"To me, it looks like someone is sympathizing with a poor girl because she makes him recall his own past," Arlan commented. "But still, I am sure there is more to it."
The pen in Drayce's hand paused mid-writing. He did not respond, his red eyes only staring intently at the parchment on the table.
Arlan observed his expression. "You can't say it?"
"Even I am not sure of it," Drayce replied after some time.
Since he replied that way, Arlan didn't insist and asked a different question, "Tell me honestly, if King Armen doesn't agree to give you his daughter and all the predictions we made about the war are right, will you still help Abetha to fight against Thevailes?"
Drayce took a long pause before answering with a scowl. "The Third Princess won't ever step back into this kingdom after that."
Arlan understood what his friend meant. If war were to break out completely, Drayce would still help as it was in the interest of Megaris, but it would come with a terrible price—and when that happened, he would take the Third Princess with him by all means and never allow her to return.
Before Arlan could continue with his questions, Drayce interrupted him. "I want to know about the female servant that served the Third Princess."
"Why?" Arlan asked in confusion. He knew Drayce changed the topic and let it pass. If he didn't want to tell, then he would not pry.
"Just find out about her," Drayce instructed, not answering that 'why'.
-------
Inside her chamber, Seren had a morning meal accompanied and assisted by a brown eagle like before. She looked better than before as her eyes, which looked lost and lifeless, somewhat retained their brightness.
After discussing war conditions with Arlan in his father's study, as a worried brother, Cian came to visit Seren before he started with his duties for the day.
It was bound to be another agonizing day for him. The King of Megaris was adamant about marrying his sister, and it seemed like everyone but him and their father was against this rushed marriage. As a brother, he wanted to deny this, but as the Crown Prince of Abetha, he had many considerations and various responsibilities he could never abandon.
"Seren," Cian called out for her as gently as he could. As expected, his presence didn't make her react.
The last time, she accepted the water from him, so he was hopeful of getting some response from her again.
"Won't you even look at your brother?" Cian asked as he approached her, careful not to startle her. "I have brought these wild berries for you. You like these, don't you?"
Cian put a small wooden box filled with freshly picked berries on the bed in front of her, and his small action made her look at it.
"Brother apologizes for being away and not being able to take care of you. It's fine if you don't forgive me but at least say something."
Sadness could be heard from his every word, and this was especially true for the two nurses who were close enough to hear him.? They could not help but feel bad for Prince Cian as they had been the silent witnesses of every interaction the princess had within the room.
They thought to give the siblings some alone time, so they went to stand on the other side of the room, pretending to be fixing something farthest from Seren's bed.
This time, Cian's sincerity worked on Seren. Although she said nothing, she picked up the box of wild berries that her brother brought and ate them one by one.
Wild berries were the snacks she enjoyed eating the most whenever Cian came to meet her. Because of that, he would bring them to her without a miss on every visit.
Seeing her eat, Cian could finally feel relief, and a gentle smile formed on his handsome face. He was thankful and happy with this small improvement and did not try to engage with her further, scared that if he talked more, she might stop eating.
After noticing her body starting to relax, he could not help but ask excitedly, "Are they good?"
Perhaps it was the magic of those berries or the magic of a brother's sincere love; Seren reacted to his question by nodding her head lightly.
'What a relief!' The smile on his face widened. "I will get more for you!"
Seren finally turned to face him. Her purple eyes seemed to have recognized the mixed emotions showing on her brother's face—the worry in his sapphire blue eyes, the tender warmth in his smile, the visible happiness masking his tiredness...
.
It was as if he was trying to convey to her that no matter what happens, your brother would always be there for you.
A soft, weak voice reached his ears.
"Thank you."
Cian could not say a word back, but he smiled at her with his eyes turning slightly moist.
Till the previous day, she didn't react to anything and even denied recognizing anyone. He was so happy she was finally getting better. Were the royal physician's medicines that effective, or was his sister stronger than what he thought?
"Once you are better, I will take you out." Cian knew what she wanted the most was to get out of that tower, and he was willing to give her everything she wanted.
Seren nodded again. Brimming with happiness, Cian wanted to laugh out loud.
However, a knight soon entered and told Cian his presence was needed elsewhere. Cian finally calmed down.
"I need to go now, but don't worry. I will be back soon, sister," Cian informed, and she gave him a slight nod again in response.
Before he left the chamber, Cian looked at the bird who was still sitting at the window sill, watching his sister. He didn't know what to think about it and left.
Cian knew that the bird would bring no harm to his sister, but the egoistic brother inside him didn't want to feel grateful to it. He could not accept that one stranger, most precisely the master of that bird, was the one looking after his sister when her own family was helpless to do anything for her.