Hyejin fluttered her eyes open, taking a good look at her surroundings before releasing a relief sigh.

"I have returned back." Hyejin muttered to herself.

She lifted her hand up to her hair, bringing it closer to her sight. Crimson red hair. Hyejin smiled to herself. She has returned back as Elenor.

Hyejin- Elenor then heard a loud crash which instantly took her attention. She turned to the right where the door to her room was. Denice stood there in shock with tears welling up in her eyes.

Elenor couldn't help but smile lightly at her as she hasn't seen anyone from the Marquess' household for many months.

"Hello-"

"MISS IS FINALLY AWAKE!!!" Denice yelled as she ran out of the room, alerting everyone.

Next thing Elenor knew, she was surrounded by her family and even the workers.

"My baby! You're finally awake!" her mother cried out, hugging her tightly.

"You have been in a coma for almost two years." Richard said, his face distorted as he continued crying.

"We were so scared you will never wake up.." her father said, trying his best to hold back his tears but it didn't work as it rolled down his cheeks without warning.

Elenor blinked rapidly, taking in what Richard had said. "...Almost two years?"

'It didn't feel like it..'

"Then how old am I now?" she questioned.

"You're eighteen now. It's autumn." her mother answered her question.

"Go and get more rest, we'll be here. Someone call the doctor to check on her health now that she's finally awake!" her father said, tucking her back into bed.

Elenor wanted to tell them she wasn't tired but it didn't take her long to fall back to sleep once the doctor was done doing a checkup on her.

When she opened her eyes again, the sun was setting and beside her was a sitting figure, holding her hand tightly. Her vision wasn't completely with her so she rubbed her eyes before blinking.

"Alec?" she softly called out which made the figure's dazed eyes to focus and stare at her. She could see that his face had matured more over the time she was gone.

"..Hye...jin..?" Alec croaked out.

He looked tired, physically and mentally. As if he had been alive only for the sole purpose of being alive. Elenor gently smiled at him before squeezing his hand as tight as she could.

"I'm back."

Alec immediately engulfed her into a hug, his body trembling. His right hand stroking her hair and his left wrapped around her waist. He buried his face into her shoulders, breathing in her scent.

"I missed you..so much..." he choked out.

Elenor's eyes drooped down, wrapping her arms around his body. "..I missed you too." she responded back.

She could hear soft cries coming from him but she remained quiet, allowing him to cry his out heart, nobody except her to know.

"Don't do that ever again." Alec said, deadpanned once he calmed down.

Elenor winked at him as she said, "Ehe."

He glared at her, bringing his hand up to her cheek, pinching it tightly, "What do you mean ehe? I'm serious here."

Elenor whined in pain before nodding, "Yes I understand. I won't do it again..."

"Good." Alec sighed with relief before caressing her cheek.

She leaned into his warm touch. "What did you do when I was gone?"

Alec couldn't help but smile as he gazed at her warmly, "I waited for you. As well as some leftover things that needed to be done."

Elenor hummed in response before looking at him dead in the eye, "I'm almost two years late but how's your injuries?"

Alec chuckled, openly expressing his emotions in front of her. He leaned in, their nose touching against one another.

"Want to see?" he asked, his hot breath blowing against her face.

"Yes." she said with a serious tone.

Alec stared at her before sighing. He pulled away, removing his coat, letting it rest on the bed before he began to unbutton his shirt.

It took five seconds for Elenor to realise what he was doing. She squeezed her eyes shut before burying her face into the blanket.

She could hear him fumbling with his shirt but stopped, "Why are you looking away? Didn't you ask to see."

"Y-yeah but uhhh..." Elenor could feel her face heating up.

"I already took my shirt off."

"I-I can't."

"Too shy?"

Elenor could feel the smugness in his tone. Not wanting to give in, she lifted her face up and opened her eyes.

Her eyes fell on his body. It had large, deep scars around his chest and lower abdomen. Her face grew dark as she clumsily brought her fingers to the scars, lightly dragging her fingers across them.

"I'm sorry this happened to you." Elenor asked, somberly.

"It doesn't matter. As long as you don't leave me, these scars don't matter." he muttered, taking her fingers up to his lips, pressing soft chaste kisses on each finger.

"Cheesy." she commented but she didn't hide the smile on her face.

Elenor wanted to touch the scars more but Alec quickly buttoned back his shirt up and put on his coat back.

"Anymore and I won't be able to hold myself back." he said, sucking in his breath.

Elenor laughed finding his reactions amusing. Alec looked out at the window before checking his pocket watch. He had a sour look on his face before standing up.

