Page 55 of His Beloved Princess
I woke from a dreamless sleep, opening my eyes to the dark room. The only source of light was a small lamp in the corner. I frowned, licking my dry lips and trying to remember where I was and what happened.
It took me only a moment to realize that I was in the hospital, probably in the VIP room, and I didn’t know anything about Bastian’s condition. With a groan, I sat up, blinking a few times, clearing my vision. I required water as well as information. Perhaps some food, too.
I was dizzy and felt weak, but there was no one nearby who could answer my questions or bring me something. I had to take care of it myself.
Slowly, I dragged myself to the door. My mind was foggy, and my legs were shaky, but nothing hurt. Obviously, I was still under the influence of medication because I didn’t feel anything.
“Where do you think you’re going?”
I winced when the strong female voice resonated through the hall. I looked in the direction of the person and mentally rolled my eyes. It was Rose Adelaine. She couldn’t pick a worst time for her stupid games and insults. Yet something in me whispered to my clouded brain that maybe she wasn’t here as an enemy.
“Bastian,” I screeched, and she raised her eyebrows. She fished a water bottle from her black purse, handing it to me.
“Drink and turn around,” she commanded as if she were some kind of general, but I was rooted to the ground. I didn’t take orders from her. I had to know if Bastian was okay. She couldn’t stop me from finding out.
“No one can see him right now,” Rose clarified, seeing that I didn’t move an inch. I took a small sip of water, refreshing my mouth. “Doctors won’t let anyone disturb him. He is out of surgery. Stable but still in critical condition.”
I was staring blankly at her, and my heart was painfully thundering in my chest. Tears again welled in my eyes, and I pressed my palm against the wall, supporting myself.
“C’mon, you need rest.” She gently took me by my arm, helping me return to bed. I was perplexed by her behavior, but I lacked the courage to investigate what was behind her kind demeanor. My only thought was for Bastian’s well-being.
“Are you comfortable? Do you need anything?”
Her questions and concerned face were weird. I shook my head, but when I looked at her, something didn’t add up. I didn’t know her well. We only met a few times, but she never looked so messy and tired.
She didn’t wear any makeup. Under her stunning blue eyes, dark bags had formed. Her always-perfect hair was up in a bun, and she was dressed casually, only in jeans and a T-shirt two sizes bigger than she needed.
“Are you okay, Miss Adelaine?” I managed to ask quietly, watching her as she sighed heavily and turned her back on me. The curtains were open, and the view of the city was magnificent.
“We feel the same, Electra,” she answered after a long pause. “I’m just better at hiding it.”
“Do you love him?” I burst out, feeling a boulder on my chest becoming heavier than ever before.
“I will always love him,” she replied flatly, facing me, and I held my breath. I believed Bastian when he said there was nothing between them, but I wasn’t so sure after her resolute answer. However, Rose at least bothered to explain her words without me asking.
“He is my best friend, Electra.” She moved closer to the bed, staring at me without hostility in her eyes. Seeing her as a regular, not-arrogant person was weird. “He is the anchor to my sanity. He saved my life in so many ways that I can’t count.” She sat on my right side, smiling sadly. “It’s tough to explain the relationship we have but trust me on this. We are not sleeping together. He loves you. Only you.”
“What about yourspecial agreement?” I asked, emphasizing the last two words. It wasn’t the best time to discuss it, but the chance presented itself.
“Our special agreement, as you call it, returned the ground under my feet. I’m sure he told you what happened to me.” She gave me a pointed look, and I nodded, waiting for her to continue.
“I totally lost control over everything,” she sighed, shrugging. “If Bastian hadn’t stepped up and taken me under his wings, I would’ve been rotting in the cemetery right now. Thanks to him, I’m slowly gaining my life back.” Rose stopped for a second as she hesitated over whether continuing was a good idea. “It’s an excruciatingly long process, and I must admit that sometimes, I’m purposely sabotaging it because I’m scared that one day he’ll say that I don’t need him anymore.”
“That’s why you acted like a total bitch?” I blurted out, slightly shaking my head. It felt like we were fighting over some popular guy in high school.
“Two things, Electra,” she snapped, narrowing her eyes at me. “First, I was his main interest for the past five years. You’re stepping into my territory.” She stood, crossing her arms over her chest. The sudden change in her demeanor caught me off-guard. “And second, I wanted to terminate our contract and move out of your way. He refused.”
“That’s nice of you,” I stated, watching her as she frowned. “But still, you have no right to act like this. You don’t own him.” I averted my gaze from her face, looking out the window at the night sky. I expected her to argue with me, but she said nothing.
For a long moment, we were both quiet. I wasn’t in the mood to talk to her or anyone else. My mind was with Bastian. I wanted nothing more than to see him and tell him how much I loved him, but I had to deal with Miss Adelaine first.
“I told Bastian yesterday that your contract can stay in place, but I want to know everything he’s doing for you.” I broke the silence, noticing Rose wince. She was lost in her thoughts as well. She lifted one of her elegant eyebrows at me, waiting. “Whatever it is, I’ll know about it.”
Her brows shot up, and surprise appeared all over her beautiful face. “Excuse me?”
“I won’t be responsible for the worsening of your mental health because I’m jealous, Rosalind,” I explained, holding her gaze. She came closer to me, studying me as if she thought I was bluffing. Well, I wasn’t. I made a decision, and nothing could change my mind. “I won’t interfere, and I’ll keep your secret, but I won’t let my man hold you during a breakdown without an explanation.”
“Why would you do this, Electra?” she asked, studying my face.
