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Ludwig woke up with great effort. His eyelids were heavy and his surroundings were blurry, but his sight cleared with every blink. He was in his room, lying in bed, and he could hear voices ﹘ Sally and Betty, maybe? But that didn’t seem right, they had already woken him up so he could go spy on Millian.
Then it came back to him. Memories of the flames danced in his eyes. But where was—
“Olive!”
He flung himself out of bed..only to crumple to the floor. Sharp pains flared across his chest and he could hardly breathe. Ludwig could only remember the knife to the shoulder, the rest must have come after he dropped the barrier. But he couldn’t remember anything past that. His heart sank. Had that side of him come out?
Almost as soon as he’d fallen, someone was crouched beside him, hand on his arm. It took him to register that it was Carlos.
“Where’s Olive?” Ludwig asked, before his brother could say anything. “ Is she safe? Did she get Lythian?”
Ludwig noticed that Planus was here, too, standing behind his brother.
“Olive is safe.”
Ludwig looked for any sign his brother was lying, but Carlos was a better politician than him. So he looked to Planus instead. If anything had happened to Olive, Planus wouldn’t be able to hide it. But the other man was calm, and if anything, seemed concerned for Ludwig.
Ludwig believed Carlos. Suddenly, he could breathe again.
“Right now, it’s you I’m worried about,” Carlos said in a lighter tone, “Come on, let’s get you back into bed.” As Carlos gently tugged on his arm, Planus came up on his other side to help get Ludwig up off the floor. As much as he didn’t want their help, Ludwig felt too weak to fight them over it. His legs were trembling (whether from exertion or relief, it was hard to tell) and the sharp pains had receded into a pervasive ache.
Once Ludwig was settled against his pillows, Carlos took a seat on the bed near his feet, with Planus standing nearby.
Ignoring them, Ludwig assessed himself. He ran a hand over his nightshirt and could feel bandages wrapped all down his chest. The spot over his heart was especially tender and tight. His mana felt calmer and settled, like how it was after going ‘hunting’. The signs were building, and the sinking feeling in the pit of his stomach was only growing.
“How are you feeling?” Carlos asked.
Ludwig grimaced, “Like I got stabbed.”
Carlos frowned at that. “If it hurts, the doctor left painkillers for you to take. I can have her come back and look over you again.”
Ludwig shook his head. That was the last thing he wanted.
Carlos put a hand on the bed and leaned closer. “Ludwig,” the graveness in his voice was underscored by how he’d dropped the silly nickname, “you were in bad shape. Really bad. You probably would have died if Olive hadn’t gotten you to Planus.”
“Planus did?” That bad, enough to need healing magic? His hand went to the sore spot over his heart.
Planus nodded in agreement, looking uncharacteristically worried and sympathetic.
“Oh.” Ludwig looked away, feeling sheepish. “Thank you, Planus,” Ludwig said, “for helping me.”
Ludwig figured that having your life saved was one of those things that definitely warranted a thank you in order to be a decent person, but still, Planus didn’t have to look that shocked.
“Anyway,” Ludwig said, “I feel fine, now.”
Carlos had an expression he couldn’t read, but no one said anything further.
Ludwig knew there was more they weren’t telling him. Neither of them had answered his questions about where Olive was now or explained what had happened after he’d dropped the barrier.
Ludwig’s throat was tight, he didn’t want to say, or even think, the words, but he had to know. Was his second chance already over?
He couldn’t meet either of their eyes. “Did it happen? Does Olive know?”
Carlos and Planus shared a look. Neither of them said anything, which was answer enough.
It was over. Olive would never smile at him again. The lively look in her eyes would die to rage. He would never get to learn more about her.
Ludwig curled in on himself and buried his face between his knees. His eyes burned, but he didn’t cry. Perhaps this was inevitable. Olive never would — or could — be his. He couldn’t change. He’d never be good enough for her.
“Ludwig, you’re awake!”
He jerked upright so fast he nearly made himself dizzy. Olive was standing in the doorway. She was smiling and her eyes were bright.
What?
In a blink, Olive was by his side and clutching his hands. Did she not hate him? Ludwig looked at her soft hands on his to her worried face and back again. “How are you feeling?” she asked.
