I Will Protect You This Time

Episode 42

(WHO DARES?)

*

*

*

Skrr~

Ella removed the curtains from the window. The ray of sunlight touched Isabella's face.

"Uh-"

'So bright…'

Isabella thought while covering her face with one hand.

"Good Morning, My Lady."

Ella greeted Isabella with a warm smile.

"It's already morning…?"

Isabella said while slowly getting up from bed. 

"Yes, My Lady. I have already prepared water for you to freshen up, My Lady."

"Okay."

Saying that Isabella got down from her bed then started washing her face.

"Ahh-"

My wrist…

As soon as I touched the water to rinse my face, my wrist started to sting.

"What is it, My Lady?"

Ella asked anxiously.

I looked at my hand. My wrist is badly bruised and a little bit of skin was ripped in the middle. It hurts.

"Oh my goodness, My Lady?! How did this happen?"

Ella said while grabbing Isabella's wrist.

Isabella flinched at her touch and jerked off Ella's hand. Ella's eyes widened at Isabella's sudden action.

"Ah… That…"

Why did I do that? 

"I… I apologize for grabbing your hand without consent, My Lady."

Ella bowed and said.

'I must have grabbed her wrist too tightly. Sh*t!'

"No! I apologize for that. I don't know what came off me…"

"No, My Lady. It's definitely my fault. But how did you even get hurt?! It was just a bruise when I checked yesterday. But this…"

Ella said while frowning.

Isabella's wrist was in a gruesome shape. It was swollen and turned blue. Dry blood was sticking on the ripped part. 

"Please excuse me for a moment."

Ella then hurriedly ran out of the room.

Haa~

Isabella breathed out.

My wrist hurts! But when did this happen?! I can't remember. Ella said my hand was already bruised yesterday. 

Yesterday… What was I even doing yesterday? After Maria left, I was supposed to visit the Empress... Did I go? 

I can't remember. 

"Aghh! My head… It hurts."

Isabella staggered and sat on the couch.

"My Lady!"

Ella entered the room running with a medical kit.

"My Lady, please sit here."

Ella said while pointing to the couch.

"Yes."

After that Ella carefully cleaned the dry blood.

'Aghh! It hurts.'

Isabella thought while tightly closing her eyes.

Sob*

"I am sorry."

Ella sobbed.

What? Is she crying?

Isabella opened her eyes in surprise.

"I am sorry, My Lady."

"Wh-Why are you crying?"

Is something wrong? Did I do something… I don't know what to do...

"I should have been there for you. I am your personal maid. But still… I didn't even know when it happened."

Ella sobbed. Warm tears were dropping from her eyes.

Isabella's eyes widened.

What? She is crying for me? For someone like me? 

"It must be hurting so much. I am sorry."

Ella cried while wiping off the dry blood. 

I can't believe this… Someone is crying for me… I am truly wicked. She is crying but for some reason, I feel so happy… Happy that someone cares for me... Happy that someone can also cry for me.

"It's okay. Thank you for caring for me, Ella."

Isabella said with a warm smile while patting Ella's head.

"My Lady! I brought Sir Allen!"

Cande entered the room while bursting open the door.

"You-!"

Ella hurriedly got up and took a shawl. Then she wrapped it around my shoulder.

After that, a young man with half black and half white hair entered the room.

"Greetings, Your Highness, the Crown Princess. I am Allen, the apprentice of the Royal Healer."

Allen greeted while bowing.

"Greetings."

"Please heal her hand quickly!"

Ella begged.

"Well, I am here for that. Please give me your hand, My Lady."

Allen said while forwarding his hand.

"Oh, Okay."

Saying that Isabella put her hand on his.

Gasp*

"This is…"

Allen's eyes widened seeing Isabella's wrist. Cande also had the same expression.

"How did this…"

"Sir Allen, can you hurry up?"

Ella said with an annoyed expression.

"Ah. Yes."

After that, Allen closed his eyes and started chanting something. In a minute a bright light shone around my wrist and it was healed in an instant.

"It's done."

Allen said after opening his eyes.

Wow. My wrist is completely healed. 

"Thank you."

Isabella said with a smile.

"D-Don't, Your Highness. It's my duty to serve you."

"And I have a favour to ask."

