"How could this happen?" Astrid stuttered. "She was fine a while back. Don’t you rember? This isn’t possible at all."
Andrea looked pointedly at her. "She died from a knife to her chest and a slit throat. "
Astrid began to weep uncontrollably and suddenly passed out.
"gods." Andrea cursed and shook her head. "I knew it wasn’t a good idea to tell her."
"She would have found out about it eventually," Doris said quietly. "She’ll be ok, will she not?"
"Yes, I think," Andrea said. "She just fainted from the shock.
They tucked her back into the bed and left her to rest.
Augustus entered the room a mont later. His eyes softened at the sight of her, and he sat beside her. He gently brushed away the hair from her eye, and Astrid stirred awake.
"Augustus," Astrid said softly, "you ca to see ?"
He nodded.
"Thank you for saving back there, I don’t think I’d have been alive if it weren’t for you," she said.
Augustus took her hand in his and stroked it. "I’d have done it again and again."
Astrid smiled at this.
They talked and laughed about random things the other had to say, about life in the palace and Augustus’s ti as the lieutenant of the prince.
"I can’t believe you beca a soldier at fifteen," she said. "Although that wasn’t too far off from when I began to train, it’s still incredible how you’ve given yourself to this empire."
Augustus chuckled. "This is all I’ve known. But perhaps, I would get to know other things from now on."
Astrid smiled.
"What’s happening here?" Adonis said from the door. His voice was cold and sharp.
Augustus shot up from his seat and bowed. "Your majesty," he replied.
"He ca to check on . And I appreciate it." Astrid looked at Augustus with a smile.
"That’s what was happening?"
"Is there a problem, prince?" Astrid hissed. "I don’t exactly understand what it is you’re trying to insinuate."
"My lieutenant has been in here with you, neglecting his duties."
Astrid scoffed. "Do you even hear yourself?" She asked. "Taking a few minutes to see if I was alive and well, as he was the one to save , ans he’s neglecting his duties? What are you doing here then?"
Adonis gritted his teeth. His eyes darkened as he looked at the two of them. "You may leave, Augustus. I have urgent things to discuss with the princess."
"Yes, your majesty," Augustus replied. "I hope you get better soon enough, princess."
Astrid smiled at him again. "Thank you for coming."
Astrid raised an eyebrow at Adonis when it was just the two of them left in the room. "Did you have to be so cruel to the man? He’s a soldier in your army, the most competent one by the looks of it if you made him your lieutenant."
"Look, princess. I do not need my n distracted. I have an important journey ahead, and I would not like my n preoccupied."
Astrid stared at him, bewildered. "You realize I’m on this so-called journey as well. Because your empire is trying to invade my kingdom." Astrid retorted. "So, Prince, I don’t think there’s any reason to be worried about your n being ’preoccupied.’ "
Adonis’ eyes softened and began to flicker; he looked away.
"I’d like to be alone," she said. "Please leave ."
He hesitated. But ultimately, he left.
They left Silithra after four days. Astrid had stood up for the first ti the next day after she’d woken up. Then she’d taken short walks with the girls the rest of the days they’d been in Silithra. But she’d refused to speak to Adonis.
As they boarded the ships one by one, Astrid felt a tinge of sadness in her heart. As much as she’d despised the war and bloodshed, the ti she’d spent here would never leave her heart.
She’d lost a sister here. She would always bla herself for Lily’s death, but she hoped wherever she was, she was happy and smiling down on them.
Astrid carried a pot filled with her ashes. They had conducted a burial for her and burned her body. Now, she would take it with her till all of her sisters were together again so that they would all send her away together.
Her mind went to Selene and the other girls who’d joined Princess Octavia’s fleet. Ihope they’re alright, she thought.
Astrid and the girls all staged together on this ride. They’d stayed apart enough.
"Captain," Adonis said. "How long to Thalassia?"
"A little longer than our first journey, your majesty," the captain said. "Two months at best. But I would not advise that we stay on the sea for so long. I sense a storm coming. So we would have to make a few stops."
"That could alert the other kingdoms," Adonis said with a frown.
"I understand your majesty, but there’s nothing else I can do. We would either have to make those stops or die at sea."
Adonis rolled his eyes. "Calm down, captain. Don’t exaggerate. Of course, nothing will happen to us. But I wouldn’t risk it either. Chart the course to whichever kingdom you think is nearest to our destination, before the storm."
"Of course." The captain bowed and went away.
Adonis went over to Astrid, who was leaning over the guardrails.
"Hey," he said softly, interrupting her. She seed deep in thought.
She spared him a glance.
"How long are you going to avoid speaking to ?" He asked. "I know I was out of line the last ti we spoke, but I have tried to apologize."
Astrid sighed. "Are you sure you’re aware of your missteps, or are you apologizing because you want to make yourself feel better?"
"I’m sorry, Astrid," Adonis said. "I should never have said any of those things. I was probably just overwheld by everything happening at the ti that I wasn’t thinking straight. Forgive ."
"It’s not like I have a choice, do I?" Her voice was dry. "You’re the prince of the most powerful empire across the sea. How would I dare be upset?"
"For heaven’s sake, Astrid," Adonis muttered. "I’m sorry, ok? I’m truly, really sorry."
"It’s fine, prince."
Adonis chuckled. "You’re really sothing, you know that, right?" He said, leaning over the guardrail as well. But he could see her smile from the corner of his eye.
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