I could feel the beads of sweat on my forehead dripping down my bare face and wetting my eyes.
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It may be a drug that causes terrible pain. Maybe it's fierce.
Unable to shake off my suspicions, I opened my lips.
He tipped the vial and poured a bitter liquid into my mouth. I coughed up a nagging cough and reflexively turned my head to the side, and he grabbed my chin and pushed the vial again.
I looked up at him, swallowing helplessly the liquid seeping into my mouth.
I could see the light shimmering on his pale eyes, which seemed to be covered by a veil. Trying to find the remnants of his emotions in his inorganic eyes, my limbs went limp.
I tried to keep my consciousness alive by straining the corners of my eyes, but my mind gradually became foggy, and my vision rapidly blurred.
My eyelids flickered slowly, and then I sank into a deathly silence.
I didn't know how much time had passed. It seemed like only a few seconds had passed, and a lifetime had passed.
I stared blankly into the air, frowning at the regular sound of horses' hooves and the rattling of wheels. As my vision, which had been foggy and hazy, gradually became clearer, I could see the scenery inside the carriage in the dark.
For a moment, I wondered if it was all a dream. The appearance of a terrifying monster, the way Barcas left me to save Ayla, and the fact that I was almost killed by the wyvern were all nightmares from last night.
As if denying such thoughts, the Intense pain spread from my knees to my lower back.
I clenched my lower lip and clutched my burning knees.
I could feel the rough fabric under the thin chemise. I fumbled with my fingertips, and my eyes widened to realize that my entire left leg was wrapped in a thick bandage.
When I rolled up my skirt, I saw a piece of cloth stained with blood and oozing out of it, sticking to my thighs and sides.
I, who fumbled with trembling hands, pulled my skirt back down and pulled my torso up.
Inside the spacious carriage was a thick sheet filled with cotton, and cushions and summer blankets were strewn about.
I looked around at them in a daze, grabbed the handle on the wall, and pulled myself up with difficulty. However, it was not easy to stand up because my legs did not listen.
I struggled to straighten my leaden legs, but I slumped down with a thump, unable to resist the pain that ran down my spine. I screamed from the pain that stabbed my whole body.
"Are you okay?"
Perhaps he heard the sound, the carriage suddenly stopped moving, and the door suddenly opened.
I squinted my eyes at the man standing with his back to the light. The guard, who usually had slightly unkempt hair in a mess, was looking down at me with a worried look.
He climbed onto the wagon and rummaged through a small box in the corner.
"Are you in a lot of pain? Here, the healer has prepared painkillers. What if you drink this..."
"Why didn't you cast a healing spell on my body?"
The man paused and turned his head away at the question.
I pulled the seat and gave it a wary look.
"Did my brother give you any instructions not to treat me?"
"That's not the case."
The man waved his hand urgently.
"The healer did his best to stitch the bones together and heal part of the wound... Your Highness's wound was so serious that it could not be treated all at once. For the sake of prognosis, it is better to leave it to the professional healer of the Imperial Palace..."
I, who had been glaring at the man with disbelief, lowered my gaze and stared at my leg.
Vaguely, I remembered that a large rock had crushed my knees and thighs. Certainly, if I had healed the wound as it was, I would have lost the use of my leg forever. Although I reluctantly admitted it, I did not stop complaining.
"So, you want me to stay like this until I arrive at the Imperial Palace?"
"I know you are suffering, but please be patient. We will travel to Gillian as soon as possible."
I looked at him with narrowed eyes and then looked out the window.
I could see a long line of knights on the vast plain where the light of the sun was pouring down. In the midst of it, I, who was unconsciously searching for the gray blonde, was tired of myself and pulled the curtain tight. Just moving my body for a while made me feel a deep sense of fatigue.
"My brother has accepted the proposal to return to the imperial palace."
"The Wyvern attack has caused a significant number of deaths. You couldn't have openly objected to the insistence that you should return as soon as possible to pay for their funerals."
Looking back in surprise at the unexpected sarcastic reply, the knight, belatedly realizing the sarcasm in his tone, hurriedly turned his words.
"Rather, your complexion is not good. Take medicine first."
The man held out the cap of the vial and held it in front of my face. I, who was looking down at it, waved my hand as if she were annoyed.
"I don't need it, so take it out. I need to rest."
"...If you don't believe me, I'll call Lord Sheerkhan."
I, who was lying on the bed, looked at him with a stern face.
Suddenly, my heart sank like someone who had been attacked unexpectedly. As if to hide it, with a cold sneer on my lips, I shot coldly.
"Do you think I believe him?"
"But Your Highness...Him..."
"I don't trust anyone."
I interrupted him fiercely. Then I chewed on his face and spat it out one by one.
"Especially the guy. more."
"..."
"So get rid of the presumptuous talk and get out of there."
The man, who was pursing his lips as if he wanted to say something more, let out a small sigh and went outside.
After a while, the stalled carriage started moving again.
I pulled the thin summer blanket up to my shoulders. The pain that had subsided for a while became fierce again, and a sizzling sensation came over me. I tossed and turned, swallowing my groans, and closed my eyes as if I were running away from the pain.
As the sun set, a plump wizard came to cast a healing spell on me.
I silently accepted his touch. It was horrible to be touched by others, but I didn't have the energy to refuse anymore.
"I will light a scented candle that desensitizes the senses. The pain will subside."
Perhaps he had heard that I had refused the medicine, so the wizard brought a small censer to the entrance and lit it.
The stale air filled the carriage in an instant. I tried to tell him not to do anything useless, but I felt my tense nerves gradually loosen, and I relaxed my shoulders.
The bone-piercing pain slowly subsided, and my consciousness faded. Apparently, he had burned herbs that had a sleeping effect.
I welcomed the rush of drowsiness. However, the sleep did not last long. Soon after, the pain began to intensify again.
I woke up grunting and lifted my eyelids with difficulty. Apparently, I should call a wizard and instruct him to light more scented candles.
As I rubbed my throbbing head and struggled to pull my upper body up. I suddenly gasped for breath.
I looked around in the thick darkness with dilated pupils.
I didn't know what surprised me.
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