SOPHIA
"You are free to refuse if it comes to that." He answered and at his response, i was escorted to the Queen's bedroom. I stepped in to find the other physicians there and when the guards told them what i had come here to do, they looked at me in disdain and resentment.
Well, it happens. They felt like i had come to take their position. They didn't want a competition. Stuff like this also happens at the hospital so i wasn't surprised. If only they knew that i wasn't in the least interested in taking whatever belongs to anyone.
I ordered everyone the leave the room except the Queen's handmaid and they all did. I took my time to examine her thoroughly. She was unconscious, laying still on her bed. It was hard carrying out tests without a stethoscope and other high tech medical materials that would've made my work easier but I didn't have a choice.
After minutes of checking, i came up with a diagnosis. It wasn't a hard ailment but they weren't advanced in medicine so how would they know? They didn't have drugs over here so i had to make them myself from scratch.
After making a list of everything that i would need, i gave it to the maid who immediately set out to find them. She brought the items hours later and i took my time to prepare them and when i was finished, i administered it to her. I did other necessary massages to relief the pain as the drugs did it's work in her system.
I didn't know how long i stayed there because i fell asleep a while after but by evening, i felt someone brush against me. I fluttered my eyes open to see the queen staring down at me. She had woken up. It worked. I shot up to my feet immediately.
"Good evening my queen." I greeted tiredly.
"Who are you and what are you doing here?" She asked and i glanced at her maid to say something on my behalf.
"She's the physician who nursed you to health my lady. Thankfully, you're all better now." She primped happily. "I'll go and inform the Alpha king now." And with that, she dashed out of the bedroom, leaving me alone with the queen. It felt awkward standing next to her and i could feel her eyes on me the entire time.
The door pushed open minutes later and the king entered her chambers.
"My lady, you're awake and well again." His voice sounded happy moreover relaxed. "I had thought that i would never see you again." He added and she smiled at him. While the talked, i took it as my cue to leave but he caught me right on time before i could make my way outside the room.
"Where are you going?" He asked shocking me. "I'm yet to give you my thanks for treating my wife. You have to be rewarded for your efforts."
"I don't think that's necessary your highness." I told him. "I'm happy that the queen is okay and that i could help. You don't need to give me anything. I'll arrange for some herbs to be administered daily for further improvement. Now, if you'll excuse me my lord."
Just as i was about to leave, the door pushed open and three men trooped into her bedroom in a single file. I froze when I recognized them and quickly hid my face behind my hair so that they wouldn't recognize me. The familiar pull that i haven't felt in almost a week came back but this time a lot more intense than before. It was them. The three men that i had escaped from. The men from the bathhouse.
My heart pounded loudly inside my chest as my forehead broke out in a sweat.
"Mother, you're okay now." I recognized that voice to be that of Jayden. It was softer and a lot calmer than the one he had used with me at the cabin the other day. So they weren't only brothers but Alpha princes? This is a nightmare. When Katherine was telling me about the notorious princes that lived in the palace, she was talking about them the entire time? I had thought that they were three regular men but all this time, i have been in the same pack as them?
I went through all that to escape only to be stuck in the same room with them? I need to find my way out of here and fast before they recognize me.
"Glad to see that you're back to full health now stepmother. You had us all worried." Liam spoke this time around and Noah chimed in. How do i still even recognize their voices?
"We heard that you were treated by another physician." Liam started and i shut my eyes tightly for what was about to come. "Who are they so that we can offer our thanks for nursing you back to full health."
"It's not a they. It's a young woman." Their father said and i bit down harder on my lips. "Come here my child, let me introduce you to my sons." He beckoned to me and with my head still down, i slowly approached them, careful not to let my face be seen.
"Thank you for treating my mother." Jayden spoke and i almost peed on myself. They were too close to me. "Have we met before? You seem strangely familiar. What is your name?" He asked suddenly but i didn't answer. How could i? They would definitely kill me if they found out who i was.
"Speak when you're asked a question my dear." Their father encouraged. "It is disrespectful to stay silent."
"Lift up your head and look at me." Jayden ordered and i wished for nothing but the ground to open up and swallow me whole at this very instant.
Scared of being dragged out and beaten to death, i slowly lifted my head to face all three of them. Their eyes shone in horror, flashing their surprise as well as their disbelief. Noah's mouth was practically hanging on the floor but i couldn't decipher Jayden's look. I know that he wasn't too thrilled to see me again.
I bowed my head at them again in greetings, pretending not to know who they were. "Good evening your highnesses. My name is Sophia and it's an honor to meet you all."