After a ridiculous amount of weeks being stuck in bed, Lona finally gave me enough space to sleep by myself. She had been weirdly clingy these last few weeks. Maybe even more so than my own father.
I laid in bed staring at the ceiling in boredom. Lona sat next to me reading her book with a stoic face. I wanted to scream each time she flipped the page.
"Lona. When can I go back to school?"
"The doctor said maybe in a month if you stay in bed."
"A month?! Lona that is ridiculous! I haven't even coughed in a week. I'm obviously fine now."
"The doctor says you're not."
I crossed my arms in irritation, "Who cares what the doctor says? He probably doesn't know sh*t."
She glared at me, "Watch your tongue. He's the most prized doctor in the Kingdom. If it wasn't for him, you would probably be dead."
I whined, "Buuut Lona! He has such a creepy mustache. It freaks me out."
The doctor had a mustache that was two fine lines and it really didn't suit him. It just made him look creepy. It was almost like his lips had eyebrows.
Lona nodded, "Yes. His mustache is rather odd."
That night, Lona made sure to trick me into taking my medicine once more. I don't know how she got so good at fooling me. I really need to watch out for her in the future.
After I took my medicine, she left my room and told me goodnight. I pretended to close my eyes and fall asleep until I heard the door close. I waited to make sure I no longer heard anymore footsteps, then jumped out of my bed.
I lifted up the floorboard where I stored my secret collection. I pulled it out and sighed. I had read these so many times. I needed something new. Although, right now I am unable to travel to the red light district so I will need to wait.
I spent a few hours rereading some of my books. I heard a quiet knock on my door and looked up.
Who is knocking this late at night? It's almost three in the morning! Maybe Lona knows I'm not asleep and came to yell at me.
I quickly put my books back in their hiding spot and covered it back up. I heard another knock.
Wow. Super impatient much?
I walked over to the door and opened it. A familiar set of golden eyes was on the other side, staring at me. I quickly shut the door.
Surely I've lost it. There's no way he could be here...
I heard another knock on the door. I flung it back open, grabbed the idiot child by the collar, and threw him inside.
I looked in the hallway and made sure there was no one else lurking. I closed the door quietly and turned to look at him. I pinched the spot between my eyebrows.
"Please tell me I have died or hit my head so hard I'm hallucinating."
"No. I'm real."
I looked at Dante with a scowl. I made sure to whisper, "Then can you please explain to me why you are prowling around in my house?"
He whispered back calmly, "I'm not prowling."
"Oh? Did you get permission by my parents to come here IN THE MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT?"
"..."
"Dante."
He answered, "I did not."
I groaned, "Don't you realize how dangerous this is?"
"I'm not worried."
"You sure? You really aren't worried that my father will find you in my room this late at night?"
"..."
I giggled, "I wonder what he would think..."
He looked to the right, "I'm not worried."
I chuckled and covered my mouth in an attempt to be quiet. "Dante. Do you realize that whenever you lie, you look to the right?"
He looked to the right, "No I-". He stopped himself quickly.
I sighed, "Whatever it's not important. More importantly, why are you here?!"
He looked at me calmly, "To check on you."
"Check on me? Couldn't you have just asked my father if you could come over like a normal person?!"
"We did. He refused."
I looked puzzled by this, "Why would he refuse?"
"He thought you would get more sick. Queen Luna was also worried that William would catch it so she agreed with him."
"I guess that makes sense. But, aren't you worried you might get sick?"
"No. My body is much stronger than yours."
I rolled my eyes, "I don't think it works like that. So why did you personally decide to come?"
"William was irritating me. He kept asking if you were alright. So I decided to visit to shut him up."
I smiled coyly, "Oh? Weren't you also concerned for my well-being? I bet you were going crazy trying to figure out if I was alright."
He glared at me with that sadistic look of his.
I jumped back in response, "Ack! What is that look for?!"
He ignored me, "Did the doctor say when you'll be able to go back?"
"He said a month. An entire month! I'm going to go insane. There's nothing to do except sleep."
