Chapter 104 Chapter 104: I am a healer, Annie.
~ Raven’s POV ~
I sat by the window in my chambers, staring out at the gardens below without really seeing them. My mind, occupied.
A soft knock at the door made me turn. Before I could answer, the door opened slowly, and Annie slipped inside, closing it quietly behind her.
I froze, my breath catching in my throat. Annie? Here? How?
"Annie," I breathed, standing so quickly that the book in my lap tumbled to the floor.
She stood just inside the door, her eyes shining with unshed tears. For a moment, we just stared at each other. Then she moved forward quickly, dropping to her knees before me in a gesture of complete submission.
"Your Majesty," she said, her voice thick with emotion.
"Get up," I said immediately, rushing forward to pull her to her feet. "Please, Annie. Don't kneel to me. Get up."
When she stood, I saw the tears spilling down her cheeks. Her hands gripped mine tightly, as if she were afraid I might disappear.
"You didn't reveal my secret," she said, her voice breaking.
My own eyes burned with tears. "Of course I didn't. How could I? Annie, you're my friend."
She shook her head, more tears falling. "You don't understand what you did for me. You could have saved yourself by exposing me.”
“They would have forgotten all about questioning your loyalty if they knew there was a half-Darkling serving in the palace." Her voice dropped to a whisper. "But you protected me. Even when it might have cost you everything.”
I pulled her into a tight hug, feeling her shake against me. "I would never cause you harm, Annie.”
She hugged me back fiercely, clinging to me like I was her only anchor. We stood like that for a long moment, both of us crying quietly, both of us grateful to have someone to share our secrets with.
When we finally pulled apart, Annie wiped her eyes and took a shaky breath. Then, to my surprise, she dropped to one knee again, this time taking my hand formally in both of hers.
"I swear on my mother's life that I’ll keep Amadeus a secret," she said, her voice steady now, filled with determination.
"Annie, you don't have to…"
"Yes, I do." She looked up at me, her eyes fierce. "I'm bonded to you now, my lady. Not just as your lady-in-waiting, but as someone who owes you a life debt. I will serve you forever. I will protect you. I will die for you if necessary."
I felt my throat tighten with emotion. "I don't want you to die for me. I just want you to be safe. To be happy."
She smiled through her tears. "I am safe. Because of you. And I am happy, knowing I serve someone who would risk everything to protect me." She stood again, squeezing my hands. "Thank you, Your Majesty. Thank you for everything."
I smiled warmly, genuinely glad she was here, glad she was safe. "I'm just relieved you're alright. I was so worried you might have to stay there for a while.”
She smiled and then squeezed my hand.
"The king spoke to me privately," she said, her expression turning cautious. "He asked me questions about my home and my loyalties. He asked where I went, and I told him I went to Abbey County, but I wasn't allowed in, so I returned. According to the customs, I would have been punished or my salary slashed but the king said I was pardoned."
Relief flooded through me. "Liam said that?"
She nodded. "He can be intimidating, but I think he's a good man. And he clearly loves you very much." A small smile touched her lips.
I felt my cheeks warm at the memory. "I am his wife, so it's normal I guess.” I couldn't get the fact that Liam had never told me he loves out of my head.
I mean, if you love someone, are you not supposed to let them?
"I'm glad," Annie said softly, pulling me from my dark thoughts. "You deserve that happiness, my lady.”
We moved to sit on the cushioned bench near the window, and for a few moments, we simply sat together in comfortable silence. But I could see Annie watching me from the corner of her eye.
"My lady," she called finally, her voice gentle. "Are you well? You look... troubled. Is there something on your mind?”
"I am just tired," I said quickly, turning to look out the window. "It's been a difficult few days, that's all."
"I understand. The council meeting and Annalise…" She paused, searching for words. "It must have been brutal."
"Indeed, it was, but it's fine," I assured her. "That's what counts."
Annie nodded, seeming satisfied with my answer. She stood and began tidying the room, her hands straightening things, fluffing pillows, picking up my fallen book.
It was such a familiar routine that it made my heart ache. How many times had I watched her do this? Then she paused, looking around the room more carefully. Her brow furrowed with confusion.
"My lady, I noticed something when I arrived," she said slowly. "There's a male knight standing guard outside your door with other guards. A tall man with dark hair but I didn't see Helena anywhere."
