Chapter 38

We arrived at the villa by nightfall because of the delay of having to disembark at the Kartier duchy station, since there wasn't one in Chilsela. The other option was duke Wrotingthon's territory, which would have taken much longer.

The princess slept throughout the entire trip  to Chilsela. His highness had not left her side once, which was rather surprising for all of us. Upon our arrival at the villa, he left her in the care of the maids as he instructed us to gather in the private sitting room for an impromptu meeting. We were all nervous at first, since it sounded as though we were about to be reprimanded. However-

"Your highness, I don't understand. How could the princess do that to her own sister?" asked one knight.

When we learned the truth of that night, we were all distraught, and miss Bettie nearly fainted. Until now, we all thought she was faking everything to gain the prince's favor after everything came to light. To think she was truly hurt this whole time.

"From what I could hear, it seems she wants the throne all to herself." Replied the prince with a heavy sigh.

"And that's not all. Apparently, she was the one who killed her brother and the mastermind behind her parents' assassination."

"Y-your highness, what are you- what are you saying, my prince? How could…H-how could one's own-" replied miss Bettie in a quivering tone before proceeding to collapse on the floor.

"Miss Bettie!"

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~Kartier Manor, Alkaraz Capital

"My lady, please open the door. We merely wish to check on you."

"What is all this commotion at such an early hour of the day?" I questioned sternly.

"We found her ladyship rummaging through the kitchen's cutlery and…"

"Florette Kartier! Open this door immediately!" I yelled as I banged on the door.

She had better not be doing what I think she's doing. She's been out of sorts since she found out about the prince's tryst with that woman. 

"Bring me the master key, now!"

"Yes, your grace!"

You can't do this to me, Florette. It hasn't even been that long since I found you lying in a pool of your own blood. You can't put me through this again.

"Mother! Is something wrong with Florette?" asked Dimitriu as he rushed towards me in his nightwear.

His bare chest was exposed behind his unbuttoned nightwear. For a brief moment, Florette's ordeal faded into nothingness as I found myself entranced by his brawny physique.

"Mother? Is everything alright?"

"Right. Ahem! Florette is merely throwing a temper tantrum as always. Do not worry, your grace. I will handle her." I responded calmly.

"Very well. I shall leave you to it then." He replied as he turned around and walked away.

"Here's the key, your grace."

"Open the door! Quickly!" I whispered to the maid.

I bolted into her room with high hopes. However, my heart quickly sank when I detected the smell of blood wafting in the air. She was lying face up on her bed, holding a bloody knife in one hand while her wrist was bleeding ceaselessly.

"Summon the physician!" I yelled in panic.

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Have I lost weight, or is this tall mirror playing tricks on me? As I stood there removing the bandages from my stomach, my sister's voice kept echoing in my head. Though I healed the wound, I purposely left the scars as a reminder of that night. The day that my flesh and blood nearly ended my life. I would have overlooked everything if it was just me, but she went so far as shedding the blood of our entire family. Loraine, my sister sullied Ecchelon's honor all because of her wretched greed.

"As the last surviving member of our family, it is my duty to bring her to justice. But…"

While I crouched in front of the mirror, sobbing my sorrows away, a sudden knock came on the door. I glanced at my reflection and gaped in distraught at how awful I looked. Thus, I quickly wiped the tears off my face and cleared my throat as I stood up and strode towards the door.

"May I come in?" asked a deep and familiar voice. 

I ran back to the mirror and tried to spruce myself up, only to look even more ragged than before. What baffled me even more was my own actions. Why am I trying so hard to look presentable to someone who has been seeing the worst part of me ever since we've met?

"I'm coming in." he said as he slowly opened the door.

He paused halfway in as he stared at me in bewilderment. He chuckled, then quickly covered his mouth with one hand while repeatedly clearing his throat.

"You…ahem! You look well."

Seeing him try so hard to suppress the urge to laugh, I couldn't hold mine in either. The pain in my chest had long vanished, as Nathaniel and I laughed to the point of tears.

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"Amazing! I never would have guessed that your highness would be familiar with such an unconventional method. Drizzling it with water truly was the perfect way to tame those stubborn bed hair of mine."

When he insisted on helping me, I thought he was merely bluffing. To think he actually knew what he was doing…

"Growing up with a temperamental twin sister made me learn things I normally wouldn't."

A sister huh…

"Come here, Fati." he said as he sat on the edge of the bed. 

It was not a command, but a mere cordial beckoning between friends. Yet despite the somber state my heart was in, I nearly threw myself into his arms. What is it about him that appeals to me so? Why does his mere presence melt my troubles away? Who is Nathan to me, or rather, who am I to him?

"May I hold your hands?" he asked in a soft tone.

As if I couldn't wait for him to ask, my hands were already in his. He held them gently, before proceeding to clasp his fingers with mines. It felt so warm and comfortable. 

"Fati, I don't know how to comfort you. If anything, I am more prone to rub salt on your wounds than anything else. I can't imagine the pain you must be enduring right now, for I have never gone through it myself. However, I pray that in time, you will find the strength to return to your old self and be the same Fati you have always been."

His words were genuine. They warmed my heart. His voice was shaking, as well as were his hands. He claimed that he does not know how to comfort others, so what is this? His sincerity pierced through my conscience, that had been trying to hide my emotions from him ever since he walked through that door. I thought I was doing well suppressing the urge to burst into tears in front of him, but what am I supposed to do when he says such kind words to me?

"I'll keep holding your hands, so you can comfortably cry as much as you want to. I won't look at your face if you don't want me to."

~Meanwhile, In the hallway outside the door

"Is this the same crown prince we're used to?"

"Is the world to end soon?"

"Is our prince on death row?"

"Safi! You say the strangest things."

If I hadn't witnessed this personally, I would have had a hard time believing it. I nearly cried when I saw him sympathizing with the princess. It's almost as if he's changing. Little by little, step by step, he is becoming a different person right before our eyes. 

"Go back to work, all of you." I said with a menacing glare.

"Y-yes madam!"

"They're as lively as ever! Greetings, Miss Bettie."

"Sir Syler, what brings you all the way here?"

"I came bearing urgent news from the capital."