Chapter 55

Chapter 55.

"Was it a nightmare?"

It was not the high-pitched voice of childhood, now faded and half forgotten.

It was a familiar voice, grown a little lower and calmer, and it lingered at his ear.

Elisa, who had been leaning slantwise against the wall beside the bed, straightened up.

"W-when did you get here?"

A hoarse, cracked voice came out of him.

When Adrian cleared his throat, Elisa handed him a glass of water from the side table next to the bed.

"Let me think. An hour or two ago, maybe?"

"What were you doing?"

"Nothing much. Just thinking."

"About what?"

"Just... what would happen if you died like this."

"Then you must have wanted me dead."

"No."

"No?"

"No."

"Why not?"

"Because I extracted far too much from the Queen on the condition that I marry you."

"..."

"So it seemed it might be rather inconvenient for me…