The merchant was able to sigh in relief and relayed orders to his men before bidding farewell to the Crown Prince. Afterwards, Arlan walked towards Drayce with his knights after instructing his personal knight to bring the royal carriage for the Queen of Megaris.

After the wolves ran away, Seren looked lost and defeated, not knowing what to do as tears didn't stop coming out from her eyes and she didn't dare touch the wounded bird who had stopped his movements. It was as if she had gone into shock.

Her mind drifted to the painful memories from her past. Once upon a time, just like Dusk, a pet dear to her was killed and she could do nothing to help it.

Drayce looked around and his gaze landed on the packages on the hand cart. With a piece of fabric hanging out from one of the boxes, Drayce understood it had clothes inside it and immediately tore one box with his sword. Grabbing a huge fold of white soft fabric, he went towards Dusk whose eyes were open as he breathed heavily but had stopped moving. Drayce tore and folded the cloth and wrapped it around his body where he was bleeding. His wing was hurt; the sharp nails of that wolf had caused deep scratches on his body.

"He will be fine," Drayce said, trying to assure the crying young woman, and only then did she finally look at him. Her teary and guilt-filled eyes looked hopeful that what he said would turn true. He wanted to tell her it was not her fault, but she would probably not believe it and still blame herself.

When she was young, she only got to hear the painful news, without anyone comforting her young self.

'Your cat is dead.'

That scar was still fresh in her heart, that despite her loneliness inside the tower, she never dared to have any pet again.

Arlan approached them and saw the state that Seren was in. He offered to carry Dusk. "I will take him." He walked away just as the royal carriage arrived.

Drayce offered her his hand. "Let's go." He knew she was emotionally hurt but she was not that weak.

Seren accepted his hand although she couldn't pull her gaze away from Dusk in Arlan's arms. She said nothing, but her actions and her eyes were letting Drayce know what she was thinking.

"Keep Dusk inside the carriage," Drayce told his friend.

Arlan passed the injured eagle to a knight who then placed the bird on the seat inside Seren's carriage. Drayce helped her get inside the carriage too and this time, he accompanied her instead of riding his horse. He couldn't leave her alone in such a condition.

On the way back to the Loyset Residence, Seren was quiet, her eyes fixed on the hurt bird.

"A physician specializing with animals will treat him. He will be fine. He is just not used to fighting with other wild animals, but it's not the first time for him to get injured," Drayce assured.

Seren could only nod lightly and gathered her will to pull her gaze away from Dusk. She looked outside of the window, but she could not see any of the buildings flashing by them. She was cursing herself for her silly mistakes and her failed escape attempts which only caused harm to her and others. She was fine if she was hurt but she couldn't bear to see the ones she cared for hurt. As someone who had led a lonely life, she had few precious ones she truly cherished, and those were countable on her fingers—Martha, her brother, her cat which was already dead years back, and now Dusk was added to it.

------

Soon, they reached the Loyset residence where a physician was already waiting to treat Dusk inside a guest room provided by their host.

Seren was not inside her room, but was standing outside by the balcony like the night before. She had already changed out of her bloodied clothes, but for some reason, she could still remember how Dusk was sent flying by her feet. The image was making her suffocate. The wind gently tossing her long hair somehow made her feel easier to breathe as she restlessly waited to get an update about Dusk.

After what felt like eternity to Seren, Drayce entered the room.

She immediately turned to look at him and left the balcony. Before she could open her mouth to ask him, Drayce had beaten her to it. "Dusk is fine. He's just weak because he lost a lot of blood. His injuries will take some more time to heal. His wing is hurt so he won't be able to fly until he's strong enough."

Seren could finally let out the breath she was holding. She felt relieved that he was fine and only then did she realize that her hands had become cold. If something had happened to that eagle, she would have never forgiven herself.

Drayce could see through her and he knew what she needed at the moment was comfort. He stepped forward, and before she could understand what he's doing, he hugged her gently while patting her head.

"It was not your fault."

She didn't move, neither could she resist the hug. With his strong arms around her, it made her chest heavy with an indescribable feeling, and this strange warm sensation was causing her eyes to become moist. She could not stop the flood of emotions causing turmoil inside her.

'How come it was not my fault? I tried to run away, that's why he got injured...'

Drayce let her cry as he continued to hold her in his embrace. It took her a while before she calmed down, and only then did he let her go. Looking at her red-rimmed eyes and messy appearance, he brought her to sit on their bed. "My Queen must be tired. It would help if you rest. Later, I will take you to see Dusk."

Seren could only nod like an obedient girl. She promised to herself that after this she would never try to run away again.

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Dear reader, this month too I will gift something to the top Golden Tickets voter of the novel. So keep voting. Last month's top fan and golden tickets voter was reader "RMehrotra". She will soon get a gift delivered to her home.