Page 69 of A Valiant Prince

Auggie and Chris both come over and whisper words to Lara before exiting the room. It’s just Hans, who still sits in the corner, King Michael, Anna, and me.

“Hans, why don’t you come with me? Take a shower, get a change of clothes, some food. Anna and Logan can stay with Lara for a while,” he suggests.

Hans gets up and walks over to us, looking down at his wife. He looks tired.

“I suppose since she’s stable. I could use a shower,” he admits.

“Good. It’s settled. You can ride back with me to the palace. I’ll send you back later, once you’ve gotten a little rest,” the king says.

Hans looks once more at Lara and then follows Anna’s father out of the room. I pull up a chair and sit next to Anna.

“She was always trying to get me to be more ladylike,” Anna laughs softly. “I’m sure I was a big disappoint to her.”

“I don’t think so,” I say to her.

She shrugs. “She always wanted me to dress up and sit properly and say the right things, even when I was little. I know she loved me, but I think she hoped I would turn out differently,” she says.

“I’m sure she’s proud of you,” I say to her.

I see tears in Anna’s eyes again. “She told me that I made her life better,” she manages before another sob breaks loose.

“See, she’s proud of you,” I say, squeezing her shoulder.

“This is all so fucked up,” she says and turns to me.

I swallow. “I know,” I agree.

Chapter Twenty-Four

Two hours later, Anna has fallen asleep with her head on her aunt’s hand. I don’t have the heart to wake her, so I sit in the chair off to the side and watch the two of them. I drift off to sleep after a while and wake with a start. I look around. Anna’s still asleep, but her aunt’s foot is bobbing back and forth under the covers.

I run out into the hall and find a nurse. I pull her back inside and point. Her eyes widen.

“I’ll get the doctor,” she says as she runs back to her desk and picks up a phone.

The next thirty minutes are a blur as I wake Anna. The doctor comes in with two other doctors, and they examine Lara. They take her to run a battery of tests. Our families show back up, and we all sit gathered in a private waiting room.

Two more hours pass with all of us trying to occupy ourselves. At the hour mark, Auggie and Chris get bored with their phones and start playing a ridiculous board game left in the waiting room. Anna curls up next to her father, who talks to my father. They tell funny stories from their childhood. Even Sten tells stories. I’m so confused by Sten. I watch him like a hawk for any sign that he’s evil, but I get nothing. He’s either the best actor in the world, or he’s not guilty.

When the doctor finally comes in, everyone stands.

“Please, sit down,” he says to us and takes a seat himself. “I can’t believe I’m saying this, but Lara is showing signs of subtle improvements. Her organs that had been in a state of failure are now stable. Her lungs have responded well to the treatment we’ve provided for the smoke inhalation. The first time we tried to bring her out of the induced coma, she didn’t respond well. I’m hesitant to try again so soon, but I think we need to in order to see what we’re dealing with here.”

“When would you do this?” Hans asks.

“Tomorrow morning,” he says. “I’d like her to rest for one more night.”

Hans nods.

“I think you all should go home and rest tonight. It’s been a long few days for you. Lara is absolutely stable right now. There’s no need for you to stay the night. I’ll call if there’s any change at all,” he says to us. “If we do bring her out of the coma, the next few days or even weeks will be very difficult for her. She will need you well-rested and strong.”

There’s a resounding chorus of affirmative understandings from everyone except Hans.

“I’d prefer to stay with her,” Hans grumbles.

“Hans, don’t make me be royal and command you to go get sleep,” King Michael says. Hans sighs and runs a hand over his thinning hair.

“I suppose I could sleep for a few hours and come back early,” he says.

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