Family curse.

Nanee began lifting her dress and running down the stairs. Once at the bottom she threw off her shoes and looked at the Ren. "I'll only slow you down if I wear these." Sure she liked him, but she also saw how much he cared about the princess. Name wasn't the type of girl to ruin relationships. Being friends with him was just fine. Giving him a smile, she jerked her head towards the door. "Come on. We must hurry." Taking off, she threw open the front doors and began searching for the princess.

Ren followed the maid, his eyes peeled for Freya. He needed to make sure she was alright, after that scream. “Freya!” He called, hoping to hear some kind of response. Please, just be okay…

Ellie turned towards the doors, almost running into Ren with a yelp. "Ren, I've got her. She - she passed out, and I didn't - I'm taking her to the hospital wing," she informed him quickly.

Nanee nodded and also follow to the hospital wing. Nanee knew everyone who was in on the queen's antics. And with how Ren and Ellie were so concerned, she wanted to make up for the time that she was also hurting Fay. She never physically touched her, but she was there for most of the beating. Nanee was the one to clean Freya's wounds after the beatings, well she and one nurse. Freya would give her dirty looks almost as she were killing Nanee and anyone who hurt her in her head. All Nanee wanted to do was make up for the times she didn't help. "Ren, I think you should carry her." Sure, Fay have been light, but Ren was still a guy and could most likely get her there faster. No matter how much it hurt Nanee to see the Prince caring so much about another girl, Nanee had no right to do anything. Ren barely knew her, and if this would get rid of some of her Sin, then she would do it.

"I can do it," Ellie snapped, hurrying into the castle and towards the hospital wing. It wasn't exactly a challenge to carry a girl who weighed the same amount as a sack of flour.

"Ah, did I say something?" She looked to Ren, her hands close to her chest. Did Ellie hate her as well? No, impossible, but once she finds out what I did to her bestfriend, she will. Nanee followed after Ellie making sure to keep her distance. Her curly hair bounced with every step. Once at the hospital wing, a nurse came running over. The nurse Nanee was working with. "Princess Freya? Here I'll take her." She tried to grab Fay from the arms Ellie but Nanee knew better. "Ellie already told me that she has it. The nurse shot Nanee a look. "Fine."

Ellie set Fay on a bed and stepped back, rapidly tapping her finger against her arm. "Well, what's wrong?" She asked agitatedly.

"I'm sorry miss, but you literally just set her down, we need to examine her a bit." A different nurse said. While Ellie was talking to a different nurse, the one who glared at Nanee pulled her aside. "What do you think you are doing Nanee? Bringing her here, if something like this happens your supposed to take her to the queen." Nanee shrugged her off and looked her in the eyes. "I'm doing the right thing now. What the Queen has done to her if awful and I hate it." After that Nanee walked away and back to Ellie and Fay's side. "She dehydrated and she's not eating enough. I also heard she suffers from anxiety, she must have an attack. The poor girl, I wonder what triggered her." The nurse shook her head, "all she needs is a little rest." The nurse walked away to get some water. "So, um, are we all just going to wait here for her to wake up?" Nanee didn't see the point of three people being here with her.

Ren had followed diligently, worry covering his face. Freya looked so hurt and frail… what had happened to her? It made him want to write to his father, to beg to let him take Freya -and Ellie too, of course- to the Southern Isles so they could all escape a little. He had never seen such a screwed up royal family before—why on earth did the queen wish to hurt Freya so? Ren stepped aside to the corner of the room to give the nurses room to work, but worry covered every feature on his face.

Nanee saw the worry on Ren's face and tapped his shoulder to get his attention. "She'll be okay, she's a strong girl after all," Nanee said with a smile. I hope. Nanee was about 95% sure Fay would be okay. "She needs rest, so who wants to stay with her first? I figured we could take turns." Honestly Nanee thought she should be the first, with how Ren and Ellie looked, but they should have a say.

Ellie paled again. "She ha - " she abruptly closed her mouth. "I can - I can stay with her… or if you want to, it's fine, I - " she covered her face for a few moments.

"I'll stay with her. You two should get some rest." Nanee was now worried about Ren and Ellie as well. What have I gotten myself into? If she knew that the queen was going to hurt the princess this badly she wouldn't have just stood there. "Ellie, I'm sure Fay would want you to get rest, that goes for you as well Ren."

Ellie tapped her fingers anxiously. "I don't- I can't, I'm working," she shook her head quickly.

Ren glanced at the maid curiously, “What was your name?” He asked with a slightly raised eyebrow. She seemed so keen to help, yet she didn’t even know much about Freya probably. We need more people like that in the world…

At last Aurelie began to feel a tug towards the forest, walking slowly in order to go to the right place. She glanced back at the others. “I think my sword is leading us to them.”

"Ah, I'm Nanee, Nice to meet you." She bowed out of respect. It was rude of her not to introduce herself. "If you like to stay," She then spun around and looked to Ellie, "I'll gladly do your chores. I mean, I need to move around anyway, plus since I'm new it will help me out." Ellie, needed to stay with Fay, Nanee knew how much they cared for each other, it was obvious. "What would you like to do prince Ren?" For some reason, she wanted him to keep her company, ut that was ridiculous. She quickly got rid of the thought.

