16.What is the matter?

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Gradually, a rush of memories flooded my thoughts, and I, Ukrine Texel, eventually reclaimed the memories that had been lost. I held a strong desire to reunite with my father, as I struggled to fathom how he had carried on in my absence.

It's possible that he had tirelessly scoured various places in search of me, experiencing a sense of letdown when his efforts proved fruitless. My heart ached for him, and I longed to feel his embrace.

Yet, a perplexing question lingered in my mind: How could he have been unable to locate me? I am not a helpless infant to be concealed, and he wields significant influence and wealth as a prominent figure in the region.

With his connections and resources, finding me should have been a straightforward task, but somehow, he met with defeat. A pang of sadness struck me when I contemplated the disappointment I felt in my father's inability. Memories of my childhood resurfaced, moments when I eagerly awaited his presence to tuck me in, only to have those instances be rare occurrences.

Subsequently, my thoughts turned to Linda, a nurturing figure in my life who held a maternal role, while Adam, a fatherly presence, might have found it challenging to console a weeping Linda.

Once Linda begins to cry, calming her down becomes an arduous task, prompting both Adam and me to prevent her from watching emotionally charged movies that could trigger her sensitivity for an entire week.

Linda, who cherished me as if I were her own, likely experienced distress upon hearing the news of my disappearance. Fortunately, Adam is there to provide her with care and support. Witnessing the deep affection that Adam harbored for Linda assured me that she would be alright.

Linda and Adam, I deeply yearn for your presence.

Tears welled up in my eyes, and as I opened them, I could hear the nurse urgently calling for the doctor. The doctor promptly entered the room and proceeded to conduct a thorough examination.

"What is your full name?" Doctor Linda inquired once her examination was complete.

"Ukrine Texel," I replied, gently wiping away the tears from my face.

"Very well. Why were you brought here?" The doctor posed a series of additional questions, each of which I answered in turn.

"Lun... Ukrine, you've now fully regained your memories. You're able to..." Doctor Linda's sentence trailed off, and she remained silent.

"Oh, of course. You mustn't attempt to move your legs. We've applied casts to them, so refrain from trying to stand. Additionally, avoid stress, and be careful not to reopen your head injury," she advised, jotting down notes on the paper handed to her by the nurse.

"Doctor," I called out as I spotted her handing the paper back to the nurse.

"Yes," she responded, signaling the nurse to exit the room.

"Could you please contact my dad? I... I'll write down his number. Please help m-" My voice quivered as tears streamed down my face, desperation evident in my tone.

"Ukrine. Alright. Just provide me the number."

I hastily recited the number ingrained in my memory since childhood, and she jotted it down on her hand.

"I don't have a mobile phone at the moment, bu-" I cut her off before she could finish her sentence, urging her to hurry.

A few minutes later, my saviors entered the room, concern etched on their faces. I offered my apologies for my behavior and expressed gratitude for their care.

The girls embraced me in tears, their hugs providing comfort. After a few moments, my gaze landed on my father, who appeared to be in a distressed state as he entered the room.

"Dad!" I croaked, my voice weak, and he enfolded my upper body in a warm embrace as he reached my bedside.

We remained like that for a while, and as I lifted my head, my eyes met his. My heart swelled with emotion, and tears streamed down my cheeks.

"Xeres," I called out the name I had heard in my dream.

He smiled tenderly, cradling my face with utmost gentleness, wiping away my tears. I then pulled him into a tight hug, his soothing words and comforting pats on my back offering solace.

Abruptly, a cracking sound rang out, drawing my attention to a large hole in the wall. Anord dashed out of the room, his expression furious, followed by others who were present.

I had forgotten about the other people in the room. My dad gripped my hand, diverting my focus, and settled into a chair beside my bed.

"Dad, didn't you miss me? Why didn't you come sooner? Where were you?" My emotions overtook me, and I couldn't hold back.

"My princess, I missed you immensely. We searched far and wide for you, waited for the kidnapper's call, but none came. No one had seen you that night, and we found no leads," Dad sighed, his hand gently patting the back of my head.

"Yeah. I should have informed someone or taken someone with me when I went into the forest," I confessed, a sense of guilt weighing on me.

"The forest?" Xeres interjected, his curiosity evident.

"Yes, the forest," I replied with a nod.

"Why were you there? What led you to go there? And why are you in this state? Have they harmed you?" Concern laced Dad's words, his expression worried.

"Something caught my attention, and I ventured in. I kept walking until I tripped and fell, hitting something. Darkness enveloped me, and I heard distant howling or something that..." I trailed off as Cres entered the room with my food.

"Cres, meet my dad and Xeres," I introduced, pointing toward them.

She greeted my dad politely but displayed an unreadable expression upon seeing Xeres.

Xeres too regarded her with a similar expression. My stomach rumbled, breaking the tension, and I begrudgingly began eating the unappetizing hospital food.

After taking some tablets, I drifted off to sleep.

Voices, including my father's and a female voice, reached my ears, and I slowly opened my eyes. The doctor seemed to be explaining something to my dad, who appeared preoccupied. After a few minutes, I couldn't bear it any longer.

"Dad! What's going on?"

"My princess, you're awake. How was your rest?"

"It was fine, dad. What are you two discussing?"

"Your father is considering transferring you to another hospital. However, given your condition, I've suggested waiting for a while," Doctor Linda interjected before my dad could respond.

"Alright, then I'll have to trouble you," I said, offering her a smile.

"No, my princess. I want you to receive the best treatment, and there are people anxiously awaiting your return," Dad said, dialing a number on his phone.

"Dad, I want to go as well, but I believe my condition might worsen," I gestured toward my injured leg.

Dad seemed inclined to object, but I left him with no choice, and he eventually relented. Xeres had already left a while ago, and Doctor Linda arranged for Tate to accompany my dad to their house for some rest. Cres volunteered to stay with me.

As midnight approached, the room emptied out, and I was preparing to sleep when I heard a crashing sound.

Who could have caused such a commotion at this hour?

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