"Yes?" Rafe replied, curious about what she wanted to say.
"Since you already knew about Kyren’s decision, can I ask you a favour?" Anna’s fingers fidgeted with her skirt. A sense of nervousness was apparent in her expression.
"What favour?" Rafe questioned, trying to understand the urgency of the plea.
"I... I would like to ask for so contraceptives," Anna finally blurted out, her face turning crimson.
"What?" The healer’s surprised response echoed in the room.
"Yes... Well... The thing is... Kyren and I... when we’re intimate... there’s no precaution, and he... he usually... umm..." Anna’s stamring voice trailed off, the embarrassnt evident in her downcast eyes.
Rafe paused as he recalled the couple’s conversation in the main hall that he had overheard. It appeared that Kyren had not shared his procreation matter with her.
"My lady..." Rafe paused, taking a mont to find the right words to say.
He laid his posture on the chair back and looked at Anna with empathy and guilt. He wished he could tell her the truth and reveal everything, but it would be against his oath before the previous king and queen to safeguard the secret.
"I’m afraid I can’t give any to you. Your body is not suitable to take that kind of drugs," Rafe gently explained.
"But... if I got pregnant... Kyren would be mad at . He adamantly told he didn’t want any child ever!" Anna stressed with concern.
"That would be the last thing you should worry about!" Rafe blurted, his frustration slipping through.
He quickly regretted his words, realising he had unintentionally let his anger towards Kyren’s evasiveness rise before the princess.
"Why so? I don’t understand," Anna looked at him with confused eyes.
The healer bit his lip, knowing he had wrongfully uttered the wrong words. He struggled to find a suitable response. His mind raced for a valid excuse as he couldn’t reveal the real reason for her inability to conceive.
"You are frail, my lady," Rafe finally replied as his brilliant mind devised a proper reason. "To conceive, a woman must have a healthy womb and excellent fertility. I know your relationship with His Highness is great, but for soone as fragile as you, getting pregnant would take ti. Your body needs to be ready for it. Only then will it happen."
Anna’s eyes drooped, disappointnt displayed on her face.
"Oh... I see..." she murmured. "I guess my body just fits according to my circumstances," she added. A faint, sad smile graced her lips as she accepted her fate.
Rafe felt his heart wrench at Anna’s words, but he had no choice. Hiding the truth was his duty, and he couldn’t let his personal feelings interfere with his loyalty. He watched the princess swallow her disappointnt, her delicate features reflecting the sadness pervading her heart.
"Please understand," Rafe continued, his tone apologetic. "Sotis, things happen beyond our control. It is not your fault. However, soday... if there’s a chance for it to happen..." his voice faltered.
"It can’t happen, Rafe." Anna sighed. "Let’s just hope it will never happen. I don’t want to burden Kyren any further. He has given so much, and I shouldn’t be selfish in asking for more. If I can simply love him and be by his side, that’s more than enough for ."
Rafe’s heart ached as he listened to Anna’s words, sensing the depth of her selflessness and love for Kyren. He wished he could find a way to break the binding spell and give them a chance to have a family, but the weight of his failure hung heavily on his shoulders.
Their conversation was interrupted when Rafe’s gaze shifted towards the window. His attention was montarily diverted as he noticed Noah approaching the building.
"Pardon , but can you please give a mont, my lady?" The healer excused himself from Anna’s presence and quickly made his way to the door.
Noah arrived just as Rafe reached the entrance.
"Are you here to escort the lady back?" the healer asked cautiously in a hushed tone.
Rafe’s worry was palpable as he raised his concern, fearing that Noah’s presence ant a change in Kyren’s decision and a new plan being devised.
"No, Mr Amares," the knight reassured the healer, his tone calm and composed. "The servants told that they saw both of you heading to your office. I’m simply here to greet the lady. We haven’t had a chance to et properly since my return. As you know, I am her forr escort, and it is customary for an escort to greet their lord or lady upon their return from duty."
Noah’s explanation aid to divert the healer’s concern and alleviate any suspicion.
"Right." Rafe breathed a relief. "Please co in," he said, welcoming the knight.
As Anna’s gaze fell upon Noah, who entered, her eyes widened with surprise. Recognising her forr escort, she quickly rose from her seat, an excitent coursing through her.
"Sir Brooks! I haven’t seen you in quite so ti! Kyren ntioned that he had assigned you a specific task," Anna said, her tone filled with friendliness.
Noah bowed respectfully in response to Anna’s greeting. "My lady," he acknowledged. "I returned so ti ago. Actually, I was at the palace last night, and also... this morning..." his voice faltered slightly as he didn’t finish his sentences to avoid recalling the not-so-nice incidents.
Anna’s expression shifted, realising that the knight had seen and knew all that had happened. Embarrassnt began to fill her expression, but she quickly responded to hide it.
"Oh, I apologise. I’ve been so engrossed in the chaos that I didn’t notice you were there."
Noah reassured her with a gentle smile. "It’s quite all right, my lady. I understand the circumstances. Please don’t worry about it."