"I thought you liked to sleep."
"Yes, but not when I'm forced to!"
He tilted his head, "What's the difference?"
"Doing what you're told to do is boring. There's just something satisfying about going against the man."
"The man?"
"Nevermind. So why do you want to know?" I chuckled, "Perhaps you want me to start training again?"
"..."
"Oh my god. You do!!! You sadistic child! Can't you just let me relax once in a while?!"
"No. You are too weak."
I bit my lip in irritation. He gave me a cold smile.
You little brat. I promise you, I will become so strong that you will be begging me for mercy.
He continued, "Also, I need you to get better so you can fulfill your promise."
"Promise? What promise?"
He frowned. Of course she forgot. He answered, "You lost the bet."
"What bet?"
"When we went skiing."
I thought for a moment then recalled my embarrassing loss. I was too preoccupied with my tooth being gone, I didn't even think about how I lost to not only William, but Dante as well.
"Oh! Yeah! The massage."
He gave a chilling smile, "Yes."
I couldn't help but gulp at that smile. I feel like he has something sinister on his mind. In the future, remind me to never make a bet I can't win.
He spoke again, "I brought you something."
I clapped my hands together excitedly, forgetting all about whatever we were talking about. I giggled, "Ooh! Gifts!"
He took off the large sack that was on his back and handed it over. I took it from him and groaned at the effort.
This sh*t is heavy!
I put it on my bed and spilled out it's contents. Several books came pouring out. I looked at it in astonishment. I grabbed a book and quickly began to flip through it.
"Do you like it? They are your favorite kind right?"
"Well, they are romances. Which is probably 10 times better than the other crap they have here. But.. It's lacking a bit of... Zest."
"Zest?"
I smiled at him and patted the top of his head. He glared at me in return.
I spoke, "I will tell you when you're older."
I can't corrupt a child. That wouldn't be okay.
I continued, "I'm surprised you picked out this many books."
"William helped."
I nodded, "Ah I see." I froze, "Wait?! William?!!!"
"Yes."
"Why the hell would you tell William?!"
"Why not?"
"Because! He's never going to let me live this down!!!"
Dante thought for a moment, "Yes. I suppose that's true. He did laugh for several hours when he found out."
I gritted my teeth. I didn't think I could ever want to punch William more than I already did.
We continued to chat for a while. He was filling me in on what happened while I was gone. It was a surprisingly nice conversation. I looked outside and noticed the sky getting brighter.
"Alright. Well it's time for you to leave before you get caught."
He nodded, "Yes."
He began to walk out the door when I stopped him. He looked back at me in confusion.
I shook my head, "Nope. Not that way." I pointed behind me to the window.
He went over to it and opened it. He looked at the ground and frowned. As he was looking out the window, I grabbed my rope from my hiding spot.
He turned back to me and his face dropped. I tied the rope against my bed and threw it out the window. He glanced between me and the rope.
"It seems like you do this often."
"Fufu. Maybe I do, maybe I don't."
He went to climb down and paused. He turned to me with an odd look, "So, are you sure you're feeling better?"
I chuckled, "I knew it. You were worried about me."
"..."
I ignored his lack of response, "Yes. I'm feeling better. Lona kept saying I almost died, but I think she's just being dramatic. It really isn't that bad."
He looked down, "Oh..."
We both stood there in an awkward silence. I spoke quickly unable to stand it any longer, "Alright! Down you go! You don't want my father to catch you, do you?"
I watched him shimmy down the rope and land on the ground. I pulled up the rope and waved at him. In the blink of an eye, he was already gone.
I put my stuff away and started whistling. I made sure to put the new books in my hiding spot. It looks like I'm going to need to make another one.
I don't feel like I need to hide these, but I also don't want Lona asking unnecessary questions. I popped my head back up and saw Lona standing in the doorway. I let out a shriek at her sudden appearance.
Is she psychic?! Did she know I was thinking about her?!
Her stern voice was harsher than usual, "Why aren't you in bed?"
"Eek! I'm sleep walking! I swear!"