Disclaimer: I do not own Gakuen Alice and all its downright adorable characters.
Mikan slept fitfully the entire night, twitching and moaning quietly in her sleep. Half an hour after Izumi left, the nurse came back with the medicine and Michiko had to carefully assist the empress in drinking it as she would not wake up. The head attendant supported the empress while one nurse used a spoon to put medicine in her mouth as another massaged Mikan's throat to make her swallow even in her sleep.
The attendants spent their night wetting towels and patting it on the sick woman's body to cool her skin while the nurses spent theirs checking the empress's vitals. After six hours of sleep they once again repeated the painstaking process of making the unconscious woman take her medicine.
Before the sun had risen, Michiko gathered everyone and told them to make sure to keep everything as a secret and after receiving their word, made them leave before somebody sees them all bunched outside the empress's palace. Only one nurse, dressed as an attendant remained and kept watched at Mikan's still form. Michiko and the other attendants could only pray that no one will come to visit while their mistress is still unconscious.
They waited and waited for her to wake up until another six hours passed and it was time to make her drink the medicine again. Michiko was about to pull the empress up when, miraculously, the woman's hand twitched and her eyes fluttered open to reveal misty brown eyes.
"Mikan-sama!" Michiko exclaimed, taking the woman's cold hand and warming it with hers.
"Michiko." Mikan whispered, curling her fingers weakly around her attendant's hand. A tear fell from Michiko's eyes as she heard the empress's weak voice.
Michiko wiped her tears away as the nurse handed her the bowl of medicine and proceeded to help the sick woman drink it. After, she sent an attendant to inform the Yukihara clan that the empress has awakened and another to prepare food for Mikan.
"Michiko," Mikan called, feeling a lot better than earlier. "Get my kimono and help me get dressed."
The head attendant did as told and after a few moments, Mikan looks the same as she usually does except for her paler then usual skin and the discomfort and pain she's feeling.
"Mikan-sama," Michiko began in a worried voice. "Is this alright? Subara-sama said you must rest."
"Who knows of what happened last night?" the empress asked, completely ignoring her attendant's question.
"Subaru-sama and the nurses as well as your father were here last night, and of course, the attendants were also here." Michiko replied.
"If father knows, then mother should know by now. Did you send someone to my family?"
Michiko nodded. "Yes, Mikan-sama. I was ordered to send someone there once you regain consciousness."
"Good," Mikan sighed. "You are absolutely sure that no one else knows, right?"
"Of course, Mikan-sama." Michiko answered with certainty. At that moment, the door opened and an attendant entered with a variety of foods for the empress. Mikan sighed before picking up her chopsticks and started eating. After, the same attendant came back and took all of the dishes away.
"Michiko, send someone to Nobara's palace and tell her to come here." Mikan ordered, to which Michiko immediately obeyed.
After a few moments of waiting, the blue haired consort came and bowed to the empress before taking a seat.
"Mikan-sama," Nobara began, watching an attendant place a teapot and cups on top of the table. "You look a bit sick. Is something wrong?"
Mikan smiled at the other woman before picking up her tea. "I'm fine, Nobara, thank you." She took a sip and placed the cup down before continuing. "I actually called you here to discuss about the problems outside of the palace."
"By problems, do you mean the revolt that the upper clans are planning?" Nobara asked, taking a sip as well.
"Yes, it's good that you know. Well then, you should also know that if they all unite and revolt against the royal family, then Natsume-sama will be the one in danger, or more specifically, his throne will be in danger." Mikan paused, looking the woman straight in the eyes. "How many clans do you have an influence to?"
"Well, my family has always stood alongside the Hijiri clan, as well as the Amane clan, Matsudaira clan and we are pretty close to the Andou clan and the Harada clan as well." Nobara paused, thinking for a bit. "That's about it, Mikan-sama."
The empress sighed. "And I have the Hyuuga clan, Yukihara clan, Imai clan and a lot more actually. Do you think it will be enough to support Natsume-sama?"
This time, it was Nobara who sighed. "We can only hope for good things to happen, Mikan-sama."
Mikan reached over and took the Nobara's hand in hers, making the said woman look up in shock. "Do you remember the words I read to you when I appointed you as a consort?" At the woman's nod, Mikan continued. "'Be His Majesty's support and this country's pillar.' When our ancestors wrote those vows for the consorts, they did not just simply pick up a paper and brush and just wrote whatever came to mind. No, those words were thought and pondered upon. When I read those papers to you I remember your exact words, you answered, 'Yes, Your Majesty, I promise you. 'I will repeat my words to you then 'I pray that you will keep to your word.'"
Nobara smiled and placed her other hand on top of the empress's hand, grasping it tighter. "And I will repeat my words then, Yes, Your Majesty, I promise you."
MIkan smiled and opened her mouth to speak again when an attendant interrupted her.
"Mikan-sama, Yuka-sama is here to see you."
Nobara squeezed the brunette's hand before letting go with a smile. "I'll leave now, please get well soon, Mikan-sama." The gentle eyed woman said knowingly. Even with us here, Natsume-sama will definitely fall if he loses you."
The first consort stood and bowed once more before leaving the room. Mikan faintly heard an exchanged greeting between Nobara and her mother before latter entered the room.
"Mikan-sama!" Yuka exclaimed, rushing over to her before pulling Mikan into her arms. After a while the mother finally let go of her child and proceeded to feel her daughter's forehead. The empress just smiled before pulling her mother closer and hugging her.
A sob broke out of Yuka as she clutched her daughter to her chest. "What happened to you? Hm? Why did you suddenly got sick? Do you know how worried I was?"
Mikan smiled before pulling back from the embrace. "I'm fine, mother. You don't have to worry anymore."
"What do you mean 'I don't have to worry anymore'? Do you know how pale you look?" Yuka asked hysterically.
"Mother?" Mikan began. "Do you want me to have a peace of mind?"
"Of course, I do. Do you have to ask me that?"
"Then, tell the clan to support Natsume-sama. Tell them not to abandon him." Mikan pleaded.
Yuka sighed, taking her daughter's hand in hers. "You know how clans are, Mikan-sama. They don't just give you support, they make sure that it will benefit them and with Natsume-sama continually ignoring you, I have no doubt that supporting him is the last thing on their minds."
Mikan squeezed her eyes closed in distress. "So they really plan on abandoning us?"
"No, they will never abandon you, Mikan-sama."
"If they plan on abandoning my husband, they have as good as abandoned me because I will never leave his side." Mikan snarled before releasing an involuntary gasped when her chest tightened in pain.
"Mikan-sama!" both Yuka and Michiko, who was sitting in the corner of the room, exclaimed.
"Get the nurse!" Yuka ordered before assisting her daughter to a lying position.
Once inside, the nurse immediately went to the empress's side and took her pulse rate. "Please refrain from talking about thing that may distress Mikan-sama. Stress is dangerous for her right now."
Yuka nodded once before covering her daughter with a quilt. "Please rest now, Mikan-sama. Rest and relieve yourself of pain even temporarily." The mother whispered.
A tear fell from Mikan's closed eyes as she felt all her pain and sufferings strangle her.
'Please give me rest.'