My chest tightened painfully. I'd known this question was coming, but I still wasn't prepared for it.
"That's Tate," I said, trying to keep my voice steady. "He's... he's my friend. The king assigned him to guard me in place of Helena."
"Huh, why? Where is Helena?" Annie turned to face me fully, her confusion deepening. "She's always been your guard. Since the day you arrived at the palace. Why would the king replace her? Did she do something wrong?"
I looked down at my hands, unable to meet her eyes. "Annie, please…"
But she didn't notice the pain in my expression, the way my hands trembled slightly in my lap. She was too caught up in her concern, and confusion about the sudden change.
"Did something happen to her?" Annie pressed, her voice rising with worry. "Is she sick? Injured? I should go check on her, see if she needs…”
"Annie, please." The words came out sharper than I intended. She stopped mid-sentence, looking at me with surprise.
I took a deep breath, trying to calm the storm of emotions inside me. My hands were shaking now, and I clasped them together to still them.
"I'm sorry," I said quietly. "I didn't mean to snap at you."
Annie's expression shifted from surprise to concern. She came back to sit beside me, her hand gently covering mine. "My lady, what's wrong? What happened?"
I couldn't look at her. The words felt like a sharp glass stuck in my throat. "Helena... she won't be guarding me anymore."
“Why not?" Annie's hand tightened on mine. "Please, tell me what happened."
I forced myself to meet her eyes. "She was sending secret letters to Lady Johanna. Reporting everything that happened in the king's household. Everything about me, about Liam, about the council, about private conversations and meetings. Everything."
The silence that followed was suffocating. I watched Annie's face cycle through emotions, confusion, disbelief, comprehension, and finally, shock.
"What?" she whispered, her voice barely audible.
"She was spying," I affirmed. "For Duchess Johanna. For months. Or maybe from the very beginning, I don't know anymore. Every conversation I had with her, every moment I trusted her, every secret I shared, she was reporting it all back to the duchess."
"No." Annie shook her head violently, pulling her hand away from mine. "No, that can't be right. Helena supported you! She was always kind to you, always helpful, always there when you needed her. She…"
She was on her feet, pacing the room. I could see the fury building in her, could see her hands clenching into fists at her sides.
"After everything! After all this time! She stood beside you, protected you, made you feel safe, and it was all a lie?!"
"Annie, calm down," I said softly, standing and reaching for her. "You sound so angry. You're always so calm and composed. This isn't like you."
She stopped pacing, but her breathing was rapid, her face flushed with fury. "I'm sorry, Your Majesty. I am just so angry." She pressed her hands to her face, trying to collect herself. "How could she do that to you?”
I didn't have an answer for her. It was the same question I'd been asking myself since Liam told me how long she had been spying on me.
Annie took several deep breaths, clearly fighting to control her emotions. When she finally lowered her hands, her eyes were wet with frustrated tears.
"What about Lady Annalise?" she asked. I knew what she was asking. Liam had asked me that last night as well, but I gave the same answer.
"She wasn't taken," I said. "Annalise wasn't arrested or punished. I told the king I would begin treating her. To remove the scarring from her face."
Annie's eyes widened with disbelief. "Treating her? But you were not responsible for her injury. So why?"
“ I am a healer, Annie.”
"Will you really help the daughter of someone who tried to destroy you?" she asked in a shocked tone.
I moved back to the window, looking out at the gardens wondering if I could invite Liam to walk with me.
"She's injured, Annie," I replied quietly. "If she is not treated, her injury might get infected, and that would mean she would die. I could never stand by to see someone get hurt when I could treat them."
"But my lady…"
"I know what you're going to say." I turned to face her. "I know it seems foolish, or naive, or too forgiving. But whatever her mother did, a girl doesn't deserve to have a scar on her face for life with these strict rules in Grok.”
Annie's expression softened. "You're too kind, my lady. Too forgiving. What if this is another trap? What if Lady Johanna ends up using her daughter's injury to harm you?"
"That's possible," I admitted. "But I can't let fear stop me from helping someone who needs it. Plus, I have always wanted to heal people."
Annie was quiet for a while, her eyes never leaving my face. Then she sighed, her shoulders dropping slightly.
"When will you begin treating her?" she asked, though I could still hear the doubt in her voice.
"Soon.The king is making arrangements. He wants to ensure it's safe, that there are no hidden dangers." I moved toward her, taking her hands in mine.