Conquering His Cold Heart

This time, along with Anastasia and Caspian, Tilla was also riding their carriage so that she could take care of Anastasia if something was to happen to her again.

And it looked like Tilla did the right thing by insisting to ride along with the monarchs because Anastasia was showing signs of fatigue and motion sickness.

Both Tilla and Caspian got worried when Anastasia began tightly closing her eyes and gagging once in a while as though she was going to throw up at any time.

“Your Majesty, do you want to bite on a piece of fresh lemon? I had restocked it from the castle,” Tilla asked Anastasia with the intention to help her.

Anastasia vigorously nodded her head. “Yeah, I think I need it.”

When Tilla took out a lemon from her bag, Anastasia instructed her, “Give me a small piece only. Else I won’t be able to chew anything for the next hour.”

Caspian was quietly watching the two of them interacting with each other. He could see why Anastasia was so fond of Tilla. The handmaid knew everything about Anastasia, and she knew how to take care of her.

Tilla washed and cut the lemon. And while handing it over to Tilla, she noticed how Anastasia’s scalp was covered in sweat beads. She furrowed her brows and then pressed her palm over Anastasia’s forehead.

.....

She took a sharp breath and widened her eyes, alarming both Anastasia and Caspian.

“What is it?” Caspian asked, and he also lifted his hand to press it against Anastasia’s cheek. A piece of his soul left his body when he found out that Anastasia was almost as cold as him. He questioningly looked at Tilla for an answer.

Tilla took a deep breath in and replied, “I think she was having a fever back there in the castle. And now, the temperature went down more than what was required.”

Anastasia’s pupils dilated when she recalled how her body had warmed up abnormally after getting kissed by Everard. And then she witnessed the clash between her husband and Everard. She was obviously scared to her core. Since she was also already weak and tired from the continuous travel, it didn’t take long enough for the fever to take over her body.

“What do we do then?” Caspian looked at Tilla and asked worriedly.

Tilla took a deep breath and looked at her friend. She knew what needed to be done. She looked back at the King and then answered him, “I don’t think heading towards Sorvando will be a wise thing to do.”

She gazed at Anastasia. The Queen was now closing her eyes and then slowly munching on the piece of lemon. And Tilla mumbled with a sense of urgency, “Her fever will return shortly. She needs to rest. Else the fever will take longer to heal.”

Caspian instantly got up on his feet and then banged on the carriage wall.

The carriage stopped shortly. The Royal Guards who were riding the horses also stopped and one of them asked from outside, “Your Majesty, is everything alright?”

Caspian opened the window and then instructed the guard, “Find a place to stay. We are spending a night here. And also, find a doctor for the Queen.”

The guard would have liked it if they were to get out of the border of Xanmar as soon as possible. It would have been easier to protect the monarchs. But then he looked at the Queen; she didn’t look like she would be able to endure another 6-8 hours of journey.

So, without arguing with the King about how they should be leaving the enemy Kingdom as soon as they could, the guard agreed, “As you wish, Your Majesty.”

The coachman then parked the carriage at the side of the road so that they could wait there until the guards found a place to stay for the night.

Caspian looked out of the window. Though it was pitch black outside, he could see that they had already arrived at the outskirts of the capital. Although it was still a part of the capital, the area where they were right now looked more like the countryside than a town.

‘I hope there aren’t that many werewolves here,’ he thought to himself while narrowing his eyes at the few houses in distance.

He then shifted his gaze to his wife. She was starting to shiver now. Just like what Tilla had predicted, it looked like her fever was slowly coming back. “Anna, are you feeling cold?” he asked without touching his wife.

Anastasia crossed her arms across her chest and then tucked her neck. She shivered even more and then spoke with her trembling lips, “Mhmm... I think I should take a nap.”

Caspian looked sad because he couldn’t even dare to embrace his wife. His embrace would only make her feel colder.

Tilla quickly rummaged through her bag again and then took out a light blanket that she had packed, just for situations like this. She got up on her feet and then unfolded the blanket. She then bowed to the King and said, “Please excuse me, Your Majesty.”

Since Tilla was looking at the small space between him and his wife, Caspian understood what she meant. So, he got up and shifted to the other side of the carriage to give space to Tilla.

Tilla quickly covered Anastasia’s body with the blanket and then sat down beside Anastasia.

Anastasia leaned towards Tilla and rested her head on Tilla’s shoulder so that she could get warmth from her.

Caspian sighed, he could only watch and not do anything for his wife. ‘If only I was warm...’ he thought and looked out of the window again.

Then he thought to himself, ‘I think I should carry Anastasia back to Sorvando at dawn. We cannot stay here in Xanmar for several days, not after what happened earlier. If we head out while it is still a bit dark, then we won’t grab the attention of the villagers or the werewolves. The others can come back in the carriages and horses.’

Soon, there was a knock on the door of the carriage. And before Caspian could look at the door, the previous guard appeared at the window and informed Caspian, “One of our soldiers had already scouted a place to stay. I also double-checked. We can spend the night there.”

Caspian nodded appreciatively and ordered, “Let’s head there then.”