Rafe’s mind sparked with an idea as he observed Anna’s mood brightening in the presence of Noah. Realising that this might be the opportune mont, he decided to share so happy news with the princess, hoping to elevate further joy and comfort for her after going through such disheartened circumstances.
Interrupting the conversation, Rafe turned to Noah, saying with conviction, "You’re also going to the treatnt room today, right?"
Noah nodded in confirmation. "Yes, I am. It’s part of my routine."
A smile played on the healer’s lips as he continued. "Good. Let us go together and bring our lady there now."
Noah’s expression held a hint of curiosity mixed with intrigue as he glanced at Rafe and Anna, "Are you sure this is the right mont?"
Rafe turned to Anna, his grey eyes filled with warmth and determination. "Our lady deserves to hear so happy news. And now, I believe it’s ti."
"You’re right. The other person also has been waiting for this for quite so ti." A slight grin erged on the knight’s lips.
Anna’s gaze flickered back and forth between Rafe and Noah. She wondered as she saw both of them smiling.
"What’s the happy news, Rafe? Sir Brooks?" Anna asked, eager to know.
"My lady, there’s soone we would like you to et," Noah said excitedly.
Anna’s eyes widened. "Who?" she asked with anticipation.
Rafe exchanged a knowing glance with Noah before responding. "Co with us to the treatnt room. I hope you can brace yourself for this surprise."
Anna’s mind raced with possibilities, unable to anticipate what good news awaited her. With a mix of curiosity and excitent, she found herself being gently ushered by both Rafe and Noah towards the treatnt room, which was conveniently located near the healer’s office.
***
Rafe slowly pushed the door of the treatnt room open.
Anna’s curiosity was piqued as she overheard the conversation between Ayden and soone from behind the screen.
"Your long black hair was beautiful. But your new short haircut is also not bad. In fact, I find it rather cute, and you look much younger, too," praised the assistant healer.
Clara blushed at Ayden’s complint, feeling a mix of delight and nervousness. She had recently decided to change her hairstyle, and the man’s positive reaction made her feel more confident about her choice.
"Thank you, Ayden," she replied, her voice filled with a shy sweetness.
The princess, who stood behind the screen, paused, sensing a strange familiarity in the woman’s voice.
As she furrowed her brow in thought, mories and fragnts of conversations flashed through Anna’s mind. She tried to piece them together, searching for a connection to the voice she was hearing now.
Rafe smiled and announced, "Ayden, soone here wants to see the knightess."
The assistant healer welcod the visitor and said, "Sure, co in."
Noah urged the princess, "Go on, my lady. See for yourself."
Anna was confused as she wondered who the knightess could be. Nevertheless, she walked forward and saw Ayden by the side of the bed and a woman lying on it. She had short hair and dark skin, and when their eyes t, the princess was shocked.
Clara, who was already sitting, leaned forward upon seeing Anna, the Princess of Ardel, whom she had been waiting to et for so long.
"Your Highness!" Clara exclaid, her expression filled with excitent and disbelief. The princess’s jaw almost dropped, her fingers trembled, and her eyes were wide open.
"Cla...ra..."
Anna’s mind raced with a whirlwind of emotions as she stood petrified before her escort, whom she had believed to have perished in the fire of the Bargesians’ Barrack. She struggled to find her words, her lips quivering as the knightess’s na escaped in a barely audible whisper.
Clara’s eyes shimred with tears as she saw the princess before her eyes. Despite her slightly blushed cheeks, Anna was looking healthy and pretty. She was adorned with a beautiful dress, intricate jewellery and hair ornant that befitted her status as a princess.
"I thought I had lost you forever!" said the knightess, revealing her inner feelings.
Overwheld by the weight of their reunion, Anna took hesitant steps forward, her heart pounding in her chest. She reached out and clasped Clara’s hand, her touch confirming the reality of their eting. Tears welled up in her eyes as she spoke, her voice filled with a mixture of relief and longing.
"Clara!!"
The princess’s tears fell on her cheek as she hugged the knightess. Clara tried to hold back her cries, but her emotions failed her. She burst into tears when she felt the soft princess’s hug. The two embraced each other, bawling their eyes with relentless cries as the three n witnessed their reunion.
"I believed... I thought..." Anna’s voice trailed off, her throat constricting with emotion.
Clara’s grip tightened.
"Your Highness, I am here, and I promise you, I will never leave your side again," she said as she closed her eyes, savouring the mont. "The fire was a terrible ordeal, but by so miracle, I survived. I have been searching for you all this while. It was Sir Brooks who saved and brought here."
Anna’s eyes searched Clara’s face, tracing the familiar features she had thought she would never see again. A mixture of relief, joy, and grief washed over her.
"Oh, Clara, I’m sorry I left you in the fire! I’m so sorry!"
"It’s all right! It’s not your fault! I asked you to go!"
As Anna’s tears continued to flow, Clara held her tightly, gently stroking her back. The weight of their shared emotions and the relief of being reunited overwheld them both.
The room was filled with the echoes of their heartfelt cries, a poignant testant to the depth of their connection and the trials they had endured.
The three n in the room watched the reunion unfold, their smiles filled with warmth and contentnt.
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