[Portia's POV]
'Doctor, how's her condition? Is she alright?'
'Yes, Your Highness. She collapsed from fatigue due to using an excessive amount of mana.'
'Mana? But she doesn't even learn how to use mana. She's still thirteen!'
'I'm afraid I can't answer that, Your Highness. But I know that some children are quite bright to use mana from a young age. Prince Kazech is one of them. It seems that your daughter has the potential to be a great sorcerer.'
My slumbering consciousness slowly returns when I hear those murmuring sound around me.
Adeline and … who?
Ugh, my head is still reeling from today's event. I can not hear their conversation clearly because there are buzzing noise inside my ears.
I know I have been moved somewhere else as I feel a soft mattress touching my back.
Where is it? Did I get brought back to Palmerston?
"It will be better if she can stay and rest here for like two to three days for better medical care. We promise to keep her safe inside the palace." Another voice is coming. I feel familiar with this voice, but who? Also, did he say something about the palace before?
Honestly, what are they doing here—talking in my bedroom? I am in Palmerston right now, aren't I?
I peek out and see that this place is not my house, nor even in Palmerston Ducal.
Oh no, I fucked up. I am still inside the palace!
"He's right, Adeline. Please accept this as a token of goodwill after what she did to our son. I wanted to say that your daughter is very … courageous."
"Yeah, speaking of that, I will soon bring Nathaniel here to show his gratitude towards Portia, who saved him from those assassins. Also, don't worry about the assassins. We captured all of them and began to investigate them this night. Soon, we will know the main culprit behind this attack."
What nonsense. Even though the world has fallen apart or this kingdom is ruined, he will never say anything like thanks, sorry, and help to people like me. He is an arrogant and stubborn person, just like his brother. Two peas in a pod, huh.
Talking about the assassins, I know who the person that sent them is. But I will not tell it now. It is not the right time. Maybe … I can use this information as a big opportunity to gain a more helpful and powerful partner in the future.
"There is no need to do that, Your Majesty. I appreciate your kind intention to us. But I … just want to go home, along with my daughters."
Yes, tell them that, Adeline! No one in their right mind will want to stay in a terrifying place like this for a long time. When you say something wrong here, even just once, be ready to get exiled or, the worse thing, beheaded.
George, the King, looks at his wife, Eleanora, who lets out a deep sigh because she is unable to change Adeline's mind. She is well-known as a stubborn person, too.
"Alright … at least please wait until Portia wakes up, and don't be hesitant to ask us anything," said George before walking out of the room, followed by Eleanora.
"Adeline … we really are indebted to you for today."
"I know, I know. Please rest well, Eleanora. You look so tired. Is Nathaniel alright?"
Eleanora nods. "Yeah, he is. But he won't talk to anyone and lock himself in his room."
Adeline gives her a light and sincere smile. All people in this palace knew they had been best friends from childhood until now. "He'll be alright. He just needs a meantime to be alone. Who knows, maybe he'll be more mature after this."
Ick—I prefer drinking Diane's sour lemonade rather than believing that brat can be mature.
"Thanks, Adeline." She walks out with her limp shoulders and pale face. It seems that Eleanora takes the biggest blame for this accident because she is the one who initiates this birthday party and invites many people from every noble house.
Adeline let out a sigh. She knows that it must be hard for Eleanora. Looking at our empire law, Eleanora might be suspended from all throne affairs. She can not attend any formal events for 6 consecutive months.
"Right, I need to change Portia's compress—"
"Hi, Mother."
She turns around. A wide gasp appeared in her face as I opened my eyes and faintly smile at her.
"Portia!" Adeline rushes to me and holding my hand with worried face. "How's your feeling now? Right, I need to call doctor—"
"Wait, Mother. No need to call doctor. I'm alright."
"But …,"
"I'm really okay. By the way, could you help me a bit?" I held out my hands and Adeline catches it quickly, helping me to sit on this large-size bed. Adeline also sits beside me. "Thank you, Mother. Where is Yuri? I don't see her everywhere."
"Yuri's sleeps in the next room. She was so exhausted from today's incident." Adeline drumming her fingers on the table beside the bed, she seems nervous about something.
"What's wrong, Mother?"
She shakes her head. "What? Ah … it's nothing."
I nod at her answer, but still, I wonder what it is. Is it related to her conversation with someone when I am unconscious?
A loud knock on the door comes and interupted our conversation as Adeline get down from the bed to open the door.
"Your Highness." It is an empire butler. He's wearing a black suit with two long sharp-cut tail in the back and his ash brown hair look neat. "Sorry for disturb your time. My name is Hans and I come here to tell that the carriage has waiting outside. I suggest you to ride tonight so you and your daughter can arrive at Palmerston region tomorrow morning."
Then, he turns to me with a benign smile in his face. "Lady Portia, how's your condition?"
"Good, thanks," is the curt and cold response from me. I never thought meeting him this soon. He gives me another genuine smile that makes me want to puke so bad. Do not fall for him. It is just a trap. When I said that palace is a terrifying place, he is one of the reasons.
"We will be out in a minute. You can go now." Adeline catches my uncomfortable expression and tells him to leave.
"Yes, Your Highness. Please call me if you need something." Hans bows down and walks out with quiet, slow steps. I can not hear his footsteps, as if he is very talented to hide his steps like a professional assassin.
After that, Adeline back to me. "Portia, are you strong enough to get up and walk? If no, then I will postpone our ride tonight and wait for you to get better."
I shake my head. "I'm good, Mother. Also, Yuri must be scared, I don't want her to be here for a long time."
She let out a sigh. "You're right. I will go fetch her now. You wait here for me and don't go anywhere. Got it?"
"Yup!"
Adeline get out from this room, leaving me alone which still sit on the bed with a smiling face. However, the smiling face of mine turned into a flat expression as I got out of bed and walk to the door. Before I reach the door, I stop and finding it hard to breath, as if the air in this room stifle me.
What happen to me?
It feels like a huge rock is pressing down on my chest and blocking all the air to enter my lungs.
"Hmph, it's a side effect from using huge amount of mana when your body is not prepared to use it. What a fool."
I turn around, still feel like being choked, and see something there. In the balcony, Nathaniel lean on the window with his pretentious face.
"What the hell are you doing here? Try to peeking at me? Pervert." I cross my hand in front of my chest as if trying to prevent it from that bastard.
"What—" He gasping wide in a shock and take a few steps aback. "A-are you crazy? Why would I peeking on you? You have nothing to look!"
Ugh. That's hurt.
"Ahahah, funny. So, why are you here?"
"That … thank you." He says with a taunted lips.
He … what? Am I mishear his words right now? There is no chance he will said something like thanks or sorry to anyone, especially me.
"Could you repeat that again?"
"Never!" He shouts at me with a red face. "I will never say that again! You dumbass fool!" Not waiting for me to react for his rude mouth, Nathaniel jump from the balcony and simply disappear from my view.
What … the fuck is that?