The Healer II.

~Karl~

"So, when will you show me these healing powers, Katrina?" I asked with a smile. But she wasn't looking at me. Her gaze was locked on the ground as though she was afraid of what she might find.

"W-whenever you wish, Your Highness," she murmured, bowing.

Something felt off. The fearless woman who had once called out my name in the garden now seemed to shy away, her confidence slipping. It bothered me. I took a step closer. "Are you alright?"

"I'm feeling a bit… weak. If I may, I'd like to—" She stopped mid-sentence as Queen Fortuna arrived. I knew her well enough to guess her purpose.

"Your Highness," Fortuna curtsied, her eyes coldly fixed on Katrina. "Could I have a moment with you?"

Before I could reply, Katrina spoke up. "May I return to my chambers?" She looked frustrated, as though I'd done something to upset her. I found myself caring more than I wanted to admit. "Is something wrong?"

"No, Your Highness," Katrina looked up, forcing a smile. "Your queen is here; I thought you'd prefer privacy."

I knew she was putting me on the spot, trying to make it look like I was sending her away. But I nodded calmly, surprising her. "No, you will stay."

I stepped aside with Fortuna. She looked at me, irritation flickering in her eyes. "Do you see how she spoke to you?" she demanded.

"How, exactly?" I replied, frowning. Katrina's tone hadn't bothered me.

"Rude. Just like she was to me that day," Fortuna insisted, glaring at Katrina. "I don't like her. There's something about her that feels… off."

I sighed, keeping my patience. "Is that why you came here?"

"Not entirely," she said, clearly taken aback that I didn't want to discuss Katrina further. "I wanted to ask… why did you cancel the wedding?"

I'd known that question was coming. She had become obsessed with Katrina, her curiosity and distrust growing every day. "She's the healer," I told her, watching her reaction closely.

Fortuna's face paled, her eyes widening with shock.

"Her… father claimed this in his letters, and she's confirmed it," I continued. "So, we'll see if it's true."

"If she truly is, we mustn't let anyone else know," Fortuna whispered, suddenly subdued, as though even the walls might overhear.

"Then perhaps you should take care of her," I replied, hoping it might ease her coldness toward Katrina.

Fortuna nodded, her excitement barely contained. "She's the key to our struggles," she said, glancing at Katrina like she was holding all the answers.

But I raised my hand. "Take care of her… not control her."

In Fortuna's eyes, I saw she viewed Katrina as a tool, an asset. But to me, Katrina was more than that. 

She was the light in my darkness, the woman who stirred something real in me, something I wasn't ready to lose.

"As you wish, Your Highness," Queen Fortuna replied. She glanced at me with a curious look. "And what about that woman you mentioned? The one you… were interested in. What was her name again?"

"Katrina?" I was surprised she even remembered.

"Yes, that's it. Have you found her yet?"

"You don't know who Katrina is?" I asked, almost amused.

She gave a confused shrug. "No. Why? Are you going to tell me, or is this some secret? I'm not jealous, you know. I just want you to be happy. You can have all the women you like—just don't marry any of them."

There was a small, reassuring smile on her face. It was true; she rarely cared about my affairs with other women.

"Don't worry about her. That's my concern," I said. She had no idea that the woman behind her was Katrina. It seemed Fortuna didn't even know her name. 

Queen Fortuna's smile faded, and her expression turned sad. Ignoring it, I turned to Katrina and signaled for her to come over. 

When she joined us, I said, "We're going to the village together. Go get ready."

Katrina blinked, looking shocked. She put a hand on her chest, like she wasn't sure she'd heard me right. "Me?"

"Yes, you," Queen Fortuna chimed in. "We're visiting the complex, and you'll come along."

Katrina nodded and looked down, her silence and distant behavior cutting deeper than I'd expected. 

She seemed like a stranger, holding back something important, something she didn't want to share.

But whatever it was, I would find out. No matter what.