Gavin didn't have to turn around to see it was Miss Shantal, the physician his father appointed to watch over Gavin and heal him rigorously. "I'm fine, Miss Shantal. Also, you can leave the medicine over there."
"But His Majesty said-"
"His Majesty said you should watch me with your own eyes that I drink the medicine myself so as not to waste any drop. I've memorized the words, Miss Shantal. It's been nine years. I know how to take it even with or without you instructing me how," Gavin said, grinning at the physician whom he had treated just as the same as Nanny Grace.
"Okay, I will trust you with it," Miss Shantal finally said. With another glance over Gavin who seemed to be working harder than usual, she let out a sigh and left.
Gavin paused from writing, his eyes falling down the pen in between his fingers. Glancing to the door, he placed the pen on the pen holder and stood up, slowly walking toward the medicine Miss Shantal had placed on the table.
Grabbing the medicine, Gavin stared at it, the light in his eyes reflected the said object through the slightly dim-lit room.
Nine years... It had been nine years since he began to take this medicine. His Majesty the Alpha King, especially told him it was for his health. Apparently, he had been captured and been fed by a certain pill that gave him false memories and illusions.
For the past nine years, Gavin was visited by different kinds of dreams and nightmares. It was only when he would drink the medicine that those nightmares would stop. A memory where a bloodbath occurred - certainly, it wasn't right for a child to remember - always played in his mind at night. Gavin himself felt as if his heart was being repeatedly stabbed when recalling those scenes. Miss Shantal said it was a nightmare and it didn't happen in real life. Gavin was only dreaming and it was just trauma brought by the abduction.
Gavin believed them. Because His Majesty the Alpha King was the greatest ruler of the Land of Moon Valley, the strongest and bravest, and he was his father. It was only right for him to believe everything the King said.
"The First Prince has arrived! He's heavily wounded! Quick, call all the physicians!!" A voice of a woman shouting as if she was being chased by evil spirits came, alarming everyone in the palace. "Oh, my heavenly Mood Goddess, what could our people have done? To do this to the first prince of all people?"
"Miss Grace!" Someone called as the shouting woman fainted.
Chaos emerged from the palace as more physicians appeared, meeting the prince who was assisted by five more men, all wounded and injured.
"My brother... Where is he?" The First Prince asked, blood spilling out from his mouth.
"First Prince! Let's have you treated first before anything else," the physician, a man named Mister Grain, said.
"I have something... important... to tell the second prince..." The First Prince said.
The other servants already began crying. Sobbing harder as the second prince, Gavin, came.
"Brother, what happened?!" Gavin asked, eyes widening as he saw how horrendous the First Prince's body looked. His body was covered with wounds and blood it almost felt difficult to recognize him.
The First Prince, Jarius, motioned for Gavin to move closer to which Gavin immediately heeded to. With still bits of blood spilling from his lips, First Prince Jarius said with an amused smile, "That... that beautiful girl in your dream you always speak about... I saw her..."
Gavin's heart dropped. "W-What did you say?"
Jarius spat more blood, evoking screams of fright from the people around them. With a smile before he closed his eyes, he uttered in a softer voice, "...red hair like autumn leaves... ah, too beautiful... and kind... not evil..."
"...not evil at all..."