"Where are you going?" she asked, watching him get up from the chair.

"I have to go now."

"Oh...you're still busy?"

Alec nodded, "I'm afraid so but I'll try my best to get everything done. I don't want you to leave me again." the last was mumbled so softly, Elenor wasn't able to catch it.

She hummed, nodding her head. "Take care, Alec."

Alec adjusted his coat before looking back at her. The bed dipped slightly as he pressed his hand against the bed, leaning in, kissing her lips ever so softly.

It was sweet and simple yet it still gave her butterflies in her stomach. He pulled away and the same smile Elenor had seen in her dreams, bloomed on his face.

"I love you, Hyejin."

Elenor pushed back the fit of giggles and smiled, "I love you too, Alec."

After that, for the next months or so, everyone in the Marquess household took care of her thoroughly. Nobody left their eyes off of Elenor as she recovered slowly.

When the news of her waking up was heard, many people sent her gifts wishing her a speedy recovery and even congratulating her on waking up.

Lloyd, Rosina and Isabella often visited her as she took lessons on getting used to her limbs once more. After being in a coma for so long, she couldn't use her legs or hands so she had to recuperate.

When they first visited her, the three burst into tears, wailing continuously as they told her how scared they were when they thought she would never wake up. They stuck to her like glue every time they visited, never letting her off from their sight. Though it was extreme, she was grateful to have them by her side.

As for what happened after she fell unconscious. Lloyd told her everything. They successfully captured Hera and removed her status to a commoner. They locked her up in prison, never being able to see daylight ever again.

She was tortured the same way she had did to her victims, leaving her barely alive. Every time she was close to the brink of death, they would make sure she wouldn't die.

Lloyd explained to her that Hera was supposed to be sentenced to death but they thought it was a lenient punishment after everything she had done.

"Allowing her to die without her attoning for everything she has done is too little. So we compromised with his majesty, Hera will be alive however she will be rotting in the prison cell, barely alive. This way even if she wanted to end her life, she can't,"

"I also heard that she has gone crazy, screaming every day to release her and that she was still the princess."

Elenor silently praised herself to have never been on bad terms with Lloyd and other royals.

The people that Hera had in her place were found and released even having a compensation fee for what she has done to them.

All in all, everything ended on a good note. Ray was able to return back to his family but decided to become a servant in training at the Marquess' household.

Judas sent her tons of letters together with gifts and when he heard about the news of her waking up, he immediately left Vaidia to Elaelind.

He visited her everyday during his stay at Elaelind but had to return back to Vaidia as he still had things he needed to do.

"I'll send you letters often." Elenor said before Judas left.

"Lady Elenor."

"Yes Prince Judas?"

He opened his mouth, wanting to say something but stopped himself and instead shook his head.

"Could we drop the formalities with one another?" he asked, sincerely.

Elenor thought about it before nodding, "It would be an honour, Judas."

A warm smile bloomed on his face as he nodded. It felt like it had a hint of sadness but she couldn't put a finger on what.

"Alright, I'll reply to every letter you sent but don't push yourself too hard. Take care and let's meet again some time, Elenor." Judas bowed and left.

After that, Elenor continued to spend her time indoors. Once she could finally walk and use her limbs like the way she could previously, she began taking her usual strolls around the garden.

At first she would have three guards with her wherever she went or her brother would stick close to her but slowly it decreased to only one guard after Elenor begged her family to let her only have one guard with her.

Her life returned back to normal except for one thing. She hasn't seen Alec once after she woke up.

No matter how much she asked, they would simply shake their heads. Even her own family. She knew they knew where he was yet they could only stay silent or just shoot her a smile.

Her brother, Richard, who would do anything for her also didn't tell her! When she asked her friends they averted their eyes and made excuses before running off.

"Just tell me where he is! Lloyd!" she glared at him who nervously laughed it off before checking his watch.

"Oh look! I have a meeting, gotta go!! See you later Elenor~!" Lloyd waved goodbye, running out of the estate.

Elenor gritted her teeth, secretly creating a plan in her head. "I'll skin you alive next time you dumb prince!!" she yelled out, frustrated.

"Alec where are you?" she muttered to herself, sighing in defeat.

"No let's not give up here. I'll just sneak out and find him! I'm sure he's somewhere close." Elenor huffed, nodded to herself.

---

one last chapter to go!! i might need to adjust or tweak a few things on this chapter,, next week monday is the finale ('°̥̥̥̥̥̥̥̥ω°̥̥̥̥̥̥̥̥｀)