Stella
After two days, I felt much better. Bolin never left my side during waking hours, and he slept in the next room, so I wouldn’t be alone.
Prince Fernando checked on me several times a day. I caught him watching me from the doorway more than once. His emerald green eyes pierced my soul. He tried to talk to me, but, of course, I couldn’t understand him. He wanted something, and I wished I could figure out what.
Bolin led me to meet the king on the third morning. Intricate tapestries decorated the walls and deep violet floor coverings and drapes overwhelmed the room. The early sun’s rays didn’t light the space, but candles burned in small metal lanterns. Long wicks smoked on most of them. My throat tightened, and my lungs refused to breathe. Was it the air or my nerves? Probably both.
The king stood at an average height with a small bone structure. He appeared to eat well, but strength was evident in his powerful gait.
I was like an insect held too close to a flame for observation. My skin flushed under the king’s scrutiny. He spoke, and Bolin translated.
“I’m glad to see you are well,” he began.
I bowed the way Bolin had demonstrated just before we came. “Thank you for your kindness, Your Majesty.” The questions regarding why I was here reverberated in my head, but I remained quiet as my caretaker suggested.
“You will stay on the royal estate as our personal healer.”
I glanced between Bolin and the king, losing my composure. Staying silent was no longer an option.
“For how long?” I asked. I expected he’d require a healing or two, but worried about his true intentions.
Bolin relayed my message, and the king responded without hesitation.
“Forever.”
My heart plunged to the floor. That couldn’t be right! I clutched onto Bolin’s sleeve.
“What about finding my family?” I asked, my voice breaking.
He translated, and the man ruining my future frowned.
“King Sartorius says that your loved ones may live on the estate or in the palace with you if they desire.” He leaned closer to my ear. “I’ll find them.”
My lip wavered, grateful for this concession. Still, my knees quaked at the injustice. He shouldn’t force me to stay and heal his family for the rest of my life!
Unintelligible words spilled from the king’s mouth.
“He wants to know if you accept this situation. You must not leave without permission. And he requires that you learn Astralini as soon as possible.”
I pressed my fingers against my forehead, below the mending gash. Accept?
“What happens if I say no?” I whispered in Bolin’s ear.
He responded with a dead calm that unnerved me. “You can’t. He’ll take your head for treason.”
My breath hitched, but I didn’t press further. I wanted to live. A single tear escaped and trailed down my cheek to drip off my chin.
“I accept.”
Bolin clenched his jaw and stared at the floor, then lifted his gaze to the king.
Bolin
“She accepts, Your majesty, though she will need time and grace. Learning Astralini might be difficult with her bruised brain.”
King Sartorius frowned but nodded. “While that’s unfortunate, I understand.” He responded as if he were a saint for caring about a lowly peasant’s circumstance.
I pushed for my deal while he was in a placating mood. “And I expect I can continue my studies on her as we agreed? Even if she’s here?”
He waved his hand. “I don’t care what you do with her when she’s not needed.”
My back tensed, and I swallowed the irritation thrumming through my gut. His disinterest in her when I pursued the deal benefited me, but now it bordered on inappropriate.
She clutched my wrist tighter.
“It’s alright,” I whispered. “I’m negotiating for your proper care.”
She nodded, but didn’t let go.
“Your Majesty, I have a request.”
He quirked an eyebrow. “You’re pushing your welcome, Mr. Guo.”
I cleared my throat and bowed. “The physician said she’s a mother. While we look for her family, I hope Stella isn’t bothered by wooers.”
His brow creased.
“It’s true,” Prince Feranado said behind me, startling both me and Stella. “We should minimize distractions while she learns our language.”
I translated but left out the mother bit. I feared the stress of knowing she had a child or children, but didn’t remember them, would destroy her.
King Sartorius stiffened his chin, then nodded. “Very good. So, Mr. Guo will continue his research while teaching her Astralini, and you will organize the search for her family. If they aren’t found, she may marry again. Hopefully, we’ll have a line of healers either way, hm?”
He rubbed his hands together with a grin that made me want to vomit. Commoners … we were dispensable tools.
I told Stella that the king agreed to find her family and that I could stay with her. My heart pinched. I missed Patrick.
Before the king dismissed us, I asked, “May my partner visit to assist with our studies as originally planned?”
“Yet another request?” he said with a degrading tone.
My posture stiffened, but I forced myself to bow. “Of course not, Your Majesty.”
What had I gotten myself into?
Author’s Note: If you've read Nirel, set 400 years after this story, you will notice some similarities in the plot. This is on purpose. Stella was forced to serve forever without payment nor recognition - she will change this process when she comes to power. This is why Nirel was forced to sign a contract for 10 years of servitude in exchange for a lot of gold and a noble title.
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