Alina woke up feeling better. Her vision was clear, the nausea had receded, and the cramps were bearable now. Her head was still on Austin’s thigh.

She looked up at him. He was asleep. She remembered how she had begged him to rest. Only then had he closed his eyes and had fallen asleep almost immediately.

Slowly, she sat up. She poured herself a glass of water and felt better. Then she lay back down on the bed. Austin kept sleeping, with his head resting on the headboard.

For a while, everything was normal. Then, after an hour, the fever returned. The poison apparently worked in waves. Her face became warm, but her hands turned cold. The nausea returned and cramps also cycled back.

She pulled the blanket over herself as her body began to shake again. Then, suddenly, she felt a hand on her forehead. She opened her eyes and saw Austin looking concerned as he checked her temperature.

"The second wave," he said. "But don’t worry. It will be milder."

"It is," she assured him.

"It’s time for your medicine," he said and climbed out of the bed.

"No," she protested weakly. "It tastes like mud."

Ignoring her, he went to the table and picked up a small medicine bottle. He poured the liquid into a small cup and brought it back to her.

"I’m not drinking that again." she said, making a face just by smelling it.

"Alina... drink it," his said firmly.

They looked at each other in a standoff over a cup of medicine. Knowing she couldn’t win this battle, she sighed, took the cup from his hands and drank it one go. Her face twisted instantly.

"There," she said, handing back the cup. "Happy?"

"The physician said you need to take it every four hours."

"Every four hours?" she repeated in disbelief.

"Which means three more times today."

"I want a different physician."

"He is the best in the castle," he said calmly as he put the cup back on the table.

By afternoon, Alina felt a little better again. Austin had finally left her alone for the first time since she got sick, after she threatened to get out of bed and go back to the sewing circle if he didn’t leave and handle the investigation himself.

She wanted some alone time. She liked having him closer but his constant presence was overwhelming for her.

She had just finished her porridge when Marguerite entered the room. She looked worried as she sat on the edge of the bed beside her.

"How are you?" she asked.

"Better," Alina replied. "Are they still questioning Evelyn?"

Marguerite shook her head.

"She has been cleared."

Alina sighed in relief.

"I knew she would be."

"Mr. Harrington finished the investigation this morning," Marguerite said. "Apparently, someone went into the kitchen at midnight and added the toxin into the honey jar, that Evelyn uses specifically to make your tea."

Alina’s mouth fell open.

"Though Evelyn tasted it, before adding it in your cup but it wasn’t even a full drop, so it didn’t affect her."

She paused.

"The same person also planted dried leaves in Evelyn’s locker to frame her. But fortunately, they found a witness that confirmed she saw someone in maid’s uniform entering Evelyn’s room with the same pouch."

"Who is that maid?"

Marguerite shook her head.

"She hasn’t been identified yet. Apparently, she wasn’t from the castle."

Alina’s gaze dropped to her hands, a little disappointed.

"So...they’ve found no concrete evidence against the main culprit yet."

Marguerite shook her head.

"Evelyn is devastated," Marguerite said. "She has been crying and is blaming herself for your situation."

"But she didn’t do anything wrong," Alina said immediately. "Bring her..."

Before Alina could finish, Austin had entered the room. Marguerite stood up at once.

"I’ll come back later, Alina," she said. "Take care."

She bowed to Austin and left.

Austin walked to her and sat on the chair beside her bed.

"How are you feeling?" he asked.

"Bored," she replied.

"Do you want to read?" he suggested.

"My eyes still hurt."

"Then... I’ll read to you."

She smiled.

"What will you read?"

He immediately took a book out from his coat pocket. He had already planned this. Alina looked at the book and, to her surprise, it was a novel. She didn’t know he read novels as well.

"You read novels?" she asked.

"Occasionally," he replied and began to read.

It was a pirate story. While reading, Austin gave every character a voice, but not in a dramatic way. He changed his tone a little for each character, so as to make them feel different.

Alina listened to him with her full attention. She was too weak to laugh at the funny parts but she smiled.

He kept reading for an hour. During the second hour, his voice went hoarse. But he didn’t stop or take a break because Alina was smiling and that’s what mattered to him the most.

By the seventh Chapter, Alina’s body gave up and she fell asleep. He read for ten more minutes and stopped. He bookmarked the page and closed the book. Then he looked at her, and slowly, dozed off as well.

When Alina woke at dawn, she felt lighter and much better. She opened her eyes and saw Austin sleeping on the same chair.

It was the first time she had woken up and he was asleep. She smiled at the sight of him.

His one hand was resting on the book while the other was hung loosely off the arm of the chair. Immediately, her thoughts consumed her.

I love you.

You read me a pirate story when I was sick, and now are sleeping uncomfortably on a chair because you don’t want me to be alone.

Your sleeping face is the most beautiful face I’ve ever seen.

When everything is over...I’ll tell you...I’ll tell you...that I love you.

Slowly, she reached across the gap between the bed and the chair and touched his hand gently. Then, she threaded their fingers together.

He didn’t wake but his fingers held her back even in sleep.