Chapter 13: the allergy
"Why didn't you stop eating Killian?" I asked again, looking at his wooden face, but he was still silent.
"Killian," I asked again, with some pressure, this time.
"Isn't it your highness, who served me the dish, how could I insult her with my disobedience," he replied, bowing his head.
I wanted to hug and comfort the boy, to tell him it's ok to show your emotions, but this was not the right time. In fact, things had only worsened today.
"Lord Killian '' I asked to gain the attention of the boy who was looking down.
"I order you to never do anything that will harm you, not even when I personally ask you to do that," I commanded in the best voice I could muster but my voice was getting low.
I looked above to stop tears welling in my eyes, both for him and me.
"Lina" I shouted in a very cold voice,
I know it wasn't her mistake that the food had berries. She must be unaware of the allergies of Killian as the staff of the duchess never had any relation with the lord's chamber.
Still, I was angry, angry and frustrated to throw all of them out of the palace.
"Go and call the palace doctor this instant," I shouted more sharply then I expected and I felt her legs stumbling, was she shaking that much.
"Also inform him, to bring the allergic medicine of lord Killian with him, and specify to him that he had eaten raspberries," I added to specify the treatment.
"Yes your highness," bowing she almost ran out of the hall, leaving the other shaking girls behind.
I could see the red patches forming in his hands, but still, his face had no reactions. 'how much had he suffered in this small age to be this good in controlling his emotions'
"Lord Killian" I called the statue again and he just looked at me, waiting for my further instructions.
"I am sorry" I apologized genuinely but he just nodded like always.
"It's nothing your highness, you don't need to apologise," he added looking at my face.
"Lord Killian," I called him again, rubbing my hands gently on his hands to soothe the pain, but his condition was getting worse.
He looked back at me, and replied still with blank and stone-cold eyes, "yes, your highness"
Hesitantly, I moved my shaking hands toward his face and touched his cheek. Rubbing my thumb slowly and gently on his cheeks, I met his eyes which were searching the reaction of my face. I was sure he could see the tears welling in my eyes.
"May I hug you, Killian?" I asked with a quivering voice, deleting the tag of the lord, showing him all the intimacy I want in this small gesture and finally his facade broke.
I could see surprise budding in his blank eyes, he would have been thinking all this was a facade to hurt him. But never had he thought that I would request him to hug me with teary eyes.
That also when he had formed red patches all over his body, he was looking unsightly with those marks. And no noble would like to touch him that way. Thank goodness this shock was enough to break his facade away even if a bit.
When he didn't reply even after a while, I mustered my courage and came close. Once I was sure he wouldn't push me away like I always did with him. I hugged him, I hugged him tightly putting all my raw emotions in that hug.
I heard the whispers increasing, I even heard the sound of something falling on the ground and a loud shattering voice, I heard the opening and closing of the door, and I heard many other voices. But I continued hugging the child in my arms.
The child who I had tortured all my life, the child who had ordered to kill me in his cold voice. This time I will save his innocence and my life too.
"Your highness." I heard him speak, moving in my arms trying to break free. That's when I realised my grip was too tight to a person's comfortability.
"I apologise, lord Kilian," I said making a distance between us, but he didn't give any comment on the bone-crushing hug I gave him but I could see his face and ears had turned red.
"Oh my, your condition has worsened lord Killian" I panicked and looked around to ask for help, that's when I noticed that the royal chief doctor was already standing there and looking at us with widened eyes.
Ignoring his disobedience of blatantly staring at the duchess, I signalled him to come close and spoke, "Lord Killian's allergy has reacted, as he had eaten berries. Treat him as soon as possible"
Finally coming out of his stupor, he nodded and took big steps towards us. He put his hand on Killian's face and then at his hands to check the severity of the matter.
I was watching from the sidelines, the way he was checking him. After what felt like an eternity, he finally moved and put his hand in the bag, he took out medicine and a lotion.
Without waiting for the maid who was slowly moving in our direction, I took the glass of water from the table and forwarded it to him.
He took the glass with the same blank expression as if the hug we shared was just my illusion. As if our relationship had not taken a step towards improvement, if any, it had been worsened. 'Is it because he still blames me for feeding him berries'
My eyes turned downcast as I looked at him taking the medicine. I wanted to ask if I could apply lotion on his body but didn't. It felt like I had already spent all the courage I had mustered yesterday, after coming back to life.
The tasks which I was thinking were easy like eating a dessert were looking more difficult than climbing a mountain now.
I sighed audibly and heard the collective gasps of maids around me. But I didn't have further energy to react or glare at them. And it was not their mistake. They had never seen me showing emotions like this before. I was a serene and proper trained noble lady for them.
"Your highness" I heard Killian calling me with the same cold voice and for a moment I even saw the cold eyes ordering my death.
Suppressing my fear, I asked "yes, lord Killian" thank goddess my voice sounded strong enough.