Chapter 38 He changed

Chapter 38 He changed

Rain's POV

The first thing I noticed when I woke up was that my hands no longer burned.
I blinked slowly, staring at the white bandages wrapped neatly around my palms.

"Who did this while I was sleeping?"

Carefully, I flexed my fingers beneath the bandages. It still stung, but the unbearable burning had disappeared.

Someone had treated them.

I sat up, glancing around the enormous bedroom.
Then a soft knock came from the door.

"My Lady?"

"Come in."

A young maid entered carrying a gold tray.

"Good morning."

She bowed before placing breakfast on the table.

The tray contain fresh bread, salads and a cup of tea.

Even the smell made my stomach growl.

I thanked her before noticing a small bottle sitting beside the tray.

"What's this?"

"Healing ointment." She said with a smile.

"Lord Rosee instructed us to replace your bandages every six hours."

I frowned.

"Rosee?"

"Yes."

"He told you to?"

The maid looked confused.

"No."

She chuckled.

"He changed them himself."

My heart skipped.

"He what?"

"He stayed here most of the night."

I stared at her. I don't think Rosee would ever do that. That's not his type of thing.

"He cleaned your burns, applied medicine and wrapped your hands."

My mouth opened slightly.

"He only left shortly before sunrise."

The maid bowed again before leaving.

The room became quiet.

I looked down at my hands.

"He stayed, and helped me with this."

Then why did he act so cold afterward?

,
After changing into fresh clothes, I wandered through the palace looking for him.
The manor looked completely different during the day. It was massive and confusing to find my way.

Eventually I found him.

Rosee stood in the courtyard speaking with several guards.

He looked exactly the same.

Straight posture. Hands behind his back and his usual unexpression unreadable.

When the guards left, I walked over.

"Rosee."

He glanced sideways.

"What?"

"I..."

Why was thanking someone so difficult?

"I heard," I hold as the word was too heavy to spill.

He waited.

"Hmm about my hands."

"What about them?"

"The maid said,"

I looked at my bandages.

"...thank you."

Rosee looked at my hands briefly.

"They would've become infected."

And that was it. No you're welcome, no smile, no it's nothing.

He simply turned around saying "I have work."

I stood there blinking.

"Seriously?"

He stopped walking.

Without looking back he said,

"Don't touch anything flammable."

Then he disappeared around the corner.

I stared after him.

"Unbelievable."

One minute he acted like he didn't care.

The next he stayed awake all night treating my injuries.

What exactly was wrong with this man?

"Talking to yourself already?"

I nearly jumped.

Mykel stood behind me wearing an amused grin.

He looked much healthier than last night.

Though his face was still slightly pale.

"You scared me!"

"I know."

He looked very pleased with himself.

"How are you feeling?"

"I'm alive."

He spread his arms dramatically.

"Disappointing news for my enemies."

I laughed despite myself.

"You almost died yesterday."

"Almost."

He shrugged.

"But almost doesn't count."

I folded my arms.

"You worried me."

His teasing smile softened just a little.

"I know."

Then he quickly ruined the moment.

"If I'd known you cared this much, I would've coughed blood sooner."

"Mykel!"

"What?"

"You are impossible."

"I've been told."
"So did you miss me?" He winked at me.
"I don't. I was worried."

A few minutes later all four of us gathered inside a circular meeting room.

Mirah leaned against the wall sharpening one of her knives.

Rosee stood beside a large map spread across the table.

Mykel weakly occupied the biggest chair despite looking like he still needed bed rest.

I sat quietly beside them.

Rosee tapped one location.

"This is where we lost Noah."

Another mark.

"The illusion village."

He moved his finger farther north.

"And according to Mykel's informant."

"The vampire borders."

He looked toward Mykel.

"Any updates?"

Mykel nodded.

"Lola confirmed something interesting."

Everyone looked at him.

"Sahra has been buying supplies."

"What kind?"

"Witch ingredients."

Mirah answered before Mykel could.

"Nightshade."

"Dragon bones."

"Moon crystals."

Rosee frowned.

"What's she preparing preparing and must important why is she here? Unless the item she need here."

"I agree."

I looked at the map, something felt wrong.

Rosee continued.

"If she's hiding, she'll avoid populated areas."

"Not necessarily."

I spoke without thinking.

Everyone looked at me.

I immediately regretted opening my mouth.

"What?"

Rosee asked.

I pointed at the map.

"If she has Noah." I paused.

"she'll need food."

Nobody interrupted.

"So?"

Rosee asked.

"So she can't hide in abandoned places forever."

I leaned closer.

"If she wants to stay hidden." My finger stopped on another location.

"she'd choose somewhere close enough to steal supplies but far enough to avoid suspicion."

Mirah looked at the map.

"So?"

I pointed toward a forgotten settlement near the kingdom border.

"There."

Rosee narrowed his eyes.

"Why there?"

"Because" I remembered something Noah once told me.

He hated noisy places and whenever he played hide-and-seek, He always hid somewhere he could still hear everyone.

"It's exactly where Noah would choose."

The room fell silent.

Rosee stared at the map for several long seconds.

Then he looked at me.

"Good observation."

Only those words.

Yet

Something inside me warmed.

He thought I was useful.

Not just...

A staff member.

Before I could say anything—

A guard burst through the doors.

"My Kings!"

Everyone turned.

"What is it?"

The guard bowed quickly.

"We found a body."

The room froze.

"It was discovered outside the eastern border."

Mykel slowly stood.

"Whose body?"

The guard swallowed hard.

His face had turned completely whit."

Silence swallowed the room.

Then the guard uttered words that sent a chill through every one of us.