Gracelle kept staring at the white ceiling, her mind swirling with worry.
The boy I want to et...
Javier...
Armand went through wars...
Does this an he and his family... are no longer there?
Her eyes began to shimr with unshed tears.
If he’s no longer alive... what’s the point of being alive? What’s the point of fighting through all this pain?
She glanced down at the dical equipnt attached to her. The IV line taped to the back of her hand, the monitoring sensors on her arm, the faint beep of the heart rate tracker. It all felt suddenly heavy, aningless.
She was about to let the tears fall, but then she rembered sothing.
Miss Elf said once I get better... I can et the boy I want to et.
Does that an Javier is still alive?
And how does she know?
Gracelle’s mind raced, trying to piece things together.
She ntioned elves rarely wander outside their nation...
Wait a minute.
An elf with silver hair and erald eyes... that’s rare.
And I’m sure I’ve seen her before... but where?
Her breath caught as a mory surfaced, faint but vivid. A much younger version of herself standing in the Armand Grand Hall, attending a celebration for Francesca De Armand. A beautiful elven maid with silver hair and erald eyes standing quietly beside a boy with mischievous eyes and a cheeky smile...
Is that her?
She was... that boy personal maid.
Does that an she knows what happened to Javier and his family?
But she’s with her fiancé here. That handso doctor... a prince.
Does that an her fiancé’s father is the new ruler of Armand Nation?
Does this an Javier and his family were spared?
I have to know.
Gracelle let out a long, weak exhale, her mind spinning.
She glanced around the room, the beeping monitors and clean white walls feeling suddenly distant. She could see the healers moving outside the glass partition of the ICU, talking softly at the nurse’s station.
How do I call them?
Her voice was still frail, barely a whisper.
She cleared her throat gently and tried again, a little louder.
"Umm... hello? Is soone there?"
She glanced outside the glass partition, but no one seed to notice her.
They said if I need anything, just call them.
But... how?
Her eyes scanned the room, landing on the small clip attached to her thumb, a pulse oxiter, monitoring her blood oxygen levels. She stared at it, her mind racing.
What will happen if I remove this?
She glanced at the clip again and swallowed hard, her pulse quickening.
What if when I remove this, I stop breathing? Or my heart stops?
I can’t risk my life, not after they saved . Not after everything they’ve done.
She glanced around again, trying her best to find sothing, anything she could use to get their attention without causing a panic.
Her eyes landed on the tal railing of her bed, a sturdy, curved bar running along the side.
I guess I have to try this.
With a weak but determined hand, she reached for the tal spoon left on her al tray. Gripping it tightly, she lifted it and tapped it gently against the tal railing of the bed.
The sound was soft, barely audible over the hum of the machines and the distant murmur of the healers outside. She tapped again, a little harder, her arm trembling with the effort.
While outside the ICU, Juria sat at her desk, reviewing patient charts. She glanced up at the other healers chatting softly nearby, then paused as a faint, rhythmic tapping sound reached her ears from inside the ICU room.
Hmm? Weird. Is one of Prince Javier’s inventions making that noise?
She stood gracefully and peered through the glass partition, noticing Gracelle weakly tapping the tal railing of her bed with a spoon.
What is she doing? Is she trying to do so light exercise? Or... trying to get our attention?
She shook her head and began to walk toward the room but paused when Kalea and Myra entered the area, both looking refreshed after washing up.
Juria crossed her arms and smirked.
"My~ Our Master Healer is finally awake, along with Garak’s Dream Girl, Missssss Kaleeeaaa~"
"Ugh! Juria. Could you stop with the ’Garak’s Dream Girl’ nickna already?" Kalea exhaled, rolling her eyes.
"What? It’s true, right? His eyes are only on you. I wonder how long it’s been already. Ah~ Since he started training to beco part of the Armand Special Forces. You should be lucky soone like him is so determined and loyal~"
"Sigh. If only his partner, Marcor, were the one interested in ..."
Juria shook her head and smiled, turning her attention to Myra. "So, Master~ I can’t believe you fell asleep so easily~ You’re supposed to be the strongest and most talented Armand healer, soone who could easily dispel a sleep spell."
"I don’t know," Myra said with a weary exhale before slumping into a chair. "All we heard was a beautiful voice. Sothing we’ve never heard before. A real, enchanting lody..."
Juria chuckled and shook her head. "Yes, yes~" She turned and was about to walk toward the ICU room when Myra glanced up from her seat and asked.
"Where are you going?"
"Hmm? Ah..." Juria pointed with her lips toward the ICU before putting on her face mask again. "I believe Miss Gracelle is trying to call for us."
"Hmm?" Kalea tilted her head, confused. "Why didn’t she just press the call bell button on the table? It’s clearly labeled ’Press for Assistance.’"
Juria smiled and glanced at them.
"First... our patient is still not fully aware of her surroundings or the tools available to her. Even if Prince Javier confird her eyesight is perfect, she’s still adjusting. Second..." Juria’s smile widened. "Even we only learned about Prince Javier’s inventions recently, but we could adapt because we’ve already seen things like mana relay towers, mana talkies, and other magical devices. A little instruction was all we needed."
Myra smiled and nodded. "Well, that’s true."
"Alright. I’m going to check on her and see what she needs." Juria turned and glanced over her shoulder. "And after that, and the others who covered your shift will take our rest. Oh, Master~ Don’t forget you and Kalea are covering the next eight-hour shift."
Myra chuckled. "Fine, fine. Just go and check on her already."
"Thank you~" Juria continued walking toward the ICU room and stepped inside.
Once inside, she smiled behind her mask and asked softly.
"Miss Gracelle? I noticed you tapping your spoon on the railing."
"Ah..." Gracelle smiled faintly, her expression a little embarrassed. "I... I was trying to call for soone..."
"Oh..." Juria smiled again, her tone gentle. "Why not use this button here?" She pointed toward the small, clearly labeled call button on the bedside table.
"Eh?" Gracelle’s eyes widened before she glanced at the button. Her cheeks flushed a deep red as she noticed the label, and she quickly pulled the blanket up to cover her face in embarrassnt.
( End Of Chapter )
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