Malari grabbed her husband's arm and opened her mouth to say something, but he glanced at her and she remained silent. Of course, he knew what his wife was going to say and what she thought but if Opal is really his daughter, he'd rather her remain dead.
Railin walked over to the bed. "He'll let you go if you do this. Do you want to?" He asked Opal softly. She looked into his eyes for a few seconds before nodding. "Do as I said, Kai!" Kasian said quickly.
It took half an hour to gather everyone in Kasian's courtyard. The healer entered the room alone with Dasa and everyone else left. The healer looked at Opal's state and side. "I'm sorry." She whispered before pouring poison down her throat.
She untied the leather as Opal began to thrash around in the bed. With her weakened body, it hurt more than intended. Opal bit her lip in an attempt to stop herself from screaming out in pain.
Dasa couldn't do anything but watch from the side. After an hour of this, she grabbed the healer's arm. "What are you waiting for! Give her the antidote!" The healer shook her head. "Not yet."
"Then when?!" The healer remained silent and just watched Opal. Once she went completely still, the healer poured the antidote down her throat. Dasa didn't waste any time and untied her binds.
"If not for the peace treaty, you all would be dead." Dasa seethed as she moved the hair from Opal's face. The healer didn't say anything. She couldn't.
The next five days fell silent. No matter how much she was threatened and beaten, Dasa refused to leave Opal's side. Railin stepped in and told Kasian to leave, only then did the King behave himself.
Malari would come three times a day to spoon feed her, bathe her and dress her. Every time she would stare at the mark on the bottom of Opal's foot for some time absentmindedly, then leave.
Just like before, Opal woke up when Malari was bathing her. She looked at the woman silently. Malari felt the eyes on her and looked up. She smiled but didn't ask anything or say anything to her.
Malari covered Opal's feet and moved from the bed. "When can I leave?" Opal asked and Malari's heart dropped. "Once you can move on your own, I suppose." Opal nodded.
"In two days' time then." She said before closing her eyes. Malari picked up the basin of water and walked out. "She's awake?" Kasian asked. "She's gone back to sleep." She handed the basin to the servant nearby. "It's not her." Malari sighed deeply.
Kasian took a step back. "What? What do you mean?" He asked her. "The only thing she asked was when she would be able to leave. I told her when she's ready to move around on her own. She mumbled about two days and then went back to sleep. It isn't her."
Kasian scoffed. "Even though you all know it's her. You want me to let her go?!" Railin grabbed his shoulders. "Even if it really is her, she's lost her memories and has no idea who any of us are. Do you want her to hate you?" Kasian shook his head.
"It isn't her, Kasian." Railin patted his shoulder, held his wife's hand and walked out of the courtyard. Kasian fell to his knees. "A handful of days together and ten years apart. I really thought she didn't die and came back to us." He didn't cry but he didn't move.
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Five months later
"Two letters were sent out. He really isn't going to allow her to send us anything." Rain looked up at the sky. The children were born four months ago and although it was peaceful, the house felt empty.
There wasn't as much laughter as before. Now it was just grunts, thuds and the smell of blood from the children training. Sena, even though she wasn't talkative before, she became even more withdrawn from others. Sera, the chatterbox was silent as well.
When they weren't training or eating, they were practicing other skills. Weapon-making was their number one hobby. The children would gather in pairs at the largest smithy in the Capital on different days to train their skills. Varin and Soria weren't idle either.
They were training harder than the children, despite just giving birth, and were in and out of the Palace every day. Rain and Kain were the most hardworking, building up their power to fully encompass the entire Ojun Kingdom.
On this day, everyone was out of the mansion, so they didn't know there was an unexpected guest. The guards at the gates, glanced at the metal plaque and bowed deeply to the person holding it.
"Would you like us to inform the young masters and their families?" One of the guards asked. "No need, I'll wait." The guard bowed again and stepped aside as the gates opened.
Two people stepped through the gates and took off their cloaks. Nearby servants gasped in shock before rushing forward. "Madam! You're back!" They all had tears in their eyes as they looked at Opal. She smiled. "I'm back."
One servant wiped his face. "Go get the butler! Tell the kitchen to prepare food! Go and get a bath ready for Madam to relax!" He immediately took charge. Opal chuckled softly.
"Who is at home right now?" She asked him. "Madam. Only the youngest are at home right now. Would you like me to take you to see them?" Opal nodded. The servant smiled and directed Opal to the small courtyard next to hers.
"Young Mistresses have been staying here since giving birth. They wanted to be close to your yard. The youngest also seem to like it here. They don't cry or fuss." The servant explained as they entered the courtyard.
The wet nurses heard the voice and walked out of the room. They saw Opal and tears sprung to their eyes. "Madam!" They rushed towards her. The three women circled Opal, checking for any wounds or bruises.
"We were so worried." One of them said. "Have you informed the butler?" Another asked. "I'm here!" The butler rushed in. He knelt when he saw Opal. "Madam!" He cried out. "We were all lost without you!"
"Butler, the children are sleeping." Opal said and the butler nodded. "My apologies. I just couldn't control myself." He wiped his tears. "Madam, would you like me to inform the household?" Opal shook her head.
"No. I'll wait." The butler nodded. "Then I shall inform you once the bath is ready." Opal nodded to him and walked into the large room the wet nurses rushed out of.
Two large cribs were rocking slightly in the wind. Opal walked to the first one and two babies were looking up at her. They both had grey eyes. She walked over to the other one and the three were looking at her, two of them had white eyes with red fleck and the other had light blue eyes.
"Hello little ones." She spoke softly and they all smiled at her, as if knowing who she was. Opal smiled back at them. "It's good to be home." She whispered.