Let's go our separate ways

Part 20

Closing the door on them after this sentence, Flos leisurely walks back to the side of the room where the tray is placed to start brewing medicine. The King is still staying by the Queen's side, but he can vaguely see what Flos is doing and questions her about it, "Do you brew the medicine just like this?"

"I can do it like this so I will do it like this," Flos responds blandly, picking and mixing up the contents she takes out from her item box into the water jug without looking carefully at what she chooses, which also puts the King on edge too

What if there is something weird mixed in that medicine that causes Queen Viola to suffer?

Finally, to end the creation of the medicine, Flos throws in a red petal which then dissolves in the water. Holding up the water jug, that has become teal in colour, Flos sways the jug lightly so the contents will blend nicely. Afterwards, Flos puts down the water jug on the tray and pushes the tray to the Queen's side.

1st, Flos pours the water into a cup and takes out processed cotton from her item box to the King, giving the still handsome and young old man in his late 30th an instruction, "Dip the cotton in the water and damp Her Majesty's lips,"

As far as May-Day know, the toxin is ingested into Her Majesty the Queen's body, yes, but the poison is more concentrated on the lips. This means the poison is ingested by Her Majesty unknowingly from something which she applied to her lips. Through the Queen's lips, maybe the King can also be poisoned, but he is perfectly fine.

"Viola's lips are still dry," the King keeps damping the Queen's lips using this medicated warm water but it doesn't seem like it helps much

"Don't stop doing that," aside from detoxifying from the inside, they also need to clear the residue of poison on Her Majesty's lips. On this matter, Flos has a proposition, "Why don't you give me both favours and money, so aside from treating Her Majesty, I will also find out the source of the poison? Not the origin, but the thing which is used to poison Her Majesty,"

The culprit can be pinpointed but the source is still unknown. It's okay to give money, as for favours... "You give me your pledge and I will give you my promise,"

Oh? Not bargaining anymore? Flos respects King Ray a little more for his willingness to sacrifice for Queen Viola's sake. Flos herself thinks she won't ask for too much trouble in her favour, but it all depends on the situation she is in.

"After Her Majesty recovers, we will send her to her room," Flos goes back to her seat, "I will find the poison then,"

"The poison is in our room?" King Ray pauses in his work to growl threateningly at this possibility

"There's a chance. I have a clue, but I need May-Day to confirm," Flos does not regard that growl as meant for her so she is not scared of the King who suddenly becomes dreadful, "Back to work, Your Majesty. Take care of Her Majesty properly,"

Silently, King Ray resumes dampening Queen Viola's lips. This young woman from the countryside, although her mouth calls him His Majesty or Your Majesty, there is no respect at all. Before, he would have thrown someone like her out for this blatant incivility. Now, he doesn't care anymore.

Has Ray gotten used to Flos so quickly? It's all because her attitude hasn't changed at all since they met. Still with that disinterested and vaguely sly behaviour when facing him. At least, although there are hidden agendas and conditions attached, she genuinely strives to save Viola.

Flos is such a contradictory person.

King Ray and Flos then pass the time in silence. They are not sure how long has passed, but after a look at the still unconscious Queen, Flos stands up. The King glances at her briefly before ignoring her. Flos doesn't care about the King either as she takes the cup of water nobody drinks on the table to the tray, opening her item box to take out a red petal from a package to dip in the water, warming up the drink again.

"When Her Majesty wakes up, let her drink this," Flos put the warmed up cup of water on the table behind the King, "To warm her body. I imagine Her Majesty must be feeling cold right now,"

The King nods silently as he anticipates the Queen's awakening. It is his greatest fear: what if the Queen no longer opens her eyes?

If Flos knows King Ray's anxiety, she will say: Queen Viola really could pass away just like that in a few days after fainting suddenly.

But now that she is determined to save her backer, Flos will make sure Queen Viola will wake up to see her beloved every day. My, how can Flos be so good?

Before the warmed up cup becomes cold again, May-Day retrieve their roots and detach themselves from Queen Viola's wrists. Flos looks at them faintly, feeling their satisfaction after consuming all the toxins in Her Majesty's body. With this, Her Majesty is officially detoxified.

King Ray waits with anxiety for Queen Viola to open her eyes again. On the other hand, Flos pours another cup of water from the water jug for Her Majesty to drink once she wakes up. After Her Majesty drinks the normal water Flos prepared beforehand to sate her thirst, the Queen needs to drink this medicated water too. Staring at the 2 cups of water on the table, Flos has a thought.

Before sending Her Majesty back to her room, maybe a trip to the bathroom is in order?

May-Day float to Flos's head, following her movement without landing. Since they are not bothering her, Flos ignores them. Flos looks around the tray and the table, also the King and the Queen, then starts tidying up her item box.

As Flos reminds the King again to feed 2 cups of water to the Queen later, May-Day then plunge into Flos's hair, braiding her hair back in shape. This time, instead of the usual long braid, they tie the braid into a bun on the back of her head.

Feeling creative after a satisfying meal, huh? Not that Flos disapproves.

It seems like Her Majesty the Queen has a hard time waking up. Although she shows signs of regaining consciousness, as her eyelids keep moving, she does not wake up.

"What's the matter?" the King has put aside the cotton and medicated water for damping the Queen's lips. King Ray brushes Queen Viola's bangs aside as he calls in apprehension, "Viola?"

Flos, at the side, wonders without a basis, "Is Her Majesty having a nightmare?"

Nightmare? King Ray knows what to do. Moving closer to Queen Viola, the King gives his Queen a kiss on the lips. The kiss tastes like medicine.

Queen Viola opens her eyes then, to see King Ray licking his lips as he hovers above her, not noticing that she has regained awareness. Smoothly closing her eyes, Queen Viola pretends to be unconscious again.

Flos doesn't know why Queen Viola closes her eyes again, but she asks King Ray, "Why did you do that?"

The medicine is a bit sweet, "Hm?" King Ray glances at the young woman, "What?" recalling why he tastes the medicine, King Ray belatedly explains, "Oh, it's to chase off the nightmare,"

"Is it feasible?" Flos also wants to have someone to chase off her dreams too; they are annoying at times, causing her to cry every time

"Only because I am the King of the Sun Kingdom," King Ray squints his eyes at Flos, warning her, "I will not do you this kind of favour,"

"I don't want this kind of favour from you either," Flos scrunches up her face in disgust

This young woman from the countryside is disgusted with him?! He should be the 1 who is disgusted with her!!!

Sensing King Ray is about to have a temper with her guest, Queen Viola slowly opens her eyes as she grasps King Ray's hand, alerting him of her awakening. Distracting King Ray's focus from Flos, Queen Viola smiles at her husband, "Thank you,"

"Viola!" King Ray cries out in happiness, grinning brightly with his eyes tearing up from sheer relief

Flos looks at them without shying away, as they show affection for each other. It is more of King Ray showing affection since Queen Viola is still bedridden, and weak from the aftermath of detoxification.