"And the most important thing is… how will I explain this when I go back to my family? I told them I would get married," Orig muttered, his voice low and tinged with frustration.
His eyes darkened as he pulled Taya closer to him, his arms tightening around her like iron bands. Her body felt cold, almost snow-like, compared to his warmth.
Taya stirred faintly, feeling an unfamiliar heaviness weigh her down. Even opening her eyes was an effort. When she finally managed to crack them open, she was met with the sight of Orig's bare chest pressed against her. His body was stitched to hers as though even the slightest breeze might harm her. The warmth of his skin and the faint scent of him made her heart flutter—a feeling that confused her as much as it comforted her.
"A-Orig… what happened?" she murmured weakly, trying to push against him.
He didn't move, nor did her whispers seem to reach him. Instead, he pulled her even closer, burying her within the safety of his embrace. His deep, even breaths suggested he was still asleep, but his hold on her didn't loosen.
"You have to live, Taya," he muttered, his voice soft but resolute.
Her brows furrowed. She didn't understand what he meant, nor why he seemed so troubled even in his dreams. She realized that her feelings for him had grown more complicated than she wanted to admit. This man, so unpredictable in his emotions, held her in a way that felt possessive yet protective. She had never planned to care for him this deeply, but now it seemed inevitable.
"I see that you've regained consciousness," Orig said suddenly, his voice pulling her back to reality.
He moved slightly, creating some distance between them as he sat up. The morning sunlight streaming through the tent illuminated his muscular frame. The defined lines of his chest and arms seemed to mock her frail form, the disparity between their physicality both striking and overwhelming.
Blushing, Taya turned her face away.
"Really? Are you just too shy to look at me? Or are you unimpressed? Does her royal highness, Princess Taya, think this body isn't up to her standards?" Orig teased, smirking.
"Don't worry. I didn't touch you—not in the way you're thinking," he added, noticing the way her eyes darted toward the bed, as though searching for evidence of what might have transpired between them the previous night.
"What… what happened to me?" she asked hesitantly, attempting to rise.
As soon as she tried to stand, her legs gave out, and she fell forward. Orig caught her effortlessly, his strong hands steadying her before she could hit the ground.
"You were poisoned. But how?" he asked, his tone darkening. His eyes roamed over her, as though searching for answers on her body.
"It… it must have been the desserts the maids prepared for me," she whispered, her voice faint. "It was a farewell gift from my palace."
Orig's lips curled into a sarcastic smile. "What a beautiful gift, huh?" he chuckled, the sound carrying a hint of bitterness.
Taya tried to push herself away from him again, but he kept her steady. "Don't move. I'll call for the healer to check on you," he said, his tone softening slightly.
He helped her lie back down, his movements uncharacteristically gentle. Reaching into her bag, he retrieved a dress and handed it to her.
"Where are you going? I still have so many questions," Taya said, clutching the dress to her chest.
"Stay focused, Taya," she muttered to herself as she began dressing. Her hands trembled as she zipped up the back of the dress, her mind racing. She couldn't help but wonder if Orig had taken advantage of her vulnerable state. The thought made her uneasy.
Orig reentered the tent just as she struggled with the zipper. She froze when she felt his fingertips on her back, lifting her hair to help her. Her breath caught in her throat, and her heart raced. His touch was brief but enough to send her thoughts spiraling.
"You should've brought a maid with you," he muttered before stepping aside, allowing the healer to enter.
Taya tried to compose herself as the healer examined her.
"She's fine, but her body needs rest," the healer explained. "The poison has been treated, but it left her exhausted. She'll recover fully in a few days if she doesn't overexert herself."
Orig nodded, his attention fully on the healer's words. Taya, however, felt the sting of frustration and helplessness.
"I'm sure it was my sister," she whispered under her breath, biting her lip.
Outside the tent, Orig's deputy could be heard speaking loudly, his words directed toward Orig but meant for Taya to overhear. "We'll be delayed if we stay here any longer. The task for the middle of the month is critical. We can't afford to waste time."
The implication was clear—Taya was nothing but a hindrance to their mission.
Taya asked one of the men about Orig's whereabouts and was told he had gone hunting. Hunger gnawed at her stomach; she hadn't eaten since the morning of the previous day. With the hunters gone and no nearby villages to provide food, she decided to take matters into her own hands.
"Mr. Ayro," she called to one of the knights loyal to Orig. "Could you accompany me to the slope by the river? I'll catch some fish and cook them."
Ayro hesitated, glancing at her uncertainly. "Your grace, it's not safe for you to go alone," he said politely, though his hesitation was clear.
"But I'm starving," she said, her frustration slipping into her voice. "I haven't eaten anything since yesterday morning."
Before Ayro could respond, another knight stepped forward. "Madam, if you'll allow us, we'll handle it," he said with a friendly smile.
Taya watched as the men gathered their gear and set off to fish. She felt a mix of gratitude and irritation. Although she appreciated their help, she hated the helplessness that her current condition forced upon her.
As the men disappeared into the forest, Taya returned to the tent, sitting quietly as her mind churned. She had questions—questions about Orig, about the poison, and about her place among these men. But for now, all she could do was wait.