Olivia’s hands shook violently the moment the tip of her scissors touched Javien’s uniform. The fabric had turned stiff from dried blood. Every time she tugged at the cloth, Javien winced, clutching Olivia’s bedsheets so hard the fabric began to tear.

"Celine, hold his shoulders. Do not let him turn," Olivia whispered, her voice rasping.

Celine nodded, her face drenched in tears. When the back of the shirt was finally cut open, both girls fell silent.

The wound was not just a common lashing. Deep purple veins branched out from the whip marks, looking as if the magic from Duke Herold’s cane was crawling into Javien’s very bones.

"This is not a normal wound, Olivia. This is a curse," Celine whispered in terror.

Olivia remembered the sharp sounds of the strike from earlier. No wonder Javien had not screamed. He had used every ounce of his strength to prevent that magic from reaching his heart.

Suddenly, the hand Javien used to grip the sheets reached out for Olivia. He grabbed her wrist with his remaining strength.

"Do not... look... it is too ugly," Javien whispered. His voice was so faint it was barely audible in the silent room.

"Shut up, Javien! You did the stupidest thing tonight!" Olivia snapped back, her tears falling right onto Javien’s hand.

"Why did you give in? Why did you let him whip you like this?!"

Javien forced a thin smile that was painful to watch.

"Because if not me... he would have gone after my rabbit..."

Avelvion, who had been standing in a dark corner of the room, finally spoke. His usually playful face had turned cold and mature.

"Normal medicine will not heal him, Olivia," Avelvion said as he stepped closer. He pulled a small, dark blue bottle from his pocket.

"That cane... I felt mana in it."

Avelvion spoke while keeping his eyes fixed on Javien, who was still knitting his brows in pain.

"Javien... you know what I mean, right?" Avelvion asked firmly.

Javien only gave a slow nod. Olivia watched his weary eyes as he struggled against the agony.

"But that is the thing. It might not be fatal, but it will have a serious impact on your body, Javien,"

Avelvion continued as he leaned in to inspect the horrific wounds.

Olivia listened intently. Beside her, Celine did not understand their conversation at all, but she nodded along as if she did.

"If he is not treated with this antidote, only his corpse will be left by tomorrow morning."

Olivia looked at Avelvion with suspicion. Why was this prince helping them? Was he not supposed to be on the Duke’s side?

"Why are you helping us, Avelvion?" Olivia asked.

Avelvion scoffed and looked away.

"Olivia, I have told you many times about this. Just take it before he loses his life."

Olivia took the bottle. She knew this was a huge gamble. She looked at Javien’s pale face, then at the bottle in her hand.

Javien... you have to live. You have not seen the bright world you imagined yet,

Olivia whispered to herself.

Her hand froze for a second. The liquid inside shimmered with a strange neon light, as if it had a life of its own.

"Celine, get a clean cloth. Javien... you have to endure this. It might hurt even more than the whipping," Olivia whispered, her voice breaking.

Celine quickly handed over a wet cloth. As soon as Olivia dripped the blue liquid onto the wound, a terrifying reaction occurred.

"AGHHH!"

Javien let out a short howl before biting into a pillow to stifle his voice. His body convulsed violently. The black veins began to shift and foam, looking as if they were being burned by acid. A thin, gray smoke with a burnt smell rose from his skin.

"Hold him, Olivia! Do not let him release that mana!" Avelvion shouted.

Olivia did not think twice. She immediately threw her arms around Javien’s head and shoulders, letting him lean against her chest. She did not care if her clothes was stained with blood or sweat. She only wanted the pain to transfer to her.

"I am here, Javien... I am here," Olivia sobbed while stroking his drenched hair.

Slowly, the black veins shrank and disappeared into his skin. Javien’s skin, which had turned blue from the residue, began to return to its original color, though he looked incredibly weak.

His grip on Olivia’s wrist loosened, and his hand fell limp onto the mattress.

The room fell into a deep silence, broken only by Javien’s short, heavy breaths.

"He is out of the critical stage," Avelvion said shortly. He leaned against the wall, his face looking as exhausted as if he had just finished a battle himself.

Olivia looked at Avelvion with puffy eyes.

"Avelvion... thank you for today," Olivia said, bowing her head. She was covered in sweat and her hair was a mess.

Avelvion patted her shoulder gently and whispered,

"You must be wondering why he can still be controlled, right?"

Olivia looked up at him with a resigned expression.

