Chapter 289 Chapter 289

Hours later, Grand Lord Vladya returned to Blackstone. As he approached the royal residence's hallway, he came to an abrupt halt.

She was there.

Ackeira stood leaning against the wall outside her sister's chamber, eyes closed. She didn't notice him.

Vladya allowed himself to look at her. Really look at her.

His chest ached at the sight, and for once, the pain had nothing to do with his bruises or the swollen eye from earlier.

She wasn't talking to him. Hadn't spoken a word to him in three days.

And she avoided him like he carried the plague.

Vladya could not blame her, but still it stung.

Then

her eyes fluttered open, and landed on him. Jerking upright, her back straightened, and she looked away immediately.

But just as quickly, her eyes flicked back to his face, her expression shifting into one of shock.

"What happened to you!?" Aekeira hurried toward him. Her brows furrowed deeply as she took him in. "Look at your face. Look at..." Her breath caught. Even now, she worried about him.

Vladya...missed this.

Her fretting. The easy smiles. The warmth in her voice directed at him.

"Is it the... you know?" Concern was etched into every line of her face. "Did you

have an episode?"

"It's not the madness," Vladya

hadn't had an episode in over a month now. The longest stretch so far.

"Then what is this..." she lifted her hand, brushing against his busted lip. Touch light, almost hesitant. Vladya didn't so much as flinch.

She could have pressed her fingers into his swollen left eye, and he wouldn't have reacted...

wouldn't have minded at all if it meant she kept touching him.

with a

parted in

it's nothing.

shoulders.

you planning to fight him for me?" The faintest

caught herself and snatched her

And you shouldn't

at formalities. He hates the the distance formalities

you waiting outside her room instead of just going in?" he changed the subject, looking at the closed door

for the Grand King to come out," she said in a quieter tone. "He has been in there for

murmured, more to himself than

"He just...

"Does not move a muscle. Not even when I accidentally stumbled in earlier, apologized and walked away, he did not

"My lord-

had moved past that,"

looked away. "Now, I'm not

for her.

back, out of his reach. "I must take my leave now,

Vladya

there, watching her retreating figure until she disappeared

the first time in ages, he felt

PRINCESS EMERIEL

Princess Emeriel's closed eyes, faint but

blink it away, but it remained insistent. With an inward sigh of resignation, she opened

into focus. A familiar view. Same room. Same

herself, she moved her hands, expecting the familiar shot of pain through her

None came.

her

There

upright position. Her body still felt weak, but

she felt better than she had in... days?

her attention. She turned her head to

Her eyes went wide with shock. The basket

breaking as a

Before Emeriel could say

onto it and pulling her into

tightly as though afraid she might vanish if she let go. "Thank you! Thank

hadn't regained her voice during the previous brief

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