The Princess & The Twilight Blade

Chapter 4

Once Dame Lucia’s words registered, I rushed out of the office, nearly running towards Audrey’s room. I heard Dame Lucia a step behind me explaining what was happening, but none of the words stuck in my head. I was filled with panic as I neared the door, the unease and heat in my chest growing with each step. When I entered the familiar room, the atmosphere was thick with tension. As I made my way to the white and gold canopied bed, I saw Leah and a couple of other maids hovering over Audrey as she lay writhing and groaning in pain. One of the maids was using a towel to wipe at the sweat beading her face.

Leah looked up at me in despair as she saw me enter. “My Lady… I’m so sorry! I don’t know what happened!”

“It’s okay, Leah! Just take a breath and tell me what’s going on.” Seeing Leah panic helped me to push my own worry away. “Have we called for the Royal Physician?”

“Yes, I had a servant get him as soon as it started. She was sleeping peacefully for a while after you left, so I tidied up the room. Then I noticed her moving and thought she was waking up. When I came over to check on her, she was burning up in this state!” after finishing her explanation, Leah looked back at Audrey with worry as she continued to shift around in pain.

“I see. This is likely what the Royal Physician mentioned when he first examined her; I didn’t think it would happen so soon, though.” At least, that’s what I’m hoping… It’s only been a day. This recovery time must be unprecedented!

“Ah, you mean the rapid growth? So that means this is a good sign of her recovery then?” Leah asked hopefully.

“Yes, but this is much earlier than I expected, and it will be excruciating for her, the poor thing.” I turned around at the voice as the Royal Physician entered the room, Luke right on his heels.

“Then I was right,” I said. “I thought this was early; I didn’t think she had recovered enough yet.”

He hummed in thought as he examined her, then turned to me, eyes wide. “How are you feeling, Your Highness?”

“Why are you asking me? Audrey is the one in pain.” The Physician frowned as he turned back to Audrey.

“Apologies, disregard what I just said; now isn’t the time. We should focus on the girl. For now, we just have to wait for her magic to stabilize. I recommend you strip her so that her sudden growth doesn’t cause her clothes to constrict. It may take a few hours, but I imagine she will be perfectly healthy at the end of it. So just watch over her until then. I’ll be on standby in case of emergency.” He stood up and grabbed Luke’s shoulder on the way out. “You should leave as well, Your Highness. It would be uncouth to catch a lady in such a state.”

“O-Of course.” my brother stammered as he left the room. It was unusual to see him so flustered, and I laughed a bit at the sight. I braced myself as I turned around, ready to watch over Audrey for the next couple of hours, and saw Leah folding Audrey’s nightgown.

“That was fast! You already got her clothes off?”

“Of course, My Lady. A maid has to be quick and concise, after all.”

I sat down and held Audrey by the hand. I blinked as the heat in my chest grew at the touch. Ah, that feeling again… Audrey calmed down a little. It seemed that the direct contact was helping to ease her pain. I smiled in relief at the sight and hoped that it would be over soon.

“Please, My Lady. At least drink some water.” I took the cup from Leah with my free hand, my left hand still in Audrey’s. I’ve tried to let go a few times, but she held onto me tighter every time she felt my hand slip away. I sighed in contentment as the cold water cooled my body. The heat that I had felt since Audrey fell ill kept pulsing inside me as her body continued to grow into a healthy state. At first, I assumed the heat had been caused by the stress of the situation, but it persisted even after I had relaxed somewhat. It’s been over four hours. How much longer will she suffer?

“My Lady, look!” Leah gasped as I returned the cup to her. I turned to look at Audrey. She had stopped moving, her face looking peaceful for the first time since it started. But I was most shocked to see her hair transforming. When we found her, her hair was a dirty orange, and due to her weakness, we hadn’t been able to clean it properly. It appears, however, that her hair is truly bright scarlet. The shift started at the roots, then slowly moved down her long hair like a calm wave. She groaned as her eyes fluttered open. She sat up slowly, her eyes still clouded with exhaustion. She looked down at our joined hands and then up at me. I felt the breath leave me as I stared captivated at her; her eyes, once a beautiful blue, were now shining a brilliant silver.

