The knock at his door was expected.

"Enter."

The door to Bellavarn's guest room in the palace opened. Kerv entered and shut the door behind him.

Bellavarn ignored the lavish guest room that Kerv seemed to eye with appreciation.

"Is everything ready?"

Kerv sighed.

"Yeah. Yeah, Henry tried throwing a hissy fit but I gave him a good whack."

Bellavarn eyed him suspiciously.

"Are you sure it wasn't you who threw a 'hissy fit'?"

"Of course. I'm much more dignified and respectable than old Henry."

Henry's only a year older than you.

Bellavarn pinched the bridge of his nose.

"Kerv. Listen. This is no laughing matter. I need you focused. Can I count on you?"

He looked hurt by the insinuation of otherwise. Quickly though, he became humorless.

"I trust you, Bell. I only worry."

It was Kerv's job to worry. This wasn't the first time, and it wasn't about to be the last time. If they got caught... maybe. But that wouldn't happen.

"Let's get started then."

=

Bellavarn tugged at his collar. It was still stifling.

The tall stained-glass windows exuded colorful light while casting the rest of the castle in darkness. Bellavarn moved quickly through the palace while following Kerv, taking several turns and passing through unoccupied or unused rooms. The few Royal Guards posted on the inside of the palace were all conveniently distracted by Duke Braster's odd curse and the pregnant Trisha's incessant 'worrying'.

Even with a distraction that is sure to be recorded in history books, Bellavarn sweated nervously. The idea of being caught terrified him, but something indescribable propelled his steps forward. Miraculously, no one blocked their path. Anyone who would be wandering the halls was occupied at the moment.

Still, it felt too quiet. It shouldn't be going so well. Someone had to suspect something. Shouldn't more Royal Guards be running down the corridors at this very moment?

"Almost there."

Kerv whispered for Bellavarn's benefit. It still made his heart beat faster. He hated this.

There was a purpose. A reason. A girl. A princess and a horrible suspicion.

If they were caught, he would likely be killed.

If he was wrong, he would be grateful.

If Bellavarn was right, things would only become more troublesome.

A quiet girl sitting at a dinner table. Ignored by all. A simple movement. Hiking up the sleeves of her dress. A glimpse of skin.

Even during dinner, when one should roll up their sleeves or be sleeveless, Princess Lecil covered her skin entirely.

Everything.

She wore even dark gloves as she ate.

The signs were blaring sirens to those who knew. Bellavarn, more than anyone, should recognize them.

"It is up ahead."

Bellavarn collected himself. Down the hall were a pair of double doors leading to a bedroom.

The Princess' bedroom.

"Alright. Follow me, Kerv. Watch out for others."

Kerv nodded, more serious than he's ever been. Bellavarn tugged at his collar another time. Itchy. Finally, he just undid it entirely. Taking a deep breath, Bellavarn continued forward towards the doors.

There was no plan on how to speak with the Princess again. He just...

There was a soft ticking as the clocks in the palace echoed down empty corridors. The darkness closed in. Shadows wrapped and writhed. Colored light faded as clouds glided in the sky overhead.

Standing in front of doors, Bellavarn's heart jumped. One of the doors was already slightly ajar. Nervously, he called out softly.

"Princess?"

More annoying ticking was his only answer. Resolving himself, he pushed the ajar door inward.

Looking inside, the room suddenly became illuminated by white moonlight.

Bellavarn's heart dropped.

Every clock in the palace chimed midnight. They sang their mournful melodies and spoke their prayers as they became the only noise.

Bedsheets. Chandelier. Princess.

"Princess!"

The shout was covered by a song of time—a second chime.

Bellavarn rushed in, running to the princess. He grabbed her suspended legs and lifted.

"Kerv! Get in here."

Kerv was a step behind and just rounded the corner. He momentarily froze at the sight.

"Hurry and cut the rope"

Kerv sprinted to the bedpost. The anchor. Taking a sword out of his sheath, he cut—a third chime.

The princess fell on top of Bellavarn. They crashed to the ground. Lecil's long black hair fell limply over them both.

Rolling over, he placed the princess on her back. Colorless skin. Unmoving.

As he rolled up one of her sleeves, he placed the bruises and faint scar in the back of his mind as he checked her wrist.

No pulse.

No breathing.

A fourth chime.

"Master, she is gone. We need to leave."

Kerv was uncharacteristically closed off. He appeared much less carefree and more like someone calculating escape routes.

"Not yet. There is still a chance. Guard the door."

"Bell, we need to leave. Now."

"No. I can still save her."

