My whole body was literally crying, begging for mercy, my face was bloody along with every other parts of my body. I let out painful yells but my eyes were still emotionless,I even still had guts to glare at the Count.
"Mother, shouldn't father just finish her today?" Sena whispered to Myrcella who seemed to be enjoying the show. All she had wanted was to see Astoria getting destroyed. That frail body was all done for.
"Shh, her yell sounded so satisfying just now," Myrcella smiled when Astoria let out a heartbreaking scream when the Count kicked her in the stomach.
"Mother..." Sena drawled as if she was against this whole thing. Myrcella turned to look at her, disbelief clear in her eyes.
"What?" She whispered harshly. "She ruined your younger sister's life. Her whole existence is like torture to me. I want her to feel it to the bones!"
The hardness in her mother's tone slightly scared Sena. Sena wasn't stupid, her mother always felt disturbed since Shireen was brought home. She had always felt bitter since then. Her father gave Myrcella less attention, even after Shireen died. So she also wanted the last bit of her mother's pain to go away, that is Astoria. But she still didn't feel right with how much Astoria was suffering. This is the third day of her being tortured.
The screams and cries Astoria let out the second day haunted her in her sleep last night.
Part of her was amused at how Astoria didn't look helpless when liked at in the eyes. She looked at strong as ever if anything.
Sena looked back at Astoria who was being pulled by the hair by their father do she could look at him. Her bloody face scared Sena, but the hard glare Astoria was giving their father surprised her. Her face was beyond recognizable, if it was ever recognizable because of the veil she always wears. At some point Sena had even asked herself what Astoria even looked like.
Looking at Astoria without her veil today, she noticed hey hair was dyed black. That's weird.
"Count Edgar!"
A loud voice made Sena and Myrcella jump. They all looked to the entrance with surprise.
Calix, who had just returned to the Kingdom was informed by his man that his fiance was being beaten black and blue. On barging in, he couldn't point out what to feel about the scene in front of him. Looking at the condition Astoria was in, he couldn't think straight.
"Count Edgar!" He thundered as he rushed towards them. He roughly pushed the Count away and carried Astoria. "I'll deal with you later Edgar," he promised with clenched teeth before turning to rush out.
"She is still my daughter, your have no right to take her away," Edgar slowly said from behind. As much he was trying to hide his anger and annoyance, it still slipped. But Calix ignored him.
****
I lied in bed, my eyes closed just do I could avoid anyone who would want to talk to me. And by that I meant the doctor who was hovering above me. He had been blabbering nonsense about how much I was injured in the head that I might lose my memories.
Spoiler alert, I got every piece of my two lifetime memories.
I had regained my consciousness earlier and I could feel pain everywhere, but it wasn't that bad. So I was wondering just how long I had been out that I felt like I was recovering. But my head was the real deal.
I already knew this was Calix who the doctor was talking to. I just hoped they weren't talking near me, their voice was too loud to my liking.
If it wasn't for Calix, I wouldn't be alive right now, and it's not a positive statement.
".... and the injuries to get stomach might -"
"Could you please shut up?" I mumbled as I couldn't continue pretending not to be awake. I weakly took my hand to my head to soothe the pain as I slowly opened my eyes. But before anything else, I felt a heavy weight fall on me, knocking the remaining oxygen out of my system.
"Careful Sir Calix!"
"Oh," grunted Calix as he off loaded himself off me. I sat up, looking around, ignoring everyone.
"Where am I?"
"You had been unconscious for two days Astoria, you scared me!" Calix practically was all over me as he pulled me for an embrace. With a sigh, I pushed him away. He is the reason I am alive.
"Stop touching me Calix," I dismissed him. He looked taken aback for a moment before he stood up from the bed I was in. He turned to the guard and the doctor, dismissing them before he turned to me. His expression was unreadable.
"Are you angry at m-"
"I don't know Calix, how is my father?" I interrupted him. I didn't ask as a daughter, I asked that question to just understand how he could let me go. It just didn't add up.
"Oh," he sounded disappointed. "What could he do after I brought you to my estate?"
I nodded slightly. A part of me was somehow happy I wouldn't be back there. At least I could have some peace now that I can't die.
"Oh, what about you mother?"
"Can you focus on yourself? You just regained consciousness," he scolded softly. He then sat next to me and patted my head. I didn't look at him, feeling guilty.
I couldn't point out why. Cheating? Using him as of now? Not having any feelings for him? Not being grateful that he saved me?
"When are you going to get rid of your veil?" He suddenly asked, and out of the blue. He had not removed the veil off me till, I even heard him say no one should touch me veil. I thought he was okay with it and had respected my decision.
"Why do you ask?" I ask as I locked eyes with him.
"Don't take it badly, you look great with your veil..." He hesitated.
"But....?"
"You are going to be the Arch Duchess. I don't think you should be wearing one," he explains softly.
"So?" I still couldn't understand. What was he on about?
"It just feels weird if you wear it, no?"
"I don't agree with you," I tell him flatly.
"Listen, I don't mind you-"
"Let's leave it at that, Calix. I need some rest," I didn't wait for him to talk as I turned to my side and pretended to sleep.
I knew I was overreacting. I felt it. And I knew I was going to abandon my veil after I heal my face, but hearing Calix like that was like I was not okay with it. Maybe I am looking for ways to get mad at him and feel like we are equal after what I did to him.
But I just seen to not stand Calix anymore and it's chewing me up. He doesn't deserve this.
"Is there something you need to tell me about your hair by the way?" His tone was dry and unhappy, making me still.