A tear slipped down her cheek. When was the last time they'd shared a bed? The last night they acted as husband and wife? Where was he now? Shouldn't he be chasing after her, telling her she was wrong? Couldn't he spare a single minute to follow her and take her in his arms; to tell her she was the love of his life and he'd do anything for her? Like he used to.
Her body slammed into another as she rounded another corner. Eya stiffened as her eyes flashed. "Watch where you are going, servant!" she snapped, stumbling back a step and straightening to try and hide her embarrassment before even registering the woman in front of her: a slightly younger woman with hair and eyes that matched her own.
"Eya!"
"Essa?" Eya looked over her sister before her body slumped forward and she yanked Essa into her arms, pressing her face against her neck. "Oh Essa! I am so glad to see you! What are you doing here?" Eya pulled away, hands on Essa's shoulders as she looked her over. She couldn't help but notice the slightest look of panic in her sister's eyes, but it disappeared so fast Eya could only consider it a trick of her sight.
"I... I came to see you." Essa smiled softly, rubbing her hand over Eya's arm. "It's been a while since we spent some time together and I started to worry about you. You know how the palace scares me, but I know you've been so down lately and I wanted to give you a hug after the messages you sent me yesterday."
"It's been awful," Eya groaned, hooking her arm around Essa's. "Thank you for coming. You don't have to stay long, just a little while for me. I had a fight with George this morning." She sighed, leaning against her sister's body slightly.
"Again?" Essa shifted under her sister and glanced towards the corner Eya came from. "What happened? You messaged me earlier this week and said he still had the headache. Is it still bothering him? How long has it been now?"
"Over a month, I think. It seems to get better some days, but it won't go. Do you think maybe that's what is making him like this? I thought, well-" Eya stopped and looked into her sister's eyes. "I thought things would get better. After I messaged you last night about our argument, he seemed to be sorry and he kissed me for the first time in weeks. This morning, I thought maybe... maybe things were going back to normal, but he said I was the last of his worries." Another tear broke free and ran down Eya's cheek, though she quickly wiped it away.
"George said that?" Essa squeezed Eya's arm, horror and sadness playing across her face. She shoved a strand of hair behind her ear and swallowed. "Eya, I-"
"Excuse me." A servant broke her sentence and tried to slide past the two women. As he spoke, his arm brushed against Essa's and she jumped with a small yelp.
"Oh! Oh... oh yes, sorry," Essa murmured, shifting out of the way.
"How dare you!" Eya turned to the man reaching to grab him as her sister gently touched her shoulder.
"Eya, please. Don't worry about it. I'm just nervous in the palace, you know that. It's not his fault."
"He shouldn't-"
"Eya," Essa insisted, and the queen relaxed, waving her hand dismissively to the servant who dashed away before she could change her mind. "It's alright. You shouldn't be worrying any more than you already are with everything happening."
Eya sighed and nodded. "For you. You look like a mess. You shouldn't be stressing yourself so here. Maybe you should go home and I'll message you soon, how is that?" She tapped the band on her wrist which lit up with a small holograph holding names.
Essa took a shaky breath. "I think I'll get myself a glass of water from the kitchens first."
"I can come with you before I get Kia."
"No, no it's alright," Essa insisted, offering a gentle smile as she patted Eya's hand. "Go get Kia. It's already late into the morning and I'm sure she misses you. I'll get some water and be on my way. I'll send you a message soon, alright?"
"Are you sure?"
"Positive. Go get your daughter and don't worry about me. I'm supposed to be cheering you up, remember?" Essa laughed softly. "Not making you worry more."
"Alright, alright," Eya chuckled, her gaze softening before she pulled her sister into a hug. "Take care of yourself. I'll keep you updated."
"Good, you know I'm always here for you."
The day weighed heavy on Eya as she made her way through the hours, her mind wandering to George's words. Did he truly mean what he said or was it just an effect of the headaches and distance? Surely there was more to this. Perhaps she should suggest the royal doctor come by and see him?
However, despite all on her mind, Eya chose to offer Kia her time and what she could of her heart and mind. Why make her beautiful daughter suffer for what George did? Kia was a charming seven-year-old, with her bright eyes and blonde hair. In a way, Eya saw Essa in the child, and it made her feel all the more protective. Why put the burden of her father on her? No, she couldn't do that. She couldn't allow him to affect her in any negative way. Perhaps when she was older, Eya would raise the child to be more independent and learn to stand up for herself in a world of neglectful and disrespectful men.
The child relished the day in the city as Eya allowed her to enjoy the market along the outer palace walls. The queen shied away from the commoners, enlisting the help of two guards to keep the area around them clear and spacious. Not that Kia seemed to mind, instead giving Eya quite the headache every time she tried to scamper off at the sight of another child. And every time, Eya pulled Kia back beside her with a stern word. The moment never seemed to ruin Kia's attitude, however, and a smile bounced back on her face with every new thing to look at.
After ordering lunch in the city and taking an afternoon ride along the motorways, Eya returned to the palace with an exhausted but happy Kia. It was a small balm to the woman's soul, offering her child what she wanted from her husband: attention and love. The smile on the little girl's face was irreplaceable as Eya tucked Kia into her bed, lifting the warm blanket over her and gently pushing it under her body.