“I know you’re awake in there, Cedric,” Lance called as he knocked.
I wasn’t sleeping, but I must have been in a daze; I hadn’t even noticed his approach. The guards opened the door to reveal Lance, with Yohan standing behind him. Both looked awfully pale, not that I was doing much better.
None of us had slept a wink after last night. How could we? We had watched alongside everyone else as Pride, the woman who was absolutely irreplaceable to me, abruptly fell unconscious.
“We checked in with the castle’s guards and knights, but they haven’t heard anything yet,” Lance said.
My heart throbbed painfully. She’s still not awake?
When I closed my eyes, the moment replayed in my mind with perfect clarity. With each repetition, my head ached and my throat tightened. I’d clawed at my neck in the middle of the night, unable to bear the pressure. Now, the scratches stung anew.
“I wish there was some way we could help…but there’s nothing we can do except pray for her recovery,” Lance said in an unusually gloomy voice. Yohan’s face darkened even more.
He was right; there was nothing we could do. I just wished I could have stayed with Pride overnight, but she was an unmarried princess. Not only that, but we were on the list of suspects. There was no chance of requesting a visit now. We had gotten permission to stay in the castle, having come from so far away, but we had yet to receive word of her waking.
Most of the other royal guests from distant countries had refused to leave as well. Everyone was waiting for Pride to open her eyes—that was just how much she meant to people. Everybody loved her, desired her, relied on her, treated her like a guidepost. Yet no one had any way of helping her. Not me, not Bro, and not Big Bro!
We had inquired with Prince Stale and learned even the savior who healed Lance couldn’t rescue her. Pride is the one who saved the three of us and our countries! But I’m still completely powerless.
When I looked at my brothers’ faces, I saw all the hallmarks of sleep deprivation. Yohan’s fingers shook as he squeezed the cross at his chest.
“We should be able to request a visit with Pride after a while,” I told them. “I’ll be the one to go. Are you two coming?”
“Of course.”
“We’ll join you.”
Their voices rang with determination, reflecting my own feelings.
Pride had used up all her strength screaming and thrashing, then went so still she looked to be dead. My heart stopped when I saw how pale her face was. A chill shot down my spine whenever I recalled it. Tiara had screamed Pride’s name over and over as tears streaked down her cheeks. I couldn’t get close to her. I just stood nearby and called Pride’s name, like everyone else.
Prince Leon had shoved his way through the crowd to reach us. Panic replaced his usual cool composure. His already pale skin was almost blue as his teeth chattered and his eyes went wide. When I looked out at the crowd, I found the guests all trying to get a peek at Pride.
Is Pride really not awake yet? Tiara adores her sister, so how is she feeling right now? Is her heart broken?! What about Prince Stale, Captain Arthur, Captain Callum, Captain Alan, Vice Captain Eric, or Prime Minister Gilbert?!
I struggled to breathe when I thought of all the people suffering right now. Pride had spent that one night with me long ago, when I could do nothing but wail over Lance’s misfortune. How could I be so helpless, unable to do anything for all the people she loved so much?!
Without thinking, I slammed my fist on the table with all my strength. Lance said something, but it wasn’t enough to make me unclench my fist. I needed to know if Pride was okay. I needed to see Tiara.
I want to help her, to help the people she cares about like she did for me! But…I can’t!
At that moment, someone knocked on the door behind Yohan.