Rafe groaned softly as his arms tightened around what felt like a pillow. His nose buried into it, breathing in a delicate, flowery scent.
The ’pillow’ radiated a familiar warmth that sent a soothing calm through his tired body. Instinctively, he snuggled closer in his half-sleeping state, unwilling to let the comfort go.
A light chuckle drifted to his ears, stirring his sluggish mind. Slowly, his eyelids fluttered open, and the mont his blurry vision cleared, realisation struck. What he had been hugging wasn’t a pillow at all, but the waist of a woman — his wife.
Startled, Rafe shot upright, lifting his head from her lap and quickly withdrawing his hands.
"Callis! Did I... sleep on you?" he asked, eyes wide in disbelief.
He could still rember sitting at his desk, recording patients’ conditions before everything faded to black. Now, he was still in that sa chair, parchnt and quill nearby.
Callis, seated beside him, smiled gently.
"You fell asleep while writing. Luckily, you didn’t spill any ink on yourself. When I took the bottle and quill away, you leaned on , so I just let you be," she said.
"Oh, dear! You must’ve been uncomfortable. Why didn’t you wake ?" he exclaid.
"I thought of it at first," Callis replied, "but you looked so exhausted, I couldn’t bring myself to disturb you. You’ve barely slept these past few days."
Rafe exhaled, stretching his arms back until his shoulders cracked. He rolled his neck from side to side and gave it a light tap.
"Thank you, sweetheart. You did a great favour. That nap was exactly what I needed." He stood and added, "I should get back to work. I need to check on the patients."
But Callis quickly held his arm.
"Not now. They’re stable already. There’s no need to rush since they’re still unconscious," she said.
Rafe’s eyes widened.
"Already? They’re no longer in critical condition?"
She nodded.
"Yes. After I finished casting the spell last night with His Highness the Grand Duke’s help, Mr Corvell ca with his healers to examine them. He confird their recovery."
"Why didn’t you tell ?" the healer asked.
"I wanted to," Callis replied, "but when I ca out of the treatnt chamber and returned here, you were already asleep."
"How long has it been then?"
"About two hours."
"Two hours?!" Rafe’s eyes widened. "And I’ve been sleeping on you that whole ti? Didn’t you feel cramped?"
Callis shook her head with a light laugh.
"No. I’m trained for combat, rember? Having you rest your head on was nothing. It’s much lighter than the logs I used to carry during training."
Rafe sighed again, this ti more softly, guilt touching his tone.
"Still... you’re my wife. I shouldn’t trouble you so."
"It wasn’t trouble," Callis said, lifting her gaze to him with a playful grin. "Watching your cute sleeping face while you hugged was quite pleasant, actually."
Rafe flushed scarlet at the teasing. Between the two, the derian Princess had always been the bolder one, never shy about her words or gestures.
"You should’ve at least tried to wake up," he muttered, trying to change the subject as he looked away. "I wasn’t even allowed to see you cast the healing spell, and yet Isen got the first update."
The healer pouted, crossing his arms in mock protest.
"It wasn’t intentional," Callis said with an apologetic smile. "He arrived just as His Highness and I finished, so we let him inspect the tribesn. And for the record, no one else saw the spell being cast, not even him. There was only His Highness and during the session."
Rafe humd, half appeased, half sulking.
"That healing ritual... was it so dangerous that you had to push and the others out of the chamber? You didn’t do that on your first attempt."
Callis smirked knowingly. Rafe was still sulking over being left out. Stepping closer, she wrapped her arms around his waist.
"It was for safety," she said gently. "His Highness’s mana was incredibly powerful. I was afraid it might harm you or anyone else nearby. You rember the barbecue pit incident, don’t you? I wasn’t about to risk a repeat of that."
"Fine..." Rafe conceded with a resignation. "I suppose His Highness was the only one who could withstand such a predicant if things went wrong."
"Of course. His barrier would have imdiately manifested if the spell had gone out of control. You know none of the derian’s magic could harm him. Besides, he needed to stay close for the mana transfer," she explained.
A faint twinge of jealousy stirred in Rafe’s chest at the thought of Callis holding Kyren’s hand during the ritual.
He had always been overly sensitive whenever another man ca too near his beautiful wife. But he quickly pushed the thought aside, reminding himself that this was not a matter of affection—it was out of duty and survival.
He exhaled slowly, offering her a small, sheepish smile.
"I know... I’m just being ridiculous again."
Callis chuckled softly, brushing her fingers over his sleeve.
"A little, yes. But it’s cute when you get all protective like that."
Rafe sighed in defeat.
"You really don’t make it easy for to stay sulking, do you?" he teased.
The derian Princess’s smile lingered as she replied, "Sulking or not, I love you the way you are. And to be honest, those pouty lips of yours are far too irresistible to ignore."
The healer quickly pushed her back a little and covered his mouth as her face ca too close.
