What should he do? Did he need to go on his knee or maybe, given the situation, a simple bow would suffice? His wide-open mouth moved up and down as if tired to speak but no sound left his throat making him look like a fish in the water. Being overwhelmed with the sudden situation he found himself in, his body decided not to react at all and rather stay locked in place, blocking the entrance to the room.

"What are you staring at? Get in there already." A gentle push on his back from behind and he found himself in the same room with the royal family.

Following right after him was Elincia who closed the door upon entering the room.

"Now then, shall we take a look at our patient here?"

She stepped towards the bed where a young boy in his teens laid, covered under layers of blankets, letting only his pale face peak out, reminding Bao of a mummy wrapped in bandages. Under his eyes hung pitch-black bags and his lips had already shrunk to a thin white line. Elincia bowed over the weakened body covering the last visible part of the kid.

"Is he going to be alright?" The queen asked while tightly holding her son's hand.

Long white hair curled down their way to the waist while multiple wrinkles on the queen's forehead indicated that her prime days have long since passed. A simple green dress, with golden lines that winded around her body, covered a thin figure, emphasizing the colour of her eyes even more. Upon her head rested a simple silver ring engraved with signs that seemed to be some kind of runes he could not read.

Apparently conscious the prince let out a faint moan under the inspection of Elincia.

"There is nothing to worry about, he is weakened from the burden the curse put on his soul, nothing a good day of rest can't heal. He should also drink lots of water since his mouth is completely dried out." She rubbed her hands, surrounded by a green glow, after finishing the examination.

Lifted from the heavy burden, both parents slumped down their tensed shoulders. The before sad and tired faces turned into bright smiles nearly blending him with their happiness.

"Thank god." The queen rejoiced. "For weeks I could barely sleep, thinking of how we might lose our only son." Tears of joy and relief rolled down from her cheeks.

"We thank you from the bottom of our hearts, Daniel." The king grabbed both of his hands, holding them between his'."Not as the king of this country but as a father, thank you so much, I don't know what we would have done if our son had died."

"I.. ehm... no... eee." Bao stuttered.

"And I also want to apologize for my previous rude behaviour during the hearing," Atkin continued without paying attention to him. "You know," -the king paused- "there are things you can't say in front of your vassals as a ruler of a kingdom. If it wouldn't have been for my position, I would have showered you in praise and gratefulness for saving him."

"Now you are getting a bit carried away darling, look at the boy's flustered face."

"No... no prob... cough..." The words remained stuck in his throat.

"Pffft, hahaha. I never would've thought to see such an expression on your otherwise always grumpy expression." Elincia giggled and wiped off a small tear in the corner of her eye.

"Surprised by the soft side of my husband, aren't you."

"O... of course! Who wouldn't?"

"It takes a while to get used to this side of him when you only know the strict facet he puts up in the presence of other people, but when you start to know him a little better, you'll immediately fall in love with his character." The queen snuggled up to Atkin who embraced her.

"And he can`t even see a single drop of blood." Elincia ignored the flirting royal couple and shared her knowledge with a mischievous smile on her face.

"Now you are exaggerating." The husbands face turned red.

"You sure? Should I tell the story of your son's birth?"

The king remained silent.

The queen harrumphed, interrupting their conversation.

"I hope that it goes without saying David, that this secret can and should never leave this room and the here present people. We entrusted you with it because the holy maiden guaranteed for you with her name and because you saved our precious child's life, but" -with a stern look on her face, the queen paused- "if this secret were to get public and I find out that it was your fault," -she took a deep breath- "then you better prepare yourself, for we should show you no mercy.