Friends or Just Acquaintances.
The flap of Elara's tent closed behind the Crown Prince, his orders to rest hanging in the air, Elara and the physician left alone. The silence that followed his exit felt heavier than the air, the weight of his presence still lingering.
The physician resumed her work, carefully cleaning and tending to the smaller cuts and injuries on Elara's arms and shoulders. Her movements were precise, and the sting of the antiseptic barely registered in Elara's distracted mind.
"I have to say," the physician murmured as she worked, "That's the first time I've seen His Highness speak to you with such... concern. Or at all, for that matter."
Elara blinked, her attention snapping back to the woman. "At all?"
"Yes." The physician shrugged as she carefully examined and dabbed at a particularly stubborn gash before glancing up. "You've met him before, haven't you? As the youngest of House Aeternum and Commander Lupina, you must have crossed paths at the banquets and formal events. With your achievements, it's impossible you wouldn't have."
Elara didn't reply, her silence prompting the physician to continue. "Not that I've attended any banquets at the Imperial Palace—I had no reason to—but the maids who went as extras? They had plenty to say. They always grumbled about how formal things were between you two. His Highness never seemed anything but polite with you, and you were the same with him."
Elara remained silent, processing this. Of course, she had no memory of any relationship with the Crown Prince—or lack thereof, how could she? This was not her story. But his fierce protectiveness earlier felt at odds with what the physician was describing.
"He's only been to Aeternum Estate once, hasn't he?" the physician added, tying off a bandage. "For your coming-of-age ceremony. Even then, I heard he wasn't exactly the friendly type. Always distant, even with you. After all that you have done for the empire at such young age, some would say he should keep you in high regard but....They say Crown Prince Adrian Rosethorne doesn't particularly warm up to anyone, and neither do you."
Elara froze at the name. Adrian... It was the first time she had heard it. The Crown Prince. The man who had ordered her knights and defied the imperial chain of command just moments ago. Her thoughts churned, trying to reconcile this new information with his actions. If they weren't close, why had he shown such determination to protect her?
"I see," she murmured, keeping her voice neutral.
The physician didn't seem to notice her distracted tone, too focused on wrapping a bandage around a particularly nasty gash on Elara's shoulder. She hesitated as she approached the deep stab wound. The darkened edges and peculiar texture made her uneasy. "This one... I'll leave it as it is," she said finally, wrapping it with a clean bandage but applying no ointment. "I don't know what's causing this reaction, and I won't risk making it worse."
Elara, still lost in thought, barely acknowledged the decision with a faint nod.
The sound of boots on the snow-dusted ground outside drew their attention. A voice called from beyond the tent flap. "Commander, permission to enter?"
Elara straightened slightly, her tone sharp despite her fatigue. "Enter."
Lieutenant Dren stepped inside, his demeanor professional but tinged with caution as he saluted briefly. "The carriages are ready, Commander. We'll depart shortly."
Elara raised an eyebrow. "Carriages?" she muttered under her breath. Of course, they have those too, she chastised herself internally.
Dren, misinterpreting her confusion, quickly added, "You can't ride a horse in your current condition. You should forget about it. The carriage is the safest option for you."
Elara blinked at him, startled by both his assumption and the earnestness in his voice. A faint smile tugged at her lips, unbidden. It seemed, at the very least, that her relationship with her soldiers was far better than with this supposed brother of hers.
But the thought made her pause. She tilted her head slightly, her faint smile lingering. Was she… happy about their concern? The notion felt foreign, as though she were observing herself from a distance, unable to fully reconcile her own emotions. How long has it been since she was last cared for?
"Thank you, Lieutenant," she said, her tone gentler than it had been all this time. For some reason, she felt closer to the knight than she had felt a moment ago.
Dren hesitated, his gaze flickering between Elara and the physician. Noticing his pause, Elara narrowed her eyes slightly. "What is it?"
Dren shifted uncomfortably. "His Highness… the Crown Prince has decided to travel with us until we reach the Aeternum mansion."
Elara's breath caught. "What?"
The physician's hands froze over the supplies she was organizing, her head snapping up to look at Dren.
"He'll leave for the Imperial Palace after we reach the mansion," Dren continued. "He said he'll personally report to the Supreme Commander about the situation."
Elara stared at Dren, the shock evident in her features.
The physician seemed equally taken aback, her expression a mix of confusion and disbelief. "The Crown Prince… is traveling with us?"
Dren nodded, clearly uncomfortable with the revelation.
Elara's mind whirled. Adrian Rosethorne—Crown Prince of the Empire—was a friend or just an acquaintance. According to what the physician has told her so far, they were nothing more than formal acquaintances but from what Elara has observed of his behavior so far, it was not as simple as that....
Elara forced herself to remain calm, her expression hardening into a mask of composure. "Understood," she said finally, though her voice carried an edge of tension.
Dren saluted again, this time more briefly. "I'll ensure everything is prepared."
As he left the tent, the silence that followed was deafening. Elara leaned back slightly, her mind a storm of unanswered questions.
Why was Adrian doing this? And why did it matter so much to her?