Page 178 of The Fifth Life of Alicia
The bad news was that in the process of learning that, I could die.
Nobody was surprised when Kalon grabbed him by the collar and threw him out of my room. I got the feeling that wasn’t the first time he’d heard such a thing from him, but I also suspected he didn’t want the High Priest around me anymore than necessary.
Well, my father was a bit taken aback, but that was mostly because he hadn’t seen us together, so he was shocked by how protective Kalon was over me.
What was His Majesty doing while his eldest son was manhandling a man of God?
Giggling gleefully.
That’s right.
He really was in love with love, and our relationship seemed to be his new favourite hobby.
After our fathers left, Kalon had issued strict instructions to everyone that nobody was to enter my room unless the villa was on fire or war was declared on the Imperial Hunting Grounds, then promptly wrapped me up like a burrito and forced me to take a nap.
I hadn’t needed much convincing thanks to the sheer exhaustion that had been snaking through my aching limbs all morning.
Now, I was finally awake, and while he’d stepped out to let Bella and Annie help me bathe, I had a lot to think about.
God had no issue with me telling Kalon everything about our past lives, but it wasn’t the kind of thing one could just bring up over a cup of tea. I trusted Kalon, but that didn’t mean he would believe what I was saying,andI’d just been through a pretty stressful experience.
What if he thought it was all in my head? Could I live knowing that he thought I was crazy?
Maybe… Maybe I needed to find out how he felt about me in his own words. Maybe hearing it from his lips would give me the confidence I needed to tell him about our past lives together.
Because he needed to know. My life was in danger, and he would never forgive me for keeping that to myself.
I didn’t want to keep it to myself.
The paranoia that would come from shouldering the burden of such knowledge all alone would surely drive me insane.
“Here you are, my lady,” Bella said, wrapping a shawl around my shoulders. “Shall I inform the Grand Duke that you’re done?”
“Yes, Bella, thank you. I feel so much better now.” I smiled at her and crossed my ankles under the tea table. After spending days in bed, it was so nice to be up and completely clean, even if Iwasstill in my nightwear.
My room had the prettiest view of a rose garden, and I was happy to be able to finally spend some time seeing it. The fresh air from the open window was a true bonus.
“You have some colour back in your cheeks, my lady.” Annie carried the tea tray over and set it on the table. “I’m happy to see you feeling better.”
“Thank you, Annie. I feel the same about you.” I smiled. “Oh, just pour one for me for now. I’m waiting for the Grand Duke, and I don’t want his to get cold.”
“Of course.” She poured me one cup but left Kalon’s empty. “Would you like me to wait with you until he arrives?”
“I don’t mind being alone, but you probably should.”
“Oh, he’s been so wonderfully protective of you since the incident, my lady.” She clasped her hands together and clasped them to her in the most physical manifestation of a swoon I’d ever seen inallmy lives.
She wasn’t entirely wrong. Some people would say he wasoverprotective, but I was trying not to be too nitpicky about it.
I’d never tell anyone that I’d caught him crying in his sleep after our middle-of-the-night conversation. He was clearly traumatised by what had happened to me and given that he was the one who’d found his mother’s dead body, so I would let him wrap me up in cotton wool if that was what he needed right now.
If it continued beyond my recovery, then we’d have a little chat about boundaries.
“Allie?” Kalon called from outside the room. “Can I come in?”
“Yes, of course,” I replied.
He pushed the door open and stepped inside. “Good, you weren’t alone. I was worried when Bella came to get me.”