"I just woke up! I haven’t even rinsed my mouth or washed my face yet!" he exclaid.
Callis laughed lightly.
"I knew you’d say that. I was only teasing."
"Let wash up first," Rafe said, shaking his head with a smile. "By the way, how’s His Highness?"
"He’s resting," Callis replied. "The ritual drained much of his mana. Even soone as strong as him would be exhausted after that. But we managed to restore the tribesn to nearly full recovery. That alone says a lot about his strength."
Rafe nodded, though a small crease ford between his brows.
"I haven’t asked earlier since you were focused on the ritual, but... to heal wounds that severe, wouldn’t that require restorative magic? I thought you never learned it?"
Callis’s calm expression faltered. She turned away quickly, concealing the flicker of fear in her eyes. Her heart pounded. Had he noticed sothing?
Her words ca swiftly, almost too quickly to mask her fear.
"Of course not! Brother forbade from learning that magic. It’s all thanks to His Highness’s mana. Didn’t I tell you how powerful it is?"
Rafe, unsuspecting, nodded.
"Ah, yes. I forgot. His mana is said to be equivalent to two Ro’ans combined. No wonder it made such a difference. He even shared so with Kiev and still has more to spare for the healing."
Callis let out a quiet, shaky breath of relief. She was safe, at least for now.
Kyren had promised that her secret would remain between them. He alone knew she had learned the forbidden art of restoration.
And since she had channelled the Grand Duke’s mana for the ritual, her own energy remained untouched. If Rafe, or worse, her brother, Kiev, were to discover the truth, she would face a dire punishnt. That was why she had to keep it hidden, no matter what.
The healer soon went to the washroom. When he returned, cleaned and looking more awake, Callis was still waiting.
"I’m all refreshed now," he said, adjusting his collar. "I think I’ll still take a look at the tribesn myself. It wouldn’t feel right if I didn’t see them with my own eyes."
Callis didn’t object. She knew how dedicated he was to his patients.
"Since you’ve already finished your part, why don’t you return to the mansion first?" he suggested.
"You want to go ho? Without you?" she asked, surprised.
"This place isn’t comfortable for you," Rafe said. "You’ve done more than enough. I just want you to rest properly."
"But I’m not tired," Callis protested. "I slept well before the ritual, and I don’t mind staying here with you."
Rafe stepped closer, taking her hands in his.
"I know you don’t care about comfort as long as we’re together," he said, appreciating her humbleness. "But if you go ho, I’ll feel more at ease."
"Why?" Callis tilted her head slightly, puzzled. "Did I trouble you in any way?"
"Not you..." said Rafe. "It’s Isen. I don’t like the way he’s been looking at you."
Callis chuckled.
"So you’re jealous of him glancing at ? No wonder you cut him off so often." She tilted her head, gazing with wonder. "I thought he was your peer, but it’s odd you speak to him so casually when he’s older than you."
Rafe gave a small, rueful smile.
"I may be younger, but rank-wise, he’s junior to . If I hadn’t followed His Highness the Grand Duke to Gerhard, I would have beco the Arch Healer instead of him."
Callis’s eyes widened in surprise. "Ah! So that’s why!"
"He’s talented, but his abilities don’t outshine mine. He took the position because I refused to stay. Although he’s a skilled healer, his career is almost ruined by scandals involving won. I reprimanded him, and he promised to change, but habits are difficult to break. When he looked at you with interest, I was concerned. I don’t believe he would actually act on it, but still..."
Rafe didn’t finish the sentence, but Callis read the rest in his expression.
"Don’t worry," she said briskly. "Nothing will happen. If he tried, I’d punch him before he knew what hit him."
Rafe’s jaw softened.
"Because I know your temper, that’s exactly why I want you to leave. He’s the Arch Healer, the highest rank in the royal infirmary, and I don’t want to offend him or hurt his pride while he still respects . Nevertheless, this place is under his authority. Causing a fight will leave a bad impression on everyone. So, please go ho first... You promised to listen to ."
Callis sighed before offering a small smile, finally relenting. She understood that territorial politics often demanded careful handling and that Rafe’s caution was, in the end, his way of protecting her.
"Fine. Since my beloved husband asks, I’ll do as you say."
Relief washed over the healer at his wife’s compliance.
"I’ll have a carriage prepared for you right away. Once I’ve handed everything over to Isen, I’ll return ho with His Highness, all right?" he said softly.
He tilted her chin up with a gentle touch. "You’ll wait for , won’t you, sweetheart?"
The derian Princess smiled.
"Of course, my love."
Rafe’s lips curved into a broad grin.
"Once this is all over, I’ll ask for a few days of leave. Just you and ... no interruptions, no duties. I promise."
Callis’s smile deepened.
"I’ll hold you to that promise, dear."
With that, very soon, the derian Princess departed, unaware that sothing awaited ahead... Sothing that would change both their fates forever.
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