Love, Thrones, and Past Intrigue: A Fantasy Adventure

Chapter 87 - Echoes of Revolution

Serena entered Augustus's room with a sense of trepidation. The sight that greeted her was heart-wrenching: Augustus lay sprawled on his bed, his face flushed a deep crimson, his body convulsing lightly with fever. His usually serene expression was marred by pain, and his breath came in shallow, ragged gasps, echoing softly against the silent walls.

"What happened to him?" she asked, turning to his mother, her voice quivering with concern.

Evelyn, her eyes heavy with worry, responded in a hushed tone, "He has a high fever. He's been unconscious for hours now."

A wave of guilt washed over Serena. This was all because of the punishment he received for hurting her. Augustus had been subjected to a harsh ordeal for his actions, and now he lay suffering. Her emotions were a tangled mess of sorrow and responsibility, each moment etching deeper lines of concern on her face.

Evelyn, noticing Serena's distress, placed a comforting hand on her shoulder. "Don't worry, dear. He will recover. It will just take some time," she assured, though her own voice betrayed a hint of sadness. Her touch was warm against Serena's tense muscles, a silent reassurance amidst the heaviness that hung in the room.

Serena moved closer to Augustus, sitting gently beside him on the bed. Evelyn remained a quiet presence behind her, a pillar of strength and concern. Serena reached out and touched Augustus's forehead; it was burning hot, the fever raging within him like a relentless inferno.

"How long has he been like this?" she asked softly, her fingers lingering on his heated skin.

"Since this morning," Evelyn replied, her voice tinged with fatigue. "He collapsed while trying to get a glass of water."

As they spoke, Augustus's lips began to move, barely audible. "Serena... Serena," he murmured, his voice weak and distant.

Both Serena and Evelyn leaned in closer, their eyes fixed on him. Evelyn's face brightened slightly. "Yes, Augustus, see? Serena's here to see you. Open your eyes, look at her."

Slowly, as if fighting against a great weight, Augustus's eyelids fluttered open. His gaze, though glazed with fever, found Serena's. It was a gaze filled with gratitude and a trace of apology, as if he could sense her anguish and wanted to alleviate it.

"Serena, why are you here?" he whispered, his voice frail and strained.

"Your pet Starlight brought me," Serena replied softly, trying to mask the worry etched across her face. The margay had somehow sensed the urgency and found her.

A faint smile crept onto Augustus's lips. "Starlight," he murmured, gratitude flickering in his feverish eyes. In his mind, he silently thanked his loyal margay. I'll treat you well once I recover, he promised.

Serena glanced at Evelyn. "I should go now. Augustus needs to rest," she said, her voice gentle but firm.

Augustus's feverish hand weakly grasped hers as she made to stand. 'Please, don't go,' he pleaded, his voice deep yet fragile.

Evelyn, sensing her son's desire for Serena's presence, spoke gently. "I'll bring something to eat. Augustus hasn't eaten for hours." She gave Serena a reassuring nod before quietly exiting the room.

Feeling a mix of awkwardness and concern, Serena asked, "How are you feeling?"

Augustus gazed at her through his fevered haze. "Now that you're here, I feel better. Seeing you, knowing you care... it lifts a weight from my heart," he said slowly, each word a struggle. His voice, though weakened by illness, carried a sincerity that tugged at Serena's conflicted emotions.

Serena gently freed her hand from his weak grip, her mind a tempest of questions and emotions. For more than a day, she had wrestled with her thoughts, seeking answers to the turmoil in her heart. "I need to know why you did it. Why?" she implored, her voice a fragile mix of confusion and hurt.