When Beauty Destroys The BL World

Chapter 106~Broken~

The faint scent of herbs and old wood lingered in the air.

Irene's eyes fluttered open to an unfamiliar ceiling - white drapes hanging low above her, a window letting in slivers of pale morning light. Her breath came slow and shallow. For a long moment, she didn't move.

When she finally pushed herself up, pain stung her arms. Her gaze dropped - both her hands and forearms were wrapped in neat white bandages. She traced them quietly with her fingers, expression blank.

Silence pressed against her ears. She sat motionless on the bed, her posture frail but still composed, her eyes lifeless as glass.

The door suddenly opened.

"Irene-!" Lucas's voice trembled as he rushed in. His eyes widened in disbelief, then softened with immense relief. "You're awake..."

He strode to her side, kneeling beside the bed. His hand hovered above her shoulder, afraid to startle her. "Thank the gods. I thought..." He couldn't finish the sentence.

But no matter what he said, Irene didn't turn her head. She didn't even blink at him. Her face was empty, her lips parted slightly as if she had forgotten how to breathe properly.

Lucas's heart pounded painfully in his chest. "Irene? Can you hear me?" he asked softly.

Nothing.

He swallowed hard, forcing himself to stand. "I'll call the physician."

Turning toward the door, he instructed someone outside, "Look after her."

Moments later, a familiar voice broke the silence.

"My lady..."

Libby stepped into the room. The moment her eyes landed on Irene sitting weakly on the bed, tears welled instantly. "My lady!" she gasped, running forward. "You're awake! Thank heavens, you're awake-"

She fell to her knees, wrapping her arms tightly around Irene's fragile frame. Her sobs were raw, filled with guilt and relief. "I-I thought I'd lost you forever! I can't forgive myself if anything had happened to you..."

But Irene didn't return the hug. She sat stiff and unmoving, her arms limp at her sides.

Libby slowly pulled back, wiping her eyes. The sight before her made her blood run cold - Irene's pale, haggard face, the lifelessness in her eyes, the way she stared through her like a shadow of who she once was.

"...My lady?" Libby whispered. "It's me, Libby. Can you hear me?"

Still nothing.

Trembling, Libby forced herself to smile and gently guided her back onto the bed. "You don't have to worry anymore. I'll take care of you, I promise. No one will hurt you again."

Her words met silence.

Libby pressed her lips together, tears threatening to fall again. She couldn't cry - not in front of her lady.

When Lucas returned with the royal physician, his face was grim. The elderly man approached with a younger female assistant. He carefully examined Irene - checking her pulse, her pupils, the faint wounds on her skin.

"She's fine physically," he said. "Her body has healed well. But..." He paused, choosing his words carefully. "It seems the trauma she endured has scarred her mind deeply. She's detached-from everyone and everything. She can't seem to recognize reality as before."

Libby pressed a hand to her lips, tears falling silently. Lucas's jaw tightened as he tried to contain the ache in his chest.

Even the physician's assistant looked stricken.