Lady Maris couldn't contain her joy. King Valentin had shown signs of recovery the day before, and now, nothing else mattered to her. She abandoned all her tasks and rushed to his chamber, her heart pounding with hope.
But when she arrived, her heart sank. King Valentin lay still in his bed, his eyes closed, the same way she had found him for countless days. There were no outward signs of the miraculous recovery she had longed for.
The royal physician, noticing her disappointment, approached her with a calm expression. "His Majesty woke briefly," he said softly. "But he's still recuperating and quickly fell back to sleep. It's a good sign, My Lady."
"I see," Lady Maris murmured, her voice tinged with frustration.
She gazed at the king, wishing she'd been there during those precious moments when he had opened his eyes. How much better it would have been for him to see a familiar face, to have someone he loved encouraging him to recover.
