A day had passed since that chaotic day.
The moment that man vanished with some unknown spell, I heard the creaking of doors being opened behind me, then both of my bodies collapsed from exhaustion. Just before blacking out, I cursed myself for letting him escape.
As always, my bodies couldn’t dream, and soon enough, I was beginning to stir.
My eyes fluttered open. Pain ached from both body and mind.
It felt like my body was just done being mangled by hooks and needles. Every part of my body felt limp, not to mention hurting.
“Hggh…” I groaned as I tried to focus my eyes.
I noticed I only had one vision instead of the normal two. It seemed that Feyt was still fast asleep. Only Carine was awake, surprisingly.
I tried putting weight into my hand to support myself, and it stung. The familiarly comfy bed helped soothe the pain, but I realized it wasn’t as intense as the pain I felt back when I woke up after fighting the bandit leader.
Whether that meant my body was starting to get used to me punching above my weight or something else, I didn’t care. All I needed to do was just to get my bearings on the situation.
I couldn’t rest easy before knowing whether they were alright or not.
I gritted my teeth and managed to sit upright. Slowly, senses from my body returned.
I was once again covered in bandages. One on my head, a few on both of my arms, and a rather tight one on my right thigh, the one that got slashed by Mother.
The first thing I saw after sitting upright was the sight of my own wardrobe. I scanned the surroundings and, as expected… The wallpaper, the chandelier, the ceiling-to-floor balcony doors acting as windows… I was in my own room.
I noticed movement from the corner of my eye. A man wearing a white cloak covering his whole body was talking to a maid I recognized. Ressa. I assumed the man was a doctor.
Ressa turned her head slightly, then her eyes widened when they met my gaze.
She rushed over, the doctor following suit.
“Lady Carine! You’re awake!” she said, her face lacking the usual energetic smile. She turned to the man behind her. “Please check up on her, Doctor! I’ll call over the Duke!”
The doctor nodded. Ressa rushed past him and bolted through the door. He slowly approached the side of my bed, adjusting his mask and gloves.
“Lady Carine. May I?” he asked, extending his hands.
The doctor gently pressed his fingers against my wrist, checking my pulse, then examined the bandages with a practiced hand.
He murmured things to himself, occasionally nodding as his hand moved smoothly from one part to the next. He made sure to be gentle with his touches, and though I winced when he prodded my thigh, he offered a quiet, “Apologies,” before continuing.
After a moment, he backed up with a nod and removed his gloves. “You’re fortunate, Lady Carine. There is no major damage, only surface wounds and bruises. With proper rest and care, you’ll be back on your feet in a week.”
My eye twitched. “T-That’s fortunate. Thank you, Doctor.”
Another week of being confined to a bed. Great.
But I guess I should be grateful it wasn’t anything more dangerous, considering I fought not one, but two terrifying opponents back-to-back.
Just then, my doors burst open. With it, a loud voice echoed down into my room.
My eyes widened in relief at the sight of the shadow framed over the doorway. Thɪs chapter is updated by 𝙣𝙤𝙫𝙚𝙡⚫𝔣𝔦𝔯𝔢⚫𝘯𝘦𝘵
He rushed over to my side, the doctor stepping to the side before he could be shoved aside. Father leaned over as his eyes scanned me from head to toe in a frantic manner.
“It’s alright, Father. The doctor said I didn’t sustain any major damage,” I said, hoping to calm down his nerves.
It seemed to work as he exhaled heavily. He leaned even closer to me, and I felt a sense of horrifying deja vu…
Oh, please, no more hugs!
Fortunately, he backed off as if reconsidering it.
“I’m glad you’re alright, Carine,” he said, with a forced smile.
I strained a smile myself, despite the numbness. “Me too, Father.”
Father turned to the doctor beside him. “Will she be alright, Doctor? Do we need to bring her to your institute from time to time?”
“Considering that the Saint had healed her personally, I wouldn’t say it’ll be necessary.” The doctor shook his head gently. “But if you feel that a check-up is necessary, please, call us over anytime.”
“I will. Thank you, Doctor.”
As Father thanked him, my mind lingered on something the doctor said.
If I remember correctly, her name was Clara, right?
I wanted to ask about her more, but I knew I had more pressing questions. I turned to Father and cleared my throat, catching his attention.
“What is it, Carine?”
“Father… How’s Mother?”
Father’s eyes widened in surprise. Then, it slowly narrowed gently. “She’s currently resting in our room. The doctors said she pushed her body and that there were traces of paralytics on her. The doctors said she should wake up soon, but so far, she hadn’t.”
“I see…” I lowered my head, pondering.
At least she was okay, or the okayest she could be after the whole ordeal. I turned back to Father with another question.
“What about Leila? Is she alright?”
The wound I observed on her yesterday was heavy, but not necessarily serious or fatal. But what if I had been wrong? I wasn’t a medical expert, after all.
“She’s resting with the others in the mansion’s infirmary. I believe the doctors and nurses are still taking care of her.”
So not much information, huh?
I bit my lower lip out of worry. I could only pray she would recover fine.
Then… my last question.
Although only Carine’s body was currently conscious, I could still sense faint breathing. A small sign that my other body was still living. But I didn’t know when Feyt would wake up, and I couldn’t really control it consciously either, so the faster I could get the confirmation he’s okay, the better.
Father looked at me in the eye for a moment, then he averted it, letting out a heavy sigh.
What’s up with that reaction?
Don’t tell me… did something happen to me?!
“Feyt’s okay as well, or at least, that’s what the doctors told me. But I noticed his look as the knights and I carried you two out of the dance hall. He was in… a lot of pain, just like you. But we won’t really know anything until after he wakes up.”
Hearing Father’s explanation, I breathed a sigh of relief, closing my eyes to calm down my slightly trembling hands.
It sounded like I was okay overall. Father’s immediate actions after I asked the question painted a rather bleak outcome. But, I get his worry. I assumed I was scowling in my unconscious state because of both the pain from the wounds and frustration for letting that bastard escape. After all, that was the last thing I remembered before hearing the dance hall lobby doors burst open.
After a moment of silence, Father placed a hand over mine gently.
“About yesterday,” Father said, his tone slow and almost hesitant. “I’m sorry for asking so soon, but can you tell me what happened in the dance hall after I left? If you’re not comfortable, it’s alright.”
Right… Father and his crew arrived after that coward vanished. I was sure the image of carnage inside confused the hell out of him.
“No need to worry, Father. I’ll tell you everything I remember.”
As I began to recount what I remembered, from the strange noise in the estate to the arrival of that insufferable old man, I found myself drifting into thought.
I hoped I could’ve done more to that bastard. Something more than just mauling his face.
Had I not been tired. Had I not blacked out.
I could've ended the source of it all, right then and there.
I prayed that he died from his wounds when he teleported away. But if he lived… may that scar mock him every time he sees a mirror. Even if there exist magic that could poof away that scar, I wanted that memory of him almost pissing himself etched into his mind.
And if I ever saw him again, I promised myself this: I wouldn’t stop at just his face.