Chapter 50
Aurora drifted through a deep dream.
She was sitting beside a lake at the old cabin she and Dante loved so much.
The water shimmered beneath the golden glow of the setting sun. A picnic blanket was spread beneath a large oak tree, and the gentle breeze carried the scent of wildflowers.
Dante sat beside her; his shoulder pressed against hers.
Warm.
Comfortable.
Safe.
He was laughing about something ridiculous she had said, and she rolled her eyes, pretending to be annoyed.
"You know," Dante teased, stealing a strawberry from her plate, "one day you're going to run out of comebacks."
Aurora gasped dramatically.
"Impossible."
"It could happen."
"It won't."
"It will."
"It won't."
Dante laughed and wrapped an arm around her shoulders.
The warmth of the sun.
The warmth of his embrace.
The warmth of being loved.
It felt so real.
Then, through the dream, she heard someone calling her name.
"Aurora..."
The voice sounded distant.
"Aurora..."
Slowly, the dream began to fade.
Aurora opened her eyes.
For a moment, everything was blurry. Then she saw her mother sitting beside the bed, clutching her hand tightly.
Tears streamed down Eleanor's cheeks.
"Aurora...", Her father's voice came from the other side of the room.
Aurora blinked slowly.
"Mother... Father..." she whispered.
The relief that flooded their faces was immediate.
Eleanor broke down completely.
"Oh, thank goodness."
She leaned forward and pressed a trembling kiss against Aurora's forehead.
"You frightened us."
Owen released a breath he didn't realize he had been holding.
"Call the physician," he ordered immediately.
Emily practically flew out of the room.
Hearing Aurora's voice after days of silence felt like a miracle.
For the past two days, her parents had travelled to the palace every morning and returned late each evening.
Neither had been willing to stay away.
Aurora was their entire world.
A few minutes later, the physician arrived and began examining her.
"Everyone outside, please."
Emily remained behind to assist.
Reluctantly, the others stepped into the hallway.
As they waited, Queen Catherine appeared.
The moment she heard Aurora had awakened, she had come immediately.
"Your Majesty."
Owen and Eleanor bowed respectfully.
The Queen waved a hand.
"Duke. Duchess. We are family. Stop bowing every five minutes."
Despite their worry, a small smile appeared on Eleanor's face.
"How is she?" the Queen asked anxiously.
"The physician is checking on her now," Owen replied.
Eleanor instinctively moved closer to her husband.
Without hesitation, Owen wrapped an arm around her shoulders.
Neither cared who was watching.
After everything they had endured, they had long stopped worrying about appearances.
Inside the room, the physician completed his examination.
"Lady Aurora, you are recovering remarkably well."
Aurora smiled weakly.
"Thank you, Doctor."
"You gave everyone quite a fright.", He chuckled.
"I never thought I'd live long enough to see the terrifying Duke Ambrose pacing holes into palace floors."
Aurora laughed softly, "Father is a puppy when it comes to Mother or me."
The physician grinned, "I am beginning to suspect that is true."
Aurora's smile widened.
The physician finished packing away his equipment.
"You need plenty of rest, food, and absolutely no heroic attempts to save the duchy for at least a few days."
"I'll try."
"That wasn't convincing."
Aurora looked away innocently.
The physician sighed dramatically.
"I'll pray for my sanity."
That earned another laugh from her.
Satisfied, he bowed.
"I'll return later. Rest well, Lady Aurora."
She had missed months of Aurora's life while her mother was recovering.
Never again.
The Queen felt equally content.
For once, there were no political games. No scheming nobles. No endless meetings.
Just old friends sharing stories and laughter.
A family.
The kind of family she had always hoped Aurora would someday join.
Which only made her frustration with Lucian even stronger.
Aurora possessed something rare.
Kindness.
Strength.
Compassion.
A heart that genuinely cared for others. The perfect qualities for a future queen. And her son had been too blind to see it.
Outside the room, servants smiled as they passed.
Even they could feel the warmth spilling from inside.
The atmosphere had completely changed. The darkness that had hung over the palace for days seemed lighter now.
Aurora was awake.
And everything suddenly felt a little brighter.
At one point, Lucian arrived intending to check on her.
As he approached the room, he heard laughter.
Real laughter.
Aurora's laughter.
He stopped outside the doorway.
Through the partially open door, he watched her smile.
Watched her tease her father.
Watched her laugh with the Queen.
Watched her family surround her with love.
For a long moment, he simply stood there. Quietly observing.
Did I misunderstand her?
The thought came uninvited.
Was this the real Aurora?
Not the girl desperately chasing after him.
Not the girl society gossiped about.
Just...Aurora.... Simple...... Warm..... Genuine.
For the first time, Lucian wondered if he had never truly known her at all.
After a moment, he turned away.
He didn't enter. Instead, he headed toward the training grounds.
Leaving behind the sound of laughter that somehow lingered in his mind long after he was gone.
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