Bonus Story: The Lullaby of a Heartbeat

RISHE WORKED SWIFTLY AND DILIGENTLY in a bed chamber of the main palace. It was the middle of the afternoon, but the thick navy-blue curtains kept the room dim. She was setting up the perfect environment for a quiet sleep.

I've lit some calming perfumed oils, and the temperature in the room seems fine. It's a bit too bright for sleeping, but I'm sure it won't be much of a bother with the canopy shut.

Rishe wasn't preparing these chambers for herself, however. She looked toward the room's owner and smiled.

"Now then, Your Highness. Rest as much as you need to. I'll stay as long as you want me."

From the bed, Arnold scowled.

The previous day, Rishe had been abducted and imprisoned by Theodore, staying up all night. The two brothers had managed to settle some of their differences, and she had fallen asleep from relief.

Awakening just thirty or so minutes ago, she learned that Arnold had been up even longer, staying by her side the whole time. She had thanked him and urged Arnold to rest as well, but then he had shocked her by saying, "I'll stay up until nightfall."

Rishe was dumbstruck by his disregard. "But you've been up for nearly two days!Don't tell me you've got a pile of work from yesterday."

"Oh, I finished all of that while you were asleep," He said, so nonchalant about important matters of state.

If he didn't have to work, why wouldn't he rest?

When Rishe asked, he answered, "Because I can't sleep during the day. I can hear everyone moving around the palace. I can sense them."

She knew what he was referring too—she had felt it before herself. On the battlefield, your senses sharpened and you'd sit bolt upright at the slightest presence.

But that was just on the battlefield, Rishe reflected.

Rishe had apothecary skills, and she couldn't just let him stay up the entire day because he couldn't fall asleep. Especially since it was for her well-being that he'd kept himself awake. She needed to repay the favor.

"Your Highness," She said to him, "Out of curiosity, do you find it easier to sleep in a room with a consistent brightness rather than one where the lights are incessantly switching on and off?"

"Well, yes. I suppose."

"Sensing a presence should be the same. Detecting someone moving around at a distance prevents a swordsman from their slumber. But if someone remains nearby, it will drown out everyone else and make it easier to fall asleep." Rishe put a hand to her chest as she spoke. "Therefore, I shall lull you to sleep."

After a long silence, Arnold said, "What?"

And now here they were. Arnold lay in bed, pressing a hand to his forehead and saying, "You are extremely bizarre."

"Must I remind you that you agreed to fulfill my wishes when you proposed to me? I'm taking advantage of your kindness for the good of your health." Her pride as an apothecary was at stake.

Arnold opened his mouth to argue, apparently thought better of it, and returned his gaze to the canopy. Rishe placed a chair by the bed and sat down on it.

"Well? Can you sense anyone from a distance now?"

Arnold looked thoughtful. "You're right that I'm focusing on you and not anyone else, yes."

Well, that makes this suddenly more awkward.

But at least Rishe's tactic worked. The perfumed oils would likely help as well.

"Close your eyes and sleep," she said in a whisper. To her surprise, Arnold obeyed.

Rishe stayed as still as possible to avoid disturbing him. In her fifth life, she'd gotten good at sitting without movement for an extended period of time.

She hoped he could at least get a short nap in. The gentle fragrance of the oils and a quiet, dim room. A bed fit for royalty. It should've been a more than suitable environment for someone who had stayed up all night.

But thirty minutes later, Arnold let out a sigh.

"No good?"

"It's the same thing as always." He didn't sound sleepy at all.

"Are you not tired enough to sleep? Your breathing sounds slower than normal."

"I'd much rather do something productive than just lie around wasting time."

"No, no. You can't get up." She pressed Arnold back down to the bed.

I'm sure it must be because he can't stop thinking. It's hard to fall asleep when your body is tired, but your mind is still busy. I've got to find some way to distract him.

Patients needed rest. Her former teacher would've scolded her if she allowed him to leave.

She thought for a moment before she very quietly asked, "Shall I lie beside you for a bit?"

Arnold looked briefly annoyed, but he agreed. He wasn't giving up yet, for her sake. Relieved, Rishe clambered up and flopped right down beside him. The bed was soft, and it didn't creak at all when she bounced on it.

Arnold was suddenly so close, and the two of them gazed at each other.

"Forgive me," Rishe said, slowly reaching out her hand, searching for Arnold's heartbeat. She patted his chest.

Pat, pat. Pat, pat. She kept going.

"What in the world are you doing?"

"It's a soothing method. You simulate a heartbeat."

Rishe had done it before for the young daughters of the family she served as a maid. "It helps babies fall asleep."

"Babies." Arnold repeated.

Silence fell between them, giving Rishe the time to reflect that comparing her fiancé to a baby was kind of rude.

But he was just looking at her. "You're the only one who'd ever dare to treat me like this." The tenderness in his voice lit a small fire in her heart, warmth spreading through her chest.

