Chapter 377: An Unexpected Answer

Chapter 376: An Unexpected Answer

Lyria’s POV

Kathryn sighed.

The sound was long and heavy, as though she were gathering her thoughts before speaking them aloud. She looked at me for a moment, her expression unreadable, and then she shook her head slowly.

"It seems there has been quite a serious misunderstanding somewhere," she said.

I blinked.

For a moment, I was not certain whether I ought to feel relieved or concerned.

Elara’s lips twitched.

The corner of her mouth curved upward, just barely, before she caught herself and smoothed her expression back into careful neutrality. Her eyes, however, betrayed her. There was unmistakable amusement lurking within them.

I wondered why she found the situation amusing, but I did not voice it.

There were more pressing matters at hand.

Kathryn continued.

"Yes, I report back to Her Majesty," she said. "I have been instructed to do so, and I have never pretended otherwise. But perhaps Your Highness has forgotten something."

I frowned.

"Forgotten w-what?"

Kathryn’s gaze met mine.

"When we first met," she said, "I told you that I was your private physician."

I paused.

"I d-did not f-forget," I said carefully. "But s-someone being p-private does n-not automatically m-mean they do not r-report everything t-to the r-royal family. I assumed—"

"You assumed incorrectly."

Her voice was firm, but there was no cruelty in it.

I stared at her.

Kathryn folded her hands neatly before her.

"I report only the basics," she continued, her voice lowering slightly. "When Her Majesty enquires after your condition, I give her only what she needs to know. Nothing more."

She paused.

"My loyalty has always been to you, Your Highness. You need not ask me to demonstrate it before I will. It was already given."

Her expression softened.

"And I will never — nor have I ever planned to — betray you."

For several seconds, I could do nothing but stare at her.

I swallowed, my throat suddenly dry.

"That w-was not w-what I e-expected," I admitted.

The maids began to laugh.

It was a soft sound at first, barely more than a murmur, but it spread quickly through the chamber. Pippa pressed a hand over her mouth in an attempt to contain herself. Debbie turned away, though the trembling of her shoulders made her efforts rather obvious. Margery lowered her head, but even she could not quite conceal the smile upon her lips.

I looked from one face to another.

I could not understand why everyone seemed so amused.

Elara was the first to speak.

"Kathryn has been one of us since the very beginning," she said, a note of gentle amusement in her voice.

"The previous night," she continued, "after Your Highness was injured, a messenger was sent to Kathryn. It was done to ensure she did not come near you."

I turned toward Kathryn, who nodded.

"I was warned not to attempt coming anywhere near your chambers," she said, her voice low. "I was told that you were to be left to suffer the consequences of your actions."

"But you c-came anyway," I said.

Kathryn’s expression did not change.

"Yes, Your Highness. I came anyway."

I stared at her.

There were questions I wished to ask.

Why would she risk so much? Why would she disobey the Queen on my behalf? Why would she help me when doing so could cost her her position, her safety, or perhaps considerably more than either? What had I done to earn such loyalty?

Perhaps there would come a time when Kathryn would tell me everything. Perhaps one day she would trust me enough to share her story — to explain why she had chosen to stand beside me when she had every reason not to.

But that time was not now.

Some things could not be demanded.

Trust, especially, had to be given freely.

And so instead I simply nodded.

"T-thank you," I said softly.

Kathryn inclined her head.

"You need not thank me, Your Highness. You need not ask for my loyalty either, for it is already yours. I am yours before anyone else’s."

She paused, glancing briefly toward the window before she spoke again.

"Regarding what you asked earlier," she said, "I will come."

I gave her a grateful smile.

The maids began to move again, their earlier laughter settling into the comfortable hum of activity. Pippa stepped forward and gestured toward the washbasin.

"Your Highness," she said, "allow us to help you wash and dress."

I nodded and let them guide me across the chamber.

The washbasin had been filled with warm water, a faint curl of steam rising from its surface. The maids worked quietly, speaking little as they tended to me. When I was finished, they helped me dry and apply the salve Kathryn had prepared.

Kathryn observed the wounds as they worked.

Her eyes moved carefully across the reddened skin. She did not speak, though I noticed the slight tension in her jaw whenever her gaze settled upon the worst of the injuries.

Once the salve had been applied, the maids helped me into a robe. The fabric was soft against my skin, and I felt some of the tension leave my shoulders.

Pippa brought the tray of food to the small table near the window.

"Your Highness, you ought to eat."

I sat down and did as I was told.

The bread was warm, the butter soft, the fruit sweet. There was porridge as well, alongside a small portion of eggs and tea. I ate slowly, taking my time with each bite, and found that by the time I had finished, I felt considerably more like myself than I had since waking.

Kathryn stepped forward then.

She held out a cup.

"Drink this," she said.

I looked at it.

The liquid was dark. I did not need to be told it would be bitter.

I accepted the cup from her, pinched the bridge of my nose, and took it down in one swallow.

It burned as it went down.

I gagged immediately.

Kathryn barely managed to conceal her amusement.

I reached for the small dish beside me and threw a sweet into my mouth as quickly as I could. The sugar spread across my tongue, chasing away the bitterness.

I gave the physician a look.

She only chuckled.

"Your Highness," Debbie said, "what do you plan to do for the remainder of the day?"