Kirigan's POV
From that moment on, she stayed with me as I tried to get myself back to normal while she continued nursing me back to full health over the following days.
Each morning she would come, bearing breakfast and a sunny smile to lift my spirits.
We would talk for hours - of her life back at home, my duties as prince. I found her ignorance of court life refreshing compared to the scheming nobility.
Her honesty and compassion moved me in a way no other ever had.
As my strength returned, I insisted on walks through the palace gardens each day, leaning on her for support.
One evening as the sun set in a fiery blaze of color, I turned to her, "We need to talk."
She was still oblivious about what I wanted us to talk about but I wasn't going to sugarcoat it.
"I didn't want to let you get back to your family for fear of whatever you were afraid of happening to you and having you killed."
"Oh so you do believe me," she chuckled, which I didn't find funny. "I'm sorry."
"What are your fathers skills?" I asked as she shrugged.
"Did he teach you anything? Do you have your fathers skills?"
She looked around while thinking deeply about it before giving off a response.
***
Katarina's POV
"I was blind remember. How was I supposed to know…"
Suddenly, I shut up. If I told the prince that I was blind and I didn't acquire any knowledge that would be very bad, that would make the man see me as nothing but trash. He would even toss me outside before giving me the benefits of the doubt.
I had to find a way to keep myself in here and safe from the eyes of my family. Or they would kill me.
The last two kidnaps had gone horribly wrong and right now, I was sure the family wanted my head.
All I could do right now was pray I could remember any medical advice from a doctor from my world and know if I could put it in this world but nothing came to my head.
"Well," he said cutting through my thoughts as I took a deep breath.
"I was thinking of your case and I've seen something similar," I lied which had him heaving a sigh of relief. "When I want you to give me more information I'll ask for it. For now, let me think back on how my father had cured the last persons own."
"But you don't even know the name of the disease I want you to cure," he said which was true, but I hushed him and put a finger to his lips which had the man raising his brows in shock.
"I will tell you when I've found a cure." I behaved like I was meditating with my eyes closed but deep down I knew I was doing nothing. I thought deeply before deciding to ask for the name. "What name do you people even call it?"
I was ready for whatever the name was. Cancer, tuberculosis, Covid, I could give him a cure after asking a few healers around the town. Something should surface after hearing the name.
"Gregorian War shakes?" He said which came as a shock to me. What the hell was that?
I opened my eyes to look at him. "Gregorian what now?"
"Gregorian war shakes. I've had it since I was little. It's when I go through vigorous exercises and lose mobility in my body and I kind of fall apart."
That sounded like a problem that either needed more exercise to get him going.
"Have with tried jogging more?" I asked before looking at his hot body with his muscles and is packs bulging from his outfit. "Never mind."
"So… do you have a solution? You're father was the only one rumored to know the cure but I could not go to him on time before he died. That broke my chances of meeting with him and retrieving help from the man."
I pretended to think deeply about it but I knew I was toast. He had already forgiven me for lying to him that I was blind and now I could see. He had also saved me twice from my step sisters kidnapping plan. He had not kicked me out of his place immediately which would have had the bandits come after me.
He had also told his war general to not tell anyone that I could see. And everyone in the palace thought I was blind. Except his personal guards but the two of them swore secrecy which had me knowing that my secret was safe with him.
The least I could do was try to also help him. I had no idea where I would start from seeing as I was not a medical professional but I could still do something.
With a sigh, I decided to cut a deal with him.
"I know what the problem is, possibly what the cure is," I lied even more with my conscience biting at me to stop lying. But I was only looking out for number one here which was me. "It would take some time to gather the ingredients but I can make it work."
His face lit up which broke my heart.
"Great!" He said.
"But there is one thing you'll have to do for me."
"Anything."
"You will protect me until I cure you from whatever ailment you're going through."
"I already told my guards not to talk of what they've seen. If they do, it's their heads and their families on the line."
"It's not what I meant even though I really appreciate that. But if I leave this palace, you won't protect me and my family will come after me."
He thought deeply about it and decided that if I stayed back at the place he would protect me.
"Just make this work and you will be repaid generously," he said as I nodded.