Veridia

Chapter 26

Aethiria, two hours ago

When Aleksander woke up, it was like he had come from a fever dream and reality hadn't wanted to ruin the moment. The soft midmorning sunlight, slightly ajar window with hints of a winter breeze blowing, and the silence was something out of a story. His room had never been this quiet. Rather, his mind had never been this quiet. It was strange how he'd never felt this at peace, like he could stay suspended in the moment without caring what happened next.

His chest and torso ached like all of hell's fires combined, but other than that, Aleksander felt alright.

Around five minutes ago, a pageboy had walked in, presumably to check in on him. As soon as he saw Aleksander sitting up in the bed, his mouth fell open and he promptly sprinted out of the room. From then on, everything in the entire palace had been up his face.

A dozen healers rushed in an out of his chambers, checking his temperature, regulating his blood flow, rebandaging the wound, making him down at least half a dozen assorted medicines. To his utmost embarrassment, Aleksander had been dressed in nothing but his undergarments. Although the healers didn't really seem to care, it was rather embarrassing for a dozen people to see him shirtless and trouser-less.

Then, without a break, Andrei strolled into the room and gave him a rundown of the whole ordeal. Terramore was in an absolute wreck. Half their men were gone, their king was dead, and since Romanov did not had an heir, the throne was up for grabs. Even with King Volkov trying to settle everything down, Aleksander doubted the rebuilding of Terramore would be easy.

When Aleksander asked Andrei about Geneva, he only looked down at his hands before continuing on like Aleksander had never spoken. That was very concerning, but Aleksander didn't dare push the subject.

What if she's hurt, what if she's dead, what if...

Aleksander silenced the voice in his head before he could have a panic attack.

In the meantime, Kirigan was Regent of Aethiria. Aleksander wasn't even fit to stand, but that didn't help the sharp pang of... jealousy?

Aleksander had never entertained the thought of being a king. He would always be a prince, a bastard at that. Someday, when King Volkov died, he would be crowned Duke and shipped to a faraway province to live out the rest of his days.

But now, Aleksander wondered.

Do I want the crown?

"You and I both know that Kirigan is not fit to be a ruler. You are the rightful heir, and you will be the heir to nothing if you're dead."

Geneva believed in him. She trusted him to run a kingdom and protect its people. That alone filled Aleksander with hope.

Being king would mean so many things. He would have to learn international affairs, diplomacy, war tactics, managing the different duchies. Much more than what he knew now.

And there was Kirigan. No matter how runty he was, he was the firstborn. Aleksander couldn't bypass that, even if he tried.

Sighing, he leaned back against the pillows. 

I'll think about it some other time.

Just as he was about to doze off, a loud thump was heard as the door to his rooms slammed open and shut, and somebody flung themselves into his arms.

"Aleksander! Oh my goodness, are you alright?" Katerina nestled into him, sobbing profusely. Her elbow jammed painfully into his chest.

"I'm fine. Would you mind, erm, easing up a little?" Aleksander nodded at the bandage wrapped his torso.