Comfort

"Meeting adjourned." Nickolai dismissed the court.

He had just announced that noble will have to pay higher tax, to help the people of the kingdom who had suffered from the disease.

Upon hearing that, all of the minister face turn grim.

Nickolai excuses himself with Gulten walking beside him. Marquis Xander took the opportunity to talk to him.

"Your highness, I think you should considered your decision about the tax...."

"If you had anything to discuss bring that matter to the next court time." Nickolai cuts in as he walk towards his carriage.

Gulten help him enter the carriage.

Once the carriage left, Marquis Xander approaches Gulten.

"Where's His Highness off to?" Marquis Xander notice the crown prince seem to be in a hurry.

"The crown prince is on his way to the sanitarium." Gulten stated as he then left, not wanting to answer anymore questions.

Leaving Marquis Xander pondering.

At the sanitarium, Irene checked up to her other patients.

While others physician took some time to rest, Michael saw Irene still working non-stop.

"Your highness, I think you should take a rest now. All of them are out of danger, you don't need to be on the lookout anymore." He tries to persuade him.

"No, it alright. After this, I still need to brew a new batch of medicine." Irene continue to check the next patient.

Seeing how willful she is, Michael could only accompanied her. Just as she was checking one of the patients, Michael saw a bruises on her white wrist.

"Your highness, your hand..." Michael tries to reach her hand.

Irene quickly pull away when she realises her mistake. She's been to busy too care about her appearance, that her bruise unknowingly shown.

"I...I should go...go check on the holy priest." Irene hurriedly left that chamber.

Michael didn't stop her as she leaves. He began to doubt her relationship with the crown prince.

At the Marquis household, Lady Alma heard from her father about the crown prince destination.

"At the sanitarium?"

"Yes, I heard the troops from the red zone has returned. I wonder if the holy priest has arrived?" Marquis Xander ponders.

"Maybe I should go pay a visit there, father. We could provide them any supplies at the sanitarium." Lady Alma suggested.

"That's a wonderful idea. But beware of the patients there, you don't want to be infected by that disease." Marquis Xander reminds her.

"Of course, father." Lady Alma smiles as she ready herself to go out and meet the crown prince.

Meanwhile, Irene trying to sort her thoughts as she enters the chamber, where Lucas is.

She began to check his temperature. His body is no longer trembling and it seems his fever has subsided.

Lucas suddenly coughed.

Irene was surprised.

"Wa....(cough)...wa....ter..."

Hearing that, Irene quickly took a cup of water and help him up so he can easily drink from it.

Once he quench his thirst, he started to cough again.

Irene had to pat his back, to ease his cough. Probably due to his dry throat.

When his cough eases down, she carefully help him lie down back to bed.

As she readjusted the bed, Lucas eyes flutter open.

His vision is a bit hazy when he tries to open his eyes.

Lucas saw a familiar figure in front of him.

A woman wearing a mask.

Just as she turn to look at him, he met her pair beautiful eyes.

"Irene...." Lucas weakly called out.

Irene was stunned to see Lucas finally regains consciousness.

Panicking, Irene tries to leave.

But her hand had already in Lucas grasps. Stopping her from leaving.

"Irene....please....please...don't leave me again..." Lucas plead.

He pulled her hand to his chest. Making their proximity closer.

"Is it...really you?" His hand slowly reaching to her face.

His hand landed on her left cheek. Feeling the warm sensation on the palm of his hand despite the mask on her face. Smile formed on his sickly pale face.

Irene began to feel anxious. She didn't know what to do.

"This...dream...I don't want it to go away." His thumb gently caressing her below left eyes.

Realises that Lucas hasn't fully awaken, Irene decided to keep quiet. Deliberately, letting him believe as such.

"Dream...started to look so real now...." He murmur.

In a second later, Lucas head felt very heavy. The effect from the drug hasn't completely gone in his body. He began to lost his unconscious.

Seeing his predicament, Irene tries to escaped from his grasp.

But no matter how hard she tries, his grip wouldn't loosen up. Instead, his grip became tighter.

As if his body reacted unconsciously, holding the person from going away.

Irene didn't have a choice, but to sit on a chair beside him.

Her heart felt so heavy. She hadn't realised till this day, how strong his feelings towards her.

To her other alias...Irene.

As the talks about the holy priest couldn't forget his late fiancée and still grieving, make people in the kingdom pity him. Some even shown admiration towards him for his faithfulness.

One might thought that he and her are so much in love. A loving couple.

But the truth is, her feeling towards him is a bit complex.

Beside that, Irene didn't know how to feel or expressed when face with a strong feelings and affection from anyone.

Especially not in this kind of situation.

Now all of the possibilities of her in the future to have a companion has been thrown away to the window.

Irene sighed. She didn't want to make the situation more complicated.

Thinking so deeply, Irene could only wait. Hoping that Lucas grip will loosen soon, so she could leave the chamber.

Waiting...and waiting.

And waiting....

Drowsiness started to overcame her as she yawn.

Her eyes slowly shut.

Irene had fallen into a deep sleep.

Michael who came to check up on them, saw this scene.

Lucas holding into the crown princess hand. While she apparently had fall asleep, sitting on the chair with her head leaning down on her other hand.

Michael sighed.

Hadn't she be the crown princess, they would have be a perfect couple.

Such a pity.

Didn't want to disturb their rest, he then left the room.

Time has long passed.

Nickolai has arrived at the sanitarium.

"Your highness...." Every physician bow their head to greet him.

Seeing the improvement of the patients condition, Nickolai knew that Dacia didn't disappoint him.

He started to look around, but couldn't find her.

"Where is the crown princess?" He questions.

"I believe Her Highness, is checking the holy priest conditions." One of the physician told him.

Not wasting time, Nickolai then goes straight towards the chamber.

Opening the door, he saw the scene in front of him.

Nickolai was stunned to see the unconscious Lucas holding Dacia hand, while she sleeping on the chair beside the bed.

He approaches towards them.

Seeing the two of them, giving him an image of the two loving couples. And him, being in the way for them both.

Feeling disgruntled, he pull her hand away from Lucas grasps.

Causing her body to lose it balance.

Nickolai caught her rather swiftly, before she fell down on the ground.

Seeing that she didn't wake up, he feels relief.

That irritated feeling just now disappeared, once she's in his embrace.

Nickolai turn to look at Lucas condition.

He's no longer trembling and sweating. Moreover, he's breathing normally and his pale face finally regains it colors.

Realising that his condition is getting better, Nickolai then carried Dacia out from the chamber.

Outside, everyone is surprised and astounded to see the crown prince carrying the crown princess.

A moment later, Lady Alma who just arrived at the sanitarium, happened to see such scene.

Her heart is breaking to see the man she had admired from her childhood, with other woman in his arms.

"Your highness..." Lady Alma tried to approach him.

But Nickolai didn't stop nor glance at her at all. He continues to carry the crown princess inside the carriage.

Burning with jealousy, she gritted her teeth. As she watches him treated the crown princess like rare treasure.

Her sight didn't stray away from him entering the carriage until its departed.