Chapter 9

***Serafina's POV***

I could hear whispers but the voices were unclear making it hard for me to comprehend whatever was happening around me. I slowly opened my eyes and found myself in a white room and when my eyes fully adjusted to the light I saw Maximus talking to a doctor.

The moment he turned around and our gazes met I saw relief washed over him. He rushed towards my bed and stared at my face intently.

"How are you feeling Lady Serafina? Does your neck still hurt?" he asked—his question triggering what happened to me inside the dungeon.

I immediately reached my neck but I did not feel anything. It has no scar and the wound is already healed but the way the rouge's claws are pierced on my skin is still vivid. It is still fresh and even though the wound is gone it feels like the pain is still inside me.

Tears fell from my eyes when I remembered that night again. I thought I would end up dying in that cold and dark cell.

"What's wrong? Does your neck still hurt?" Maximus asked his tone laced with worry. He was demanding an answer but I can't utter even a single word. I can feel a lump forming in my throat and my chest started to tighten making it hard for me to breathe.

"Lady Serafina look at me,"

I felt him holding my hand gently squeezing it so I fixated my gaze on him as I tried to control my breathing.

"You are fine Lady Serafina. I am here. You don't have to be scared I'm here, I won't let anyone hurt you,"

I took a few deep breaths and after a minute I successfully calmed myself. The moment I recovered my eyes started searching for him but I couldn't find a single trace of him inside this room.

"King Calixto...where is he?" I asked turning my head on Maximus anticipating an answer.

He fell silent as if he had no answer to my question. After a while, he took a deep breath. "He went to the mountain with Cressida to hunt,"

I felt a pinch in my heart when Maximus answered my question but I wouldn't let him know that I am hurting so I smiled burying the pain in the deepest part of my heart.

"How long had I been unconscious? Did he visit me? Is he worried of me Maximus?" I can hear the desperation in my tone. It was his tears that fell on my cheeks that made me hope for something...that maybe he finally cared for me.

"You had been out for almost three days Lady Serafina," Maximus responded but he failed to answer my other question.

"Did King Calixto visit me? Even once?" I asked repeating my question.

I saw pity in Maximus eyes and that was enough to answer my question.

"He was busy visiting the territories inside the kingdom so he failed to pay you a visit but maybe after hunting he will check on you,"

I can feel my heart shattering into tiny pieces. I know he is not that busy. A few minutes of checking how I was wouldn't hurt him it just that he did not care for me. Maybe my mind just played tricks on me but everything was clear. I am certain I felt his presence and the warmth of his tears that fell on my cheeks...I can still feel it.

"When he will be back from hunting? I want to talk to him Maximus,"

"He will be back before sunset. For now, you should rest and focus on regaining your strength,"

Maximus was about to leave the room when I called him. "Can I go to the garden instead? I want to get some fresh air and I will wait for King Calixto there,"

A smile grace on my lips when Maximus nods his head and stands up. He offered his hand so I gladly took it. My feet are still weak and I know I will end up falling if I walk on my own.

When we stepped out of the room and started walking in the hallway I could feel the servants' eyes watching me intently but I ignored them and continued walking until we reached the garden.

Maximus made me sit on the wooden bench while he stood beside me maintaining enough distance.

We were enveloped by silence and I contented myself by watching the fully grown flowers and from time to time I threw a glance at the gate waiting for King Calixto to enter.

I chose to sit at the bench a few meters away from the gate so King Calixto would notice me the moment he stepped inside the palace.

"You haven't eaten anything, Lady Serafina. You should go inside and have your meal,"

I shook my head while my gaze was fixated on the gate. It was almost sunset. King Calixto will be here soon so I can't leave. I may not see him today if I leave this garden. This palace is too huge for us to bump into each other.

"I am fine Maximus. I am not hungry,"

I heard Maximus let out a deep breath. I know I am being hard-headed but I need to talk to King Calixto.

When the gate swung open I stood up out of excitement. A wide smile was spread across my lips when I finally saw King Calixto but it immediately vanished when I saw Cressida walking beside him. They were smiling while looking at each other as if they had so much fun.

I can feel my heart shattering into pieces again but the moment King Calixto's eyes land in my direction I force a smile to conceal the pain that slowly kills me.

He stopped from walking and Cressida did the same. They were watching me as I walked towards them. I almost end up falling luckily Maximus is beside me holding me each time I am about to fall.

The moment I got closer I flashed my sweetest smile while looking at King Calixto.

"What are you doing here? You should be in your room resting,"

His eyebrows are furrowed as if he was annoyed to see me standing in front of him but I continued smiling at him.

"I was waiting for you,"

The irritation in his face was replaced by confusion.

"I want to thank you for saving me from that rouge. It was you who put me inside the dungeon but still, I want to thank you for saving me,"

"You waited for me just to say that?"

I nodded and bit my lower lip. I started playing with my finger when I felt tears forming in the corner of my eyes.

"Why do you sound so cruel? Why did you cry when I almost died if you will just act this way when I am finally awake?"

He took a step forward closing the gap between us. He stared at my face intently and the way his blazing red eyes stared at mine brought a shiver down my spine. "You must be mistaken, Serafina. I did not cry for you. Why would I cry for you? You are nothing but a weak she-wolf,"