"Csille?"
I frown and continue to sleep. My whole body aches, and I just want to rest.
"Csille, wake up."
I sat up straight when I realized who is the owner of the voice.
I remember now, Prince Fraser and I are both trapped in this hole. I look at Prince Fraser and sigh in relief when I see that he looks better now, unlike last night.
"Are you okay?" He asked.
I frown. Okay? Shouldn't I be the one asking that question? I looked at myself and found that my abdomen was bleeding. The bandage on my wounds probably loosened up while I was sleeping.
"I'm okay. I'll just change my bandage later." I look at him. "I should be the one asking you that question. Are you okay, your highness? Does your wounds still hurting? Do you still have a fever?"
I try to put my hand on his forehead, but I change my mind. It's different when Prince Fraser is awake. I don't want him to think that I am taking advantage of his sickness.
I put my hand away from him, but I was startled when Prince Fraser took my hand and put it on his forehead.
"Do I still have a fever?"
I feel my heartbeat race and my cheeks heat up. I know I shouldn't feel flustered in our current situation. However, my stupid heart couldn't help but feel happy.
I take a deep breath and feel his forehead. After a few seconds, I put my hand down. "It seems like your fever goes down already. How about your wounds? Does it still hurt?"
Prince Fraser stares at me intently. It's as if he is reading what is on my mind. I just stare back at him and wait for his response.
He leans back on the wall and sighs. "Thank you, Csille. Thank you for taking care of me. I know I have been cold towards you, and I never believed you before. I apologize for doubting your intention. I—"
I shake my head and cut him off. I don't want to hear what he wants to say. I don't want to make myself hope for something that is impossible. I don't want to get hurt over and over again.
"Your highness, may I know what you are doing here? I mean, I know you fell into the trap of the hunters. However, I don't understand what you are doing in this direction? Prin-" I clear my throat. I almost mention Princess Paislee's name. "Sir Farren went in the opposite direction. I don't understand why you also went in this direction."
Prince Fraser stares at me. "You're changing the topic."
I avoid his gaze. Yes, I am. Can't you see that I don't want to talk about that? I don't want to hear your sweet words anymore. I'm done. I don't want to get hurt again. I don't want to torture myself over and over again.
I smile at him. "I actually understand why you did that. I was immature and irrational when I was young. I didn't realize I was already hurting other people. So, I don't really blame you, your highness."
"Csille..."
I shake my head at him. "What are you doing in this direction, Prince Fraser? It's the opposite direction on where Sir Farren went. So, what are you doing here?"
"How about you, Csille? What are you doing here?"
I couldn't tell him I was here because I'm really not looking for Princess Paislee, right?
"I just thought maybe he is here. The forest is vast, so I thought maybe he looks around and ends up in the opposite direction."
I was only making things up. I just hope it sounds rational for him.
"I was the same. I looked for Sir Farren in the direction he went, and I couldn't find him. That's why I decided to check the opposite direction. I didn't expect I would end up being trapped here." He looks at me. "How long have you been here? Your wounds..."
I look at my abdomen. "I was just probably half an hour inside when you fell. Don't worry about this. It's just a small wound, and I already tended to it last night."
"You should change the bandage again. It won't stop bleeding. If it continues, you'll lose a lot of blood."
I look at my wound and wince. Now that he mentioned it, I suddenly felt the pain in my abdomen.
How can I tend to it if you are here? Although the inner clothing I am wearing is a top and a long skirt, it is still inappropriate since I will be showing my abdomen to him.
In this world, when a man sees a part of your body that is usually hidden under the clothes, the man is considered responsible for her purity. If he is single, he needs to marry the woman even if it's out of his own will. If he is married, he will be put in prison for a year or two, depending on what part of the woman's body he sees.
So, how can I change my bandage? I would rather die than let him do that. I don't want him to say that I am so desperate to be married to him. Also, if I do that, it means Prince Fraser has no choice but to marry me.
I shake my head. No! No, it cannot happen. No matter what, I won't let that happen.
"I'm okay. The blood you can see is the blood that dried last night. It's nothing, really. My wound isn't even big. You should worry more about your own wounds."
I turn my back at him and lean my head on the wall. I'll just pretend that I am sleeping, so I can avoid him.
However, it seems like Prince Fraser has a plan different than mine.
I was startled when he suddenly grabbed my arm and made me face him. He stared at me for a couple of seconds before he put his hand on the hem of my top. It's a good thing I am wearing two piece inner clothing today, or else I would need to take off my dress.
My eyes widen when I feel his hand on my top. I immediately tried to stay away from him, but since he was holding my arm, I couldn't do anything. I couldn't move my other arm because it was injured. That's why my movement is limited.
"Wha-what a-are you doi-doing, Prince Fraser?" I tried to wriggle my way out from his grasp, but he wouldn't let me.
