Estella and Jeanna rushed Princess Runa to the infirmary. They got her settled down on one of the beds and went in search of the physician.
They gathered, from the chatter around servant gossip that the physician had been ordered to attend to Prince Augustus in Diane's private quarters.
Estella reported the bad news to Princess Runa. "It's alright, Estella. I'll rest for a while and then head back to my room," she casually brushed it under the rug.
The tension in the palace was high; she didn't want to add to the drama by insisting on the physician's aid. Her worry for her brother and her mother overwhelmed her once more.
This time, she couldn't block the memories of Immith from creeping into her thoughts. The way she smiled, talked, and walked was etched into Runa's mind. She knew every inch of Immith and was familiar with her touch.
Runa traced her lips with her fingers, a hint of lingering sensation tingled at her lips from the kiss. She wanted to cast everything aside and acknowledge the feelings in her heart, to scream them out loud at the top of her lungs, for everyone to hear.
To mark Immith with love bites and claim her so no one will dare to go close to her. She let out a heavy sigh, her dreams seemed silly and out of reach.
Her world would never accept a relationship between a woman and a woman. Most relationships were forged for the mere purpose of getting an heir, and two females can't produce a child.
Furthermore, she is a princess; she knew she'd be married off for political purposes, for gains to strengthen either her father's place on the throne or her brother's.
Her fate was sealed since the day she was born of royal blood. She couldn't afford to be careless when she belonged to Sevigoria. All of her belonged to her people, her family, and the throne.
"Overthinking isn't healthy, young one."
Princess Runa's eyes snapped open, and her gaze landed on Cassiel, who stood by the door, leaning against the frame with his hands crossed by his chest.
"Who are you?" Runa asked.
"...."
"It's impolite to address a princess with that tone. If you won't introduce yourself then make yourself scarce, I'm busy," she shooed him away.
He interrupted her train of thought and the silence in the room. Princess Runa didn't appreciate that very much.
Cassiel walked up to her steadily. He went down on one knee next to the bed and examined Runa's injured ankle.
"Is she worth it?" Cassiel nonchalantly asked.
"What?"
Princess Runa failed to make sense of the question. The puzzled look on her face forced Cassiel to elaborate. "The girl I saw you kissing by the lake. Is she wor..."
"How did you get passed my guards stationed outside the door?" Princess Runa questioned briskly. "Who are you?" She panicked.
Runa's heart was in her throat. She tried to pull her leg away from Cassiel and create distance between them. "Ouch!" She groaned in pain.
"Stay still!" Cassiel scolded.
"Who do you think you are to..." Princess Runa paused when her eyes landed on the ring on Cassiel's ring finger. She recognized it instantly as Angelus's ring; it was one of his favorite collections. Angelus never took it off from his finger even when he retired to bed. For the man to have it, Angelus had to have given it to him. "Are you my brother's friend?" She asked, her voice growing frail and troubled.
If the man knew her brother, then he could spill out her secret to him. Angelus will tell their mother and soon everyone will know of her dirty secret. She'll be tried and be beheaded by the crown for loving a fellow girl.
"You'll have to be more specific on the brother you're referring to, princess," Cassiel stalled. He knew the person she inquired about was Angelus and he didn't want to confirm or deny anything.
"You can't tell anyone what you saw. I can pay you for your silence," she reached out for her satchel strapped around her waist and unhooked it. She balanced the gold inside and threw the bag over to Cassiel.
Cassiel caught the satchel mid-air without raising his head from her foot. He set the bag down on the bed and spoke, "Is that your way of confirming she's worth the risk you're taking for her?" He inquired, his index finger transposing with ice, his nail turning into a frozen icicle. He traced the frosty finger over Runa's ankle. The healing properties of the snow smoothly penetrated through to her skin.
Runa gritted her teeth and clutched the bedsheets tightly as the chilly feeling from Cassiel's touch caressed her skin. She felt the pain wither away as her ankle healed up.
Princess Runa's eyes sparkled at the magic Cassiel was using. It was quick and effective, in less than a minute, she was all healed up.
"You didn't answer my question?"
Cassiel's finger returned to its original state. He rose from the ground and brushed off the dust from his pants.
"I'm not confident in my love for her," Runa bit her lower lip. Somehow, she felt comfortable pouring her heart out to Cassiel.
"It is an amusing choice of companion. But I see the allure," Cassiel plumped down on the bed next to hers. "This world is too cruel, young one. It can't accept that love comes in different forms for different people," he added.
Princess Runa laid her head back on the bed. Cassiel's words felt like he understood what it meant to have an impossible fatal infatuation towards someone. They might not be on the same boat but it felt like the same ocean.
"I'm worried about Angelus. I don't want to see him get hurt," Runa changed the topic; the walls of the palace had ears, and she'd hate to have anyone listen in and find out her secret.
"You don't have to worry about him. He knows what he's doing and has plans to rise above what he's facing now," Cassiel let out with confidence.
"How do you know?"
"Because I helped him come up with the plan. And nothing I put together ever fails, young one," Cassiel boasted. "Rest up, my wild cat will be fine, and so will you," he added; he failed to notice the possessive tone he took as he spoke of Angelus and the nickname that came naturally for the prince.
However, Princess Runa picked up on it. Her eyes moved down to the ring on Cassiel's finger; she smiled, understanding the situation he and her brother shared.
"Is he worth the risk?" She fired back Cassiel's question to him.
Cassiel turned his head to the side and glanced at Runa. "He is," he affirmed.
"I wish you the best of luck then. As you said, the world is cruel to any form of love that goes against the norm," she let out.
"You too, I'll see you, young one," Cassiel snapped his fingers and disappeared from the room.
Princess Runa stared at the blank space on the bed where Cassiel rested before. She was filled with disbelief; not only did her brother fall for a man, but a practitioner of magic.
She internally applauded her brother for his bold taste of companion. It went beyond what she dabbled in, "I'm glad I'm not alone in this," she thought.