IV
The resounding sound of the punch was the only thing that filled Y/N's ears as she looked down at Lennox who was looking up at her with a look of incredulity plastered across his face. Her heart began to race at the realization of what she had just done.
Everyone in the hallway had gone silent, too shocked at what they had just seen to be able to say anything.
You could hear a pin drop. Outside one of the windows could be heard the chirping of a songbird and Y/N wished nothing more than to switch bodies with it and fly away.
Every part of her life at the palace that she had imagined for herself flashed before her eyes.
There was no way she was going to be allowed to stay here after assaulting the crown prince in front of a handful of witnesses.
A bead of sweat began to form on her forehead and the dull pain in her head still remained, making everything still feel a little surreal and unbelievable.
She could see Kent from the corner of her eyes reach toward Lennox to help him stand up only for him to put his hand up to stop him.
Kent froze mid-action and stared at him waiting for his next move.
Lennox staggered back to his feet and stood up to his full height. "Everyone out. Now."
No one moved an inch and Lennox looked annoyed at all of them. "Did I not make myself clear? Out. NOW!"
Everyone quickly started scurrying off but Y/N stayed glued to her spot, knowing that his order didn't apply to her with the way he was staring her down. Kent looked conflicted on what to do, not wanting to leave Y/N alone with him.
"That includes you too, Yoshida." Lennox said shooting Kent a look from the side.
Still seeming like he didn't want to leave, he finally relented and began to walk off but not before shooting Y/N a pitiful glance before disappearing down the corridor.
Now that it was just the two of them alone, Y/N quickly began rehearsing the most heartfelt apology she could muster in her head.
As much as she didn't feel bad about what she had done and even felt it to be justified, she knew she would have to put her pride aside in this situation since she had quite literally assaulted someone who would one day be King of the Kingdom she lived in.
God, thinking about it like that she just wanted to crawl in a ditch and die. She was so screwed.
Just as she was about to open her mouth and beg for forgiveness and ask to not be publicly executed, Lennox began to laugh. Y/N's stomach dropped. What the hell was so funny?
Lennox continued to laugh only to wince from the pain in his right cheek and touch it with the back of his hand. His gaze fell back onto her and for the first time since they had met, he looked at her with intrigue.
"You've got guts, I'll give you that. I've never been hit by a girl before. I can't tell if you're fearless or just plain stupid." He stated with a stupid smirk on his face.
"I am so sorry Prince Lennox. I-I didn't mean to. I know that my words mean nothing but I promise it's the truth. I don't know or care how but please let me make this up to you. I'll do anything just please don't kick me out of the palace. I can't lose all of this.
I'll even let you land a punch on me if that's what you would prefer." She offered.
Lennox scoffed at her offer but looked intrigued at the idea that she would do anything to make it up to him. "Anything, huh?"
Desperately looking up at him, Y/N remained silent.
This wasn't the time for her to do anything stupid that might upset him.
He took slow, methodical steps towards her like a predator closing on its prey.
Once he stopped right in front of her and raised his hand, Y/N closed her eyes waiting for impact.
So it came as a shock to her when he cupped her face and brought it right up to his face.
He stared at her with pure and utter contempt.
"You know, before I was just trying to get under your skin. But I can see your complete lack of respect for your superiors. I probably would've gotten bored after a while and moved on, but now you've gone and made yourself someone memorable."
His grip on her face started to tighten and she could feel herself beginning to struggle to breathe.
"And not in a way you would want to be remembered by your future King. So let me make this absolutely crystal clear for you. Since you decided to play stupid games with me, you get stupid prizes. You my dear Healer will never know peace in this palace as long as I am around.
I will do everything in my power to make your time here a nightmare and send you back running to your decrepit pigstye of a village where you belong. Don't even think for a second about getting comfortable around here. Or do, it'll be more heartbreaking for you when you leave."
Y/N could feel a lump forming in her throat and tears stinging the back of her eyes as he continued spitting the cruellest words he could muster towards her.
