The Inured Villainess

Chapter 44

I am now seated inside one of the tents at the campsites.

Zandrina's unconscious body is laid before me.

My thigh is bandaged up, the rest of my scratches covered in ointment.

We had returned to the camp only to be met with confusion and chaos. No one was ready for the monsters to be humans.

My heart aches for those that lost their lives because we didn't know.

Kyrell is getting no rest since he has to deal with it all. I had gone with him.

I saw the ones that were weeping and the others that were angry.

This region has no king now. It's deserted and its people have no where to go.

I had spoken to Kyrell and suggested that we could support them. After everything that we've done it's the best we can do.

"Estella." Dilana's voice breaks me out of my daze.

She pushes the curtain aside and enters, sitting on a chair next to me.

"Dilana, how are you?" I ask softly.

"I'm alright. What of you?"

"The same." I shrug. "I have plenty of work to handle once we return so I need to be good now."

"You're already thinking of work. Leave that for them, you need rest." She passes me a look of worry.

"Not when we have all these people that need homes." I lift the papers that were seated in my lap. While I was watching over Zandrina, I thought it would help if I look into places where we can take all these people.

"Kyrell may be taking the brunt of it by facing the people but I must do my part as Queen and help these people as well." I don't want to be a useless queen.

Dilana takes the papers from my hand. "Save this for later. You're injured and need rest. At least let me heal it for you."

I sigh. "Very well."

She puts the papers aside and brings her hands to my thigh. Warmth fills it as it starts to heal.

"That's amazing," I mutter amused. "Your gift that is."

"Thank you." She smiles, pulling away. "I've gotten better at using it."

"Did Caelus help you?" I ask a bit too bluntly.

Dilana freezes. I could tell there was something going on between the two.

A frown forms on her face. "That king only showed me what I had. He didn't teach me anything other than he is a hound."

"What?" I let out a chuckle. "Did Caelus do something to upset you?"

"Upset me?" Rage flashes onto her face. "He did more than that. He kissed me!"

I can't hide my baffled expression.

"Can you believe that? To kiss an unmarried woman like me. A hound, a hound that's what he is." She rages on.

"What happened for him to kiss you?" I try to recover from my shock.

"Well, after he asked me to stay in Osertia. He said he wanted to see more of my gift. And then during one of the practices, he forces himself onto me. It's unbelievable. Just after, his curse is lifted."

I guess kisses are the only way to lift curses. What an amusing coincidence, it's almost as if we are in a fantasy world.

"Did you like it?" I muse, seeking her reaction.

"What?" Her face falls. "You can't be serious, Estella. Of course I didn't like it."

She denies it but her face told a different story.

"Perhaps you two should discuss it some more." I can't help my grin. "Maybe you'll enjoy it more."

"Don't do this to me. He's your cousin, that's it."

"Mmmh." I hum in an unbelieving tone as I look back at Zandrina, surprised she hasn't awaken from Diilana's repeated outbursts.

*****

Zandrina wakes up an hour later.

"Here's some water." I pass her a canteen of water.

She mutters her thanks and gulps down the water.

"How are you feeling?"

"Like I was never burned." She answers, surveying her spotless arms.

"We have good healers."

"What happened?" She raises her head.

"It's over. The sorcerer king is gone... so is Father. The war is over."

Zandrina doesn't speak immediately. "And what about me? What will happen to me?"

"Whatever you want to happen," I reply. "You know what I want from you. It's up to you whether you want that too."

"And if I don't want it?"

"I'll leave you alone. I give what you want, whether that be a secluded home away from me or any luxury you could wish for." I suck in a breath. "No bad blood between us. If we part ways, we do it right."

The sound of the tent opening causes me to turn.

Kylo stands at the entrance, staring between the two of us.

"That goes for you as well." I add, knowing that he heard.

"I'm going with you, Estella. I promised you that much." Kylo assures as he sits down next to me. "What you do, Zandrina, it's up to you."

Zandrina doesn't answer, her hands fidgeting in her lap.

"I know I've done wrong. It's odd that you would ever accept me after everything. However," she lifts her eyes to us, "I'm the eldest. I don't want to be weak by leaving."

"None of us think like that," I quip.

"I know, but it feels like that." She takes in a breath. "Let's start anew. As a family."

We were now orphans. We are our own family.

I smile. "That's all I hoped for."