Alexia
"How many fingers are there?" The doctor asked.
"Three."
He turned to Estevan and said:
"Her eyesight is fine, she won't have any changes, she'll be able to go out later this afternoon." He left holding a clipboard and adjusting his glasses, I looked at Estevan whose eyes seemed tired and distant.
"What happened?" I asked him, "All you tell me is that I slept for three days."
"That's because nothing has happened Alexia, the situation with the nobles is being dealt with, the whole world knows about you, but nothing about a war like you thought would happen with the massacre in the courtyard." He said with a serious expression, his hands resting on his chin and a sad look on his face.
Estevan was not normal.
"Is Estevan angry because I told everyone about myself?"
He shook his head in denial, no, that wasn't it, his expression wasn't that of someone angry, but it was indecipherable too.
Mariah knocked on the open door.
"Can I come in?"
"Of course!" Estevan said, kissed my forehead and left without saying anything.
I watched as he left and looked at Mariah.
"How are you?"
"A bit sore, but nothing too bad."
She nodded.
"You gave everyone a fright," she said, taking my hand and I looked at her.
"Do you mind if I'm Alexia the maid instead of Charlotte the princess?"
"I think it's a bit of an insult to ask me that," she said, giving me a smile, my eye hurting a little as she smiled.
"I didn't think the nobles would go that far, that their anger would turn them into animals" I said, still feeling angry as I remembered everything that had happened.
"You'd be surprised at the atrocities they're capable of," Mariah said seriously.
"I don't want to know, I just want to know what's been going on for the three days I've been asleep"
"Acacio and Estevan are trying to convince the nobles to accept you, some seem to have accepted you, others are still having long discussions in the throne room, some have left. We've lost important contacts, nobles who owned a lot of land, a lot of money handed over to the crown, a lot of resources..." Mariah looked me in the eye. "I'm telling you these things because as soon as you leave here you'll know, I don't want you to feel bad about the looks."
I smiled incredulously.
"The stares are too little, this whole mess is going to hurt Olimper and that's what I'm worried about" I said, sad and tired of the whole situation "What about the death of the kings of Torrem"
"The news has already spread around the world, but so far no one has spoken out, and that's a good thing," she said.
"But we know it won't be like that for long" I said, looking Mariah in the eye, and she just nodded.
In fact, Acacio was just buying time to finish equipping the army with the armor that was being supervised by Lorenzo and Estevan, but whoever was going to take the throne could be a problem for Olimper.
"What happened to Estevan?"
Mariah opened and closed her mouth, she didn't seem to want to speak.
"He's just stressed, ever since what happened in the great hall with you he's been quiet and distant, I think he blames himself," she replied.
"But none of it was his fault, all Estevan has done so far is defend me, protect me. I had no way of predicting what would happen in the great hall," I said.
"Lorenzo tries to talk to him, but Estevan won't open up"
Mariah's words made me think. A little while later Lorenzo appeared and sat down to talk to us, but he didn't stay long because the doctor soon appeared to carry out a series of tests before I could be released. Luckily I was fine, I hadn't fractured my spine or broken anything and I could be released.
Walking through the corridors of the castle, I could see people looking at me. Estevan held my hand tightly as if to say that he was there, and I smiled and we continued walking.
I didn't go straight to my room and I didn't even go to eat in the hall where the nobles were, I felt a certain need and urgency from Silver who was waiting for me in the throne room, it was as if I felt his anguish during these days, I knew he needed to see me so when I arrived in the throne room I let go of Estevan's hand and went to Silver hugging him.
"He hasn't left his window in three days," said Estevan, and I looked at Silver, feeling a love I didn't understand, and reached out to him.
I tucked my head into his body and closed my eyes, taking a deep breath, it was as if I needed it.
"We'll fly again, my friend," I said, smoothing him, "I'm not going to die any time soon!"
My words seemed to have made an impact on Estevan, who looked even more serious. When we got to the room, I was still lost in the days, I still felt like I was on the same day that I was beaten almost to death and it still weighed on my chest, the furious faces of some nobles still loomed in my mind, but I pushed the thought away by looking out the window, not at all in the mood to talk about what happened:
"Do you still feel him?"
Estevan was slow to answer, but he knew exactly what I was talking about:
"Yes, I still feel him," he replied. "The connection seems the same, it hasn't changed. But when I call him, he doesn't come."
I turned to Estevan.
"How do you call him?"
He raised his face to look at me.
"Just think, your connection needs to be strong enough."
I shook my head, a connection like that seemed out of the question.
"When I was in Zaim, I didn't call him"
"He felt your anguish, your despair, your fear," said Estevan.
I nodded and walked towards Estevan, sitting on his lap. He looked at my face and lightly touched the purple on my cheek.
"I almost lost you"
"But you didn't Estevan, I'm here!" I touched his hand "I acted inconsequentially, it wasn't your fault!"
He looked into my eyes.
"You're impossible, Alexia"
I smiled and kissed his lips. Estevan put his hand on my back, pulling me closer and although I loved his touch, I still felt a slight pain. He pulled away when he realized it and leaned our heads together.
"I won't be a good queen"
"No, you'll be the best"
We laughed together, Estevan, Mariah and Lorenzo were the only ones who came to see me in the medical wing, not even King Acacio or Queen Soraya, who I doubted still wanted me dead and I was sure that now the whole castle hated me.
The next morning Estevan and I were woken up by the sound of knocks on the door, it was 5:50 and the day hadn't even dawned, I opened my eyes sleepily and there were more knocks followed by King Acacio's announcement, I frowned and looked at Estevan.
"What does your father want?" I asked, it was still early so it must have been something important.
"I don't know either," he said, getting up. Estevan walked towards the door and I pulled the covers over my body, he opened the door and Acácio walked in without any warning.
"Dad, have you gone mad?" Estevan asked angrily.
Acacio turned his back to me and faced Estevan, even though there was nothing covered up, it was embarrassing.
"I don't have time to wait until breakfast, I've received a letter from Letrons, from King Francisco. He's furious that we killed the kings of Torrem, that this was an alliance that would favor them, so he's threatening to end our alliance. I need you two to go to Letrons"
"I'll go alone"
"We need to be quick, our situation with the kingdoms is already very delicate Estevan and as far as I know you're not with your dragon, only Alexia and the dragon only obey her" They both looked at me, I opened my mouth but before I could say anything Acacio cut me off "It's agreed, you're leaving in an hour so pack your things!"