Episode 12.2

Otscharsan's report ends abruptly as the door opens and two arguing redheads enter, followed by two warriors, easily identified by their black uniforms.

"What's going on lately?" Gasard stands in front of Kaia, stopping her. His gaze is suspicious. "Did you have anything to do with the attack on her?"

"Sure! And then I come straight to you to report everything." Kaia snorts angrily. "You really think I'm capable of anything! I saved her! Ask her yourself if you don't believe me!" She gestures towards me.

Gasard's gaze shifts to me. "Did she really save you?"

Kaia yells and sinks to the ground like a stubborn child. Despite the pain, I manage to nod. I can't understand how he could think such a thing of her, especially since I'm so grateful she saved my life. If I could, I would thank her.

Gasard glances briefly at Kaia. "My dear, you're capable of a lot when it comes to a woman becoming or being interesting to Torsos." He looks at me, his expression questioning. "What's going on here?"

But he can't expect an answer from me. Instead, someone else answers.

"Someone attacked her, and I chased him away," Kaia responds on my behalf.

"Why would someone attack you?" Gasard shakes his head in disbelief. "How do you make enemies in such a short time?"

By being in the wrong place at the wrong time, I'd like to answer.

I'd also like to tell them everything. About Tosa and her friend, my suspicion that they are behind the poison attack, and the attack on me. So that it all finally ends and I no longer have to fear it happening again.

My body trembles slightly with fear, and when the blonde notices, he pats my head reassuringly.

"How does one do that?" Gasard is still puzzled. "Not even Torsos manages that."

As he says this, he slowly approaches me. Seeing the bandage on my neck, he briefly asks the young woman tending to me if it's serious.

"Torsos manages that within a minute and doesn't even need to mention his name," Kaia interjects, laughing, interrupting the young woman.

Gasard looks at her, then shakes his head. "He's capable of a lot, but certainly not that." He looks at me. "The two gentlemen…" He points to the two young warriors who accompanied him. "… are Koro and Waro. They're both specialists in close combat and will ensure nothing happens to you. They also have orders to only allow certain people to see you. Since you don't know anyone here yet, I'll check on you from time to time." He sighs loudly. "If I can find the time."

"If you're not around, I'll keep her company," Otscharsan calls out, smiling at me.

"Forget it!" Gasard shouts, making the blonde look at him in surprise. "You'll just teach Janine some nonsense."

"But I'll visit her," Kaia exclaims joyfully.

Gasard whirls around to her, looking sternly at the petite redhead. "No!" he snaps. "I'll make sure you don't go near her!"

Why is he so against her visiting me? I'd really like it and would find it nice.

Even though I've only heard that she's a moody brat, I find her quite nice and don't understand why others have such an opinion of her. Besides, she would certainly keep me from getting bored.

"You can tell me what happened when you're feeling better," Gasard says with a smile. "But for now, just rest." His gaze silently instructs the others to leave the room.

The two warriors immediately comply. They bow politely to their superiors and then silently leave the room.

Otscharsan stands up from the chair and, with a wink, says, "Get well soon, and I'll show you how to have real fun here."

"Didn't I say something earlier?" Gasard remarks in a stern tone, a tone the blonde simply ignores as he leaves the room with a wave.

"I'll keep her company a bit longer!" Kaia calls out energetically. She jumps up and moves to sit in the chair Otscharsan vacated, but Gasard blocks her way.

"Janine needs to rest," he admonishes her. "That word is completely foreign to you!"

"I am being quiet!" she grumbles defiantly. "And I will behave, I promise."

Sometimes she behaves like a little child, I think to myself. But it's also funny.

Gasard raises his eyebrows. "You don't expect me to believe that, do you?" Kaia immediately nods energetically. "You certainly won't stay here unsupervised."

Under protest and many threats from her, Gasard practically drags the petite but energetic woman out of the room.

Shortly after, a group of women enters my room.

They give me another injection, a sedative. Slowly, I become sleepier until I fall asleep. Only then do they examine me.

I wake up only when a young woman enters. Her long, straight, blonde hair reaches almost to her waist, and her blue eyes look kindly at me, with a friendly smile on her full lips. She's a few centimeters shorter than me. The long, white dress she wears clings tightly to her slender body.

She holds a bowl in her hands.

She tells me she will bring me my meals from now on. Her name is Tarisa.

But she doesn't just bring the food; she feeds me too, as I have difficulty eating on my own.

She's nice and always has a smile on her lips, but after what happened, it's hard for me to trust her. Even otherwise, I'm still scared despite the two warriors standing guard outside my room.

I just can't help it. Every time I close my eyes, I see the figure. The silhouette of a man standing over me, trying to strangle me.

And when I do sleep, I usually wake up drenched in sweat from a horrible nightmare.

Not even after days have passed does it get better.

The only ones I trust are Kaia, Gasard, and Otscharsan.

Unfortunately, they visit me very rarely these days. Gasard is very busy as Torsos' deputy, and he also has to fix Otscharsan's mistakes. One reason why Otscharsan also visits me so rarely, mostly just briefly after his work. He still has his team to take care of.

And Kaia. She's been forbidden from entering my room. She only visits when accompanied by Gasard or Otscharsan.

Something I find a bit excessive.

The only one who doesn't visit me at all is Mak. When I asked about him, Gasard said he took a vacation since he no longer has to look after me. That was his reward.

Honestly, I kind of miss him.