Chapter 261: Not allowed to work
lody’s eyes snapped open, and she found herself lying on Izaak’s bed. The events of the previous night rushed back to her, prompting her to sit up quickly, only to be t with a sharp pain in her right hand. She scanned the room, but there was no sign of Izaak.
Determined to leave, she swung her legs over the edge of the bed, wincing as she realized her foot was injured too. Moving with difficulty, she managed to stand up.
"Where do you think you’re going?" Izaak’s voice resonated in her ear, making her freeze in place. Her left hand instinctively tightened its grip on her sandal.
Izaak walked over to her, his presence commanding and calm. He gently took the sandal from her hand and placed it on the floor. lody looked up at him, taking in his tall, imposing figure, and gulped nervously.
"Your Highness, forgive
for sleeping so late," she apologized, her voice trembling slightly.
"A servant will help you," Izaak replied, his tone firm yet gentle. He called for Zerah, who promptly entered the room.
Before lody could protest, Izaak continued, "Arrange for a female servant to assist lody. Also, move her to the nearest room from my manor."
"Nearest room," lody mumbled to herself, her mind racing. She looked up at Izaak, her eyes wide with apprehension. "Your Highness, I’m perfectly fine," she insisted, trying to hide her discomfort. "There’s no need for such special treatnt."
She couldn’t help but feel out of place receiving such privileges. After all, she was just another servant, unaccustod to such attention and care.
Izaak gently took her right hand, causing lody to wince in pain. "Is this what you call ’perfectly fine’?" he chuckled, while Zerah shook his head disapprovingly.
"Don’t worry, Your Highness. I’ll arrange for a female servant to assist lody until she recovers," Zerah reassured him before leaving the room.
Once they were alone, Izaak knelt down in front of her, his intense gaze locking onto hers. lody felt a wave of awkwardness wash over her. She touched her face with her left hand, her cheeks flushing slightly.
"Is there sothing on my face, Your Highness?" she inquired, trying to maintain her composure.
Izaak shook his head slowly. "No, I was just reading your expression. I wish to understand why you are so hesitant to accept the care and comfort I provide," he affird, his voice soft but insistent.
lody turned silent, lowering her head. She couldn’t find the words to explain her reluctance.
"You aren’t allowed to work until you recover," Izaak declared firmly. His eyes drifted to a few stray strands of her hair, and with a gentle motion, he brushed them away from her face. His touch was both tender and authoritative.
As he stood up and turned to leave, lody found her voice. "Thank you for last night. I’ve never had such a peaceful sleep before."
Izaak paused and tilted his head to look at her once more. "You are welco here anyti," he affird. "I have so important matters to attend to. I’ll see you later, lody. Don’t move too much. If I find out you have, I might have to tie you to this bed," he warned, a hint of a smile playing on his lips.
With that, he left the room, leaving lody with a restless heart.
~~~~~
Alora was feeling joyous after a conversation with the Lunar God. She enjoyed her breakfast before deciding to see lody. "Is she in the servants’ quarters, Selvina?" Alora asked from her.
"No, Your Highness. I heard Prince Izaak has shifted her to the room which is nearest to his chamber," Selvina replied with a tiny smile.
"That’s wonderful. It seems Prince Izaak is making attempts to win lody’s heart," Alora asserted with a knowing smile. "However, I wonder how lody got injured. You ntioned there was oil on the floor?" she asked, her gaze turning skeptical.
"Yes, Your Highness," Selvina confird. "It was revealed that a lantern fell during the night because of the wind, and the oil from it spread across the floor. Since lody was the only person walking through the corridor at that hour, she slipped and injured herself."
"Hmm. Let’s go to her," Alora said, finishing her water before heading out with Selvina.
Upon entering the room where lody was resting, the attending servant bowed to them. lody, seeing Alora, tried to get down from the bed, but Alora quickly intervened.
"Don’t do that. Your foot is injured," Alora said with concern, gently pressing lody back onto the bed. "Have you had your breakfast?"