"No... I was just wondering how you got that liquid," Olivia answered as she turned her gaze back to Javien, who was lying unconscious on her bed.

"You know what the risk is if your father the emperor finds out?"

Avelvion remained silent. He looked toward the window, where a sharp crescent moon hung in the sky.

"Because if he dies, you will ’die’ too, Olivia," Avelvion answered softly.

"You are the only person who treats me like a human in this hellish palace. I will not let you lose your ’protector’."

Celine, who had been sobbing this whole time, began to carefully tuck Javien in with a blanket.

Suddenly, Javien’s fingers moved slightly. His eyes opened halfway, searching for someone in the dim lamplight.

"Oli...via...?" his voice was barely a whisper.

Olivia immediately leaned closer.

"Yes, I am here. Rest, Javien. It is all over."

Javien looked directly into Olivia’s eyes. Even in his weakened state, he managed to whisper something that made Olivia’s heart stop for a moment.

"Do not cry... your tears... are more expensive than my life."

After saying that, Javien drifted back into unconsciousness, but this time his sleep was more peaceful. Avelvion raised an eyebrow

Hah. What, does he think I only know how to cry?

Olivia thought.

Her heart felt a little lighter seeing the man on her bed. For years, without news or explanation, they had both survived various challenges and torture.

"Alright then, Olivia. I am going back to my room," Avelvion said with his usual mischievous smile.

Olivia turned her head, feeling slightly annoyed, but she managed a nod. Celine then hugged Olivia tightly.

"Do you want to sleep in my room?" Celine asked. Her eyes drifted to Javien. She let out a heavy sigh.

"I think he needs you right now. What if he wakes up and finds the room empty?"

"That would be very painful, Olivia,"

Celine added with a warm smile. Olivia laughed softly.

"Fine then, My Lady Celine!" Olivia teased, making a bowing motion. Celine just shook her head and walked away.

Tap, tap, tap.

Olivia sighed in relief as the sound of Avelvion and Celine’s footsteps faded and the corridor returned to silence.

Thankfully, the Duke did not come. To him, the punishment from yesterday was likely enough to teach a Knight who had forgotten his place.

Olivia gently stroked Javien’s forehead. She remembered his words.

Your tears are more expensive than my life.

"Idiot," Olivia muttered, but a small smile formed on her lips.

Suddenly, Javien tried to move his shoulder. He let out a small groan, his forehead creasing in intense pain.

"Javien! Do not move yet. The medicine just started to settle," Olivia scolded him firmly, her hand pressing gently on his shoulder to keep him lying face down.

"Olivia... what time is it?" Javien asked, his voice still cracked.

"It is midnight. Why?"

"Tomorrow... early in the morning... I have to be in front of Lady Ophilia’s room. The Duke... he will not accept any excuses if I am late."

Javien tried to reach for his uniform that Olivia had cut up earlier. He looked worried. Olivia looked at the ruined clothes, then at Javien’s back which was still raw and red.

"Are you crazy, Javien? If those wounds touch armor, your skin will peel right off! Just rest. Let me tell Lady Ophilia that you—"

"Do not." Javien cut her off quickly. He turned his face slightly to look at her.

"If you speak up, the Duke will know you treated me with that strange antidote. I do not want you to be interrogated."

Javien took a long breath, trying to gather his strength.

"I am her Knight, Olivia. My job is to stand behind her so people do not see you. If I am not there tomorrow, Lady Ophilia will look for you to vent her anger about the dance last night. I will not let that happen."

Olivia went silent. He was right. When Ophilia threw a tantrum, the entire kitchen felt the heat.

"Fine... but tomorrow, I will line your back with the softest silk I have. So that the uniform does not stick to the wound,"

Olivia finally said, giving in to Javien’s stubbornness. 𝗳𝐫𝚎𝗲𝚠𝚎𝗯𝕟𝐨𝘃𝚎𝗹.𝗰𝗼𝗺

Javien smiled faintly, his hand finding Olivia’s fingers again.

"Thank you, Olivia."

Olivia pouted.

"Just sleep! You have too much energy for someone who likes to talk."

Olivia let out a long breath as she watched the man in front of her.

Haih...

That night, Olivia did not sleep. She sat by the bed, watching Javien’s breath become steady. She knew that tomorrow morning, another "war" would begin in Duke Herold’s palace.

A war where she had to pretend to be a submissive servant, and Javien had to pretend to be a heartless Knight, even though their big secret had only just begun.