Celia's POV
Now everyone seemed to be injured—my father was still unconscious in that horrible state, and Dylria had a wound on her leg. All because of me.
If only I had opened the door for her, she wouldn't have tried to climb the window. None of this would've happened.
"Thank you," I whispered. That was all I could say.
The guards and house attendants had gathered around me, worried expressions on their faces, asking if I was okay.
"What is this?!" I snapped, overwhelmed. "How can you all be focused on me when nothing happened to me?"
I waved my arms up and down, left and right.
"Look! I'm fine! But Dylria—can't you see she's bleeding? She's the one who needs help!"
"Calm yourself, Celia," Dylria said gently as she reached for my left wrist. "They're just worried for you."
She was right. Again. I had no right to shout at them—my elders—no matter how hurt I felt. Today, I had been so foolish.
Once Dylria's wound was cleaned and bandaged, we went to her room. I helped her sit on the edge of the bed, and then I sat beside her.
I turned and looked at her.
"Thank you."
Dylria blinked. "For what?"
"For what you did for me," I said quietly. "You didn't have to climb my window. You didn't have to catch me. You could've let me fall and hurt myself. Now look—you're wounded… because of me."
"No," Dylria replied firmly. "I'm your friend. I could never stand by and watch you fall when I could catch you. Never."
She meant it. I could see it in her eyes.
She's really my friend. But how could I face her without this deep feeling of guilt clawing at me?
"Right now, you have a wound because of me. Father's still unconscious—and it's been six hours. The doctor said he'd wake up, but he hasn't. And it's all because of me. How do you want me to feel? How?"
Tears rolled down my cheeks again.
Dylria placed her hand on mine.
"Don't cry, okay? I'm your friend. I believe in you. We're going to find the one who did this. I know you would never harm His Majesty. So please… trust me and stop crying."
Her words were like light breaking through dark clouds. I took a deep breath. For the first time that day, I felt a little at ease.
I stood up and wiped my tears.
"I'm ready. I'm ready to find who did this to my father."
I moved to the door, ready to leave and begin this new quest when I heard her voice again.
"Hey—my princess," she called.
I turned.
She gave me a crooked smile. "Will you wait for me?"