~Katrina~
Faustino's body was taken away by the guards, leaving behind an eerie
silence. After that, no one came to see me. I sat in the cold, shivering, my
thoughts spiraling. What would my life have been if I hadn't come to Xylonia?
If my father hadn't forced me to become a healer?
Maybe dying in this prison was better than the king finding out my lies. He
wouldn't hesitate to execute me in front of everyone. I couldn't let that
happen.
No. I won't die like that.
I drifted into a restless sleep, my mind clouded with fear and regret.
A strange noise woke me. My eyes snapped open as a torchlight flickered in
my direction, its harsh glow piercing the darkness.
I squinted, my heart pounding. The guards were unlocking the door. Were they
bringing in another woman to die?
The memory of Faustino's death still haunted me. I'd only known her for
hours, yet the weight of her loss clung to me.
"My lady," a familiar voice broke through the silence. Marissa.
My heart skipped. What was she doing here? Had Fortuna punished her too?
No. Not Marissa.
She stepped inside, her voice urgent. "My lady."
I couldn't speak. My body felt too weak, my limbs heavy.
Marissa knelt beside me, her hands trembling as she touched my forehead. Her
warmth was a brief comfort.
"Can you walk?" she whispered, her eyes filled with worry.
I tried to respond, but no words came. My strength was gone. All I could do
was stare into her worried face, wondering if this was the end.
"The princess has a fever and can't walk on her own!" Marissa's
voice was sharp, cutting through the tense air. Her eyes were filled with
worry, her hands shaking as she tried to help me.
I must've looked awful—dirty, weak, and worn down. A madwoman on the streets
would've seemed more dignified than me in that moment.
One of the guards stepped forward, offering to carry me. My heart pounded in
my chest. Why? Were they taking me to be executed?
Marissa seemed to sense my fear. "The king ordered your release,"
she whispered urgently. "He didn't know you were arrested. It was all
Queen Fortuna's doing."
Her words hit me like a jolt. Faustino had warned me that the king wasn't
aware of my imprisonment. I had been so foolish, believing he would punish me
this way over something so small.
"The king is coming!" a voice called from outside.
I wished I had the strength to stand, to bow when he arrived. But my body
betrayed me, growing weaker with each passing second.
My vision blurred, darkness creeping in from the edges. I struggled to stay
awake, but the weight of exhaustion was too much.
Everything faded into black. That was all I remembered.
**
~Karl~
In the quarters...
I stood at a distance, staring at her lifeless body. Seeing her like that
shattered something inside me. For the first time in my life, I didn't want
someone to die.
I wished she'd open her eyes and say "Your Highness" in that soft,
sweet voice of hers. But she didn't move.
The physician asked everyone to wait outside. My mother urged me to step out
too, so they could do their work. I didn't want to leave Katrina alone with
them. But I didn't know what was wrong with her.
The prison was a nightmare. Had she caught some disease? No. It couldn't be.
I'd ordered that the sick prisoners be quarantined. There was no way they
would have put her with the infected. Fortuna wouldn't dare push me that
far—not after already defying me.
As we waited outside her room, memories clawed at me. I remembered the first
night my mother asked me to spend time with Katrina. She had begged, hoping I'd
give Katrina a chance.
I should've listened. Maybe things would be different now.
I thought about the night Katrina asked to stay in my room. I turned her
away, because only my wife, mother, and sisters could enter. No other women
were allowed.
She was hurt, angry. She disrespected me, but I never considered sending her
to prison for it.
What was Fortuna thinking?
The weight of regret pressed down on me. If Katrina didn't survive this, I
wasn't sure I could forgive myself—or Fortuna.
"Won't you go to the main quarters and wait?" Mother asked, her
voice gentle but firm. She stood beside me, her hand resting on my shoulder,
her eyes filled with concern.
"No, Mother. I'll wait here for news of her recovery," I replied,
my voice steady though my anger simmered beneath the surface.
Every glance toward Fortuna's room ignited that rage further. If she were a
man, this would have been handled differently.
"I'm still in shock over this, but it's too late to blame anyone
now."
"I've already blamed Fortuna," I said sharply. "She crossed
the line, and I'll make sure she remembers that I'm a king before I'm her
husband."
Mother hesitated. "I heard how much you shouted at her already. It's
enough. That's what I think. Fortuna was wrong, but—"
"Don't start, Mother," I cut her off, my tone firm. I knew where
this was going, but this wasn't up for debate. "Fortuna will be
punished."
I wasn't asking for advice or opinions. My decision was made. This
conversation was over.
"I don't think I have any patience left," I muttered, my gaze
fixed on Katrina's door. The physician still hadn't come out. I needed to hear
she was going to be fine.
"Let's be pa—"
I didn't let her finish. I pushed the doors open and walked into the room.
Mother followed, but there was no stopping me now.
"What is going on in here?" I demanded, my voice low but
commanding.
The physician froze, her hands trembling. Fear flickered in her eyes. I
could tell she had bad news. Katrina was still unconscious, her pale face
looking even worse than before.
My chest tightened. I clenched my fists, bracing for the words I didn't want
to hear.