[Present time]
My mother was bawling her eyes out, while my father held her shoulders and kept her steady. After hearing that I had regained consciousness, she immediately rushed back home. With the queen in tow. Lieutenant Catalina was here, as well.
It also only took Nikolas two hours to return, and he looked better than he was after eating and taking a bath. I guess he was that worried of me.
"Oh Lily, I thought we'd lose you." Large, fat tears kept falling down her cheeks as she crushed my hands between hers. The sight of her wrecked me to pieces. "And with Erilyn gone . . . Lily—Lily I couldn't bear the thought of losing another daughter."
Her shoulders shook hard, and I reached for her. Seeing that I struggled to lift my arms, she leaned to me and I hugged her. I wanted to cry, too. For causing my family such heartache.
Duchess Ruby had a steely exterior, her gaze of iron could unnerve anyone. She was a woman of authority and influence. Seeing her vulnerable as this was rarer than anyone seeing a double rainbow in the sky.
"Hush now, Mother." I whispered, my voice cracking. "I am awake. And fine, thanks to Father. Have you forgotten? You gave birth to me, I am strong and resilient. Nothing can pin me down so easily."
She pulled away, nodding resolutely. She managed to calm down. My mother didn't need to say it but it was clear as day. It was so cruel to think that she blamed herself for what happened to me. Because in the first place, this sham marriage arrangement was what led to this.
And then there was Nikolas, who also blamed himself, back to his previous seat across me. His delicate face was ragged with worry that even his collar was askew—what a way to complete the look.
The queen settled beside the window, her auburn hair like fire as the sunlight touched them. By her wounded expression, it seemed as though she was claiming responsibility to what happened to me, too. The lieutenant had placed a comforting hand on her arm, but it didn't seem to be effective on the queen at all.
And Cosie, who had impassiveness as her signature emotion, seemed sad as she stared at me.
Damn, why were they acting like I had long keeled over? Sure, my complexion had gone grey, collarbones jutted sharply, cheeks hollowed out and eyes sunk deep—but I was breathing and that's what mattered.
I did my best attempt of a smile in hopes to alleviate the mood. "Hey, why's everyone so gloomy? You should be happy to see me alive and kicking—"
I covered my mouth quickly as a hacking cough seized me. When I brought my hands forward, I saw spots of blood. 'This doesn't look good, does it?' I thought secretly.
I lifted my head, and I regretted doing so because I was met with horror-stricken faces. My mother turned white as a ghost and Nikolas was already halfway to me.
"Reynold!" My mother grabbed my father's arm, and then his eyes snapped back into focus, removed from his horrified daze.
"Right, Lily." He sat next to me, and I saw that his fingers were quivering. He was scared. "Let me have a look at you, hmm?"
"Sure," I said. The frantic nerves swarming in this room was contagious.
Father conjured water from a nearby vase, and when the pool rested on his palms it lit up. Glowing water curled along his fingertips as they hovered over my chest, my belly and my throat.
Whilst he scanned me, Cosie was wiping the bloodstains on my palms.
Nikolas' concerned gaze seemed to pierce through me. His jaw was taut, and his knuckles flexed as he gripped the bedpost a little too tight.
I tilted my head at him and squinted, mouthing at him, "You will have splinters when that wood breaks."
Nikolas' ice-blue eyes cleared into focus, his grip relaxing. The tenseness of his posture subsided. "Are you okay?"
I raised a brow at him, as though he was talking nonsense. "Yup, want to have a match so I can show you?"
He laughed helplessly as he went back to his seat. He had calmed down.
"I think we need to let her rest." It was Lieutenant Catalina who spoke. "The talking can be done later when she's regained most of her strength."
Father lowered his hands, the radiance of his healing water receding. "I agree with the lieutenant. It seems we have put a strain on Lily just by being here."
I snorted. "I'm not that weak."
Father's mouth was set into a hard line. "I know, my darling. But for now, you have to convince yourself that you are. It's for the best."
"Then I will leave first." Cosie folded the dirtied cloth and bowed to everyone. Before turning, she cast me an encouraging glance. "I have high expectations for the speed of your recovery, miss."
A spark of challenge was lit in me. This was how you motivated a Lilibeth Rusells.
I gave Cosie a smug smirk. "You bet."
"Now, now." Father waved dismissively at Cosie. "Let us not hasten her."
"Of course, my lord," said Cosie, and she finally walked out of the room.
Mother bent toward me and planted a kiss on my temple. "Be good, Lily. Take your rest and return to us stronger than before."
I squared my shoulders. "Thank you, Mother."
My parents left, followed by the queen and the lieutenant.
Before that, however, Queen Valerie lingered. She hadn't gotten a chance to speak to me since she arrived.
"Lily, I am truly sorry this happened to you. I . . . I would not have known—" She choked, sobs threatening to escape.
Had the queen always been this soft? I didn't take her for a ruler who cared for a normal academy student such as me. But I guess people had their unpredictable qualities. Plus, she seemed younger with the forlorn and self-disdain in her grey eyes.
I smiled at her. "It is all right, Your Majesty. I am not mad at you. I don't feel too bad that this happened to me, either. Although you did lie that it was only but a normal investigation, you didn't send us to that town with ill intent. And that's that. So rest easy, my queen. I am still your loyal subject."
The Lieutenant offered me a nod of approval. And the queen seemed as though she was able to breathe for the first time.
The queen fixed her poise, and I thought I saw a crown appear on her head.
The two bid their farewells and well wishes. Everyone had vanished through the door, save for Nikolas who looked like he didn't have plans on leaving.