I had regained my consciousness. Even though I couldn’t see my surroundings, I could tell that I was already in a different place. It wasn’t in my room anymore, but in a much more humid and stuffy place. Sothing stuck in my mouth. The cloth that was gagging my mouth tasted salty and musty. It made almost throw up.
Did I get kidnapped? My body shook with fear. Who? Who did this and what did they want? I wanted to go ho... This anxiety was really uncomfortable.
Then, I faintly heard the voices of two n who were chatting from a distance. The voice echoed as if they were in an underground tunnel. I sniffed several tis to sll the aroma of the place I was currently staying.
This was a basent. This sll of wet soils, musty, and damp, was very similar to when I visited the underground of the cathedral of Northendell Palace. I tried to scream for help several tis, but my voice was muffled by the cloth tightly tied between my mouth.
There was the clinking of a key and the echo of the tal door opening.
"She has regained consciousness."
The voice sounded foreign. I had never heard of it. Being blind at a ti like this really broke down. I didn’t know what they were going to do. I only heard so clinking sounds and whispers that I couldn’t hear clearly.
My body convulsed as I started to sll a familiar scent.
The sll of opium. I struggled to untie the cloth that tied my hands behind my back. When I tried to stand up, I fell down from the bed. Then, I heard them swearing.
"Shut up, bish! Don’t make this even more difficult! Just accept your fate!"
’Not anymore... don’t do it again...’
However, before I could fathom my situation, the first slashed could be felt in my hand.
"Stupid! Don’t slash her too deep! We still have to collect the rest of the blood! If she loses her blood too much, she will die fast, whereas we need more votes to strip down that son of a bitch from the throne!"
’It hurts...’
I cried... I whined and asked for help, but my voice was muffled. A man held my head and pressed it on the pillow so I couldn’t move much. They didn’t even want to bother using anesthetic. It really hurt.
If I was given the choice, I wanted to die.
What did I do wrong? Why were they doing this to ? I hadn’t done anything so far. Why did they hate so much to do all this? All I had done so far was lived in everyone’s shadow. I even refused to beco a queen. I was also one of the people who agreed to keep Alicia as the queen of this kingdom.
But, why did this happen to when I had the sa voice as them?
"Enough. Today is enough to heal ten people. Tomorrow we’ll take it again. After this, the people will join with us, and that bastard can never take my niece’s status away."
I panted exhaustedly after they succeeded in slashing all parts of my right hand. It felt really hurt and numb. They also did not try to heal and just left the wounds like that. However, the sll of opium they burned slowly helped to ease the pain.
My panting breath slowly began to normal. I also began to forget the pain in my hand. My head also felt lighter and my body felt like it was floating. Then, I heard a very loud crash. I thought soone broke the door. The sound of a beast growling sounded so close, and I was already on the verge of losing my consciousness.
I faintly heard a scream of help and soone calling my na. It was a voice I hadn’t heard in a long ti. The only person that could give peace.
***
I woke up again and ca to my senses. Sothing blinding ca to my eye. The light... I couldn’t see. Where was the light coming from? Was this part of the dream? After blinking my eyes several tis to adjust to the light, I could see the light surrounding . Sohow, the dream I saw right now felt very real. I had been trapped in the dark for quite a long ti, so I couldn’t rember the last ti I enjoyed the beauty of light like this.
My right hand stretched out to cover the light that was right above my head. My right hand, which should be full of wounds, looked smooth. There wasn’t even a single wound on it. It was true. This must be a dream. I was about to close my eyes again, but suddenly a familiar figure appeared right in front of . He had his back on the light that blinded my eyes.
My heart was beating fast. The man looked frowning, and his brilliant red eyes looked exactly like the last ti I saw him. Unknowingly, I stretched out my hand again to touch his face. Checking every side of his face to make sure that the man in front of was really the mysterious man I had been missing.
I smiled as the man kissed my palm. It seed the dream I had right now was the manifestation of my longing to et him. Even his habit was exactly the sa as my mory.
"Hey, how’s your body now? Feel better?"
I frowned in confusion. The man’s voice felt so real. Was there anything else that was burned along with the opium so it evoked a strong hallucination? Did they try to take my blood again while I was lulled by my dream?
Then, those big hands touched each side of my face. It felt so warm that I subconsciously closed my eyes to absorb the warmth that the man gave .
"After being blind, are you mute now? Let see your neck. Did they cut your tongue too?"
The man grabbed my chin, forcing to open my mouth. I felt uncomfortable with it and tried to push the man’s hand away from my face. And when I touched his hand, everything felt so real.
I would be really scared if all of this was just my hallucination. Because if this was all just a hallucination, then perhaps in a few hours, when all the effects of the opium had worn off, I would have returned to face the harsh reality. Being in a place that no one knew and used as a cow with its blood being squeezed dry to rebel against the king.
"Hey, why are you crying?’
I rubbed my face. It hurt a lot. Even my old wounds had just healed. I could still feel how rough my skin was from the wounds of the first incident done by the maids and the ladies-in-waiting, and now they were back with lots of wounds.
I couldn’t stop crying. Then, I felt that my body slowly being lifted, and a warmth enveloped so comfortably.
"Sh... you’re safe now. I will not let any danger co near you again. They will all be punished."
Was this really a dream? I don’t know... I didn’t want to think about it anymore. I would take advantage of this mont to survive. If in the future I woke up in hell those humans created, I wouldn’t care anymore. The gentle strokes on my back felt so comfortable and I wanted it to continue.
This felt so right. This touch from another man felt so right that it left with absolutely no guilt or regret.
"Are you still in pain?"
I shook my head. My body felt so light, and I didn’t even feel the tip of my fingernail hurt.
"Then, why are you still crying?"
"It will be over. This fleeting dream is too beautiful, and it makes not want to wake up again. If I wake up, I can’t see you anymore. If I wake up, my body will be in pain again. If I wake up, I will be trapped in darkness again."
The man cupped my face gently. He kissed the tears running down my cheek and then wiped them away.
"This is not a dream, Sweetheart. You’re completely safe with now."
"But... why can I see? I should be trapped in darkness."
I touched his face one more ti. Touching his eyebrows, curling eyelashes, high cheekbones, pointed nose, and soft lips. I touched his lips one more ti.
"I healed you like before. Your wounds and your eyes too."
"But..."
The man smiled briefly. I was surprised when he bit the tip of my index finger, which was still touching his lips.
"After this, can you still say that this is all a dream?"
I closed my eyes as the man brought his face closer. A soft and warm brush on my lips made fly again.
My heart was beating very fast. He touched the nape of my neck, making my body shiver and our kiss deepened.
Even the kiss felt so right. Again, I didn’t mind the kiss at all, even though we weren’t bound by any ties.
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