“Episode 25”
The setting was illuminated by the faint breeze, with golden hair fluttering lightly. The drizzle of a fox rain murmured down, already starting to puddle on the ground. Misha shifted a step under the shade to avoid getting her clothes wet.
“Yes?”
“I’m coming back anyway, whether I want to or not.”
“Huh?”
With a slight grunt, Celestian grasped the reins and pulled forcefully, urging the horse forward with determination.
“What…uh!”
Mud covered Misha’s face.
Three days later, Daphne regained consciousness.
“Ha, damn it. Amen, thank you, God.”
Relieved to be alive, Daphne cleared her throat.
She raised her eyelids with effort. The sensation was similar to when one had slept for a long time, making her feel uncomfortable.
“It hurts too much.”
As she breathed through her nose, the faint smell of disinfectant filled her senses. Daphne blinked, trying to focus her vision. It was a hospital room.
After a few minutes, her senses gradually came alive as if someone had flipped a switch.
“Itchy.”
Beautiful golden hair strands swayed lightly, tickling Daphne’s palm. It was Priscilla.
“Pris.”
The word ‘ce’ didn’t come out. When Daphne flinched her hand, Priscilla quickly lifted her upper body. Tears welled up in her blue eyes.
“An angel is crying. Are we in heaven, angel?”
Her voice was terribly weak. Daphne cleared her throat with a ‘hum’.
“You can’t go to heaven.”
Priscilla made a relieved expression. But with a kind tone, she casually cursed, as if it were nothing.
“It’s reality. Did I rupture? I can’t feel anything on my side.”
“Just a scratch.”
Daphne denied the reality. Three days unconscious from just a ‘scratch’? People who’ve been shot can survive!
“It felt like my side was pierced.”
Daphne added with a wry smile.
“Nerves, muscles, bones, all intact.”
Priscilla, who didn’t understand her heart, was firm. Daphne nodded slightly.
“You really…”
Priscilla made a groaning sound, then wiped her forehead with a handkerchief. She picked up the cup on the table and shook it while sniffling. Soon, a stern-faced nurse entered. With a respectful bow, she stood in front of Priscilla.
“Miss Daphne.”
“Yes?”
“It’s time to wake up.”
The nurse seemed more eager for Daphne to wake up than anyone else.
She gently examined Daphne’s eyes, shining a light, and removed the bandages. The area where the stitches were about an inch wide near her chest caught her eye.
“Wasn’t I close to death?”
“It was like that last night, but you seem fine now.”
The nurse replied kindly. After re-dressing the wound, she disappeared in an instant.
“Help me up.”
Priscilla approached as if she had been waiting. She carefully raised the backrest of the bed, neatly tied Daphne’s hair into one, and sat back in the correct posture. Beyond her, the window showed a view of a verdant garden.
“The color of the window is similar to Celestian’s eyes.”
While sipping water through a straw, Daphne looked around. Keisha would be outside, and Misha might be at work even though she might be grieving.
“What about him?”
“Yes?”
It was pleasant to see a beautiful person as soon as she opened her eyes. Priscilla, who was undeniably the protagonist here and also had blonde hair. Daphne expected Celestian to avoid this girl.
“If it were me, I’d stick by his side. If he likes it, he should pursue it, and use her as he pleases.”
But Daphne didn’t want the blonde Priscilla. She didn’t want to disturb Priscilla by bringing up Celestian’s story. Daphne just nodded.
“You said I’d be in danger.”
Priscilla said softly. Daphne understood what she was trying to say.
“Just a scratch.”
Daphne rubbed her throat with her palm.
“You woke up after three days.”
“It’s strange. It’s not Christmas, my birthday.”
“Don’t beat around the bush, Daphne. You had a shock suddenly last night and almost died.”
Daphne licked her lips, feeling a little awkward.
“Shock? No wonder my dream was so weird.”
Priscilla was really angry. This girl would probably ask again how and when she would dispose of Celestian.
“In conclusion, as long as I’m alive and not dead, it’s fine. Anyone who sees you might think you’ve been shot.”
“You’re right. Daphne aimed the gun at that man.”
“In the end, I didn’t die. It’s because it was my first time getting shot. I’ve been overworking lately, so I slept deeply for a long time.”
“Daphne, ‘in the end’? You were injured…”
In Daphne’s view, Priscilla seemed to resort to crying as a weapon when words didn’t work. Many men and women in the kingdom had fallen for her crying face. Daphne was one of them.
“Your Highness, please lock the faucet~ Is there no Romeo here to console me?”
However, Daphne, who had developed immunity, tossed the blanket toward her and swiftly slid her legs under the bed to escape.
“Ouch, it hurts.”
As she forcefully stood up, her head spun. Priscilla’s words from behind sounded very slow at first but gradually returned to normal.
“Lie down!”
“No. I’ll go see the prince who dislikes you and likes me.”
Damn prince. No, he’s already damned.
In a way, isn’t it loyalty to watch over someone who’s been through life and death?
In fact, until three seconds before opening her eyes, Daphne had secretly hoped that Celestian would be the one looking at her.
“…Why him?”
Still, she wasn’t disappointed. For the past few days, as a prince with impeccable manners, he had been very grateful to Daphne for liking him.
Priscilla’s worried face appeared again.
‘Right.’
If the girl who genuinely liked him was uncomfortable with herself, the courteous man wouldn’t have stayed if he couldn’t avoid it.
“Daphne.”
The elegant voice calling her name several times sent a shiver down her spine.
‘Why did I act like I didn’t know his name when he called me that several times? Did he call me that because I didn’t introduce myself?’
Priscilla seemed to need to ask him directly.
“Wow. You were too honest to your friend who woke up after a long time, Priscilla.”
Daphne looked at her face reflected in the makeshift sink.
Even Priscilla, who didn’t shy away from seeing others’ misfortune, was amazed enough to call her ‘that girl’.
The girl with pumpkin-colored eyes hid her eyes between her lashes and giggled at Daphne.
Then, she briefly felt dizzy and grabbed the sink. She felt like she might vomit if she relaxed.
“Daphne, Celestian Theriossa.”
Before Daphne could say anything, Priscilla interrupted.
“If you keep talking about him, just go. Are you worried about me or him?”
“Theriossa is gone.”
Her voice was as cold as pouring snow. As Priscilla’s blue eyes flickered, goosebumps formed on Daphne’s forearm.
“That’s why I told you that he’s not a reliable person.”
Before Daphne could say anything, Priscilla once again spoke with that chilly voice.
“This time, Daphne was wrong.”
