Chapter 35

[ 1,005 words ]

Arabella Toussaint:

When my heavy eyelids fluttered, something tugged gently at my gown. For a moment, I felt as if everything around me was a blur. Then my vision started clearing slowly.

A hospital . I thought with a frown.

Then I remembered how that beast found us right before I passed out. My gaze dropped to the tiny hand clutching the fabric of my hospital gown, and a small smile found its way onto my lips.

Zara was curled into a small ball beside me, refusing to let me go even in her sleep. A wave of relief washed over me when I watched her heaving chest. She was alive. We were alive. We made it…

“You’re awake,”

I looked up and found an elderly doctor standing beside the bed, smiling warmly before stepping closer, “You two gave us a heart attack. His Highness just left because something came up.”

His Highness? The king? Was he here?

I looked down at Zara’s innocent face and realized that he must be here because of her. The doctor checked my pulse and then shone a small light into my eyes, “How’re you feeling?” he asked me while checking my ears and cheeks for any possible pain.

“My body feels…” I swallowed as I tried to speak, “…heavy.”

He scribbled something onto his clipboard, “Hmm. That’s expected. You were severely dehydrated… and exhausted too. Give yourself a few days.”

My gaze drifted back to Zara, “Is… is she alright?”

The doctor gave me a small smile, “She’s good. Don’t worry. Out of danger.”

I released a breath before closing my eyes, “Thank you.”

“Don’t thank me. We all should thank you for keeping her safe.”

I tried to stretch my lips for a smile, but couldn’t. I was too tired for that.

When the door opened, I looked up instinctively. It was Amy. Zara’s mother. For a second, neither of us spoke.

There was no warmth on her face, but there wasn’t any hatred either. She must be tired because I could see those dark circles that were evident on her face.

“Hello, slav… I mean… Arabella…” She stopped herself in time from calling me a slave, “How’re you?” she asked with hesitancy.

I wasn’t aware if I should bow to her, “Better… Your Highness.” Just then, I remembered about her daughter who was lying beside me.

I hurriedly tried to move away, gently prying her fingers from my gown, “I’m… I’m so sorry…”

“D… don’t…” Amy’s voice stopped me. I looked up in uncertainty. She was watching Zara before her eyes darted back to me, “If… she’s comfortable, then I don’t mind.”

Her words caught me completely off guard. This was unexpected for me.

She walked closer to the bed, looking at her daughter who was sleeping peacefully, “The doctors already tried.”

Awkward silence settled between us. The poor princess. I was not only her daughter’s savior but also her sister’s killer. She might be trying to decide if she should kill me or spare me.

Both of us had to turn towards the entrance when the queen walked in. The moment her gaze landed on me, her stride faltered for the briefest instant.

“I got your mindlink, Amy. How is Zara?” Ignoring me, her attention stayed on her granddaughter as she walked straight to her bedside, “We need to station some guards outside this room, or she might end up killing your daughter too.”

Her remark made me go still, and I was not the only one. Amy gave her a bewildered look, “Mum.”

The queen at last watched me, and what I saw there was not unexpected, yet still it hurt me. The hatred in those blue eyes was impossible to miss.

It looked like she couldn’t wait to kill me. My existence disgusted her.

“I’ve been issuing the warnings to everyone. This is all just a drama to win our trust. You never know, Amy. You might wake up the next morning and find your daughter dead.”

Amy stared at her in disbelief, “Mom! That’s enough.”

“No, Amy,” she didn’t even glance at her daughter, “She is a snake and snakes don’t stop being venomous just because it’s hidden under a flower. She and her brother slaughtered Anika. You expect me to believe that she suddenly turned into a saint? Criminals know how to earn trust before they betray you.”

Every word coming out of her mouth struck me like a whip. My breathing turned shallow.

“S…stop…” I whispered, but nobody seemed to hear me.

“Mother!” Amy’s voice rose.

“Amy. Your daughter almost died. The bitch hid her scent by rubbing those useless herbs on her skin.”

“Please… stop,” I pleaded again.

The queen took another step towards me, “You should have died in that forest instead.”

Something inside me broke, and I didn’t realize that I was crying. I wasn’t aware of what I was doing until my hand raised and I hit hard across my face.

Slap!

Amy froze, “Arabella!”

Another slap landed on my cheek.

“Arabella… no…” Amy hurried towards me, but I couldn’t seem to stop and kept slapping myself.

The queen finally fell silent with an evil smirk, and Amy tried to grab my wrists, but I pulled free and kept hitting myself.

The door flew open, and the king barged inside, “What’s going on?” his voice echoed in the room, shaking it, but I didn’t stop.

I couldn’t.

Another slap was already on its way when he reached me. His hands caught both of my wrists midair.

“Stop. Please,” he lowered his voice, and I could hear desperation, “Please, Arabella…”

I tried to struggle, but he pulled me firmly against his hard chest, trapping my trembling hands between us.

I closed my eyes when the frantic pounding of his heart reached my ears.

“Please… don’t hurt yourself. You’re safe… okay? You’re safe, Arabella.”

A broken sob escaped my lips. The fight left my body, and I buried my face against his chest and broke down, crying like a child.

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