Pony!!

She had been unconscious for the past 3 days, fever burning through her skin. He didn't ought to touch her, but he did. The entire way back to the manor, Nilana had clutched onto him with the last bit of her energy. As if he was the last thing she could hold on to. That is when he felt the unusual warmth of her skin. Upon arriving at the manor, he jotted a letter to Aunt Giselle, the pure windspirean lady who lived near him. Moonscar had lent her raven to deliver that letter.

Moonscar had helped Nilana to get out of her drenched garments, a thing Ian didn't want to do again. The first time he had changed her clothes, she was severely injured, and they had met for the first time. Ian had to blindfold himself and dress her, praying under his breath that his hands don't stumble upon any part which would stain him for life. This time as he had Moonscar with him, he let her do it.

By the next morning, the seamstress had arrived with the delivery of the gowns, cotehardies and other garments he had assigned the boutique owner to make for Nilana. At last, she had a proper wardrobe to wear. Moonscar had left the manor just when Aunt Giselle showed up with the tin boxes filled with steaming breakfast. Yet, no delicious food gave him the comfort Nilana's handmade food gave him.

Later that day, her fever went higher and Aunt Giselle complained about how cold Nilana's room was, and that she needed a warmer room for Nilana and to aid her. The only room in the manor that had a furnace was his room, thus he cleared all the weapons, letters, assassination planning, the maps of different palaces, estates of the royal court members, their blueprints and hid them out of the two ladies sight.

Ian was meticulous in ensuring every trace of his secretive work was hidden away. He wanted Nilana to be comfortable and warm, even if it meant sacrificing his privacy, and he couldn't risk revealing the truth about his nocturnal activities.

The flame of the furnace was ablaze with warmth and cozyness as Ian carried the unconscious Nilana and tucked her in on his bed. He couldn't even believe his own actions anymore.

What was he even doing?

That night, the messenger sparrow of Dylan reached his manor and chirped, sitting in his window panes. It had a brown parchment rolled in its beak, a letter from the royalty of Amadeus. It was an order from the prince to be present at the capital as Duke Hermann will be attending a foreign conference and had asked for Ian's presence.

Leaving Nilana in that unconscious high fevered state had left a sour taste in him, but he couldn't do anything else either. Before leaving, he assigned Aunt Giselle to write him a letter as soon as she wakes up. Now it seems like Nilana had done the job herself on behalf of Aunt Giselle.

As Ian's black maned steed galloped against the stone road at the exit of the Capital as his mind roamed around thinking about his last time seeing Nilana. Her closed eyes, pale skin, and a few bruises in her arms.

He couldn't even comprehend how he was feeling now that she was awake. But this feeling was surely something that gave comfort to his worrisome heart, the heart he knew that no longer existed.

.

.

.

Every time Nilana attempted to move, Aunt Giselle seemed to magically appear out of thin air and gently guided her back to the bed. She was there, attentively caring for her needs, whether it was helping her to the washroom or bringing her medications. Nilana was not accustomed to such generosity and care, with all the carefully prepared meals and soothing remedies. Aunt Giselle's pumpkin soup was an absolute delight, tasting like a comforting embrace amidst her discomfort.

Before all this, whenever she caught a bad cold or a severe fever, all Nilana got was furious words and scorching looks of her mother telling her to get well herself as she had to work for the eatery. She had to boil the water herself, and that's everything as a medication she had; boiled hot water.

The blend of herbs, oils, garlic, and ginger paste left a slightly bitter taste on her tongue, but it was accompanied by a soothing warmth that enveloped her heart. As she sipped the concoction, she couldn't help but notice that ever since she arrived here, her taste buds were experiencing a symphony of new flavors. Each meal was an exploration, revealing a new and delightful side of food that she had never experienced before. It was as if her palate was awakening to a whole new world of tastes and sensations.

Laying upright with a pillow supporting her back, Nilana leaned against the headboard and gazed out of the large, round window beside her. Her eyes roamed through the windowpanes, counting the seconds and minutes since the raven messenger had taken its flight toward the capital, carrying her letter to Ian. The sun was on the verge of setting below the horizon, painting the sky in hues of orange and pink. Yet he still hadn't arrived.

Did he even get the letter properly? Even if he got it, why would he bother to come and see her? Why did he even bother to save her for the second time? Questions flooded over her head.

Who was that girl in the cloak with him? Was he with her right now? The last thought left an unusual bitterness to her heart, which she decided to ignore.

A white, fluffy creature caught her eye, gracefully roaming around the large front yard, playfully neighing beside the blooming flower beds. She squinted her eyes, took her face closer to the windows to take a clear look at what it was. A cascade of fine mane and tail, akin to silk threads, swirled in the breeze, completing the image of an enchanting, ethereal creature. The striking familiarity of it made Nilana's eyes widen in surprise, shock, and delight.

IT WAS THAT WHITE PONY!!