"How is he?" Lumina asked softly, her hands folded tightly beneath her sleeves.
Her voice held a quiet haste as she turned toward the royal physician, who had just finished examining Ashen.
The physician bowed respectfully before answering, "My Lady, the strike was strong and could have been deadly... but by his grace, it missed the vital parts of his heart. With rest, the prince will recover fully."
Ashen, seated nearby, glanced up at Lumina, his eyes shadowed with a calm that didn’t quite reach his voice.
"I told you... I am doing fine," he said, brushing a hand across his lips where dried blood still lingered faintly.
Lumina exhaled slowly. "I know, I just needed to be sure," she responded.
Ashen offered her a soft smile, and gently pulled her down beside him. The lightning strike wasn’t light. He could tell the destruction that it might cause him, but he is delighted it didn’t touch Lumina.
"You worry too much," he mumbled, making her roll her eyes under her blindfold.
"I am not worried about your health," she said, her voice low. "I am more worried about becoming a widow at my age."
The smile fell from Ashen’s lips. Silence settled between them like mist.
The royal physician cleared his throat politely, trying to ease the tense atmosphere. "Then... I shall take my leave..." The physician let out.
"You haven’t been permitted to leave," Lumina interrupted without lifting her head.
Ashen blinked out in shock"What?"
The physician turned to her, confusion growing in his eyes.
Lumina slowly stood from her seat. She walked toward the physician and, slowly, she removed the blindfold over her eyes.
The physician froze seeing looking into her pure white his expression twisted in shock. He couldn’t look away. Ashen stood up, watching in silence.
"Though he pretends to be well," Lumina began, her voice eerily calm, "But the prince has been hit more than once. And if the wounds are not cared for properly... they could lead to death."
The physician’s lips moved as if controlled, repeating her exact words, as if something unseen pulled the truth from his mouth.
Ashen’s head snapped toward her. His brows furrowed in shock at how she had done that.
She turned with a small smile, as she covered her eyes again, and sat back in her seat.
The physician blinked rapidly, as if waking from a trance. "Prince Ashen has suffered serious injuries from the attack. If left untreated... it may lead to death." Lumina smiled faintly and gestured toward the door.
The moment the door closed behind him, Ashen turned to her fully.
"How..." his voice cracked, "How did you do that?"
Lumina reached out, and he quickly took her hand to steady her. She lowered herself slowly beside him.
"Well," she said softly, "let’s just say I have a few tricks up my sleeves. Why do you think I wear the blindfold?"
Ashen stared, stunned. "You can... Can you influence someone’s actions? Place words in their mouths?"
"Sometimes," she replied. "But I do it only when it matters." There was a silence between them.
She turned her head slightly toward him. "We need to get you into the royal palace," she stated, out of the blue and Ashen frowned.
"What are you talking about?"
"I heard you have stayed away for years. But now, because of me, you walk into it every day for one issue all the other."
"So?" Ashen asked, still trying to grasp her plan.
"That is the point," she said calmly.
"Why do you think I provoked Princess Aurelia? Why do you think I spoke out?"
Ashen shook his head. "What are you even saying?"
"I am saying you need to stop hiding," Lumina said, her tone suddenly fierce.
"Stop letting them treat you like a stain. Prince Adam is not worthy of the throne."
Ashen’s hand slammed onto her lap in shock. "What did you just say?" Lumina slapped his hand off.
"Don’t shush me," she argued almost immediately, she had noticed how he was being cast aside and it was one of the stupid things a royal family could do.
He never looks like a threat, only living his life but they make sure to do everything to break him. They even chose a wife for him and he was ready to adapt to changes.
"Are you mad? That is treason." Ashen whispered looking around like anyone could see them.
"Then let it be," she replied.
"You want me to chase after the crown?" Ashen asked against
"I want you to rise above your brother. I want the throne in your hands." Ashen stared at her. "You sound just like them."
"No... I sound like a woman who knows the world will not kneel to you unless you take your place. I am not asking for luxury, Ashen. I am asking for survival."
"But I am not interested in the throne," Ashen argued back, he had only ever cared about living his life rather than locking it in the palace.
She leaned closer to him hoping she would speak sense into him now.
"Then let me be very clear. Adam allowed our marriage because he thought you would never rise. That I would weigh you down with my deficit and that wouldn’t ever bring the plan of you taking him.."
Ashen’s jaw clenched. "He should do whatever he thinks is right for himself."
Lumina smacked her head at this, "Ashen, open your eyes. The longer you sit in silence, the more they strip you... And the closer you are to death the moment the king loses his life." Ashen stood abruptly startling her.
"Enough! This is the king’s life we are talking about.." he barked out pacing slightly. "Adam is also older than me and he has every right to the throne.."
Lumina smiled quietly, her voice cold with truth. "You can keep hiding," she said. "But I will not."
He turned slowly to her. "And what will you do?"
"I would raise you to become the next King or help just myself if you are not ready for that throne."