“Your Highness?” she mumbled. Her voice now had the distinct alto of a girl our age, making my heart race. I looked down to escape her gaze but quickly turned my head. The sheets had fallen away from her when she sat up, exposing her now healthy body. It had been growing steadily, but it had been hidden under the navy blue sheets. I forgot she isn’t wearing anything! Her skin looks so smooth… I felt the blood rush to my cheeks as I turned to Leah.

“Clothes! Leah, we need clothes! Fetch something easy to wear from my closet. Hurry!” Leah, crying happily at Audrey’s recovery, realized the situation and hurried out of the room. I kept my eyes off Audrey as I waited for her to return. Why is the sight of her affecting me so badly? The heat in my chest has also vanished, but now my face is burning. I shook the thoughts loose as Leah came back in, carrying a casual blue dress. I turned around as Leah helped her change; I wasn’t sure why, but I didn’t think I could handle seeing her like that again. Afterward, we led Audrey to the sitting area and placed her on the white couch. She was definitely moving a lot better, but she still seemed dazed.

“How are you feeling, Audrey?” I asked tentatively.

“I… feel really good, fantastic, even.” she stretched her arms upward, closed her eyes and leaned back. When she looked at me, I noticed her eyes were their usual blue color. The silver was incredible, though… She played with the ends of her newly colored hair. “It’s the same as my mother’s…” she broke into a beautiful smile as she stared at it. Once again, I couldn’t look away, and Leah coughed into her hand to break the silence.

This snapped Audrey out of her daze, and she quickly snapped into an attentive position. “Sorry for the unsightly display.” She nervously twirled some hair around her finger. “U-Um, now that I’m healed… what would you like me to do?”

I could only smile thinly at her question. “Nothing, at least for the rest of the day. We will keep monitoring you to ensure you are truly recovered. We can figure out your duties after.” Thankfully, she didn’t argue at all and only nodded meekly.

“So… What happened to me?” Audrey asked. “My hair was never this pretty, and I haven’t felt this well in a long time. I was so weak this morning…” She trailed off. I hadn’t disclosed her being afflicted by dysmagia previously. I deemed it unnecessary at the time, so I promptly explained everything the Physician told me about her condition, and she nodded in understanding. She feels comfortable enough to ask me questions! Of her own volition! The happiness I felt almost came out as squeals, and I fought to keep my expression neutral.

“How does the dress feel, Miss?” Leah cut in when I was done.

“Um…” she tilted her head cutely. “It fits fine, but it is a bit tight around the chest,” She stood up and twirled around, the edges of the skirt billowing out. “It seems it's a bit short as well, right?” she asked. She seemed surprised at the ease of movement, but I was preoccupied.

Impossible! I thought. She’s a year younger than me, yet my clothes are too small?! That’s just not fair! But it’s true; It seems I have to tilt my head to look her in the eyes now.

“Can I… walk around a bit?” I nodded my assent, and she quickly bowed before methodically moving around the room. It looked like she was slowly using more of her body and extending her stretches. Eventually, she was moving comfortably, and I smiled faintly as she pranced around a bit more, giggling excitedly. It was like she was lost in her own world, but the black-framed mirror caught her attention as she crossed in front of the white and gold dresser.

“This… This is me?” she leaned closer to the reflection and touched her face. Leah and I froze in shock as tears began rolling down Audrey’s face.

***

“Are you okay, Audrey?!” The princess rushed to my side with a handkerchief and began wiping my tears, Miss Leah just a step behind. I started bawling into my hands; in the back of my mind, I was embarrassed to cry in front of them, but I just couldn’t hold back anymore. It was like a damn had broken, and the flow of tears just wouldn’t stop. It had been so long since I lived without any pain in my body, and I was so excited to be able to move around freely again. Everything felt so… normal. The soft rug under the coffee table and sofas. The cold of the black tile floor. The dress didn’t irritate my dry skin. That’s most likely because of the quality, admittedly. Even my sight improved; colors were vivid, and the details of the furniture were clear and sharp. But when I saw my reflection, my heart stopped.

