When the Crown Falls

Chapter 13 - A Blade's Gentle Touch

EMI AINU

Time passed and the sun moved across the sky. The faint stirring from the bed caught the attendant's attention as a soft groan escaped my lips after several days of being silently bedridden.

I slowly opened my eyes only to be blinded by streaks of blurry lights. My head began to ring painfully as I shifted slightly in an attempt to sit up, only to wince from the soreness.
How long was I unconscious?

I looked around the room to try and make sense of my surrounding.
The faint smell of herbs lingered in the air and a chair laid on the side of the bed

The door creaked open and a worried doctor quickly made his way to the bedside. He murmured something but I could hardly make of it. He gently put his hand on my shoulder, seemingly trying to prevent me from moving too much.
"Your Majesty, please lie back. You are still quite weak and need rest." this time, his voice was clearer than before.

Just as the doctor examined my pulse, the door abruptly opened and came rushing in was Sujin. I stared at him and noticed his eyes widen, the frown he had before immediately softened and he pushed past the attendants and the doctor before tightly wrapping me into his arms.

"You're awake." he whispered.

I froze, but something about his tone made me feel a rush of comfort and security. For the first time in years, a heavy weight was lifted from my shoulders and I wanted nothing more but to sink into his embrace, even just for a second. I closed my eyes and relished the feeling like a hungry stray.

The doctor quietly ordered the attendant to fetch some water and later on stepped out of the room as well.

Sujin's grasp became more desperate as he buried his face against the crook of my neck. I could feel the warmth of his very breath and the beat of his anxious heart that slowly started to calm down.
He didn't speak and merely held me closer, as if he was trying to shield me from the rest of the world.

The attendant returned and as told, left the water on the bedside table without having to disturb the moment.

Sujin reached out and took the glass. He carefully held it up to my lips as I drank my fill. The cool liquid glided down my throat, quenching the burning thirst I felt when I woke up.

Sujin then pulled the glass away and gently set it back. He then returned his attention to me and gently brushed strands of hair that I never even noticed, away from my face. The gentle touch almost made me shiver.

I looked up at him, only to meet his eyes clouded with worry. I tried to speak but my voice was weak and raspy. "Sujin..." I managed to croak as I lifted a hand to touch his cheek.

He stiffened for a good second before softening back into my touch. He gently took my hand and held it even closer against his face as he murmured softly, "My lady..."

He closed his eyes and reveled before meeting my gaze once again. His eyes visibly held a mix of worry, relief, and something else... His red hued eyes seemed gloomy today, one that I would've gotten lost in if he hadn't spoken. "You had me worried sick..."

A pang of guilt hit me in the chest. "I'm sorry... I didn't mean to..."

He quickly shook his head and squeezed my hand. "No, do not apologize. It is not your fault." he said firmly, voice low and reassuring. "You just need to rest and get better."

I could only manage a tiny nod in response. I wanted to cry, but adding more pain to those eyes felt wrong in many ways.