Body is Fragile

"Louise!" 

The voice pierced through the deafening screams, pulling me back from the depths of despair with its urgency and familiarity. Panic and concern laced every syllable, stirring a sense of recognition within me, although I struggled to place where I had heard it before. 

"Louise, wake up!"

As I blinked away the remnants of the blinding light, my mind recalled the sight that had greeted me—the ground saturated with the blood of innocent children, their lives snuffed out in a senseless act of violence. Anguish washed over me, a tidal wave of sorrow and outrage at the unfathomable cruelty inflicted upon the innocent.

Who could perpetrate such atrocities? What monstrous entity could unleash such devastation upon the vulnerable and defenseless? The questions echoed in my mind, unanswered and haunting, as I grappled with the enormity of the tragedy that had unfolded before my eyes. The innocence of the children, their lives cut short by senseless violence, weighed heavily on my heart, leaving me reeling with grief and disbelief.

"Louise!"

As cold water splashed against my face, shock jolted through my body, wrenching me back to consciousness. Gasping for air, I struggled to regain my composure, the weight on my chest gradually easing as I drew in ragged breaths.

"Louise…" Alexa's voice reached me, heavy with concern, as she sat wearily beside my bed. Before I could fully gather my bearings, Lily draped a soft blanket over me, her gentle touch offering comfort in the midst of confusion. A glass of water appeared in my trembling hands, offering solace to my parched throat.

For a few moments, we sat in silence, the air heavy with unspoken questions and the lingering echoes of my ordeal. My body throbbed with pain, every movement a reminder of the turmoil I had endured. Though Alexa and Lily conversed quietly, their words were lost in the violent throbbing of my head.

"What the hell happened again?" Alexa's voice broke through the haze of my thoughts, echoing the question that gnawed at the edges of my consciousness. It was a question I, too, longed to answer. How had I ended up here, back in my room, when the last thing I remembered was being in Hiyasmin's room? What had transpired in the interim, and why did my body ache as if I had been through a trial by fire?

Lily assisted me in standing and escorted me to the bathroom. Even the simple task of changing into fresh clothes proved challenging due to my weakened state. Upon my return, I found the bed neatly made, the evidence of my distress erased as if it were merely a fleeting nightmare.

"Was it similar to what happened before?" Liam's inquiry startled me. 

I hadn't noticed his presence until now. He stood against the wall, his gaze fixed on me intently. Had he been here for a while, or had he just arrived?

Alexa nodded in response to Liam's question, her attention divided between reading the flying book before her and the conversation.

"She was screaming and thrashing as if caught in a nightmare," Alexa explained, her voice tinged with concern as Lily helped me settle back onto the bed. "Despite our efforts to wake her, nothing seemed to rouse her except for splashing water."

My body felt as if it were made of fragile bones, and exhaustion weighed heavily upon me. I couldn't even feel my feet due to the overwhelming fatigue.

"Ludwig needs to be informed about this," Liam declared after hearing Alexa's explanation.

"Where's he now anyway?" Alexa inquired, her brow furrowing with concern. "I haven't seen him since yesterday."

Liam cleared his throat before responding. "He just arrived from the Kingdom of King Philippe a while ago, but he immediately departed again because the North is under attack," he explained. "Ludwig entrusted me with orders from Minister Ksaver."

Alexa's gaze shifted to me, her expression unreadable as she asked abruptly, "Where's the pendant?" She approached me with purpose.

"It's on the table," I managed to croak out, my throat parched and dry.

Without hesitation, Alexa retrieved the pendant from the table and carefully placed it around my neck, the weight of it serving as a comforting reassurance amidst the chaos.

"I know this won't take away the pain," Alexa said softly, her gaze filled with empathy. "But it may help to lessen what you're feeling."

I offered a silent nod of gratitude, my mind too clouded with exhaustion to fully comprehend her words. Collapsing onto the bed, I drifted into a fitful sleep, hoping to find respite from the turmoil of the previous night.

The following day, I struggled to rise from the bed, my body still weighed down by fatigue. Despite the hours of sleep, my pain lingered, stubborn and unyielding.

As I lay there, my thoughts returned to the haunting images of the children in distress. Were they real, or merely figments of my imagination? I desperately wished it was all just a dream, a nightmare from which I could awaken unscathed.

But if it was real, if those children truly suffered as I had witnessed, what could I do to help them? I lacked supernatural abilities, and in their world, I was but a mere mortal, weak and insignificant. The thought of being unable to aid those in need weighed heavily on my conscience, leaving me feeling utterly helpless and alone.

As the late afternoon descended, I finally mustered the strength to leave the confines of my bed. Lily, ever curious, accompanied me as I ate, her relentless questioning about my experience refusing to abate.

There was nothing particularly remarkable about the day, save for Lily's newfound chattiness. She seemed determined to pry every detail from me about my dream, or rather, my nightmare.

