May Every Wound Be Fatal - Chapter 22.1
Elizer removed every sharp and pointed object from the bedchamber. Lyman, who had been standing guard in front of the door, now protected Reyna from inside the room.
The problem was feeding Reyna. Rather than outright refusing food, she seemed unable to help it and vomited everything she ate.
Around that time, Elizer began spending long hours in the bedchamber even during the day.
Watching Reyna suffer as she threw up whatever she consumed, he eventually failed to hide his growing anxiety and restlessness.
“Damn it.”
In the past, Reyna’s attention had always been fixed on Elizer, but that was no longer the case. Only then did she notice that something about his behavior was strange.
Elizer, who pressed the scholar relentlessly and snapped at her, asking if she truly intended to die, looked very much like Reyna herself had once been, terrified that Karla might die and leave her behind.
The moment she realized that, an utterly absurd thought crossed her mind.
But she immediately shook her head inwardly, denying it.
‘No way. Elizer hates me. He says I am terrible.’
And then, some time later.
Half asleep, Reyna felt a hand gently combing through her hair, tickling her scalp.
‘…Elizer.’
Whatever else might be said, his touch was more familiar than anything. In this world, her husband was the only one who ever touched her like that.
During the day, Lyman stayed glued to her side, watching her every movement. At night, Elizer did the same.
At that time, Reyna felt no motivation for anything and was drowsy all day long, so she simply kept her eyes closed and remained still.
As if unaware that Reyna was awake, the hand that had been hesitating near her cheek slowly made contact with her skin.
Before becoming king, Elizer had been Prince Cassian’s knight. His palm, rough and hardened with calluses, stroked her cheek. The touch was extraordinarily careful, as though he were handling something fragile that might break at any moment.
Soon, his broad hand cupped one side of her face, and she felt his lips gently settle against her forehead.
The kiss lingered. He was so careful that it seemed as if he was not even breathing. Only the slight tremble of his lips betrayed him.
After a long while, his lips slowly withdrew. For a brief moment, Reyna could sense his conflicted gaze through her closed eyelids.
Then Elizer fled the bedchamber as if running away.
Only then did Reyna open her eyes and sharply contort her face.
“Why?”
***
It was the height of summer.
Separate from the unending cries demanding the Queen’s execution, preparations for the summer festival were in full swing outside.
The prosperity of the Kingdom of Eldamar had begun when it seized control of the sea routes.
Thus, the royal capital, Elmaril, lay at the far eastern edge of the continent. Perched atop a cliff overlooking a massive horseshoe shaped bay stood the enormous maritime fortress known as the High Citadel, the royal castle itself.
From the balcony attached to the king’s bedchamber, one could see the endless horizon and dozens of warships lined up with their sails furled at the docks of the royal fleet.
Summer, when the southwest winds began, was the best season for setting out to sea. The summer festival naturally became the oldest and most important celebration in Eldamar.
As a result, the royal castle had been noisy since early morning.
Especially at the docks, shouts rang out without pause. Dozens of ships had to be launched in time for sunset.
Bwooo.
The echoing blast of horn trumpets, along with the sounds of sails being unfurled one last time and hundreds of lanterns being stacked on the decks, reached even Reyna’s ears as she lay buried in her bed like a dead person.
After blinking several times, Reyna slowly pushed herself up and stared blankly at the arched doors leading to the balcony.
Elizer was inwardly startled. It had been a very long time since she had reacted to anything at all.
Reyna soon cast a sideways glance at Elizer. Her expression gave no hint of what she was thinking. Feeling a strange tension, Elizer waited for her to speak.
At last, Reyna whispered in a small voice.
“I want to see the festival too.”
“……”
Realizing immediately what she meant, an awkward look crossed Elizer’s face.
“…I cannot allow you to go outside.”
Elizer could not let Reyna leave. The entire world wanted her dead.
More than that, Elizer could not trust Reyna.
Since moving into his bedchamber, Reyna had been quiet the whole time. But because she was too quiet, it made him even more uneasy.
As if she had expected that response, Reyna shook her head.
“I do not mean that I want to go outside.”
“Then?”
“The room in this castle where you can see the lanterns best is here, is it not.”
As she said that, Reyna turned her gaze back toward the balcony.
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