THE KING'S HEALER

Roseline walked out of the bathroom and found her nanny straightening her bedsheets. 

Her hands were wet and she wiped them over the back of her night dress as she walked in.

"You're done" Nanny Hapitha said as she eyed Roseline while straightening the bed. 

Roseline only nodded and as soon as her nanny was done, she sat on the smoothly arranged bed. 

"Here. Made you your glass of milk already" Hapitha took up the glass of white milk which she had kept in a little tray and Roseline fauxed a smile as she collected it from her and gulped half of it's content. 

"Is daddy home yet?" She leaned her back against the wall and asked. 

"Yes dear. He should he in his room" Hapitha replied, her hand on Roseline's thigh. 

The 23 years old girl was having a saturnine expression and Hapitha didn't need anyone to tell her what was going on in that little head of hers. She's been her nanny for 21 years and had taken care of her since her mother died.

"Nanny.... would you happen to know why father prefers having me locked here?" Roseline finally let out the perturbing question in her heart. 

"Do you think he hates me?"

Hapitha sighed and lowered her gaze. 

"Dear, your father doesn't hate you - not at all. As a matter of fact, I think he loves you more than he did love your mother. Don't give yourself that impression, darling" she cooed. 

"So, why does he keep doing this to me?" She scoffed ruefully. 

"Ever since I was born, nanny, I've only seen the world twice. Just twice, nanny. And that had happened on my birthdays when I pleaded and pleaded with him.

"I can't mingle with people, I don't even know what it means to have friends, all I do is wake up in this God-damn building, eat , take lessons, and sleep. Is this the life he's planned for me, nanny? To make me grow old and die in here? Then, why didn't he just kill me from childbirth?"

"Roseline! Stop saying that, please!" Hapitha gasped. 

Roseline shook her head and allowed a short silence. 

"I understand how you feel, darling. But whatever it is, your father wants the best for you, okay? And I'm pretty sure you'll get your answers soon enough. Okay?" Hapitha said, but Roseline gave no response. 

"Darling, okay?" She asked again and Roseline only managed a nod. 

"You should get some sleep. It's pretty late already. Finish your milk". 

Roseline gulped down the rest of the milk before handing the empty glass to her. 

Then, she laid on the comfy bed and awaited her nanny to tuck her in as usual. 

"Goodnight" she whispered to her.

"Good night, nanny" came her thin reply and Hapitha, putting out one of the lamps in the room, finally left.

****************

Princess Martha paced restlessly on the corridor, her long sweeping the floor, her right hand at akimbo. 

Her best friend - Sally - was standing by, watching her.

"You need to calm down, Martha. Disturbing your head won't solve anything" she said. 

"Oh! Please, let me worry, Sally. Let me worry" Martha snapped. 

"My brother's in there at the brink of death and you're telling me not to worry? You've got to be kidding me" she scoffed and resumed her pace, walking tho and fro. 

Sally clamped her mouth shut and just decided to let her be. She could understand her condition and wouldn't blame her.

Well, they weren't the only ones waiting at the corridor. There were so many others, the guards, the King's brides, some members of the cabinet.....

They were all hopefully awaiting updates on the King's health. 

Shortly, they heard footsteps and turned to see it was the physician!!

Oh!! He was done 

Martha wanted to be the first person to run to him, but the members of the cabinet who were closer had overtaken her. 

"How was it, Lan? Was it successfully?" The King's closest advicer asked and everyone waited for the physician's response since that was the question they all wanted to ask. 

The physician sighed, having a glum look on and it was obvious something was wrong. Oh! Martha could feel her heart beating heavily in her chest. 

"I'm sorry but... the results are still negatively. I can't help" he replied and a wind of disappointement ran across the room. 

Martha placed her hand on her chest to prevent herself from having an attack. 

Oh creators! She was doomed! She was doomed! This was the 9th physician, yet there was still no solution. Her brother was going to die!

The other Kings would take over their Kingdom; they'd turn her into a slave because she's the only sister of their greatest enemy. Her life was going to become a mess. 

"Come on, Lan. Isn't there something you can do? Anything at all?" Another member of the cabinet asked but the physician shook his head sorrowfully. 

"Sally" Martha suddenly whispered her friend's name who was standing beside her 

"Y....Yes?" she answered, her voice sounding so heavy due to the news. 

Martha's hand was still over her chest and with her gaze on the floor, she muttered:

"Come with me". 

The two friends walked out of the little crowd and found their way to an isolated area. Sally was already thinking of a better way to console her friend, but surprisingly, Martha didn't call her to cry or whine on her shoulders. 

"I think...I might know of a solution for my brother" Martha said, looking around to be sure no one was closeby. 

Sally's eyes gushed with both curiosity and confusion. 

"Okay. What is it?" She asked and Martha took another beady look around. 

"Last night", she began. "I was going through some history books and noticed there were a set of people called Healers". 

"Healers?" Sally repeated. 

"Yes. They are people with special healing abilities and able to cure even the rarest sickness on earth". 

"Yeah... I've heard of them. But the healers doesn't exist anymore. The last one died 22 years ago". 

"Exactly - Clarissa. Clarissa was the last healer and she's dead - yes. But before she died, she had a child and there's been no record of the child being dead as well. So, it's possible.... her daughter would have the same qualities as her mother". The princess explained. 

"But Martha..." Sally scoffed. "Even if this is true, and this child exists, you know we can't use her to heal the King. You know what happens when a healer heals someone..."

"I know, but I don't think we have a choice, Sally". The princess cut in, devastated. 

"What? Are you crazy?? You really want to do that to your brother?" 

"I don't have a choice, Sally! He's dying!" She unconsciously yelled, unable to control her emotions. 

She sighed and tried calming her nerves, slowly. 

"I don't want to do this, Sally. But I don't have a choice. We need to get the healer. Please....." She winced.