XX #2
Turning the tap off, she walked back towards the bed.
Taking a seat, she began unwrapping the bandage.
The skin on her thumb was a light shade of pink, and you could see the jagged lines that separated her healthy skin from the freshly revealed one.
She struggled with getting the proper placement, considering it was the thumb in her dominant hand she had injured.
She felt herself grow irritated every time it would move before she was ready to stick it down.
A hand came into her field of vision and gently took the bandage out of her grasp.
Lennox.
He sat next to her on the bed and pulled her hand into his. "Always too proud to ask."
Y/N narrowed her eyes at him, with his focus down at her injured hand. What the hell was he doing? She attempted to snatch the bandage back from him. "I was doing just fine; I don't need your help."
Lennox stopped her from grabbing it by intertwining their fingers, subsequently pulling her forward. "Whether you want my help or not is irrelevant. Now, sit still."
Y/N felt her heartbeat increase at their proximity. From anxiety, obviously.
He gave her a look that silently told her to behave before he released their hands and went back to what he had previously been doing.
Lennox, meanwhile, had silently been admiring how soft the healer's hands were.
Her hands had not one imperfection; her hands were invitingly warm, and it was the perfect size for his.
His hands completely covered hers. And by Irene, the feeling of her hand intertwined with his made his body react in ways he couldn't say out loud.
He was extremely gentle, his touch feather-light.
All the moments of his harsh treatment towards her flooded his mind, and he winced.
Perhaps, he was ready to admit that he had been the bad guy.
That she hadn't done anything to warrant that kind treatment.
And he finally came to terms with the fact that he had misplaced that frustration onto an innocent bystander.
The time he had spent with her changed him.
The way she took such good care of him even when she could have easily passed him onto someone else proved that she wasn't who he thought she was.
That even though she had every right to make his treatment excruciating, she did everything as quickly as possible.
She was always checking in on him, working herself to the bone to make sure all of her patients were taken care of equally, and just so kind and generous with everyone.
Now he was able to see her as so much more than "the healer from Lenor Vale" or the lady who had assaulted him and spoken to him with zero respect.
Because he had grown to understand her. Her habits, like the way she would bounce her leg when she was working or nervous, the way she gave everyone the same level of respect regardless of title or rank, and the way she always rose to the occasion when she was needed.
Lennox truly felt awful. This wasn't the type of person he wanted to be. He wanted to be someone worthy of being King, and worthy of his Queen. How disgusted would she be if she knew this was who he was?
Once he had finally finished wrapping her finger, he continued to hold her hand in between his.
"Healer L/N," he whispered.
"Are you alright?" she asked.
There she went again, worrying for him.
"I suppose, in one way or another... I may have misjudged you."
She tilted her head to the side.
Lennox exhaled. He had never been good with apologies. He felt...nervous, he supposed. He was not good at admitting his faults, but something deep down inside of him told him this was right.
"I was incredibly harsh during our first few meetings, and it would be unwise for me to not...rectify this situation."
Y/N couldn't believe it. Why, it almost sounded like he was going to apologize.
"And moving forward, I want things to be different. I have seen how diligently you have worked not only for me, but for all of the noble families. It would be wrong of me to doubt your talent and skills and try to threaten your existence here."
Y/N stared deeply into his eyes. Lennox felt his heart rate increase, the way her (e/c) eyes seemed to pierce through him, as if they were able to see his very essence. She looked at him, waiting to see if he would continue.
He swallowed. "And, I suppose what I have been trying to get at is...that it seems that I, after much thinking and deliberation...should ????????? for my previous actions."
Lightning crackled in the distance, lighting up the entire room.
Lennox gently squeezed her hand in his. "I'm truly sorry."
Silence descended upon the pair. Y/N, utterly shell-shocked and at a loss for words, and Lennox waiting patiently for her. She felt like her world had been tilted on its axis. She had never imagined, in a million years, that the prince would be in front of her asking for forgiveness.
Why?
WHY?
Why did he have to go and try to make amends now? It would've been much simpler if they went on hating each other for the rest of their existence.
"I..." she trailed off.
Lennox looked at her hopefully.
She averted her gaze behind him, and felt the world go silent. The crackling of the candles on the wall, the distant sound of voices and shoes walking across marble disappeared. As if she had been transported to a world without sound.
Because Lennox's neck was glowing.
In the mirror behind him, his soulmark was glowing clear as day. The thorn-covered Renetian star was a beautiful sight. It contrasted perfectly with his tan skin. Oh, how she wanted to run her fingers across the detailed shapes and lines.
Green eyes flashed in her mind.
No.
This was wrong.
She quickly snatched her hand back from his grip and stood up.
"People will be looking for you. You should go."
Lennox looked up at her, his heart having fallen to his stomach. He tried desperately to reach for her hand again, but she fearfully retreated and crashed right into a medical cart. A glass bottle shattered on the ground, with some unknown healing substance spilling across the floor.
"Irene." Y/N groaned.
"Allow me to help you with that." Lennox quickly offered.
"No!" she exclaimed, "I will take care of this. Please return to your room, Your Highness. I will be in to check on you later."
Lennox stood there dejectedly as Y/N quickly began picking up the shards of broken glass. Had he been a fool? He felt like there was a split second where things could've gone amicably between them, but before he knew it, that had changed
"You don't need to forgive me. I just want you to feel at peace while you are here. And that I am truly sorry." Lennox walked to the door. "Goodnight, Healer L/N."
When Y/N heard the door shut, she dropped all the pieces of glass she had been holding back onto the floor. She sat on her knees and began crying softly into her hand.
All she could wonder was why?
Why her?
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