for a walk, it seems, since Prince Nathan got sick and the queen rarely spent time together, King has become very lonely," she said as she passed.

Queen Alexandra grabbed Princess Nathania's shoulder firmly, she endured annoyance and anger whenever she met her.

"Mother? Why is Prince Sam's mother here? Do they now live in the Sapphire Palace?"

"No dear, they can't stay in the Sapphire Palace because this is our home, they have no right to set foot in this place!"

"But, Thania is happy if they stay in the Sapphire Palace, because Prince Sam has three younger sisters, we can play together!"

"No, Nathania, you can't play with those kids, you are not the same as them, we have different level, my dear. Do you understand?"

"What are level?" She asked innocently.

"It lies in you, Prince Nathan and they are different. Now, I ask, what are you doing here? Didn't I ask to you to stay in the room until i came back?"

"Because Thania wanted to meet Nathan, has Nathan been awake, Mother?"

"Nathan is not up yet, my dear. You can't see him yet. It's time for dinner soon. I will ask Helena to help you take a shower and get ready. We're going to have dinner with the King, so you have to be really good, got it? "

"Thania understands." She replied, nodding.

"Come on, I take it to your room?" Said Queen Alexandra, holding her daughter's hand.

***

King Roderick enters the family dining room with the Queen Mother, Margaritha. Meanwhile, Queen Alexandra and Princess Nathania had already arrived. Even though she was nervous, Queen tried to be as normal as possible in front of the King and his Mother.

"Have you come first, Alexandra?" Asked the Queen Mother with a cold smile, it was obvious that she didn't really like her daughter-in-law.

"Forgive me, Your Majesty. Because I helped Prince Nathan to get ready after several days of not having dinner together," she replied, looking at Princess Nathania who was standing beside her.

The king looked at the child's face, without the expression or emotion he should have shown as a father.

"Are you healthy?" Asked the king. Princess Nathania gasped at her father's question, it could be said that her father rarely spoke to her. Before giving an answer, Nathania glanced at her mother and hoped for help as she was really very nervous.

"Prince Nathan is well, this morning, he is getting better," and finally, it was the Queen who answered.

"Thank God. Then, if Prince Nathan doesn't get well, maybe you're the cause, Alexandra!" Said the queen mother while sitting on the chair that had been prepared for her.

"Never mind, let's eat!" Said the King. Several servants immediately served dinner on the table.

Princess Nathania bit her lip, she felt like something was missing. It's strange, why doesn't anyone ask about Princess Nathania.

"Father!" She exclaimed suddenly. Everyone turned to her at once, because all this time they knew, Prince Nathan had never called his father 'Father' but 'Your Majesty'

"Prince Nathan?" The queen immediately glanced at Princess Nathania who was sitting beside her.

"What's wrong, Nathan?" Asked the king, although a little surprised, but he chose not to sweat small things like that.

"Why don't you and Grandmother ask where is Princess Nathania?" She asked with an innocent face and without the slightest fear of her question.

"You're right, so where is your sister?" Asked the king again.

"Princess Nathania is sick, she sleeps in her bedroom. Right, Mother? " The queen who was asked such an unexpected question immediately became nervous. Indeed, she had explained to Princess Nathania that at this time, she and Nathan had switched places. However, that didn't mean she had to tell the king that Princess Nathania was sick right now.

"So, they get sick alternately, Alexandra?" Asked the king with his cold face and deep frightening voice.

"It's funny to know that, but it looks like your offspring are weak!" Queen Mother said. Queen Alexandra was silent, she held the spoon tightly in her hand, holding back her anger.

She has been understanding for nearly eleven years living with people who hate her. With the fact that her marriage to her husband is only a political marriage, not love.

***

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