That feeling of not belonging and homesickness was fully realized for her in this moment and she could feel her hold on her emotions unravelling with every second spent in his presence.
Once he was done, he pushed her face to the side and bumped his shoulder into hers causing her to stumble and fall onto her knees. He turned back around and scoffed at her on the floor before walking out of sight.
The cold feeling of the floor against her knees and the overall pitiful look of her current state was the final straw and she began to sniffle quietly to herself.
How could she have ever believed that she was worthy to be here amongst all these incredibly powerful people.
How dare she dream of a better life for herself.
Why couldn't she be happy living a humble life back at home like her parents.
What was she even doing here in the first place. She didn't have what it took.
Her sniffles eventually formed into full on sobbing that racked throughout her whole body.
They were so powerful that even the breathing exercises she knew by heart failed in calming her down.
Less than 24 hours ago she felt over the moon to be with the "big leagues" and start her new life in higher society.
If only she could've seen the state she was in now.
How naive she had been. She should've just put up with the Prince's cruel remarks and he would've moved onto another victim.
She stayed there on the floor for what felt like an eternity letting out all of her pent-up frustration and stress at the world.
She could feel the energy in her arms and legs slowly dwindling away and knew she needed to get to her room and get her bearings.
Maybe it was better to quit while it was still early and she wasn't more attached to the ideas of what this place could offer her and her future.
Her sobs started to slow down and once they were nothing more than sniffles, she got up on her shaky legs and started heading in the direction of her room.
She didn't know what to do or what she COULD do with how her mental and physical state was at the moment.
All she knew was she would have to miss the second half of her evaluation.
——— ??ˋ ? ?ˊ? ———
Healer Ellis and the twins had come knocking on her door and asking her if she was alright.
She lied through the door and told them that she wasn't feeling well.
Healer Ellis could tell by the tone of her voice that something was indeed wrong and ushered the boys back to the Physician's Wing and stated that the second half of their evaluation would be between the two of them and Y/N would be given a different task to complete.
Y/N sat against the door to her bedroom the entire time.
She stared blankly out the window behind her desk at the royal garden.
The flowing of petals in the wind was able to calm her mind and help her focus on nothing.
This was something she often did. Whenever something greatly affected her she did her best to pretend it didn't exist and pushed it to the back of her mind.
And yet, those things always managed to bubble to the surface no matter how hard she tried.
She sat like that for an indescernable amount of time before kicking off her shoes and crawling into her bed, hoping to find reprieve in her dreams.
But like always, whenever she had too many thoughts whizzing in her mind, she struggled to fall asleep.
More tears flowed to the surface and she began to cry softly into her sheets.
What had Prince Lennox meant by she would never know peace?
Was he going to go to Healer Ellis with her behaviour and get her fired?
Her whole life would be ruined. Getting let go from the Palace was the ultimate sign of failure.
She would never be able to face her family and friends back at home knowing they had such high expectations of her.
She would never be able to work anywhere in Renetia ever again.
Would he use this to blackmail her into doing who knows what?
Her mind's descent into madness was interrupted by the sound of tapping against her window.
Not knowing if she was hearing things, she waited for a second set of knocks before raising her blanket off of her face.
It was then that she was able to see a shadow behind her curtains.
Drawing them back, she came face to face with Kent who had a small smile gracing his face and was motioning for her to come outside.
Y/N didn't know how to respond right away.
She knew without having to look that she was a mess right now.
And if she was being totally honest, she didn't feel like talking with anyone right now.
But there was something in Kent's eyes that gave her pause.
Pure sympathy. He wasn't pitying her but understood that she was going through something terrible and still wanted to be there for her.
It was because of him that she realized that she wasn't as alone and alien as she thought she was.
Here was someone who wanted to see her and make sure she was okay.
Not because she was their apprentice or colleague, but because she was possibly their friend.
A hint of a broken smile ghosted across her lips as she nodded and made her way out of her room and towards the garden.