Ellie bit her lip. "Are - are you sure?" She asked uncertainly.

"Ah, I'm Nanee, Nice to meet you." She bowed out of respect. It was rude of her not to introduce herself. "If you like to stay," She then spun around and looked to Ellie, "I'll gladly do your chores. I mean, I need to move around anyway, plus since I'm new it will help me out." Ellie, needed to stay with Fay, Nanee knew how much they cared for each other, it was obvious. "What would you like to do prince Ren?" For some reason, she wanted him to keep her company, ut that was ridiculous. She quickly got rid of the thought.

“I should go, Edgar will probably scold me if I stayed here too long,” Ren said dejectedly. He wanted to stay with Fay, he really did, but Edgar already disapproved of the plan, no reason to stay and risk Edgar’s trust.

At last Aurelie began to feel a tug towards the forest, walking slowly in order to go to the right place. She glanced back at the others. “I think my sword is leading us to them.”

Emerald raised her eyebrows, a spark of hope in her chest. “I’ll follow you then,” Emerald said quietly, praying that they’d find more help.

"I'm positive." With a smile she held her thumb up and gave Ellie a wink. Nanee wasn't new to hard work, she's done it for a while, it started with a small house till she finally made it up to the castle. "Your bestfriend is bedridden, I think you deserve some time off." Nanee went and grabbed a piece of paper and a pen from one of the nurses. "Just write down your chores and I'll go get started immediately." Nanee turned to Ren and her face fell to the ground. "Would it be okay if I walked out with you?" Looking up through her eyelashes, she hoped he would say yes.

Ellie took a deep breath and started writing her list. It wasn't exactly short. When Fay had disappeared, Ellie head signed up for as many as possible.

“Yes, I could use the company anyways,” Ren replied passively, still looking at Fay on the bed. What if she changed? No, Ren was convinced she’d always be the bright girl just as when he met her. And one day everything would go back to the way it had been.

"Alright." Nanee took the paper from Ellie, shoving it in her pocket. "Bye Ellie." Nanee felt bad for her, and it was written all over her face. But most of all she felt bad for Fay. Nanee knew that this probably wouldn't make up for what she's done, but it was a start. She walked out of the room next to Ren, not knowing what to talk about anymore. Ask him questions. No, he doesn't seem to be in the mood. "Do you want me to go all the way to your room with you, or just to the main hall?" Invading his space was something she didn't want to do. He was hurting and she understood that.

Emerald raised her eyebrows, a spark of hope in her chest. “I’ll follow you then,” Emerald said quietly, praying that they’d find more help.

Aurelie led them into the forest, not sure exactly where in the forest they were going. She hoped that maybe the knight would just pop out from behind a tree or something. Maybe they’d happen to stumble into a clearing where the knight was…sitting? She tried not to overthink it.

Ren shrugged, “I don’t really care, to be honest. I… I’m a little lost right now, I guess,” Ren frowned more. He wished he could do more for Fay, he wished he could’ve saved her sooner. At least done something, rather than just sitting there like a useless sack of potatoes.

What can I say? Ren seemed so sad and it hurt Nanee. Be brave. She walked in from of Ren and held her arms out, she blushed but refused to look away. If he needed comforting then she would be there, even if he didn't know her well. "Prince Ren, if you need a hug, I can give that to you." That sounded weird. She stood there, with a red face, but with confidence, her eyes completely serious. "And if you don't one I completely understand." Although if you did high me, it would make my day. "I may just be a maid, but we are people first and I believe status doesn't matter when it comes to comforting people." A genuinely sweet smile was on her face and there was a sparkle in her eyes.

(Aw she's cute)

(Thanks!!)

Ren looked at her, his mouth parted and his eyes wide. He didn’t expect that at all. He was a prince, no one, no one, offered him a hug like this. But he didn’t have much time to even think about it before his legs and arms were moving and he met Nanee’s arms in a hug. Sure, she was just a maid. But he could tell her words were genuine as soon as they had left her lips.

Slowly she wrapped around his neck, although she had to stand on her tippy toes for that. Her heart started beating faster and she couldn't help but smile. Prince Ren is hugging me! Nanee internally squealed. She prayed no one would walk by and see them, because to most this would be inappropriate. But she was definitely not letting go before he did. "I'm sorry about Fay. She'll get better soon, I just know it." He was tall, handsome, caring, it was no wonder why the king chose him.

Fay slowly opened her eyes and looked around, she was a tad confused as to why she was in the hospital wing. But knowing her she probably passed put or something. "Wonderful." She sighed and sat up slowly. Fay didn't want to lay down, or sit for that matter. That's all she's done for a month, basically.

Ellie looked up and bolted to Fay. "Fay, are you alright? The doctors said you had an anxiety attack, and I was - I'm so - " She stopped and looked at Fay. "But are you alright?"