“I… I look just like my mother!" Memories of her rose to the surface, and I continued sobbing. A rational part of my mind was vying for control. I had decided to trust the princess, albeit cautiously, and now I was bawling my eyes out in front of her. The princess seemed at a loss but wrapped me in a tight hug, one of her hands filtering through my hair. The embrace felt foreign, but I don’t hate it… I continued to cry into her shoulder, allowing my arms to wrap around her in return. Being so close to her was comforting, and it was weakening my resolve. When I finally got myself under control, I pulled away reluctantly. I apologized meekly for the fresh dampness on her dress, and she just smiled and waved it off. Miss Leah asked if I was alright, then quickly left to prepare a change of clothes. The princess guided me back to the sofa, and we sat back down, this time side by side. She rubbed my back as I got the last of my sniffles out. Then, her face became serious as she turned to face me. My body went stiff as the shame of the situation settled in. She has every right to punish me— I forced the habitual reaction down. No… I made the decision to trust the kindness she’s shown me.

“Listen, Audrey. I’m planning on taking you on as one of my attendants.” I nodded my understanding as she continued. “But that means I have to trust you, and you have to trust me… I can’t bring you on in good conscience without knowing your situation.” As her implication sunk in, I felt a lump of fear in my throat. What if she throws me away, too, after knowing the truth? I don’t know if I could handle that. The fear I felt at the hypothetical outcome surprised me. I hesitated as these thoughts swirled in my head, one after the other.

I felt something warm cover my hand and looked to find the princess’s hand over mine. “Please, Audrey. Trust me.” her words washed over me like a warm breeze, taking the terrible thoughts with it. I took a deep breath and opened my mouth to speak.

“I-I’m sorry…” Her expression began to wilt, and I hurriedly corrected myself. “That’s not what I meant! I mean… it’s only been a day since we met. Allow me some time to work and think about things… I promise to tell you everything when I’m ready.” I looked anxiously at her. “Is that… acceptable?”

Contrary to my expectation, the princess beamed, her smile outshining the magic lamp overhead. “I’ll wait patiently for that day, then. I swear not to betray your trust.” My heart thumped at her words. I was suddenly very conscious of the heat from her hand still on mine.

“I’m, um, not interrupting, am I?”

Miss Leah walked back in and froze as she looked at us. Pink tinged her cheeks as she spoke. The princess and I both pulled our hands back like we had been shocked. Miss Leah only giggled before joining us in the sitting area.

“I’d actually like to apologize to both of you…” I started, and both girls looked at me in confusion. “I have been spurning the kindness you’ve shown me… it may take some time, but I hope to return what you’ve given me.” I made eye contact with the princess, then Miss Leah in turn. It’s time I start giving it my all. Watch over me, Goddess. They looked at each other, then back at me… and I was hugged from both sides. Their smiles reached their eyes as they both giggled; the sound right next to my ears wasn’t good for my heart. I found myself a little awkward, but the warmth I felt then rang true.

“How is she, Lydia?” In walked a beautiful man with the same golden hair as Lydia, and piercing blue eyes. He froze upon seeing the three of us bundled up on the couch. The princess shot up, cheeks flushed.

“Brother! You should knock before entering a lady’s room! What if one of us were changing?!” Leah and I also stood back up, straightening our clothes. Leah bowed her head and stepped to the side.

She just called him “Brother,” so he must be one of the princes. I better not make a fool of myself. I looked over at where Lydia was scolding him. He just smiled and scratched his head before turning to look at me. His eyes were scrutinizing, but I didn’t sense any ill intent.

“I apologize; I did knock, however. So don’t blame me if you didn’t hear it.” He gently patted Lydia on the head, and she puffed her cheeks out in frustration. It was pretty adorable. Wait? Adorable?

“Brother, this is Audrey. She’s the one I told you about.”

I bowed my head nervously. “I-It’s a pleasure to meet you, Your Highness, I am Audrey. Her Highness has been more than generous with me.”

The prince smiled at me, and I felt I was being evaluated. There wasn’t any malice, but he was wary. “It’s very nice to meet you as well. I’m glad you are doing better and in record time now less.”

His unspoken question was obvious. “I wish I could tell you how it happened, but I don’t even know myself.” I do have an idea. It’s probably because of the divine power Aurora told me about. But I can’t tell them about that, not yet. “However, I wish to make it clear that I intend to repay the Princess for everything she’s done, and I have no ill intentions against the royal family.” I looked the prince in the eye; I felt I’d lose if I looked away. We stayed like that for a while before he spoke.

“I understand. I can tell you speak the truth. Please do your best to support my sister. She can be quite the handful.” his expression was filled with affection for the princess. It was reminded me of my mother, and that only improved their reputation to me.