I wake up sweating. My dark safe haven throwing me back into dreaded reality. Everything is still spinning and I feel horribly weak. It takes me a minute to figure out where I am. I'm back in my room staring at the ceiling covered in my floral bedsheets. I try sit up but a voice tells me to lay back down. A female voice. I hear a few voices but only recognize one of them.

Mrs Janes soft voice speaks comforting words to me before my vision goes dark once again.

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*Kings POV*

I read through a petition from a city called Maris, living close to the borders of Lyria. They are making demands for more knights to shield them during the times of war. My eyes wonder away from the paper and around my office. It's on the east side of the castle and far away from my bedroom. Far away from her.

I stroke my hands through my hair. She's ill. Not only is she physically weak but dragging her to her mental limit probably only made it worse. Being the daughter of a noble, she probably never saw death or gore. It's something I've had to grow up with and showing her was partly to show her what I think of her and her people but also to show her I'm doing my best to treat her respectfully. In my own way. It's as good as it's possible for me.

Father what should I do? I'm really trying, I really am. But I cannot simply forget that it was them who killed you. It was them who started this war.

I lean on my table and get up. I walk towards the big window, looking over a part of the surrounding city.

A few days pass and Dr. Daniel and his nurses have been at her side the entire time along with Mrs Jane from time to time. She's getting better but her fever is extremely high, which is what has them worried. She keeps falling in and out of conciseness, at least that's what I'm told.

I haven't been sleeping in the Kings chambers. After carrying her out of the dungeons and calling for help I've left he in the hands of the medics.

Every time I want to make my way to my chambers something stops me. After three days, no appetite, and very little sleep I've had enough. Guilt was eating me alive.

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*Alices POV*

I don't know how long I've been lying in this bed. It could have been hours or months I couldn't tell. I don't even know what happened. I recall the King being in my chambers shortly and apologizing. Probably to the doctor for troubling him with me.

I open my eyes for what feels like the billionth time and take all my strength to sit up. Someone is sitting next to my bed. It takes a second for me to recognize her.

"Do you need help, dear?" Mrs Jane smiles a weak smile.

She's not the person I should trust anymore but I'd rather have her here than that monster of a King.

"No thank you it's alright. How long have I been here?" I try my best to smile while my voice comes out hoarsely.

"About 5 days. You've caught some sort of illness and have had a burning fever until yesterday."

I try to recall these last few days with no avail other than snippets of conciseness.

"You must be starved! I'll have you something made immediately, just you wait." Mrs Jane gets up and heads towards the door.

"Actually Mrs Jane, could that wait? I don't know if I'm going to be able to eat right now." I feel nauseous and eating anything now would probably cause me to vomit.

She stops in her tracks and turns back to me. "Oh, ok honey." I see a hint of guilt in her eyes. Maybe she knows about my breakdown I had because I trusted her. She hesitates but then asks if there's anything else's she could do for me.

"Actually, there is. I could really use a bath." I smile at her.

Her cheeks swell up into a smile while she agrees. After drinking a few glasses of water I lean on the tiny old lady while she helps me out of bed and across the room. I feel so weak. Even though Mrs. Jane is trying her best to keep me steady I continually need to rest against a wall.

I contemplate if this is a good idea when the door swings open. And King Theodore looks around the corner. Oh lord.

"What's going on?" He straightens himself.

I don't look him in the eyes, still trying to steady myself.

Mrs Jane bows her head and says, "Nothing, your highness. Lady Alice wishes to take a bath, but it proves harder than we thought to even get her to the bathing room."

"For Christ's sake. You've been out for days and you're already planing on wondering about again?" The King sounds annoyed.

I don't have the strength for this right now. I don't want to see him.

Before I can finish that thought I'm liftet into the air like Parcival lifted his newly found wife at their wedding. The thought makes me blush but then I remember I'm in the arms of a monster.

I hit my fist against his chest with all my might, but being in a very weak state it did absolutely nothing for me. He shots me an annoyed look and told me to stop.

To my surprise I wasn't being lifted back into bed, I was brought to the bathing chambers and carefully placed on a chair.

Mrs Jane has wandered behind us with a smile on her face. The King instructs Mrs Jane to call him once I'm done with bathing and left. Thank god.

I hated it. I hated being so close to him. I hate him.

Never the less it took a while to get undressed and into the bath, but it was worth it. My limbs felt so light and weightless as Mrs Jane helped me bathe. I don't actually know if it's unusual to have someone help you bath in this country, but I was enjoying this.

And this time I really did need help.

After 20 minutes Mrs Jane helped me out of the bath and had sat me down on a chair while she got me something to wear.

She came back with a white floral night gown. I hadn't paid attention to the time of day but I'm assuming it's getting dark.

After getting dressed Mrs Jane went to go get the evil King. I used this chance, hoping he was busy. Steadied by the wall I slowly make my way back to the Kings chambers without anyone's help. I had only just made it past the entrance door of the bathing chamber when the Crimson King and Mrs Jane came sprinting towards me.

"Stop, let me help you," the King says reaching to my back.

"Don't touch me!" I yell between pants.

Taken aback he pulls back his hand. "You're too weak to walk on your own, stop being so difficult."

"I can do this. Don't touch me. I don't need your help."

"This is ridiculous, I'm only going to carry you to your room. I'll leave right after." His eyebrows narrow.

Taking small steps I'm still trying to get back to the room on my own.

"Honey, let him help you." Mrs Jane tries to convince me.

Just then my legs give out and I'm about to fall face first to the ground when a pair of strong hands catch me first.

I try to push him away while, a bead sweat running down my face.

"That's enough." The King yells seemingly disgruntled.

"No! Let me go. If you want to help someone then go help those poor people down in the dungeons!"

His eyes widen. "What?" I've never seen him so shocked.

"They don't deserve this! No one does!"

I continue to yell at him while he picks me up forcefully and carries me towards "our" chambers.

"How can you be so cruel?" I no longer have the strength to physically fight him but that doesn't stop me from running my mouth.

He clenches his jaw but continues walking after nodding Mrs Jane to leave us alone.

"Those are fathers and mothers and daughters and uncles! How can you just let them rot down there?" I realize I'm crying. I don't want to be in the presence of this monster, and I don't want him touching me.

My cries turn into sobs and hiccups as we enter my room. He places me on the bed gently, and lays a blanket over me while my crying seemingly can't stop. I feel so helpless. I wish I could run down there and give them all a bath and a warm meal, but I can't.

The King looks down at me briefly says nothing and leaves.