Between our hands

Chapter 91 : The Heart's Embrace

Maëlle sat up abruptly, her body tense, nerves on edge. A slight movement outside made her startle, but when she recognized the familiar voices of the guards, she let out a breath she hadn’t even realized she was holding. In a soft yet firm voice, she called for them to enter. The door creaked open slowly, revealing her family, their faces etched with worry.

Samuel, her grandfather, entered first. His red, teary eyes betrayed the anxiety that had consumed him since the attack. He no longer appeared as the solid and stoic king, but as a man broken by fear. In just a few strides, he reached Maëlle, enveloping her in a nearly desperate embrace. She could feel his heart pounding through his clothes, and the tears he tried to hold back fell onto her hair.

"I thought I lost you," he murmured, his voice strangled, the words trembling. "I thought it was the end..."

Deeply moved by her grandfather's distress, Maëlle nestled closer to him. She had rarely seen him so vulnerable. Samuel was usually the embodiment of calm and self-control, a king who never let his emotions show. But at that moment, he was simply a grandfather terrified of losing his granddaughter.

"It's okay, Grandpa," she whispered, burying her face into his shoulder. "I'm fine... Samy did everything to protect me."

Her voice still carried a tremor of fear, even though she tried to sound reassuring. Slowly, he loosened his hold, releasing Maëlle with a gentleness he hadn’t had when he first embraced her. His eyes then turned toward the bed, where Samy lay. His face, usually full of life and mischief, looked strangely still, almost fragile beneath the bandages and IV lines.

Samuel moved toward Samy, his steps slower, weighted by emotion. He placed a trembling hand on Samy’s arm, hesitating for a moment before leaning in to embrace him. The hug, though sincere, nearly woke Samy, who let out a weak groan, especially when Samuel brushed against the wound on his shoulder.

"Thank you, my boy... Thank you for everything you did," Samuel murmured, his voice thick with gratitude and guilt.

Samy, still asleep and under the influence of medication, grimaced slightly, causing Samuel to pull back, embarrassed.

"I'm sorry, I'm so sorry," he immediately apologized, standing upright, awkwardly. "I wasn’t thinking... thank you, my boy."

Maëlle watched the scene, her eyes stinging with unshed tears. This simple moment embodied the weight of recent events. The king, usually so preoccupied and formal, was clumsily apologizing to the one who had saved his granddaughter. The man, more than the monarch, was revealed in every gesture.

Straightening up, Samuel resumed a more solemn posture, though the tenderness in his gaze for Maëlle did not fade. "I’ve made arrangements. You both will be protected by two new personal guards. They’re waiting outside. I never want to experience such fear again."

Maëlle nodded, grateful for the precaution, though the reality of the threat still felt too raw. Samuel placed a comforting hand on her cheek, his touch as light as a whisper of wind.

"My dear," he murmured gently, "you are strong. We are all here for you."

Soon after, the room gradually began to fill with other family members, each carrying the weight of worry but trying to hide it. Victoria, her grandmother, approached with a soft, comforting smile, despite the shadow of concern in her eyes. She hugged Maëlle, her fingers gently running through her hair, as if to erase the fear that had marked the day.

"My dear... it will be okay," she whispered with the quiet assurance that only grandmothers have. "Your love is strong, be strong for him, stay by his side, let him feel your presence."