Cassian slowly steadied himself. His blurry vision slowly straightened itself out. And in front of him was a little strawberry, correction, it was Adeline. Her iconic pink hair was the first thing he saw when he got his vision back. Her blue eyes looked at him with care and confusion.
Why would she be worried about him? They rarely met. He tried to focus on the goal his mother gave him but he was too tired to do so. He barely had enough energy to keep himself from fainting.
’Something is wrong with him for sure.’ She hoped the Goddess would tell her something, but when she needed her the most, she stayed silent.
"Cassian?"
"He is fine."
There was only one maid with them as a chaperone. She quickly answered on his behalf which annoyed Adeline. Let him speak.
"It is kind of you to worry, Miss Adeline. I am fine, just a little tired from training."
His voice sounded weak. Adeline couldn’t press because they were not that close to each other, plus the maid behind him was becoming restless.
Suddenly this room felt very stuffy to her.
"Shall we take a walk outside?"
Before Cassian could reply the maid readied herself to accompany them.
"Alone," Adeline ordered.
Cassian sighed and nodded to the maid indicating that he had everything under control. Cassian walked before her and opened the door like a gentleman. He didn’t know that his body showed physical signs of weakness, which caused Adeline to frown.
’Just what was he going through in the palace?’
They walked in silence until they reached an isolated part of the garden, there was a pristine lake beside them which reflected the beauty of the Imperial garden.
"Did you have anything to say to me?" Why else did he order her to come in the letter? She didn’t know that the Empress sent the letter, not him.
He shook his head, and with a weak smile he said, "Just accompanying you like this is enough."
Adeline’s fists balled, she didn’t know why she felt nervous. This sweet talk made the previous Adeline go down that route. At any cost, do not fall for the Crown Prince.
Flashes of imagery appeared in her mind. It was the fate of the book Adeline. The pain she went through even in her final moments, her friends... Or so she thought, completely abandoned her.
These thoughts had gripped her mind, and a sense of fear began to rise. She never felt this before, and she certainly didn’t feel this fear when she spent time with Benedict. Only him...
She stumbled on a rock because she didn’t see where she was going and she almost fell into the lake beside her. Her eyes closed instantly. She felt someone gripping her hand and pulling her back.
"I’m glad you’re safe." He pulled her to his side, now he was next to the lake and she was walking next to him. She looked up at him, and those fears still lingered. There were visible beads of sweat on his face. It was not a hot day outside. ’Am I that heavy?!’ She frowned. ’Did he overexert himself trying to pull me?’ She pouted a bit and walked as usual.
He did overexert himself by just joining her on this walk. This time it was not her who stumbled but him. He lost consciousness and fell into the water.
"Cassian!"
There was no one around her because she hoped to talk to him alone. Only she could save him.
There was no time to think, only to act. She knew how to swim in her previous life, she could swim now, right?
Taking a deep breath Adeline jumped into the lake, although her mind screamed at her saying ’What the hell are you doing?’ She told herself that she was only doing this to avoid going to jail for treason, she couldn’t let the royal heir die.
Once in the cold lake, she felt like sinking, like her intelligence, her swimming skills didn’t transfer to this body. Trying not to panic she tried to get herself afloat first, she couldn’t save anyone if she was dead.
"You’re so stupid, you know that? Why are you causing me trouble?"
After she heard that voice, her body felt lighter and she was able to open her eyes. Almost immediately she was able to spot Cassian. He was slowly sinking, there was almost a sense of peace written all over his face. It was as if this was the best option for him.
With full force, she dove towards Cassian and caught ahold of his collar. It was hard and she was running out of both energy and oxygen but she couldn’t just leave him here.
’I could use a little help!’ She internally screamed to get the Goddess’ attention.
"I already did what I could, I am not almighty!"
’You are literally a Goddess!’
She wouldn’t admit but the sheer amount of annoyance she felt after talking to the Goddess made her kick harder and faster, she was able to surface in a few seconds.
"Cassian, please wake up!"