Chapter 13- I care for you

The day has come for them to compete for the last round. Amy braided her long hair and put bandage around her belly, it started to turn violet and it felt really hurtful like it is burning inside of her. She went outside to see Daniel, wearing her metal suit and holding her helmet. Her presence alone can attract so many people's eyes, her figure is a silent killer.

"Can you still compete today? Your injury might gotten worst." he said in concern.

"No, I can do this. It's the last round, who said I'd give up?" she replied then laughed. No matter how hard Daniel tried to stop Amy from joining because her injury might only get worse, she still stood firm and insist.

The competition will start any moment, she wandered her eyes around to see where Phoenix is. And just as she thought, he's with Lady Cameron sitting in front of the field. It looks like they are newlyweds. The smile on Amy's face faded as she sees them. Is she jealous? why would she get jealous? there's nothing even going on between them besides, she didn't even like Phoenix at all.

Just like yesterday, she'll compete midst to the last. As she hop on her horse, she felt the burning sensation increasing down in her belly and then the announcer rang the bell and they both ran their horses. When she was about to reach her opponent, he immediately struck her injured belly, as if he already knew her weakness and where to hit her to finally take her down.

Amy hold tight to her horse so that she'll not fall, while her other hand was embracing her aching belly from the hit. The audience was wondering of what was going on, the crowd was filled with disappointed voice of people as they rose from their seats.

She turned her horse around for the second attack, and when she's near him, she looked at the man's eyes.

'He's the one who kicked my horse and cheated on the first tournament.' she widened her eyes in the thought that this knight would do something bad about her. Amy was about to pull the reign of her horse to stop and turn back but it was too late. The knight savagely hit her belly for the second time and she fell down.

Phoenix suddenly stood up from his seat in shock and Lady Cameron grabbed his hand. He removed her hand roughly and hurriedly hop on his horse to go to Amy. The audience stood in their seats again, unable to believe what had happened. Many knights came to the scene on their horses including Daniel to see what happened to her. She was unconscious on the ground and Phoenix immediately put her in his arms and hop on his horse.

The knights can't believe Phoenix' sudden behavior but they let it pass because they were all worried about Amy. The competition was interrupted because of what happened and the other knights that'll compete next suddenly cancelled.

When Phoenix arrived at the castle, he immediately bring her to Dr. Devon and the sight of her unconscious made him widened his eyes in shock and immediately assist her to the bed. Phoenix was really angry at what that knight did to her.

"Apollo! Find that knight, right now!" he said in rage. He's becoming a beast not knowing it. His golden eyes shone with anger, and the sight itself looked like it can kill somebody.

He looked at her with pitiful eyes, he didn't know why is he being like this to her. All he know is that he cared for her.

***

Amy woke up in Dr. Devon's infirmary, it was already dark outside, she's wearing a thin robe that can see the trace of her undergarments. And a blanket at the top of her, she tried to stand up but she just groaned in pain.

"Please Eve, don't push yourself to stand up. Your injury is so bad and it needs to be treated properly."

"I see, thankyou Dr. Devon. But, who brought me here? And who changed my clothes?"

"Ah, Sir Adelard brought you here and you know what? He was really angry, the look in his eyes shows that he would kill someone in any moment."

"Angry? Why...is he angry? Is he angry with me?"

"I don't think so. Ah! And the one who changed your clothes is Anna, she hurriedly came here when she heard the news of you injured yourself and offer to change your clothes."

Amy just nodded her head while holding to her belly, it's still aching from pain and she's having a hard time to move even a single step.

Someone knocked on the door and Dr. Devon opened it. It was Anna holding a tray with a soup and bread in it.

"Oh Anna, come in." she just smiled and entered the infirmary.

"Good evening Ms. Eve. How's your injury?"

"It's still aching, by the way, thankyou Anna, for changing my clothes."

"No worries Ms. Eve. You're not a stranger to me, you're like my older sister." They both smiled and Anna placed the tray on the table beside Amy and helped her to sit up.

"By the way, what happened to the knight who did this to me?"

"I heard he fled since the news of Sir Adelard giving order to catch that bastard spread throughout the castle. They didn't know who that was."

"And I'm sure that Sir Adelard will punish him, just looking at his furious eyes made chills ran down my spine." Devon said.

She finished her food and they let her rest and leave. Amy immediately fell asleep because of the pain and the medicine Devon have to her. At midnight, someone was entering the infirmary in a careful step and sat beside her bed.

Amy felt the presence of that person even though she was very sleepy. She slowly opened her eyes and saw a man with a golden eyes and huge physique sitting beside her.

"Commander Adelard? What are you doing here?" she said in a husky and sleepy voice while slowly blinking her puppy-like eyes.

"I was just checking if you're fine."

"I'm fine, it's just I can't move easily because it's still aching." she replied while holding to her belly and Phoenix looked at her hand.

"The knight that did this to you has fled, no one sees him after the competition as if it was already planned."

"I'm sure he's still here. With us." Phoenix's calm eyes change as he heard her.

"What do you mean?"

"I only saw his eyes but I know who he is and I'll never forget his aura. He is the one who kicked my horse that's why I got my ankle sprained."

"That knight...." Phoenix can't believe what she was saying. It didn't come to his mind that, that knight would do something like this to his comrade and if not, maybe someone ordered him to do this, and that's what he was going to find out.

"...."

"Rest for now." he said in a calm voice while looking at her sleepy eyes. He wondered why when it comes to her being injured he gets really angry.

'What did you do to me that it's like I'm under a strong spell and I can't get away?'

***