The Fine Print✔️

Chapter 18

I wake up and find myself alone in the room. My head hurts; my body feels like it is trying to move after ages of disuse. I pull myself out of bed and am surprised to find that I was still in my adventure costume.

I try to recall the events of the night before and draw a blank. The last thing I remember is entering the carriage and looking for anything suspicious.

What happened after that? 

Did I manage to find something useful? 

I try to concentrate, but it only serves to magnify the pain in my head. 

 I see the mask on the tiny table by the bed, and panic grips me.

Had Zhan seen it? 

In all likelihood, he had. After all, it looked like I had been careless and left it lying around.

I hear the door creak, and a moment later, Weredra walks inside. Alone.

Where is Zhan?

"How are you feeling?" Weredra asks, sitting by my side and handing me a piece of bread.

"Like I downed a jar of alcohol. Where is Zhan?"

"He left." Comes the short response, and my heart plummets, "What!?"

"He left for work. He told Lung Chi that you were sick and won't be able to work today." She elaborates and purses her lips, "Do you remember what you did last night?" She asks, her brows crease.

I shake my head, "I can't. I have been trying for the last few minutes, but I can't recall what happened after I entered the carriage."

Weredra sighs, "I wish I were stronger." She takes my hand in hers and adds, "Last night, I somehow managed to lead you back here. Do you remember eating the sweet?" She enquires; I nod, "Yes, but I can't remember anything after that. Why?"

"It was a magically altered aphrodisiac." She states calmly, pulling out the square white sweet I had found in the carriage. She turns between her fingers, "It seems like it also causes some kind of amnesia. You couldn't remember me at all last night."

"What happened last night?" I enquire, a tight knot forming in my chest, "Did I hurt you?"

Weredra remains silent and shakes her head. It's a first. During the time I had known her, she had never been so quiet. She always had something to say. Always.

I am about to push her for answers when her head snaps up, and she runs to the door and bolts it shut. "Change. Now!" She orders. A few seconds later, there is a knock on the door, "YiJun, are you up yet?" I hear Bai Luo call from the other side, "I brought you something to eat." He adds.

'Hurry!' Weredra mouths and gets rid of the cloak, boots, sword, and my mask.

"Give me a minute. My body feels sore." I reply, putting on my mask and fixing my nightclothes.

As I open the door, Weredra, instead of disappearing, hides under the bed. 

 Bai Luo smiles and limps inside. He sets the bowl filled with porridge on the stool, "Master is very kind. He cares about you a great deal."

"Why are you limping?" I ask, pointing at his gait, and he shakes his head, "Master was a little rough last night." Then catching my eyes, he adds in a voice dripping with scorn, "Your curse is a blessing in disguise."

 With that, he leaves.

"Lung Chi is indeed cruel. Bai Luo looks like such a nice young man, why would he hit him like that?"