––I’ll f**king kill you!

He wanted to push her away, but his hands were too weak to move. He was about to lose consciousness when he heard a terrifying sound.

A guard slammed down the woman.

“What a horrific injury…. Sir Emilio, we’ll surely save you. I’ll get you out of there.”

Was he so beat up – in such a bad shape, that words of salvation needed to be spoken?

That thought echoed in his mind.

It seemed that his body was supported by one of the guards.

There was also the sound of a mad woman’s laughter in the background.

Even at this moment, he felt drowsy. But the pain of the wound was lessening. He quickly spoke as the guards tried to pull out the small knife that Flavia had lodged in Luciano’s back.

“Stop it…. Don’t pull it out yet. … Take me to Alana’s room like this …”

//some first aid advice: if someone is stabbed, you should never pull out the knife! Depending on the severity, there’s potential for the patient to deteriorate faster. Let the medical professionals remove that 🙂

“But,” Luciano said, closing his eyes.

He was certain that Alana would not take the antidote.

“I’m all right. Just go … quickly. Hurry up.”

//How is this man alive hhh

♔♔♔

“Alana, please drink. Why won’t you drink it!”

At the sound of Callisto’s loud voice, Luciano thought: it was as he had expected.

Alana would not have died since a long time ago if she had so easily drunk it.

Luciano was about to go to her side but he quickly changed his mind.

When he told the guards that he was fine here, they looked at him strangely.

He knew he was in a terrible state. His hair was dishevelled and dull, and dark circles gloomed his eyes. He had a beard and the stench of sweat clung to his body. He must smell horrible. In addition, he had cried profusely and had a dagger stabbed in his back.

He was unbearably sleepy, and his eyelids were about to shut. His body needing rest was an understatement.

He thought to himself, he didn’t want her to see him like this. He felt like a defeated man.

With all his strength, Luciano pulled his hood up tightly. He did not want her to see.

“Sir Emilio. Are you sure you want to stay here?”

“Release your hands. –– I’m fine.”

Luciano sat down on the floor as it became difficult to stand and breathed in.

“Alana, stop being so selfish now!” Luciano shouted, and he was struck hard by a bolt of pain. The excruciating sensation continued.

He leaned forward and fought back the pain.

“…Ku. Grow up. Listen to Callisto!”

He could not see Alana, but he pictured her on the bed.

Her green eyes.

“You are the Queen… and you have responsibilities. Do you think that you can simply abandon them? Don’t run away. Don’t take the easy way out. If you are born into royalty, you will not be allowed to do so. You won’t be forgiven. Royalty is a responsibility that must be accepted until the moment of death. If you disappear, someone else will have to take the blame. You’re imposing that on me? I’m not joking. Who’s going to take your place? No one can take your place. Don’t run away; fight. Anyone who abandons the fight is incompetent – anyone who gives up is. Take your medicine and take responsibility. You have not achieved anything. Don’t choose to die without doing anything. Only those who have fulfilled their duties gracefully will be allowed to die!”

Luciano could not comprehend the words he yelled.

His mouth just ran.

His head was a knotted mess, and he could not clearly organise his thoughts.

Truthfully, he was already past his limit.

He collapsed.

His surroundings were noisy; buzzing with incoherent voices.

He wanted to yell at them, “Shut up, shut up. I can’t hear Alana’s weak voice over your noise.”

“Sir Emilio! Have you been stabbed? Get the doctor in here!”

––Shut up, Callisto. It’s your job to give Alana the antidote.

“…ha. I won’t be treated.”

“What are you saying? You’ll die!”

“Not until Alana takes the antidote…”

“Take Emilio away! Carry him!”

“Don’t carry me! Don’t touch me….”

–– If you carry me away, I won’t know if Alana drinks it or not. Everywhere around him, voices yelled.

Headache.

He could not discern the reality from a dream.

–– I’m sleepy.

“Sir Emilio, Alana wants you to be treated.”

“Alana…? I refuse. The antidote comes first…”

“She’s crying, Alana.”

“… She’s selfish. I don’t care if she cries. I won’t be treated…”

“Alana will drink if you get medical treatment.”

“Drink first. I won’t say anymore.”

Everything in the world seemed to sway. Was it because he had lost too much blood, or perhaps it was due to him being on the verge of death?

–– I feel uncomfortable and unpleasant.

“Sir Emilio, Alana has taken the antidote. I’ve seen it with my own eyes. She’s begging for you to get seen quickly; she’s not acting selfishly anymore. Now, hurry. You need it soon.”

“Slow…did you want to kill me?*… From the beginning, you shouldn’t have whined.”

*I think Luci is speaking to Alana here.

“Carry the Prince consort away!” Callisto yelled over the commotion.

Luciano’s consciousness faded.

♔♔♔