Seeking solace in the familiar surroundings of the Greenhouse, I immersed myself in the soothing routine of tending to the plants. With a book in hand to ward off boredom during breaks, I found a semblance of peace amidst the greenery.

Though the pain in my body had somewhat subsided, I still felt inexplicably fatigued, my movements sluggish and labored. Despite my best efforts, exhaustion clung to me like a heavy cloak, prompting me to surrender to a much-needed nap after just two hours of reading.

The abrupt shift from my slumber induced by cold water to the sweltering heat of my surroundings jolted me awake. Instinctively, I rose from my prone position, fearing the presence of flames nearby. However, my apprehension turned to surprise as I found myself locking eyes with Ludwig, his intense gaze holding me captive.

I couldn't help but notice the unusual transformation in his eyes, as they shifted from blue to yellow, then to a fiery orange. His aura radiated a palpable intensity that seemed to engulf the room, leaving me feeling both mesmerized and unnerved.

My knees trembled beneath me as I struggled to maintain my composure under his penetrating stare. Though I tried to look away, I found myself unable to tear my gaze from Ludwig's compelling presence, my every instinct urging me to stay rooted in place.

The soft voice echoed within me, its words cutting through the turmoil of my thoughts. "You like him," it whispered, stirring a tumult of conflicting emotions within me. "You like Ludwig." My heart quickened its pace, betraying the truth of the sentiment buried deep within.

I resisted the urge to pull at my hair in frustration, my mind reeling at the realization. Hiyasmin's words echoed in my mind, reminding me of the undeniable attraction I felt towards Ludwig. But why? Why did my heart race at the mere sight of him? And why, despite my efforts to maintain a semblance of composure, did my resolve falter in his presence?

I chided myself inwardly, admonishing my foolishness for allowing such feelings to take root. But as Ludwig's intense gaze bore into me, my resolve wavered, my thoughts consumed by a whirlwind of uncertainty.

Despite my bold nature, I found myself hesitant to approach him, my usual confidence overshadowed by an unspoken fear of his wrath. What had caused his anger? And more importantly, should I dare to ask?

"Why are you sleeping here?" Ludwig's voice cut through the air, his tone tinged with frustration. "Didn't I tell you not to work anymore?"

His words sparked a surge of irritation within me. What did he expect me to do then? Spend my days idly, eating and sleeping, while he bore the burden of responsibility alone? The thought of owing him anything grated against my pride, and I refused to be indebted to him in any way.

"I don't want to be indebted to you," I responded, my voice devoid of emotion.

Ludwig arched an eyebrow at my declaration, a sly smirk playing at the corners of his lips. It was then that I realized he was seated directly in front of me. In a belated attempt to maintain some semblance of decorum, I quickly adjusted my posture, resisting the urge to shrink under his penetrating gaze.

"What are you saying?" Ludwig's question caught me off guard, his tone carrying a note of confusion. "You have no debt to me."

I hesitated, unsure how to respond to his assertion. "Prince Ludwig—"

"Ludwig," he interjected firmly, his gaze unwavering. "Just Ludwig." His irritation was palpable, adding a layer of tension to the already charged atmosphere.

Raising an eyebrow in surprise, I couldn't help but draw a connection between Ludwig and Liam's familial resemblance. "Okay, Ludwig," I acquiesced with a slight cough. "Perhaps you've forgotten that you... bought me—"

"Saved," Ludwig interrupted, his tone firm as he corrected me. "I saved you, not bought. It's not the same thing, Louisiana."

I was momentarily speechless, my mind struggling to process his words. "How did you know my name?" I asked, furrowing my brow in confusion as Ludwig averted his gaze.

"Don't ask," he replied curtly, shutting down any further inquiry.

As questions swirled in my mind, I couldn't shake the nagging uncertainty surrounding Ludwig's motives. Why had he chosen to save me out of all the potential candidates at the auction? And how did he come to know my name without any prior introduction?

I shook my head, attempting to clear away the doubts clouding my thoughts. "Regardless of whether you saved me or bought me, I still owe you," I asserted, my voice tinged with resignation. "I understand that the price you paid for my freedom was not insignificant."

Ludwig's jaw tensed visibly, the oppressive heat of the room seeming to intensify. "Is that why you continue to work despite your weakened state?" he inquired, his voice laced with concern, a sentiment that caught me off guard.

"I'm fine," I insisted, though the weariness in my voice betrayed my words.

"You tire easily," Ludwig observed, his tone softening slightly as he voiced his observations. "Your body is fragile."

I drew in a deep breath, frustration simmering beneath the surface. "How many times do I have to tell you that I'm alright?" I retorted, my voice rising in frustration. "Yes, I may be human. Yes, I may not possess the same strength as you, but that doesn't make me weak, Ludwig. I am more than what you perceive me to be." My words echoed with a sense of defiance, a silent assertion of my own resilience.