What is this feeling?

Rishe wondered. But now wasn't the time to interrogate it.

The prince lay on his back with his eyes closed. As she gazed at his handsome profile, she realized she could see the nape of his neck. Arnold typically kept his collar buttoned up, but right now he wore loose clothes, his numerous scars on display.

"If you're so curious about it, I won't stop you."

Even with his permission, she still hesitated. Gently, she touched the scarring with her fingertips. She'd touched them before—at the party, through thin gloves. Feeling them now confirmed what she'd already known.

Deep, knotted scars.

Just before she died in her last life, she'd been able to land a single strike on Arnold because the scar tissue on his shoulder slowed the movement of his arm. It was his only weakness.

Despite that, last night he took off the jacket he uses to hide them. He gave it to me.

Rishe and Theodore had been the only ones there, but one never knew where enemies were lurking. He'd trusted them.

Arnold's eyes were still closed. Even in the dim room, his profile was flawless. Not just his face—his prominent Adam's apple, his collarbone. The scars didn't mar his beauty at all.

He looks like a work of art, but he's flesh and blood.

Why was he so willing to let her touch a part he knew she could use against him? That's all she could think about as she caressed the scars with a smooth fingertip.

"Hey."

Arnold grasped her wrist with a big hand.

"Oh!"

His grip on her wrist wasn't tight, but he was frowning. "What do you—"

"S-sorry. Was I tickling you?" Rishe said, though she felt oddly reluctant to stop.

Arnold's expression was briefly conflicted, before he grinned. "I suppose I should have kept my gloves on."

"What? Why?"

He was about to go to sleep. Why would he need gloves?

Arnold leaned close and whispered, "Then I could touch you back."

Rishe's face burned. "Gloves aren't a loophole, you know!"

Arnold's grin spread. "I was just kidding."

He then released her wrist. He'd been holding her over the sleeve of her dress, keeping his promise not to touch her after all.

He's so honest. Or maybe "faithful" is the word.

Where did that leave Rishe? It felt unfair that she could touch him without reciprocation.

After a moment's contemplation, she reached for the thin ribbon at her collar and pulled it loose. And then she looked at Arnold. "Here, go ahead."

Arnold smile slid from his face. "Go ahead what?"

"I touched your neck, so I thought…fair is fair." Rishe explained quickly.

It was just skin, but intentionally baring it to him made her feel, well, exposed. But it was only right.

"N-not that I think it's any compensation." She stared at the sheets rather than at him.

"But feel free to take your revenge."

Arnold silently reached behind himself and grabbed one of the numerous pillows on the bed. He placed it on Rishe's head.

"Mmph?!"

"What's your angle?"

"Hey! Wait! Your Hi —" He pressed down to drown out her protests. He wasn't smothering her, but he was messing up her hair.

"Your Highness! "

She finally threw the soft pillow off and gasped.

Arnold's handsome face was right there. They were close enough for their noses to touch.

He chuckled. "That expression is more than enough compensation."

"Huh?"

Just what kind of face had she been making? She didn't have the strength to ask. She continued to gape at him, seeing relish written all over his face.

"You're so strange. Being near my face bothers you, but hopping into my bed to sleep next to me doesn't?" Arnold pointed out calmly.

The awkwardness of the situation was slowly dawning on her. She was losing control of this scene. "It's just…" She hesitated. "I wanted to use a charm on you."

"A charm?"

Rishe nodded, took a deep breath, and reached toward Arnold where he lay on top of the soft sheets. She began patting him again to the rhythm of a heartbeat.

Doing this to a child reminded them of hearing their mother's heartbeat in the womb, calming them down.

"This palace isn't a battleground. It's your home, right?" She didn't know him well. For all she knew, Arnold might see the palace as a theater of war. But the thought of him not even being able to relax in his own bedroom saddened her.

"I just want to help you sleep."

Arnold didn't respond.

Rishe had no memory of the time between falling asleep on the roof and waking in her bed, but she recalled her fear as the strength went out of her, cut with the relief of finding Arnold at her side, watching over her as she slept.

In that moment, she felt safe.

She meant to repay him for that peace, however she could. Even if it was a losing battle.

Arnold continued to gaze at Rishe as she pondered this. "In that case—"

He smoothed a strand of hair away from her cheek, careful not to touch her face.

"You'll have to stay here with me until I fall asleep."

Rishe looked back at him. "Are you sure I won't be a bother?"

"I can concentrate on just you, if you're here, right?"

Slowly, Arnold shut his eyes once more, voice going husky with exhaustion. "I prefer your presence to being alone."

Rishe smiled at him.

"Okay."

She didn't say anything after that, just kept beating out a heartbeat with her palm. Soon enough, Arnold's breaths went long and deep.

His peaceful breathing was so pleasant that she found herself dozing off as well.