Lynaria understood the severity of the situation. She escorted the healer out of Kaelron's room, her heart heavy with worry. Sitting beside him, she could only wait for him to awaken. The night dragged on, and Kaelron's fever refused to subside.
Hours later, Ares stepped into the room, his face set with determination.
"I captured their leader. He's in the dungeon now," Ares reported.
"Good. Can you keep watch over the king? I need to extract information from the prisoner."
"You stay here. He'll feel better with you by his side. Let me handle the interrogations," Ares said firmly.
Reluctantly, Lynaria agreed, watching him leave with a sense of foreboding. She resumed her vigil by Kaelron's bedside, her anxiety mounting with every passing moment. By midnight, there was still no sign of Kaelron waking. Desperation clawed at her insides as she checked his forehead once again—his temperature was dangerously high.
"Why aren't you awake yet? This is your fault... Why did you block that sword for me?" she muttered, her hands shaking. "If you hadn't, I'd be the one in your place right now. Why… why did you sacrifice yourself?"
The room felt suffocating as she desperately searched for answers. Her thoughts spiraled in frustration.
"It's almost midnight, and you've got a fever... What do I do now?" she whispered, pacing the room.
Taking a deep breath, she tried to calm her racing mind. Suddenly, she remembered the palace healer's words: "Call me if the king runs a fever."
But as she stood to leave, Kaelron's grip tightened around her wrist, his voice weak and pleading.
"Don't go… Don't leave me alone…"
Lynaria froze. His fever had him delirious, and he murmured the name "Casilla."
Her heart clenched. Casilla. The name was like a dagger to her chest. Was this the woman Kaelron had been waiting for all this time?
Confusion clouded her mind as she made her way to the healer's house, each step feeling heavier than the last. She arrived, breathless and anxious, explaining the situation to the healer. After hearing her, the healer immediately followed her back to the palace, both of them rushing to save Kaelron.
Once in the room, the healer moved quickly to prepare a potion. As soon as it was ready, he instructed Lynaria to administer it every three hours, before hurrying off again. Lynaria remained by Kaelron's side, watching over him as the hours dragged on.
The first light of dawn was creeping through the windows when Ares arrived, his expression as stern as ever.
"You've been here all night?" he asked. "Go rest. I'll take over from here."
But Lynaria, not ready to leave Kaelron's side, went to the training grounds instead. She couldn't shake the uneasy feeling gnawing at her.
While training, Ares returned, urgency in his voice.
"Come back to the palace. He's awake, and making a scene."
Lynaria's heart skipped a beat. She followed Ares, questions bubbling in her mind.
"What's he doing? How can someone so injured cause a commotion?"
"You're asking as if you don't know him," Ares replied dryly. "He's making it hard for everyone. No one can get close to him without being punished. Even the servants and the healer were punished just for trying to care for him."
Lynaria's pace quickened, fear mounting in her chest. What was Kaelron doing? Why had he become so irrational in his pain?
Arriving at Kaelron's room, Lynaria was stunned by the chaos inside. Plates and food were scattered on the floor, cushions overturned in a violent mess.
"What happened here?" she demanded, voice tight with concern.
"The king threw everything at anyone who came near him," a servant explained, looking distressed.
Lynaria entered, only to be nearly hit by a flying glass. She dodged it with a quick movement, heart pounding. When Kaelron saw her, his guilt was immediate, but Lynaria wasted no time. She rushed to his side, her worry intensifying as she saw the blood staining his back.
"Are you alright, my lord?" she asked, her voice trembling with concern. "Let me help you with your wound."
Kaelron, looking disoriented, glared at her. "Where have you been all day? Why did you only show up now?"
"I was training, my lord," she replied softly.
"So, your training is more important than my health?" he snapped, the anger in his voice sharp.
Lynaria took a deep breath, her voice calm despite his outburst. "Your wound is still fresh, my king. Please rest."
Kaelron fell silent, his anger subsiding just enough for Lynaria to tend to his injury. When she was finished, she asked the servants to clean up the room and bring food and medicine for him.
The meal arrived shortly after, and Lynaria helped Kaelron eat, her hands gentle as she fed him. Once he had finished, she helped him back into bed. There was a heaviness in the air, and Lynaria could no longer keep silent.
"You shouldn't have done this for me. Now my debt to you is even greater," she said quietly, her voice tinged with guilt.
"What are you talking about?" Kaelron asked, his tone confused but sharp.
"Don't help me anymore," Lynaria continued. "The sword was meant for me. Why did you sacrifice yourself? I've already given my life for you. I should be the one protecting you."
Kaelron's expression shifted suddenly, a cold fury flashing in his eyes. "How dare you order your king around?"
He sat up abruptly, wincing in pain. Lynaria rushed to stop him, her worry taking over.
"What are you doing? Don't move, my lord. Don't you want to get better?"
Kaelron softened at her words, a slight smile tugging at his lips. "Thank you for helping me again… but don't sacrifice yourself next time. I have nothing left to give you."
"Give me your heart," she heard him whisper.
Her eyes widened. "What?"
"Don't think of anyone but me," he insisted, his voice quiet but intense.
Lynaria froze, completely unprepared for his words. Yesterday, he had spoken another woman's name, and now he was making demands of her. Confusion washed over her, but she knew one thing for certain—she couldn't comply with this request.
"I'm sorry, my lord. I can't."
Kaelron's anger flared up at her rejection. "Why? Do you have another man in your heart?"
Lynaria felt her chest tighten. "No. You are my lord, and I can never be with you."
Kaelron fell back against his pillows, disappointment flashing in his eyes. His kingdom was more important to him than anything else. With frustration, he snapped, "Leave."
Lynaria hesitated, then obeyed, walking away with a heavy heart. As she stepped out of his room, Kaelron's voice echoed in her mind.
"Am I really not in your heart?"
Outside the door, Lynaria tried to gather herself, pushing back the emotions that threatened to overwhelm her.
"No matter what… you'll always be my lord, and we can never be together, even though I care for you so much."
As she muttered to herself, someone suddenly approached, startling her.
"Who is the man you care for?"