A bright sun shone over the heavenly realm and the crowds in the streets indicated the hour was in the mid-afternoon. Yushir was one of those walking but his steps were straight and with a purpose. His aim was the archway into the magnificent estate of Lord Eastwei where a crowd of children waited.

  “Come to visit your lovely friend again?” Yushir called to the kids.

  One of them, his nephew Prince Kean, turned at the shout. “Can’t we see her today?”

  Yushir stopped in front of the group and grasped his hands behind his back before he sighed. “I am afraid not. She has not yet awoken.”

  Lia grabbed his robe and tugged on it. “Can we see her tomorrow?”

  “There is not much chance of that, but I will inform you immediately when she does awaken,” he promised.

  The kids all hung their heads and slouched off to play. Yushir watched them leave with some trepidation.

  If she awakens he mused as he turned his focus to the arch. He hurried through, curiosity vying with apprehension for supremacy of his emotions. He reached the door to the palace and met Puren who bowed to him.

  “Any news?” Yushir asked him.

  Puren straightened and pursed his lips. “She is the same as when you brought her, Your Highness.”

  “And Eastwei?”

  “Also the same.”

  “Then he has not eaten at all today?”

  “Only a bowl of rice I have brought him,” Puren replied as he half-turned toward the bedroom on the left side of the wide hall. “He only leaves her side to relieve himself and returns immediately.”

  Yushir patted him on the shoulder. “I will see if I can change that.”

  The prince slipped past the servant and over to the room. He paused in the doorway and took in the sight. Anna lay on the bed, unconscious and with a slight tremor in her breathing. Eastwei sat in a chair beside the bed staring at her.

  The same as it has been these last two weeks he thought to himself.

  Yushir cleared his throat and strolled into the room. “Good afternoon. Have I missed Lady Miansha’s visit?”

  “She left twenty minutes ago,” Eastwei answered without turning his focus away from his charge.

  Stolen content alert: this content belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences.

  Yushir stopped at his side and sighed at the pathetic scene of the woman on the bed. “Has she any idea about the depth of the damage?”

  “Only what was learned earlier.”

  The prince wrinkled his nose. “Who would have that that Lord Wyrmir, knowing the end-time of many immortals, would hoard their souls in that dark chamber? The madness of solitude must have surely driven him to commit such blasphemy.” His pity-filled gaze fell on their charge. “I cannot fathom what tortures she endured against such a powerful magic. Now that the pool has been emptied onto the hills I hope no one else will suffer such a fate.” He noticed his friend stiffen at his dour words, and so he cleared his throat. “But I am sure Lady Roberts will awaken at any point. In the meantime, will you not venture with me to one of our many luscious parks and enjoy the sun?”

  His friend didn’t give him so much as a twitch in response.

  The prince leaned forward to catch Dadan’s eye. “You have been in this same seat since we returned. Will you not allow Puren to take up the watch? Or perhaps Lady Miansha?”

  “I need less sleep than either of them,” Dadan countered.

  “But you must sleep some time and you have been sitting here these long two weeks with barely a nap here and there,” he challenged him as he took up a seat on the edge of the bed to face his friend. “Let me take up your place, or better yet Lady Arian. She would gladly watch over Lady Roberts.”

  “There is no need for that,” Dadan insisted.

  The prince cocked his head to one side and studied his old friend. “I have known you for many years, Dadan, but I have never known you to voluntarily sit beside the sickbed of another, much less a woman.” He kept his eyes on Dadan as he nodded at Anna. “What is so important about this one that you would sacrifice your health for her?”

  Dadan shook his head. “There is no sacrifice. I merely wish to ask her a question when she awakens.”

  The prince lifted an eyebrow. “Oh? And what is that?” Dadan didn’t reply so Yushir crossed his arms over his chest. “I will continue to pester you until you tell me what is so important that you will not leave her side, not even for food.”

  “If she knows the whereabouts of the cat.”

  The prince leaned back and blinked at him. “The cat? The one you lost? Why do you believe she would know anything about that?”

  Dadan’s gaze settled on her brow. “Merely a hunch.”

  The prince shrugged and stood. “Very well. Then I will leave you to your watch.”

  Yushir left the room but Puren soon crept into the room. “My Lord, will you not take some food?”

  “Not at the present.”

  Puren’s lower lip trembled. “But you have eaten so little.” He didn’t receive a reply but the pale figure on the bed gave him an idea. “Lady Roberts would appreciate you eating. Perhaps the smell of something particularly delicious would encourage her to awaken.”

  Dadan lifted his eyes and a spark of life entered them. He turned his head and his gaze fell on the basket tucked under the dresser. The god stood and slipped past his confused servant. Eastwei knelt and drew out the basket. The chocolate cat smiled up at him.

  He gently removed the treat and stood. Puren watched confused and curious as his master strode over to the bed and sat on the edge close to Anna. Eastwei examined the cat he grasped in both hands before he studied Anna’s pale face. He pursed his lips and snapped the chocolate in two. The scent of chocolate filled the air.

  He held the broken end of one of the pieces to Anna’s nose and waited with bated breath.