"Please say anything, Your Highness. I will try my very best to fulfil it."

"Can you please keep this a secret from everyone?"

"What? But why?"

"You have already healed me. So there's no need to inform others about this. It will just make them worry."

I don't want to be a nuisance.

"But, Your Highness-"

"Please."

"Ah… Sigh. Okay."

"Thank you very much!"

"Sir Allen, is My Lady really alright?"

"Yes."

Allen replied while nodding his head.

"Then please return. My Lady needs to have breakfast."

"Oh. Yes. Then please excuse me."

Saying that Allen bowed and walked out of the room.

"My Lady! How did you get hurt anyways?"

Cande said worriedly as soon as Allen walked out.

"I don't know. I can't remember anything that happened after yesterday afternoon."

"That… Nothing happened, My Lady."

"Really?"

"Yes. You went to visit the Empress with me and then after talking we hurriedly returned as it was raining."

"I… I see."

"And I don't think you will be able to visit the Empress anytime soon."

Cande said with caution.

"Huh? Why is that?"

"Her Highness, the Empress will be busy with the preparation of the Hunting Festival."

"Oh. I can't remember."

"It's okay, My Lady. It must be because you were so tired."

"Yes. Probably."

"..."

"..."

"Ella and Cande?"

"Yes, My Lady?"

Both Ella and Cande replied simultaneously.

"Don't tell anyone about today, okay?"

"Well, of course."

"Don't worry, My Lady. Our lips are sealed."

"Thank you."

Isabella said with a smile.

"Anyways My Lady, we have prepared breakfast for you."

"Oh, yes. I am quite hungry."

After that, Isabella washed her face then ate the breakfast that Cande prepared.

*

*

*

Allen is walking in the hallway thinking about something with a serious face.

'I can't believe someone dared to hurt the Crown Princess. Are they not afraid of dying or something? Tch! What if that person attacks her again? Aghh~ I shouldn't have promised her anything. Well, I was taken aback by her wound…"

Sigh~

Allen sighed deeply thinking about what happened just minutes ago.

<

I was sitting idly in the Royal Physician's Chamber. To be honest, it was early in the morning. I was sleepy.

Yawn~

Suddenly a maid burst open the door and entered the chamber without any announcement.

I flinched as that happened out of nowhere.

"Anyone here?! The Crown Princess is hurt!"

The maid asked anxiously.

"What? Well, the Royal Physician still hasn't arrived yet."

"What? Then what am I suppose to do? She is badly hurt."

The maid said while biting her nails.

"Well, I am his apprentice."

"What? Then what are you waiting for? Hurry up and come with me!"

"Ah- Yes. Let's go."

'Well, if something happens to the Crown Princess, Master will be scolded by the Prince. Ughh! I can't forget how he lashed out at Master about how the Princess didn't wake up yet. Ughh! My nap!'

To be honest, I was quite annoyed. I didn't understand why the maid was so anxious either. Is the Crown Princess going to beat her or something? 

Well, there are some nasty rumours about her. 

Anyways after literally running, I reached the Crown Princess's Chamber.

"Greetings, Your Highness, the Crown Princess. I am Allen, the apprentice of the Royal Healer."

"Greetings."

She is so beautiful~ Honestly, no one can tell that she is so vicious seeing her face. Honestly, how hurt can she even be? It might be just a scratch. 

"Please heal her hand quickly!"

The maid standing beside the Crown Princess literally begged. 

Honestly, how bad can it be? Sigh~

But my thought was completely destroyed after seeing her wrist.

"This is…"

It was badly bruised and swollen. Some parts of the skin were ripped off which were small but deep.

"How did this…"

How the hell did this even happen?! Who did it? This is gruesome!

"Sir Allen, can you hurry up?"

The maid standing next to the Crown Prince said with an annoyed expression.

"Ah. Yes."

>

She was gentle too. The rumours must have been false. Her personal maids looked genuinely worried for her. She must be an amazing person to earn trust of a Beastman like that. 

But then how did such rumours spread, to begin with?

Anyways after I healed her she thanked me with a gentle smile. She is too beautiful!

I mean how can I say no when a beauty like her asks me for a favour! ( ⁰͡ Ĺ̯ ⁰͡ ) 

Aghh! Now I won't be able to rest today thinking about all this.

Sigh~