chapter nineteen

[ IN WHICH SHE SPEAKS OF THE DEVIL ]

Feeling refreshed, I yawn myself awake.

I think it's safe to say that in one night, I went to heaven and back.

I'm comforted by the fragrance in the air as I'm awakened into the land of the conscious. Slowly fluttering my eyes open, I spot a maid standing at the edge of the bed, staring at me with a look of shock on her face.

I squeak, startled by her presence.

"Oh, my goodness. She's awake!" The maid screams, running out of the room with a bowl of warm water in her hands. "The Queen lives!"

Slowly, I sit up and a towel falls off my head. It's warm. Confused, I look around the King's chambers. Disgusted by the wet towel, I toss it across the room. Then, I look down at myself. I'm dressed in a loose fitting clothing, different from what I was wearing yesterday.

... [except it wasn't yesterday. i had been asleep for seven days— a week, most people thought i would unconscious forever] ...

My eyes rove around the room. Light seeps in through the