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“Hmm?” I hummed, looking from her to Leo, who was staring at me with concern on his face.
“Are you okay? You’re… muttering, and glowing.”
I looked down at my hands to see them glowing golden around the mug I was still clutching in my hands. I frowned at myself, sitting forward and placing the mug on the table. If I had been paying attention, I would havenoticed that the mug I had just placed down was different to the mugs that my companions were drinking from. The floral patterns were missing and replaced with twisted vines.
“I’m fine,” I tried to smile, but it felt forced, “I think I’m just… exhausted. With the wedding.” I rubbed a hand over my face, extreme tiredness flooding through my body in a tidal wave.
Gracie nodded, and Alexandre patted my arm again.
“Go and rest, Your Majesty. We can catch up another time.” He smiled, but as I lifted my head to look at him, he did not look right. Something about his complexion was off, and the way his eyes were not soft, but sharp and calculated.
I nodded, holding his gaze for a second too long before standing from the couch and excusing myself.
~~~
I did not remember returning to my chambers.
The mid-afternoon light streamed through my window, and I groaned as I pushed myself up on my bed to the heavy thudding against my chamber’s door.
Sliding out from under my duvet, I put my feet into my slippers and stumbled to grab my robe. I had somehow gotten myself changed into one of my silken nightdresses, and the chill in the air bit my skin until Iwrapped myself in the comforting warmth of my robe.
The pounding on the door got louder as I hurried through the living area, shivering at the cool air compared to the warmth of my bed. Ripping the door open, I was met with Gracie’s concerned face, her cheeks flushed as she pushed past me into the living area.
“What have you been doing? I’ve been knocking for a half hour!”
She turned to look at me, her eyes wide and her hands dropping to her sides, nothing but exasperation on her face as she finally took me in.
“I’ve been asleep, Gracie.” I said around a yawn, rubbing my face, “What’s wrong?”
Gracie stared at me for a second, her eyes roaming my face before she spoke again, her eyebrows furrowing as she reached out, putting a hand on my arm.
“You look awful,” She said softly, and I laughed, louder than I had intended to, and reached up to pat her hand.
“Thanks, I feel it.” I moved to let myself flop down onto the couch, groaning as I did so. It was strange to feel hungover without having drunk any wine, but I wondered if maybe it was a delayed reaction to the wine from the wedding night.
Gracie sighed, sitting next to me, and pulling me into her side and letting me rest my head on her shoulder, runningher hand through my hair as she did so.
“Do you want me to cancel your plans for the day?”
I groaned out loud, nodding my head slowly as I did so. Gracie laughed lightly, patting my head.
“I feel as though I’ve drank several bottles of wine.” I grumbled, letting my eyes slip closed again. Gracie’s laugh was louder now, and I winced slightly at the intrusion of noise. “But I haven’t had any since the wedding, I swear. I drank water yesterday, and tea, but the water tasted weird, so I didn’t drink a lot of it.”
“You’re probably dehydrated,” Gracie nodded, sitting me up right and standing from where she had been sitting. “I’ll send for some food and water to be brought up, is there anything particular you want?”
“Pastry. Loads of it.”
Gracie nodded, a smirk on her face as she turned to leave the room. I let myself sink even farther into the couch cushions, staring at the fireplace that had not yet been lit and wondering if I would be able to do so without moving from where I lay.
Uncurling one of my hands from my side, I reached towards the firewood. A muted golden glow began to shine from the palm of my hand, and I frowned at it. Usually, when the glow came, it came strong and bright, but today it was as though someone had put a blanket over it. Like it was being smothered.
Using the technique Leo taught me, I reached into myself and tried to pull the string that attached itself to my magic, trying to wake it up, but the string stayed tight, unwilling to be pulled on.
Panic began to rise in my throat, and I tried my hardest to focus more on the fire wood in front of me, urging at least one spark to float from my hand to the wood. It did not have to light, I just wanted it to at least smoulder, but I was greeted with nothing.
Gracie pushed my door open again, carrying with her a teapot and two mugs, and being followed by two members of staff. One, I recognised, but the other had their head dipped low and I could not get a proper look at their face. They had dark hair that brushed around their elbows, and that was all I could make out.
“What are you doing?” Gracie asked, putting the teapot down on the coffee table. “I’ll light the fire, don’t worry.”