Ludwig had several revelations all at once.
First, Olive had seen him in that state and did not hate him. Second, Olive had a tendency to touch him when he was sick or hurt.
“Everything hurts,” Ludwig moaned, “I can barely stand.”
She inhaled sharply, eyes widening in concern. “What about your mana? Your face is red, do you already have a fever?”
Ludwig could barely string a thought together as Olive pressed the back of her hand to his forehead. Although he felt like he’d been used as a pincushion, Olive didn’t hate him. He still had a chance.
Carlos watched the scene play out with amusement. As soon as Olive had appeared, Ludy perked up like a puppy whose owner had come home. He was grateful to Olive, her doting and fawning was possibly the best reassurance Ludy could have gotten. Carlos knew his little brother would be alright by the way Ludy was shooting him smug looks as Olive held his hands and touched his forehead.
But although one battle was over, the other was just getting started. If looks could kill, Planus would already be convicted of treason. Oh well. If he had a problem, he should interrupt the two himself. Carlos resigned himself to even more mountains of paperwork. No one said being a big brother was easy.
The Garnet Palace wasn’t exactly where the only daughter of the Empire’s chancellor should be staying, but Olive had thrown a big enough tantrum to be allowed to stay indefinitely. Getting permission from Prince Carl and Musset had been the easy part. Her brother was an entirely different story. But, right now, she was sure she was the person best suited to help Prince Ludwig break his curse. She’d hammered this point and kicked up enough of a fuss that eventually Planus gave in. As long as she sent word back home everyday and had Isabel stay with her, then she could stay.
Olive carried the tray of tea and medicine carefully up the stairs to Ludwig’s room. She’d offered to do it partially to help Musset and partially because Ludwig would take the medicine without complaint if it was Olive asking him to.
She knocked on his door. “Ludwig? I’m coming in.”
There were only a couple candles burning and Ludwig looked half asleep.
“Olive?”
“It’s me,” she said and took a seat beside his bed. “It’s time to take your medicine.”
Ludwig sat up in bed and waited as she mixed the medicine into his tea. Her fingers brushed against his as she handed over the mug. He downed it without complaint, but didn’t hand it back to her. Instead, he stared deep into the cup, lost in thought.
“You didn’t leave.” The way he said it was halfway between a question and a statement. Olive wasn’t even sure if he was talking to her. “Now you know, and you’re still here.”
His bangs hid his eyes, but there was a hint of a tremor in his voice. She reached out and took the cup from him and set it aside. The gesture took him out of thoughts and his eyes met hers.
“I said I would help you and I meant it. I don’t go back on my promises.” She wouldn’t admit it, especially not to Ludwig, but she had been afraid. She clenched her hands into fists against her skirt. In that alley, she had been afraid of him. Not whatever entity that had possessed him, but Ludwig. It may have been out of self preservation, but she still felt a twinge of shame now that she knew more.
“Oh,” he said, quietly. Ludwig sank down into bed and laid his head on the pillow so he was facing her, more relaxed than before. A long silent moment passed before he reached out for Olive’s hand.
“I’m glad you don’t hate me. I don’t know what I’d do.”
It wasn’t the first time he’d said that to her. He’d said it to her all the way back at Planus’ birthday party. Why did her opinion matter that much to him?
He’d been so sincere despite them being near strangers. Back then, the look on his face had made her blush. Now, it was the way held her hand, their fingers intertwined.
“Will you stay?” His voice was breathy and his hand clung tightly to hers. Her heart fluttered and she was glad for the low light to hide her deepening blush.
“Mm-hmm,” She would stay for as long as needed until he fell asleep.
He smiled and sighed, content. “G’night, Olive.”
“Good night, Ludwig,” she stroked her thumb slowly against his hand, “sleep tight.”
She watched as he closed his eyes, and didn’t let go of his hand, even as his breathing slowed and his grip loosened. Olive waited for several more minutes, watching his chest rise and fall as he breathed until she was sure he was asleep. She stood up slowly and moved his hand so it lay on his chest. She hovered over him, hesitating.
Heart racing, Olive found her resolve. Gently, so as to not wake him, she pressed a kiss to his forehead. “Get better soon, okay?” To herself, she promised that she would figure out how to break his curse.