Chapter 8

Arora ran up to my bed with tears in her eyes:

"Dad!"

I wasn't good with children crying. Please don't cry. Please. What should I do? Should I tap her in the back? Help.

"Dad, I heard that you fainted. Are you okay? Are you sick? Are you going to die?"

I raised my hands, trying to help Arora to calm down:

"Wow, wow, wow. Slow down. I am not dying. I just... I just ate way too much.

-Are you sure? They told me that you collapsed and Eulisses wouldn't let me see you and...

-It's okay, don't cry please. I didn't collapse, I just puked a lot. That happens. You should never do exercise after eating. It's very bad for your stomach."

She did calm down a bit and tilted her head to the side.

"But why did you do exercise?

-I have no idea. Exercise is never good."

Eulisses cleared his throat and that reminded me that I was talking to a child:

"I mean, exercise is always good! It's the best. You should exercise a lot. But never after eating. But exercise. But not after you just ate."

Arora quickly nodded, as if trying to remember everything I just said.

"Eulisses said that drinking water is very good after you upset your stomach. So we brought you cold water.

-Thank you so much."

Feeling two pairs of eyes on me as I was drinking was kind of stressful. I suddenly forgot how to drink. I just had to fill my mouth and swallow. It was nothing hard. However I still managed to spill it on my shirt.

"Wait, dad. I'll bring you a tissue.

-Oh, thanks."

After helping me dry myself, Eulisses took Arora away to let me rest. I was grateful for the space but I couldn't rest at all. I just couldn't calm down and was hearing Ephraim's words in my head again and again.

I tried getting out of bed but feeling my weight on my leg made me open my mouth suddenly. I immediately covered it and prevented myself from making a sound.

"It's okay, it doesn't hurt. It's fne. It's just in my head."

I did manage to walk around a bit but it was clear that running was out of the question for a few days. I really should have ran away while I could. Now I had to wait until I was better. Or I had to walk away. Not that I minded, I always preferred walking.

I opened my door to check outside and five heads immediately turned towards me:

"Duke Consort? Do you need something?

-Should we call someone?"

I slammed the door, taken aback. There definitely weren't that many knights in the corridors before. I tried my best ignoring it and opened the door again with a smile:

"Hello, there.

-How can we help you?"

I waved with my hand as if they had just made a good joke:

"Don't mind me. I am just going to get some fresh air.

-The Duke told us not to let you out of bed. The doctor said that you needed to lay as much as possible for your ankle.

-No, it's fine. It doesn't hurt anymore. I think some air would be the best for me.

-I'm afraid I'll have to insist. Your health is the most important."

I sighed.

"So there's no way I'm getting out of my room.

-Your health is our priority.

-Yeah you've said that before."

I closed the door and clenched my fists. I raised them to my hair and pulled on it a bit. Why did I have to run? Ephraim didn't care about me one bit. I could have left at any moment. I destroyed my way of escape. I was so stupid.

"Fudge!"

Hearing me scream made the knights behind my door worry:

"Duke Consort? Is everything okay?

-Yes! I just hit my toe against the bed. It's fine.

-Okay... Lell us know if you need anything."

No. It wasn't my fault. I shouldn't get mad at myself. I was the only person I had. I got scared and my feelings were totally valid. He was a killer. A real one. That was far scarier in real life. My body took the upper hand and tried saving me. I should thank it for trying to keep me alive.

I exalted slowly. Everything would be fine. Ephraim still couldn't kill me. The plan didn't change. I would leave as soon as possible. I did feel bad casting Arora aside so easily however. I promised that I would protect her and I needed to pay more attention to her.

I didn't want to admit it but I had no other way. I couldn't climb down from my room and I couldn't run away for now. I needed to sit back and make myself small. I sat back on my bed and started staring at the door. It seemed I just had to wait for my ankle to get better. Or for a good opportunity to arise. I forced myself to exhale again. It would be fine. I was fine.

The best I could do was rest but I was far from tired enough for that. I tried lying down but my recent fainting prevented sleep from coming. I opened my eyes again and started staring at the ceiling. I didn't like being alone with my thoughts and decided to sit up after two seconds. I walked back to my door and opened it again. Of course the knights immediately turned to me:

"Duke Consort? What are you doing standing?

-I'm hungry."

I wasn't lying. I was scared of seeing Ephraim again if I stepped out of the room but I hated being hungry even more.

"Your meal will be brought to you soon. Go back inside, Duke Consort.

-I can go to the dining room.

-The doctor said that you shouldn't walk too much.

-I'm not made of glass."

They exchanged a look.

"I am sorry, Duke Consort. We must insist."

I walked out of my room.

"I got bored of my room.

-Duke Consort..."

I started walking towards the dining room despite not knowing where it was. It really would have been nicer to have my diner in my room but I just didn't like them giving me orders. It was hard to walk but it was too late now. I continued as if nothing, the knights running after me:

"Duke Consort, you should lay down. The doctor said you should rest.

-I will. After I ate.

-Duke Consort..."

Arriving at a corridor, I turned left. The knights immediately called me again:

"Where are you going? The dining room is the other way."

I laughed awkwardly:

"Well, it seems I got distracted. Thank you."

I followed them to the dining room but just as we were arriving, I noticed a familiar silhouette. Seeing Ephraim's back made me freeze.

"Your Highness."

Hearing the knights made Ephraim turn towards us and I couldn't help taking a step back.

"Sliske? Are you back on your feet already?"

I didn't like his smile.

"Were you going to join me for dinner?

-Nope! Not at all. I wasn't hungry, I just felt like walking."

He looked down at my shaking leg:

"With that leg?

-It's not like I have ten other legs. Anyway, I feel way better now."

I turned back towards the knights:

"I will have my dinner in my room. Call for my daughter, I want to eat with her."

I ran away as quickly as possible from Ephraim. I must have looked like a penguin pulling my leg after me while trying not to slip but I didn't care.