Suddenly, the door opens, and a sword goes through Marcus' head, from his left temple and protruding out of his right temple, instantly killing him. His blood sprays all over my bare chest into the bed. The breathing that stops in my throat gets out. Then I scream.
I pull away from Marcus' corpse, and my back hits the bed's headboard. All the while, I feel like I am going crazy. The air around becomes stale and humid. The smell of the wind that goes around my body is that of old books.
But my screams never subside. I crumple in the corner and cover my ears. I can't close eyes and look away from the blood that's getting closer to my bare feet. I feel the bed move and tremble. Then it shakes roughly.
"Lyrica! Stop! You're going to destroy the entire area!"
I hear and recognize the voice as that of General Calais, but I don't care. I need to release this fear so I can calm down. I need to—General Calais suddenly hugs me.
"Shhh… It's okay. You will be fine," he whispers.
I push at him. I don't need him! I want my parents! I want my siblings! I want my friends! Not the people in Lyrica's life! I want to return!
"I am sorry, Lyrica. I heard your screams the first time, but I didn't come. I thought it was your usual ploy. But I am here now. You are not alone."
"No…" I say weakly. "Let me go, please. I need to leave. I don't belong here," I cry.
Suddenly, Calais lifts my chin and gives a kiss to my trembling lips. My howling stops and the surrounding air calms down. And for the first time, I've seen the damage that I have caused. He has a lot of scratches and bruises. Everything is destroyed except the sturdy-looking cabinets.
General Calais pulls back and gives small kisses to my face and neck. Kisses from a stranger are something I don't need right now. But the way he's doing it is so gentle, as if it is his way of calming me down. All the while, he is whispering that everything will be okay. And the contrast of the gentle way he does it against what Marcus had tried to do to me works miraculously.
"It's fine. Aiko told me. I won't break off our engagement. The Queen Selection is next year, but we can try to petition from the King."
Then he gives a peck on my lips and hugs my trembling body to his. I know he's just delaying it. He loves Eliana, and he could have married her if only she didn't fall in love with the prince. But right now, I don't care, I just want to return to my home, to my world. I hate it here. I don't want to be here.
I sense when someone covers my naked body with a blanket. Probably some knight who came with Calais. And as expected, I don't see Lyrica's family. Not one of them even bothered to check.
So, instead of pulling away, I graciously receive the warmth that Calais is offering. I wrap my shaking arms around his body and bury my face in his chest. And before long, I find myself falling asleep in his embrace.
*******************************
I wake up the next day in an unfamiliar room that is flooded with light. Bright. The brightest I've seen since yesterday. It is simple, though. No gaudy pink colors, but there are marigolds embedded in the curtains and some furniture. I remember now, Dunnett's house is represented with a flower. That is also why Lyrica is called a Poisoned Flower.
I find Calais sitting at a desk beside my bed. He's writing something on paper. I sit up and find out that my body is worse than before. He looks at me and climbs on the bed to help me sit up.
"Sorry about the room. I asked for an adjoining room, but your father says it's better for us to share the same room."
Of course. Duke Lartius is aware of Lyrica's sexual escapades. He wouldn't care about my propriety and reputation—it's been long gone and destroyed. Besides, having Calais close to me is a guarantee that I won't wreak havoc again like last night. It's magic, I am sure now. My fear has activated it.
"How are you feeling?"
This kindness—am I becoming someone who's not an antagonist to him? But instead of answering, I stare at him, trying to decide if he's someone I can trust.
Now that I know magic, I sense that there is something wrong in this world. I still don't know what, but I know there is. It's crawling under my skin and my gut is telling me to be very careful.
"Do you need food?" he asks again. "How about the doctor? I can ask him to check on you."
I shake my head and study his expression. He seems worried. I swallow.
"Lyrica, if you will not tell me, I won't know how to help you."
I purse my lips, and the trembling starts again. He touches my chin and gives a quick kiss on my lips. "Did I scare you?"
"What are you doing?" I ask.
"Calming you down."
I frown. "No," I point at the desk. "What are you writing?"
"Ah that, I am writing to the King. I would like to apologize and inform him that I can't break off our engagement yet."
"Why?"
"You're the one who wants to stay in the engagement."
"But you don't love me."
"But you do," he says. "So maybe we can spend some time together, and who knows?"
I clench my jaws because this is so reminiscent of my previous life. I'm pretty sure this will not last. Besides, I have no time for this. I need to know how I can return to my world. I need to get to that main church, as Lyrica had instructed me to do.
"Are you okay? You seem off since yesterday," Calais interrupts.
"Bring me to the church," I say.
Calais seems taken aback. "We can't marry yet."
"Not that. The church that gives—" I stop. I almost said something about the prophecy. "I mean, the main church I want to visit."
"Why?"
"Because…" I reach up to his hand and enclose it in mine. I just hope that this will work, no matter how contrasting this is to Lyrica's personality. "I want to survey it for our wedding, in case you fall in love with me in the future."
Who am I kidding? This guy can't fall in love with anyone except Eliana. It's his main selling point. The reason a lot of female readers swoon over him. Calais is a wealthy, gorgeous man who will love and pursue only one woman. And no other girl can challenge that love. Not even someone as beautiful as Lyrica. And maybe that's exactly why Eliana had taken him for granted. His love for her is guaranteed, so there's no element of mystery or challenge in that.
"I need to ask your father's permission for that," Calais answers.
"You don't have to. They don't care about me, anyway."
Calais clenches his jaw. He's hesitating. But of course, he can't predict that I will request going to the main church with him. Is he afraid I will force him to marry me once we are in the church?
I let go of his hands. I feel disappointed and sad. "You don't want to," I state. I'm hoping he can help me, but it seems like he can't. He's too suspicious of Lyrica.
"Fine. I'll go with you but, I will still ask permission from your father. Because even if you don't feel his love, he is still your father. I can't just take you away from this house."
I inhale sharply. Is there really no other way? I look up at him and say, "Fine. You can ask him."
He smiles and places another quick kiss on my cheeks. "This demeanor. Don't you know that this fits you better?"
"Do you like it?" I ask.
"Yes, it makes you more than beautiful."
I make a small smile at his attempt at flirting, but I feel nothing. I don't have the time to feel anything. No nervous jitters and beating heart, like how it is with all the men that ever attempted in my previous life. Right now, I just need to get to the main church.