The next morning, I quickly got up and headed for the lab. I had everything I needed for the proper antibiotics. If I were to complete this today, the infected citizens would feel better. As soon as I walked into the lab, an unknown person was already there. She wasn’t someone I recognized and I usually keep track of everyone who entered the lab. I didn’t want people who knew nothing about the medicine I’ve been developing to enter the tent since it could cause damage if they ever put in the wrong ingredient.  “Excuse me but who are you?” I asked her. She had her back facing me and as soon as I spoke, she immediately stiffened up. I had a bad feeling in the pit of my stomach. No one else was around the lab and no one apart from this stranger was in it. Something was d

“Hima?” I heard someone’s voice behind me but I couldn’t focus on that. I was too devastated to even care about who called my name. My tears wouldn’t stop and I felt really bad about what just happened. I suddenly felt a pair of hands holding me up. I wiped the tears out of my eyes and I looked up. I saw Prince Shiro’s concerned face. He must’ve heard the commotion earlier and he immediately came here. I turned to him and hugged him as tight as I could as I let all of my frustrations out.  “It will be okay, Hima. They’ve caught the unknown woman.” He informed me. I was comforted by his words a bit. Knowing that they caught the perpetrator made me feel a little bit at ease. I wanted to know who wanted to sabotage my hard work. I wanted to know who made her do what she did. It was okay if the people who wanted to hurt me would just target me, but innocent lives were at stake, I couldn’t just stand by a

“Remove her hood.” I ordered the guards and they complied. They entered the cell and pulled back the hood revealing her face. I didn’t know who she was but she did look familiar to me. She looked at me, there was a mix of fear and anger in her eyes. I could already tell that she did this to ruin me. She was angry at me, but for what reason? I tried thinking of all the enemies I’ve made.  There was the incident back in our Empire, and there was that one time I uncovered a slave trade although I doubt the people operating that slave trade knew I was the one that tipped off the guards. I looked at her again and I felt something familiar with her. I just couldn’t put a finger on it. She looked at me and she smirked as if she had the upper hand even though she was caught and now she’s in jail. 

“How are you so sure? I’ve destroyed everything. You have no medicine left to treat the infected citizens. Their deaths will be on your hands and the people of this Empire will turn on you and sentence you to the most gruesome death.” She said confidently. I shook my head seeing as I wouldn’t be able to get a proper answer from her. She wants to humiliate me and make me suffer but for what? I tried to think about where I’ve seen her face before. I knew she was familiar but I just couldn’t remember where I saw her. Before I left, I decided to ask her once more. 

“You will suffer the way we suffered!” She screamed as she aggressively shook the bars of her cell. This further solidifies my suspicions on who she could be working for. If that were the case then maybe the Empress still has her minions out in the open. But for them to follow me all the way here and cause trouble for this Empire, if they were to be found out, I don’t know what will happen. That could really cause a war between the two Empires. I can’t let that happen.  “Make sure she doesn’t try anything funny and always keep an eye on her.” I instructed the guards when I was on my way out. As soon as I walked out, Prince Shiro was waiting for me. He immediately walked closer to me and wrapped me in his arms. I felt his warmth and it made me feel slightly better.