May Every Wound Be Fatal - vanish into fiction

Sensing her hesitation, Thales added in a deliberately casual tone.

“Right now, your step count is far too insufficient. If you receive the assistance of the cane, your leg muscles will quickly build up, and before you know it, you’ll be able to walk just as you did before.”

At those words, Reyna promptly took the cane.

Though she was currently in hiding deep within the palace, Reyna wanted to stand proudly by Elizer’s side again someday. And in her mind, the first step toward that was learning to walk properly.

At her solemn expression, which clearly revealed what she was thinking, a faint smile flickered across Thales’ lips before disappearing just as quickly. Reyna, too busy examining the cane, failed to notice that subtle change in expression.

After Thales left, Reyna, burning with determination, immediately went out to the garden with the help of her attendants.

No one blocked her path. Ever since Elizer had taken Reyna to the garden in the middle of the night, it had become natural for her to go out there.

Stopping at the garden entrance, Reyna stood leaning on her cane.

“…I think it would be best if everyone stayed behind. No, stand over there, far away.”

Not liking the feeling of being treated like an old woman, she sent away the attendants and knights following her—except for Aileen—to the corridor leading to the garden entrance. Only then did she take her first step.

Remarkably, Reyna succeeded in walking all the way to the fountain on her own without anyone’s help. Thales’ words that she would soon be able to walk as before seemed to be true.

“It’s not hard at all.”

Reyna turned to Aileen with a flushed face. Aileen, who had been hovering anxiously beside her in case she might fall, gave a small smile.

“Please rest for a moment, Your Majesty. You mustn’t overexert yourself.”

Though the air was cold, Reyna’s forehead was already damp with sweat. Just as Aileen was about to pull out a handkerchief from her bosom, one of the maids waiting outside the garden approached with quick steps. Reyna noticed her first and looked puzzled.

“What is it?”

Her complexion was somehow pale.

“Um… Well. Please wait a moment, Your Majesty.”

Aileen, who had spotted the maid a beat later, forced a smile toward Reyna and quickly walked over to the maid.

The maid then whispered something into Aileen’s ear. Judging by the atmosphere, it was clearly not good news. Just as Reyna tilted her head slightly to gauge Aileen’s expression, Aileen involuntarily turned to look at her.

“…Your Majesty.”

She was frightened.

Reyna blinked her large eyes. Something bad seemed to have happened.

***

“His Majesty has been… poisoned.”

Reyna wanted to rush to Elizer as soon as she heard the news in the garden. But Aileen stood in her way.

“His Majesty is doing his utmost to protect you, Your Majesty. For you to leave the tower at a time like this would never be of help to His Majesty.”

Reyna realized her situation anew.

She was the Queen, yet she was confined deep within the palace, hidden from the threat of assassination. She had momentarily forgotten that fact, lulled into premature relief after finally connecting with him.

Reyna admitted that there was nothing she could do. And so, she could no longer be stubborn.

Lying alone in the dark room, Reyna could not close her eyes for even a moment. How could she possibly sleep peacefully when he had collapsed?

Aileen said that it had not yet been revealed who had dared to harm the King.

But Reyna had an ominous feeling that Elizer’s illness was somehow her fault.

The mistake of the ducal house. And the Queen hiding in the tower. She couldn’t help but think that he might have been hurt trying to protect her.

She recalled his face, which had sometimes looked tired, and her own foolishly happy self embracing him. She couldn’t stand how pathetic she felt. Reyna eventually sat up abruptly.

She waited for Elizer, just in case, but no miracle of him coming to her occurred. Unable to stay still, she paced around the room, approaching the door several times but never turning the handle.

Chewing her lips, Reyna finally returned to the bed and sat down. More time passed, but no news came that he had woken up.

It was hard to keep her composure. In the end, unable to contain her fear, Reyna impulsively slipped out of the room.