"Not yet, Your Highness," lody replied. "Freya helped
with a bath first. I thought I’d eat later."
Alora glanced at Freya and inquired, "Has lody been prescribed any dicine?"
"Yes, Your Highness," Freya responded. "I was instructed to give lody a pill after her als. I believe if you encourage her to eat, she may comply."
"You should eat if you want to get better," Alora stated, her tone both kind and firm.
"I didn’t have an appetite," lody admitted. "Last night, I ate a lot, Your Highness. That’s why I thought I could wait to eat later."
Alora sighed softly and sat beside her on the bed. "It’s important to eat regularly, especially when you’re healing. Even if you don’t feel hungry, try to have a little sothing."
lody nodded reluctantly. "I understand, Your Highness. I’ll try to eat sothing soon."
Alora smiled warmly. "Good. We all want to see you back on you healthy as soon as possible. Now, let’s have Freya bring you sothing light to eat."
Freya nodded and left the room to fetch so food, while Alora stayed with lody, offering her company and support.
~~~~~
Alaric stamped the bottom of an official docunt with a thud, the sound echoing slightly in the room. Jasper, his trusted aide, swiftly took the docunt, placing it carefully inside an envelope. As he did so, Alaric’s voice broke the silence.
"The robe I gave you last ti," Alaric began, his tone firm, "I want you to stop wearing it. And I also want you to return it to ."
Jasper furrowed his brows in confusion and took a step back. "Which robe, Your Highness?"
"The one Scarlet gifted ," Alaric clarified, his gaze unwavering.
Jasper’s eyes widened slightly as he recalled the garnt. "That one? But, Your Highness, you told
I could keep it. Why are you suddenly asking
not to wear it? I’ve worn it several tis already."
Alaric’s expression remained calm. "I made a mistake, Jasper," Alaric admitted, his voice tinged with regret. "Scarlet was upset with
the day I returned because she saw the robe with you. At the ti, I didn’t fully appreciate the significance it held for her. Now I realize it was more than just a gift. I know it’s not fair to ask for it back, but she’s my wife now, and I need to respect her feelings."
Jasper let out a faint laugh, trying to ease the tension. "I understand, Your Highness. I’ll return it to you tomorrow. I’m glad to see that Prince Alaric considers his wife’s feelings so deeply. And I apologize for not being more mindful of this situation."
"Thank you, Jasper," Alaric said, relief evident in his voice. "Please, allow
to compensate you for this. You can buy a new robe of your choosing, and I will cover the cost."
"No, it’s fine, Your Highness," Jasper declined with a respectful bow. "His Highness has provided
a lot in all these years. I don’t need anything else."
With a final bow, Jasper turned and left the room, leaving Alaric alone there. He leaned back on the chair to rest for a brief mont when he felt Scarlet’s presence around.
Scarlet stood gracefully before him, a gentle smile playing on her lips. "Prince Alaric, I’ve co to offer my assistance with your duties starting today," she declared, executing a small, respectful bow.
"I gladly accept your help," Alaric replied warmly, rising from his chair. As he approached her, he noticed a delicate aroma lingering in the air. "What perfu are you wearing?" he inquired with genuine curiosity, stepping closer.
"Just my usual one. Why do you ask, Your Highness? Is it not to your liking?" Scarlet quipped, her eyes glinting mischievously.
Alaric halted in front of her, shaking his head slightly. "No, not at all. It simply blends with your own natural scent," he remarked, his tone gentle yet sincere.
"What?" Scarlet couldn’t help but laugh softly, suspecting him of teasing.
Alaric smiled, his gaze tender as he assured her he was serious.
Alaric’s movent was deliberate yet tender, leaning in to press his lips softly against Scarlet’s, a move that took her pleasantly by surprise.
The smile on her lips broadened in response, her heart quickening with the unexpected thrill of his touch. Swiftly, she wrapped her arms around him, drawing him closer as she lted into the kiss, her whole being enveloped in the warmth of his embrace.
Their kiss deepened naturally, fueled by unspoken emotions of their hearts.
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