"Alaric,"
He looked at her, his eyes glistening with unshed tears, his jaw clenched. She was still here. For now, she was still here.
"I need to use the bathroom," Salviana said weakly, trying to sit up.
"What?" he asked, his voice a mix of disbelief and concern. "You should rest. I need to call the royal physician—"
"No, I mean…" She hesitated, her cheeks flushing faintly. "I don't know if it's strange, but I don't feel pain anymore. Just…pressure. I need to ease myself."
Alaric blinked, the absurdity of her request momentarily cutting through his panic. Relief mingled with exasperation as he sighed and nodded. "Alright. Let me help you."
He carefully lifted her once again, cradling her against his chest as he carried her to the bathroom. There, he set her down gently and turned away to give her privacy.