"I will help you with your wound. You cannot tend to it because you have a broken arm, and I cannot let you bleed like that. You took care of my wounds last night. I think it is right to take care of yours."
I shake my head repeatedly. No! No! I cannot let him do that. "No! Prince Fraser! You cannot do that!" I snap at him. I tried my best to hide my body from him.
This shouldn't be happening. I cannot let him see my body. The Vrawyth Kingdom is strict when it comes to their custom, and Prince Fraser is a traditionalist person. I cannot let him see my body.
Prince Fraser stops moving and stares at me. "And why? I just want to help you with your wounds. You cannot move around with your broken arm. Are you planning to still use it even if it's injured?"
I shake my head. "You cannot do that. You cannot see my body!"
The two of us got silent because of what I said. I just avoid his gaze and try to break free from his hold. However, he still won't let me.
"And why not?"
I look at him and frown. Is he serious? He is really asking me why? If he sees my body, then he will feel responsible for me. How can he fall in love with Princess Paislee if he feels responsible for me? So, I cannot let it happen.
"Have you forgotten about the Vrawyth custom? A man cannot see the woman's body or else... he will need to marry her." I only whisper the last words.
Prince Fraser makes me look into his eyes. "And so? You also know that the custom works for both genders. A woman cannot see the body of a man, or else she will need to get married to her. You saw my body first. Also, what does it change? We are about to be engaged with each other. Sooner or later we will get married. Even without the custom, it will end that way. So, what's wrong?"
What's wrong? Everything is wrong! The engagement he is talking about will be canceled a few months from now. So, how can I let him see my body? No, that cannot be.
I tried to think of a reason to stop him, but I couldn't come up with a rational reason. I sigh and stop his hand using my uninjured hand. "No, I don't want to. I don't want you to see my body. I-I... I'm embarrassed."
I feel my cheeks redden because of what I say. It's true. I feel embarrassed. But I'm more worried and anxious because I know how important this custom is.
What would Princess Paislee say if she knew that Prince Fraser saw Csille's body? I'm sure she'll be disappointed.
I heard Prince Fraser sigh. "What is there to be embarrassed? We will be engaged in a few months' time. Also, if you don't change that bandage, it might cause infection. I won't stop until you let me take care of your wound. If we need to argue the whole day, I won't mind."
I look around, trying to find reasons, but my gaze stops on his wounds. My eyes widen, and I immediately stop him from moving.
"Don't move. Your wound is bleeding again. I told you not to worry about me and take care of yourself. Look what happened? It's bleeding again." I anxiously look for my outer dress that I used to bandage his wounds. "Here, put pressure on it so it will stop bleeding."
Prince Fraser didn't move and just stared at me. "I will only take care of my wounds if you will let me change your bandage."
I look at Prince Fraser. If I don't let him change my bandage, then he might end up losing too much blood. But if I let him, wouldn't he feel responsible to me after?
I feel conflicted. The two options can affect the storyline greatly. Should I just let him bleed? After all, he is the male lead. There is no way he will die now.
However, if I do that, wouldn't I be putting Csille in a tight spot? After all, I was with Prince Fraser, and I can help him if I can. But I didn't do anything to take care of his wounds. Isn't that an offense to the royalties?
"Csille?"
What's your decision, Ysavel? What will I choose?
"Csille, are you really planning to let me bleed to death? Do you want to be a widow?"
I sigh. Do I even have any other choice? If I don't agree, he'll continue to use that reason until I get tired of it and agree. So, instead of letting him bleed for so long, I'll just let him change my bandage.
I will just pretend that this thing never happened. I'm sure his highness, Prince Fraser, won't tell anyone about this.
"Okay. I will let you. But you need to take care of your own wound too. You need to put pressure on it to stop the bleeding."
Prince Fraser nods his head before taking my outer dress and ripping it.
"May I?" He put his hand on the hem of my top. I turn my head on the side and nod my head.
This is really embarrassing. I never expected that I could experience something like this.
I close my eyes when I feel Prince Fraser's hand touch my skin. He slowly raised my top so he could clearly see my wounds. He then took the old bandage I made last night.
I heard him grunt when he saw my wound. Although my wound is small compared to him, it is still deep that's why it is bleeding too much. It's a good thing that my wound is on the side of my abdomen. So, it doesn't really hurt any organ.
"You said it's okay, but look how deep your wound is." I heard Prince Fraser grumbles.
He then started to wrap the bandage on my wound tightly. I wince when I feel pain in my wound.
After making sure it is okay. Prince Fraser attended on his own wound after. I just look at him and help him if necessary.
"Csille, how long do you think we need to wait for someone to see us?"
How long? I don't know. If I will based it on my novel, help will arrive a day after. But I'm not even sure if what is happening is still based on it.
"I don't know, Fraser.. I don't know."
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