"Master-"

"Two minutes. Give me two minutes."

Bellavarn didn't have time to look at him; he was trying to remember training from back in high school. Kerv looked like he wanted to curse but obediently went over to the door. A fifth chime.

"Chest compressions. 15? Or was it 30? Screw it."

Forgetting the number, he simply started on her heart. Placing his hands together near her navel, his arms aligned straight with his shoulders, he pressed down.

Settling for 15 initial chest compressions, Bellavarn adjusted her head and pinched her nose to perform rescue breaths.

An echoing sixth chime.

"Bell. What are you doing?"

Bellavarn felt something wrong. Her chest wasn't rising with the breaths.

"Does she have a corset?"

Cursing old fashion, he called over Kerv.

"Cut her corset. Quickly! She can't breathe this way."

Kerv strode over and complied. With an accurate swipe, the center of her dress was cut and the corset fell apart with a sharp snap. A seventh chime followed.

A small clock on the dresser nearby played a happy tune while the rest of the palace's clocks continued singing.

Continuing chest compressions, he felt less resistance. Thirty chest compressions. Two rescue breaths. Chest compressions. Did the breaths even matter if her heart wasn't working!

The eighth chime.

A ninth.

Bellavarn continued, ignoring the laughing clocks. He wouldn't give up.

A raucous tenth chime.

It wasn't working. Was it too late? How long had she been hanging there?

Thoughts of police being called to answer a complaint. A rotting smell from an apartment next door. A note with only a few words. His body swaying from a piece of rope.

No. He wouldn't let it end here. Bellavarn had no one at that time. The princess...

Eleven.

Did she have anyone? Would she want to be saved? Would Bellavarn have wanted to be saved?

Yes!

Of course, he did. To be stopped at the last moment. To have someone care enough. To be noticed. To live. Give him nothing but a stick and he would go out into the cruel world and fight alone.

Chest compressions.

Bellavarn had to believe.

Rescue breath.

His life wasn't a tragedy.

He could save her.

Even if no one saved him.

Chest compressions.

"LIVE!"

...

Twelve

...

Chiming.

...

..

Dying sound.

...

..

.

Sweat falling onto cold skin.

...

..

.

Silence

.

.

.

..

..

...

A shuddering breath.

...life.

=

"Kerv, get rid of the rope."

Bellavarn picked up a breathing form. Pulse beating.

Kerv was stunned a moment before he complied, untying the torn rope from the bedpost and bundling up all the loose cloth.

Lecil was unconscious, and her dress was ruined. Still, she lived. That was what mattered.

"Is there any other evidence we were here? That this happened?"

Kerv shook his head but realized Bellavarn wasn't looking.

"No."

"Good. We need to leave."

Bellavarn gently placed Lecil on the bed and tucked her in. If she woke up, she could hide the damaged clothes herself. If she was being abused... it was unlikely others would care enough to ask. Or they would simply hit her again.

Kerv noted Bellavarn's indignant emotions but was presently concerned with the miracle he witnessed. Without magic, young master Bellavarn breathed life into something already dead. It was not something anyone should know.

I'll take it to the grave.

"It seems she's breathing. Will she be alright if we leave?"

Bellavarn was unaware of Kerv's determination and true concerns. He has answered perfunctorily.

"She has to be. We can't stay. A sore chest is unavoidable, and she will probably be confused, but she will live. If word spread that she tried to kill herself, or that we were in her personal chambers..."

Kerv didn't need it explained. He simply nodded.

"Make sure the coast is clear."

Bellavarn cast a last glance at the sleeping form of Lecil. She was breathing softly now. Her skin was pale even under all the makeup. Even so, the demure rising of her chest made him smile.

She was breathing. She was alive!

"Bell."

"Right. Lets go."

Bellavarn hurried out, closing the door behind him.

The silence deafening.

A shadow watched them retreat.

=

The next day was normal. Bellavarn and company left without so much as a goodbye.

An incident report was made about Duke Sallow getting trapped underneath a chandelier while a nearby fish tank spontaneously exploded. A sudden and bizarre lightning strike broke through the palace roof and struck the spreading liquid. Luckily the Duke was pulled to safety before being electrocuted. The small fire afterward was only an endnote.

No one stopped them or thought it was strange how mother seemingly fainted twice in quick succession. No one noticed Henry turning everyone in the opposite direction of the princess's quarters or Kerv's mysterious absence.

Bellavarn climbed into the carriage after his parents. The vehicle rolled away without any difficulty.

Bellavarn shivered.

A single maid watched from a palace window.