Lethia froze at his words. Her stomach dropped. It was a jumble of emotions, relief tangled with sothing she couldn’t quite na. Fear, maybe.
"He’s awake? He’s really awake?" She gripped Zeran’s arm to make sure, and when he nodded, her knees gave out so fast Chasey had to catch her.
"Thank the Moon Goddess... Oh, thank you." Lethia hugged Chasey again, both hugging to each other’s relief.
"You should take a shower first and get ready to leave. I’ll handle this," Zeran reminded her.
Lethia only smiled faintly, nodding, before leaving the kitchen with Chasey.
"You didn’t tell her about the council—"
"Derreck! I’ll deal with that myself. She’s been through too much. My only goal now is for her to rest and deliver our pup safely."
"So, you’ll face the trial alone, sir?"
"I’m their real target. They’re just using Lethia because she’s my weakness now. And I won’t give them that satisfaction. Just make the arrangents for our return."
Derreck nodded and imdiately busied himself with his phone, calling the private jet hangar. He had never imagined hearing Zeran Tuffin openly admit to having a weakness.
Zeran dipped his hand into the water and flinched slightly as a sea urchin’s spine pricked his fingers. His jaw tightened.
He never believed in bad premonitions. Whenever sothing uneasy ca into his mind, he crushed it with confidence.
But this ti, he couldn’t. His thoughts spun like a storm—fury, worry, misery.
Crack!
The sharp sound of a shell breaking made Derreck turn mid-call, his eyes widening.
"Sir! Are you alright?" The loyal assistant rushed over in panic.
"Don’t make a fuss. Just continue what you’re doing," Zeran said coldly.
He quickly placed the split sea urchin onto a dry towel so it wouldn’t get contaminated by the blood on his palm.
Then he let the running water wash his hand clean, using his inner energy to close the wound faster.
Sothing felt off. Even yesterday, he could still feel the sting of pain from the sea.
But now, even when he gripped the shell hard on purpose, he couldn’t feel the sting in his hand anymore. Instead, the sting inside his mind only grew sharper.
***
Lethia fidgeted with her fingers, drowning in worry as her gaze drifted out the car window.
During the entire trip back, she barely spoke to Zeran.
Even on the plane, she stayed seated beside Chasey, while Zeran and Derreck were busy talking on their own.
They even held etings and teleconferences in the staff cabin, leaving Lethia unable to catch a word of what they were discussing.
She knew exactly what Zeran was doing—keeping her in the dark so she wouldn’t worry.
He told her it was just business matters, but Lethia was certain, one way or another, it still had sothing to do with her.
She started pinching the skin of her fingers to stop her thoughts from spiralling.
Then Zeran’s hand reached over, holding hers, making her turn to look at him.
"Don’t worry too much. A bride-to-be shouldn’t overthink things. It’ll make you look gloomy," he said, his voice carrying the kind of warmth Lethia only ever found in him.
Her eyes darted to his, searching for sothing, reassurance, faith that she could trust his words, that everything would truly be alright.
She wanted to ask more, but instead, she just smiled and nodded. She wanted to believe it.
Monts later, the car stopped at the hospital lobby.
Lethia could feel her heartbeat hamring in her ears as she stepped onto the cold hospital floor.
She was so glad Caelum had woken up.
But then... why did she feel another wave of anxiety creeping in, sothing she couldn’t na?
Fear, maybe—her mind kept whispering that word. But fear of what?
The VIP elevator opened, and Lethia’s hand ripped his arm, stopping Zeran from stepping in first.
"Zeran, I think... I’ll et Caelum alone first. I can do that, right?" she asked—not as a plea, but more like a quiet command.
She could tell he didn’t like the idea, from how his jaw tensed, but he gave a firm nod anyway, letting her go alone.
As the elevator ascended, her head felt light. She took deep breaths over and over until the doors slid open.
The mont she stepped out, her gaze t Callista’s. Both exchanged faint, weary smiles, sharing a silent understanding.
"He’s waiting for you," Callista said softly. Then her hand gripped Lethia’s arm. "But Lethia... he... he can’t use his legs. He’s crippled."
It was like thunder roared through her ears, drowning everything else. Her heart thudded violently, out of control.
"Wh—what did you say?"
"We hope it’s only a temporary effect from the coma," Callista replied. "But his physical state isn’t our biggest concern. We’re more worried about his ntal."
Lethia could only stare blankly, her throat tight, tears spilling without restraint.
"Surprisingly, he accepted his condition so calmly... like he’s not the Caelum we know. It would’ve been believable if he had thrown a tantrum, shouted, cursed the world, like he always did. But instead, he just... smiles. Eats. Drinks. Jokes around like it’s nothing. I—" Callista’s voice broke into a sob.
Lethia couldn’t even comfort her. The shock was too deep, numbing. She could only gasp, the held air making her shoulders tremble.
How could his legs be paralyzed? He didn’t fall from a cliff, right? Then how? The oracle said she had sent the mantra to counter the black magic from the dagger that stabbed him, so why?
"Let see him first," Lethia said. Callista only nodded.
Each step toward Caelum’s room felt like carrying the weight of hundreds of tons.
She inhaled deeply and wiped her tears before turning the doorknob.
A forced smile stretched across her lips when her eyes landed on the figure lying in bed.
Then he turned his head, his face calm, a thin smile curling faintly.
"Finally, here you are," his voice sounded distant, cold.
"Cael—Caelum... hi, I’m—"
"Have you grown all your nine tails yet, Lyria?"
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