Apologizing to Winston for what happened was impossible since he fled whenever I saw him.
I quickly put it aside, however, when Claire began hurting. Everywhere.
It began small in her stomach, eventually spreading outwards in which Claire claimed something was squeezing her bones from the inside.
Months passed, and she couldn't leave her bed anymore. The doctors attended to her inside the facility while I sat alone outside, feeling my world was ending.
Later, Lord Clafford truthfully informed me they had administered their latest 'cure' to Claire and only Claire.
[Why…?]
"…Because my body no longer responds as effectively…?" I asked, cracking when Lord Clafford sighed in confirmation.
I thought since my body was more resilient that I would be the primary focus of their trials, not Claire…
How naïve and stupid of me…
Then came the worst night of Claire's ever.
I watched Lord Clafford hurriedly lead his team into the section of the facility Claire was relocated into. Since I was prohibited from entering, I helplessly waited by the doors.
Was Claire…dying?
…No…she survived in the game, so she couldn't be…!
…Yet…the storyline was changing such that I regained my past memories and fell ill like Claire. That meant the possibility of Claire dying was—
[Stop. Just stop.]
…If…if I couldn't prevent Claire from experiencing this pain, how could I ever save…?
[…]
Something warm settled around my body, and someone equally as warm sat beside me.
When my consciousness returned, I realized a blanket draped over me and Winston was beside me.
"You might not believe Father and his team—or me—because of what they've done," he said quietly when I stirred. "But…please know and trust that they'll help her. I know they will."
[Trust in them to help Claire…?]
…
Was that all I could do in this situation…?
Winston grabbed my hand and gently squeezed it.
As the heat from his palm transferred to mine, I realized how cold I was.
…
I squeezed his hand back.
║║║║║║║║║║
Dawn filtered into the facility when those doors finally opened.
I straightened, stirring Winston who had fallen asleep against me. He detached his hand from mine and rubbed his eyes, yawning.
"Claire?" I rasped in question as Lord Clafford approached us with tired eyes.
I expected the worst, but he assured me Claire was going to recover.
"…Really?" I breathed out.
He gave me a worn but warm smile and patted my head. "Really."
With relief, I closed my eyes and passed out.
║║║║║║║║║║
When I awoke, I was lying in bed, facing a familiar, toy bunny with pink eyes.
"Air-wee!" an angelic voice shrieked from nearby.
I sat up, fighting dizziness before seeing Claire in the bed beside mine.
"You didn't wake for three days!" she informed me. "That's why I gave you Bunny to make you better. Did it work?"
My heart clenched with immense relief seeing and hearing her, and I dried my wet eyes before nodding, clenching Bunny to my chest.
"Good!" Claire giggled.
I smiled but began fretting when she stumbled out her bed towards me. As I stood from my own bed, Claire reached me and hugged my waist.
My heart strummed, and I returned her embrace.
We were interrupted when Winston burst into the room, his face flushed with excitement.
"Claire, your parents—!" he began, stopping when he noticed me. "Airee! You're awake!!" he exclaimed joyfully.
As he stepped closer, I recalled him sitting beside me, being unexpectedly comforting while we waited on news about Claire…
When he was close enough, I pulled him into a hug.
"A-Airee…?!" he squeaked in surprise.
"I truly adore you," I said sincerely and gratefully, leaning away to stare fiercely at him.
He flushed and was about to speak when someone boomed out my name from the doorway.
Father.
Without a word, Winston stepped away as Father, Mother, and Lord Clafford entered the room.
Father glowered darkly at Winston until Claire ran towards him with a happy shriek.
"There's my little cub!" Father chuckled, his expression brightening as he lifted Claire up.
From across the room, Lord Clafford whispered something to Winston who then nodded and left.
Before I could think twice on it, Mother delicately lifted and nuzzled me.
"Let's go, Airee," she murmured.
"Go where?" I asked as she kissed my temple.
"Home," she said simply.
Home?
Lord Clafford caught my questioning look and smiled. "Although we still need to administer the cure to you, Airee…you and Claire are safe to leave," he said.
"'Cure'?" I repeated, dumbfound.
"Thanks to the data collected from you girls, especially little Claire…yes, we finally have one."
=====
After the Duke and Duchess personally paid respect to Lord Clafford and his team of doctors and researchers, the Duke extended a hand to Lord Clafford in which Lord Clafford took.
"When you need assistance, call upon me, old friend," the Duke said gruffly, clapping him on the arm.
"Is it fine to let them leave, sir?" one of the head doctors asked after the Duke joined his family outside. "If the girls stay on, they'll be [invaluable] to our future research."
Though he agreed, Lord Clafford said with finality, "They've endured more than enough during this endeavor. For now, let's finalize our report to the King and the royal doctors."
He didn't mention they would waste Airee's intelligence if they continued experimenting on her. Experimenting on Claire, on the other hand...
He dropped that thought quickly, recalling the Duke's wrath.
Sighing wistfully, he was about to turn from the doors when he spotted Winston exchanging words with the Valguards. Winston handed something to Airee and waved at Claire before the Valguards left in their carriage.
As Winston strode past the facility towards the manor, Lord Clafford called for him. And when he suggested they walk together, any remnants of a smile on Winston's face disappeared.
Seeing Winston nervously twiddling his fingers as they walked, Lord Clafford recalled the times he witnessed Winston playing with the Valguard girls and how close Airee and Winston seemed.
Regardless of whether Winston had further feelings for Airee or not, Lord Clafford wanted to nip things in the bud.
"I'll get to the point," he said sternly as he faced his son. "Regarding Airee, while I approve of your friendship with her, she is not for you."
"I know," Winston said understandingly, quicker than Lord Clafford expected.
Perhaps his son had seen the royal carriage whose occupant visited Airee and understood its implications?
…
"This is for your own good," Lord Clafford said softly.
Winston cast his eyes down before nodding.
║║║║║║║║║║
"Is there something you want, my cubs?" Father asked as our carriage carried us home. "Tell Papa, and Papa will gift it to you."
Claire grunted with non-interest as she continued playing with Bunny, and Mother delightedly watched while Father glared holes into the toy.
That reminded me…
I unclenched my fist, revealing the badly sewn, stuffed bear the size of my hand that Winston gave me earlier.
"Something to remember me by," he had said as if we wouldn't see each other ever again.
"…I don't have something I want, but I do have something to tell you, Papa," I said, adrenaline and determination rushing through me as I began planning.
Father waited fondly, not knowing my next statement would turn him to stone.
"I'm becoming an E-knight," I declared.