Chapter 63
First came the smell. Herbs-far too many of them.
Then, the soft hum of enchanted crystals vibrating somewhere above.
Finally, the headache.
"Owww..."
"My lady, you're awake! I'll get the healer!" Martha's voice cut through the ringing in my ears.
Frantic footsteps rushed out, followed shortly by a hurried scramble back in.
"My lady, how do you feel?"
"Alive... and deeply disappointed."
Someone chuckled.
I cracked open one eye. A young healer looked down at me with a precise mix of professional curiosity and profound worry.
"I was hoping yesterday had been a fever dream."
"I'm afraid not, my lady."
"...Shame."
I pushed myself upright, every muscle in my body violently protesting the movement.
"What happened?"
"You collapsed from exhaustion. You've been unconscious for two days."
"...Reasonable."
"The prince was brought back safely."
My head snapped toward him. "Lucien?"
"He's undergoing treatment in the tower healing room."
I was already swinging my legs off the bed. "But-"
Too late. I was halfway to the door.
"My lady!" Martha and the healer cried out in unison.
"I'll come back if I faint again!"
The corridors of the Magic Tower looked exactly as I remembered: towering ceilings, pristine white stone, floating lights, and a level of cleanliness that suggested an almost disturbing devotion to sanitation. Either the staff was deeply dedicated, or they were working at gunpoint.
Martha caught up with me, slightly out of breath. "My lady, third floor. End of the eastern corridor."
"I knew that."
"You were running west."
"I was testing you....... You failed..."
"...I don't think that's how tests work...."
We reached a pair of heavy, carved doors guarded by two Viremont royal guards who stiffened instantly.
One glanced down at me. "The prince is resting."
"I know."
"He still hasn't regained consciousness."
The words dropped like lead in my stomach. I pushed past them before either could block the doorway.
The room was quiet, sunlight spilling across the polished floor. Lucien lay motionless on the bed. The bandages had been replaced with immaculate white linen embroidered with faint silver runes. He looked less paler than before, but the stillness was heavy.
I walked over slowly. "...Seriously?"
No answer.
Pulling a chair beside the bed, I sat down. Without overthinking it, I reached out and took his hand. It was warm. A small relief.
I exhaled quietly. "You know... I've been thinking. If you wake up soon, I might forgive you for getting injured. If you don't, I'm telling everyone the mighty Prince Lucien Viremont lost a duel to one extremely rude tree."
A beat of silence.
"I'll also tell them you snore."
The healer cleared his throat from the doorway. "My lady, you are in no condition to be running around. Furthermore, I must advise you to let Prince Lucien rest."
"How is he?"
"Out of danger, thankfully. Your administration of those herbs saved him. But the wounds are deep-though no organs were damaged-so recovery will take time."
"When will he wake up?"
"I cannot tell you that."
"What, is it a classified state secret?"
"That is.. not what I mean. I simply cannot say when he will regain consciousness."
I narrowed my eyes at him. "And who, exactly, are you?"
Slightly offended, the healer puffed out his chest. "I am the senior-most healer of this tower, assigned directly to the care of the prince by Archmage Theodore and approved by the King of Viremont."
"And you're certain you know what you're doing?"
"Yes, I am."
"Can I see your medical license?"
"I... I'm afraid I don't understand."
"You don't have one? What kind of operation are you running here?! I'm filing a complaint with the medical council."
"Medic- There is no such council in existence."
"Then I'll start one."
The healer pinched the bridge of his nose, looking profoundly world-weary. "I suddenly understand why Master Rhaevan looked so tired when he carried you in here."
I froze. "...He carried me?"
The healer gave me a flat, deadpan stare. "He carried an unconscious woman across three flights of stairs while flatly refusing to let anyone else touch her."
"Oh." I blinked. "...That does sound inconvenient."
"It was an absolute nightmare for everyone involved."
Deciding he was done entertaining a public menace, the healer turned on his heel and walked away.
I looked back down at Lucien and gently squeezed his hand. "Well... we've caused enough drama for one week. Whenever you're done with your latest heroic episode...... wake up."
The room lapsed back into silence. This time, I didn't mind it.
Stepping back out into the corridor, the two Viremont guards looked at me with the distinct expressions of men who had collectively decided I was a walking disaster.
Fair assessment, honestly.
"I'll come back later," I told them.
The older guard offered a stiff, polite nod. "The prince requires uninterrupted rest, my lady."
"So I've been informed. Twice. By you."
He cleared his throat, maintaining ironclad composure. "I only mentioned it once."
"The look you gave me counted as the second time."
Neither guard looked remotely amused.
"Tough crowd," I muttered, offering a dramatic sigh before turning down the corridor.