Elena slept fitfully until dawn. Countless thoughts swirled in her mind, most of them about Carlisle.
‘When did it start?’
She opened her eyes to see sunlight filtering softly through the curtains. She cast her mind back to the time when the Blaise family was destroyed, when she had run away from Mirabelle and Derek, and the grief she felt when she saw her father’s dead body. The memory used to replayed in front of her every time she closed her eyelids at night. Not a day passed in her last life where she wasn’t reminded of that hell.
‘But since when…’
When did she start having days when she wasn’t chained to those terrible memories? Returning to the past seemed to have a greater effect on her then she thought, as the bitter memories started fading away into a nightmare that she didn’t want to revisit. She used to be overcome with venom every time she recalled them.
‘My time is moving.’
In her last life, Elena spent years learning to fight and sharpening her sword to take revenge against Paveluc. No matter how much time passed, her mind was always wrapped up in the death of her family…
But now, Elena’s heart flowed with time like a river, and Carlisle had unexpectedly taken hold in her thoughts.
‘Is it alright to let this be?’
Just because she was starting to see Carlisle as a man, it didn’t mean she didn’t care about the safety of her family. Nothing changed from the current situation she was in. Ultimately, making Carlisle emperor was her mission, and even if she couldn’t do that, she couldn’t leave him to the mercy of Empress Ophelia or the Anita family.
‘Would this heart get in the way?’
Perhaps she should wait until Carlisle was crowned emperor and she achieved her goal at least…
A long shadow fell on Elena’s face, and she tilted her head to see Carlisle looking down at her.
“Why are you still lying down when you’re awake?”
“Oh, I was just thinking—”
Hwiig!
Carlisle didn’t even hear Elena’s answer as he tugged aside the blanket to reveal her ankle.
Elena looked at him in surprise.
“What are you doing, Caril?”
“I’ve been waiting for you to wake up.”
Carlisle’s eyes fell on her bruised and swollen ankle. He frowned as he lightly rubbed her foot with his hand.
“Did you lie to me last night about not being hurt?”
“I’m fine. I’ll be better soon.”
“I won’t believe you when you say you’re fine from now on.”
Carlisle called the maid waiting outside and ordered her to bring a doctor immediately. Though his voice was calm, the maid scurried away quickly. The atmosphere emanating from the prince was terrifying.
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Elena watched the scene from behind in wonder. A small injury like this didn’t require this level of fuss, she wouldn’t even consider going to a doctor for such an injury in her last life.
Some time passed before the doctor arrived to inspect her ankle.
“Ah, Your Highness. Fortunately, it’s not as serious as a fracture or dislocation. Don’t move around too much and apply some ice. If the pain isn’t severe, you don’t even need bandages—”
Carlisle, who was hovering closely, cut in.
“What do you mean the injury isn’t severe? You should do something to keep her ankle in place.”
“She has bruises, but to have that degree of treatment—”
The doctor fell silent under Carlisle’s withering glare and swallowed.
“Are you saying that after seeing the injury with both your eyes that it’s not serious?”
“Oh, no. Your Highness. My lowly self prepared such a treatment in the case of an unforeseen emergency.”
The palace doctor quickly pulled out some bandages from his bag, and Elena couldn’t help but feel embarrassed. She didn’t think the injury wasn’t serious enough for bandages, but she couldn’t disagree with Carlisle in front of him. They had to project a picture of love, and Elena did not intend to question Carlisle’s honor, no matter how trivial. She watched the doctor carefully bandage her foot, then looked back at Carlisle’s face.
“Thank you, Caril. You care about me so much for even the smallest thing.”
Carlisle lifted his eyebrows at her unexpected reply, but he soon realized that she was conscious of the doctor nearby. He smiled and raised his hand to touch Elena’s cheek.
“Don’t get hurt, my wife.”
Even though it was all an act, her heart fluttered at his words. She started to realize she was losing control.
‘No one’s ever doubted me when I said I was fine…’
Everyone believed her when she said she was fine, even when she was suffering. No one tried to uncover her hidden wounds like Carlisle did. Carlisle stared at the bandages wrapped around Elena’s ankle, then turned to the maid.
“Is the medicine ready?”
“Yes, Your Highness. It will help with the pain in the ankle. Shall I administer it now?”
Carlisle glanced at Elena then shook his head.
“Not yet, medicine is not good on an empty stomach. Tell the chef to serve foods that will promote healing.”
“Yes, Your Highness.”
The maid backed away and hurried out of the room as Elena gazed at her overprotective husband. As either the eldest daughter of the Blaise family or as a knight, she was never worried over. Carlisle’s concern for her seemed to warm her body.
‘It feels good…’
She didn’t know how to express the feeling in words, but she was touched by Carlisle’s care.
A thought struck her. To be able to stop her heart going to Carlisle…
Was it too late?