Chapter 19

Sweat dribbled from Layla 's head. Her eyes scrunched in frown, her lips thinned. Chloe peered at her as she struggled for breath in her sleep.

"No... No...." Layla mumbled and Chloe 's curiosity piqued. She leaned closer and Eren' s breathing was getting harsher.

"Umm..... Eren?" Chloe tapped her shoulder.

Her eyes tightly shut. "Eren?" She shook her shoulders.

"NO NOT HIM!" Layla sprang awake shouting. Her hands gripped her sheets, her hair disheveled. She looked around in panic and her breath heavy. Chloe eyed her.

"Bad dream?" Chloe mumbled.

Layla turned and noticed her. She weakly smiled, "Yes. Milady!"

Chloe took a seat beside her as she fumbled on the bandages. Layla winced when her finger traced her new formed scar.

"It left a scar!" Chloe whispered. A bad raised scar ran across the back of her head to the neck. Layla nervously chuckled. Chloe was acting weird. She used a tone that is used to look down on people.

"Lady, if I may" Layla removed her hand from her head. Chloe stared nonchalantly with zero emotions. What did she expect?

"Umm this is sudden. Well..you see I need some time alone" Layla rubbed her palms

Layla eyes widened when she was hit with the scent of sunflowers. Chloe's face buried deep in her neck. "It's alright. I am sorry I was just shocked. It's alright. Its alright to cry" she whispered.

Those words turned the tap she never would have opened. Tears flowed uncontrollably. Her eyes watered a ocean. She wailed loudly. The pain was easing in her heart as the tears flowed.

And Chloe never let her go.

___________

Kyle looked at his bare hands. His heart felt heavy. 'Could it be because of Eren?. Kyle scoffed . No way he feels bad for him. This is what he gets for messing with me.'

But the wailing didn't stop. Kyle was getting a headache and he gripped his chest.

Without warning, he opened the curtains to her cabin.

The wailing stopped. Eren pulled away from Chloe and looked at the intruder. Kyle felt a twinge of sympathy when he saw Eren's red face, tears overflowed and snoty nose.

"Damn. You are giving me a headache. Keep it quiet" Kyle shouted at Eren. Eren eyes twitched. "Seriously go get a room for yourself"

Kyle scoffed, "You are still the same! Arrogant!"

"You too! Can't you have a decency to knock?"

"I can't knock in curtains, can I?" Kyle shouted.

"Well then. Give us some privacy" She shouted. Chloe looked between them as they shouted at each other.

"Can you guys stop. You are disturbing people" A voice silenced them both. Layla looked around saw heads peeking from different cabin.

Chris was standing in front of her, his eyes red and his ears flared.

"You! What's your name?"

Layla gulped. The atmosphere was different. It was heavy as an ice. "... Layla..." she mumbled.

"Louder!"

"Layla!" She shouted.

"Run 100 laps around the ground and apologize to Sir Kyle" he ordered.

Layla looked disbelivingly at Chris. "I wasn't in the wrong!"

"Shouting to a gentleman is unlady like"

"Back off. I am not apologizing nor I am running 100 laps" she crossed Chris not before she was grabbed by her arm and shoved into the bed.

"Whats wrong with you?"

"I said, apologize. Or are you willing to take it to the king." Chris crossed his arms and looked menacingly at her.

Layla sighed. She can't have that happening. She can't put the ones she loved in danger.

She slowly got up and dragged herself in front of Kyle. She glared at him. Her insides burned with hatred. How could she be so powerless? She hated being powerless.

"I am sorry sir Kyle" She spat. Kyle smirked and walked away.

"Apologise till he accepts your apology." Chris commanded.

Layla looked at him disbelievingly. "What!

You earned it! Now off you go, do your laps, I will be watching!"

Layla sighed. She felt powerless and she hated it.

"Sir... She just got discharged just now. Can she take some rest?" Chloe whispered.

"No! Off now!" Chris shouted. Layla smiled at Chloe and she left.

__________

"Huff huff.." Layla breathed. Her knees wobbled at her every step. It was the 50 th lap. She was shocked herself that she was still alive.

Her eyes squinted at the sunlight. Her mouth gaped open. Her breath heavy in every step. Kyle was watching from the tent that sat at the corner of the round track. His smirk plastered like a adherent tape in his face.

Lala glared tiredly at him and continued running. "You still have 50 more laps... Faster!" Kyle shouted through his cupped hands.

Layla rolled her eyes. "I am trying!" She shouted back.

Her thoughts buzzed. How would she have lived if she was still in the kingdom? Why is she suffering this ? Did she do something so sinful?. Her eyes watered. Her forehead beaded with sweat.

Is she paying for her past sins?

She ran faster.

Is this the punishment for hurting him?

A little more faster.

Would he ever forgive her?

Her step increased with speed.

Was she worth his love?

Her eyes dripped tears as she ran.

"God! I didn't know she was a runner!" Kyle whispered to himself.

It was the 99th lap. And then the 100th lap. Even after that she ran and he let her. It was nearing 120 when he decided to stop her.

He stood in her path. He saw her crying as she ran at full speed not slowing down. "Layla!" He shouted. The word was foreign in his tongue. Layla looked up, she was charging. Out of control, she was about to fall over him. When he turned away, and she fell face first to the ground.

"Ow, Courtesy to stop me, thanks!"

"You are done with your laps. But I didn't forgive you yet so keep on beggin. And that can wait, we are needed for the competition" Kyle explained and walked off.

Layla rubbed her face and a sharp pain rose as she touched her temple. "It will heal.." She stopped herself. The scar behind didn't heal itself. Maybe she is losing her power.

She washed her wound in the nearby basin and made her way to the room 154.

Dread crawled on her. Will she be treated like she used to be? Or will she be enslaved? Or ignored? Whatever it is, she doesn't want the king to know about her revealed identity and she becoming powerless. But she know that wound in her temple would leave a scar and there is nothing she can do about it.