Oh, poor thing! You feel horrible, don't you? Take it easy today.
Marble woke up feeling great. She was well rested and feeling extra warm and comfy next to Golden, who she stroked a bit with her hoof. She heard Golden start to groan and saw his eyes barely open. She knew something was wrong, that Golden wasn't feeling one hundred percent. The usual blush in his face was gone, leaving the pale white color. Marble was very concerned about her companion and worried about his state of being.
"Everything is spinning... And my head hurts..." Golden groggily complained.
Marble put a hoof on his forehead, "You're burning up! I better get the doctor."
The mare rushed out the door, not bothering to change out of her pajamas. She sprinted around the corner towards the infirmary and burst inside. There were a few nights, looking as though they were in a sickly condition. The one on the far right had a face colored dark green, as he vomited in the bucket sitting next to him. The one in the middle right was clenching his head due to what Marble assumed to be a terrible headache. The one on the middle left was groaning, his faced turned away from the door. The last knight was passed out into a hard slumber, belching occasionally.
"The princess isn't feeling well!" The assistant cried.
The doctor looked up from his magazine, "What seems to be the problem?"
"A headache and dizziness, sir."
He got up, "Take me to her and let me have a look."
The two made their way to her and Golden's room and the doctor entered, checking out Golden's vitals. Golden pulled the doctor close and began to speak.
"How drunk?" Golden asked, with Marble unable to hear.
The doctor softly whispered back, "You claimed you were male."
Marble was confused at the unheard interchange, but decided to shrug it off. She watched the doctor turn to her. She assumed the doctor was asking questions about his state of being. She felt it was, after all, a reasonable thing to ask a patient. She smiled at how considerate the doctor had been for Golden's headache.
"She should be fine by the end of the day." He assured her.
Marble's eyes widened, "But there's a bunch of requests she has to fill."
"I suggest a substitute princess, and I believe you are the only one qualified for that position, seeing as you are the princess's assistant." The doctor spoke.
She took a step back, "Me? Serving as princess for a day? You can't be serious, can you?"
"Quite." The doctor retorted before leaving the room.
Marble reluctantly put on a somewhat short frilly dress that had a small resemblance to the ceremonial princess dress. She put on the small tiara that symbolized her temporary position. She was now substitute princess Marble Fountain, taking Golden Glow's place for the day. The title sounded much more valiant in her head. Before she started to walk out, she heard another of Golden's groans. She walked over to the side of the bed and placed a gentle hoof on his cheek. She truly felt sorry for Golden in his miserable state, and hoped he would get better soon. For now, there wasn't anything she could do for him, aside from making him feel as comfortable as he could until his health returns.
She sighed, "Don't worry, I'll be the best substitute princess I can be until you're all better!"
"Please don't talk so loudly, Marble. My headache..." Whimpered Golden.
She whispered at him, "Sorry, didn't mean to..."
"Can you please close the curtains before you leave?" Requested the miserable stallion.
Marble pulled the curtains over the window, blocking the light coming through, "How's that?"
"That's great, thank you." Croaked Golden.
Marble smiled at Golden as she left and carefully closed the door. She proceeded to the dining room and ate her breakfast before moving on to the first rule of order: check on the senator. She proceeded down the corridor to the senator's room and knocked on the door. It opened, revealing a grey pony with red eyes, and blue hair that faded to green. Authority Figure wasn't exactly on the best of terms with Marble, after a particular indecent involving the dressing room a few days prior. She couldn't look him in the eyes ever since. Especially with the demeanor he had about the whole thing. She couldn't bear to interact with a pony like that for that long.
Marble's eyes narrowed, "You..."
"What about me?" Asked the stallion.
She glared, "I thought you were transferred back four days ago."
"Why would I have been?" He inquired.
She leaned in, "I don't like you..."
"I can't say that the feeling is mutual. I can say one thing that is, however. We both know the princess's little secret. Don't worry, I haven't told anypony. Though, if you have the mind to get me transferred out, I might not be so generous." Authority threatened, his voice lowering to a growl.
Marble's eyes widened, "You would betray Golden's trust?"
"Not if you don't try anything on me." He half-confirmed.
Marble walked away, looking behind her to see Authority grasping his head with one hoof and stumbling back into his dark room. She was confused as to why the stallion seemed to be displaying the same symptoms as Golden. She would get to the bottom of this. The royal duties would have to wait, as substitute princess, she would find out why Golden was feeling the way he was. That would be how she would fulfill her duties. She would solve the mystery of why the princess and senator were feeling ill.