The Princess And The Lord-Chapter 1422: The Calm After the Storm

Night had fallen once again over Herriond. The city glittered beneath a blanket of darkness, its streets lined with twinkling lights and towering high-rises that reached for the heavens like silent sentinels.

The atmosphere seemed calm, almost serene—an illusion of peace that belied the turmoil quietly unfolding within the walls of Cestine Palace. Even most of the palace staff, going about their nightly duties, remained blissfully unaware of the crisis brewing in its heart.

On the ground floor of the palace, hidden away in the sterile hush of the intensive care unit, the soft rhythmic beeping of monitoring machines filled the air. A faint antiseptic scent lingered as fluorescent lights cast a pale glow across the room.

On one of the hospital beds lay a young woman, her face slightly pale, her breathing steady but fragile. Beside her, a man sat silently in a chair, his tall frame hunched forward as he held her hand gently in his own. His beautiful onyx eyes were fixed on her sleeping face, the depths of his gaze heavy with worry and unspoken stress.

Moments stretched in silence until, at last, her eyelashes fluttered faintly. With a quiet groan, her lids parted, and her eyes blinked against the sharp brightness above. She frowned, disoriented, her mind struggling to piece together fragments of memory.

A soft voice broke the stillness, warm yet laced with deep concern.

"Lory... are you okay?"

Slowly, she turned her head toward the sound and was met with a pair of familiar onyx eyes staring down at her with a tenderness that made her chest tighten."Do you feel any pain anywhere?" he asked carefully.

"Xin...?" Her voice was hoarse, confusion knitting her brows. But as seconds passed, a flood of memory surged through her mind, sharp and overwhelming. Her eyes flew wide.

"Luc! Where is Luc?!" she cried, panic clawing at her chest as she tried to push herself up.

But Zhao Li Xin’s hand was quick and steady, pressing gently against her shoulder to hold her in place.

"Lory, wait—he’s fine," he reassured her firmly, though his voice remained calm and soothing. "The doctors have confirmed his condition is stable. All of his injuries have healed, and his organs are functioning perfectly again. He’s just resting now... asleep from exhaustion."

His words washed over her like a wave, and though her body trembled with leftover fear, she slowly sank back against the pillows. The tight knot in her chest loosened slightly, her eyes brimming with tears of relief as Zhao Li Xin continued to hold her hand, never once looking away.

"Thank goodness," Lory murmured weakly.

The door swung open suddenly, breaking the quiet hum of the machines. Jay stepped in, his usually sharp expression softening the instant his eyes fell on Lory. Relief and delight spread across his face like sunlight breaking through clouds.

"You’re awake?" he said, his voice a mixture of joy and disbelief as he took long, eager strides toward her bedside.

Lory turned her head slightly to meet his gaze, her lips parting with a tremulous urgency. "Any news about Luc?"

A wide smile lit up Jay’s face, his eyes shining with unrestrained happiness as he nodded. "He’s fine. He woke up a few times, though he was still a bit dazed and drifted back to sleep." His tone turned reassuring. "The doctors said he’s suffering from mana depletion, so he just needs plenty of rest to naturally replenish his mana reserves. But other than that, he’s perfectly fine. They expect him to fully wake in about two days."

A long, shaky exhale escaped Lory’s lips, her shoulders sinking back into the pillows as if a heavy weight had finally been lifted from her chest. "Finally..." she whispered, her voice laced with relief.

"Yeah." Jay’s smile softened into something more grateful. He turned his eyes toward Zhao Li Xin and inclined his head slightly in a gesture of deep respect. "Thanks to you—and to Li Xin here."

Lory’s gaze shifted to the man sitting silently at her side. Zhao Li Xin’s elegant, chiseled features remained calm as ever, but the faint warmth in his onyx eyes betrayed his quiet satisfaction. A wave of emotion washed over Lory.

How lucky she is to meet Zhao Li Xin, it’s all because of him, she has found the strength to change her destiny. He was always there by her side, accompanying her without complaint through every peril, and no matter what happened, he always loved her with a loyalty and devotion a woman could dream of.

Handsome, strong, capable, loyal, and kind, that all being said, what more could a woman ask of a man?

"That’s right..." she murmured, her voice soft but brimming with affection. "Thank you, Li Xin." She squeezed his hand tightly, a silent vow forming in her heart. I’ll treat this man even better than before. He deserves nothing less.

Zhao Li Xin tilted his head slightly, his lips curving faintly—not quite a smile, more a subtle acknowledgment. He couldn’t guess at her thoughts, but her happiness had always been his only priority. Everything else was secondary... or irrelevant.

"If you’re truly grateful," he said in his deep, velvety voice, "then stay with me. Forever."

Lory’s chuckle broke the thick emotion in the room. She looked at him, her eyes shimmering with love and amusement. "Of course," she replied playfully. "Not even ten behemoths could pull me away from you."

Jay, who had been standing a little too long in the middle of their tender moment, rubbed the back of his neck awkwardly. "Oo—kay... I’m gonna head out then," he muttered with an embarrassed chuckle as he started for the door.

"Hey, bring me chocolate mousse!" Lory suddenly got up and called after him, her voice bright with mischief.

But before Jay could respond, Zhao Li Xin’s calm yet firm voice cut in. "No. Just bring a mild porridge." As he spoke, he adjusted the hospital bed’s headrest and arranged the pillows, making sure Lory could sit up comfortably.

Jay paused mid-step and turned slightly to glance back. Lory sat there obidiently with a sheepish and almost guilty expression under Zhao Li Xin’s reproachful gaze. A small laugh escaped Jay as he shook his head in amusement. Who knows, someone is finally able to control that naughty girl.

As Jay opened the door to leave, he nearly bumped into Maddy and Lydia, who were just about to knock. Both girls froze in surprise, startled by the sudden encounter. Jay gave them a gentle nod, stepping aside to hold the door open for them. They nodded back nervously, clearly flustered in the presence of the famous Archknight, and hurried inside with awkward, hurried steps.

Zhao Li Xin’s sharp eyes caught sight of the two girls entering. Without a word, he rose gracefully from his chair. He leaned down, pressing a gentle kiss to Lory’s forehead. "I’ll go to the Mystique Realm for a few hours," he murmured, his voice warm yet tinged with authority. "Don’t forget to eat your porridge. I’ll check when I’m back." His lips curved slightly in a playful warning.

Lory smiled up at him softly, her fingers brushing his hand. "Okay. Come back soon."

He gave her a final glance, then strode out of the room without sparing the other girls so much as a glance. But neither Lydia nor Maddy took offense. They had long grown accustomed to Zhao Li Xin’s cool indifference. They knew it wasn’t rudeness; it was simply his nature.

The moment the door closed behind him, the two girls finally exhaled in unison, as though they had been holding their breath the entire time. Their tense faces melted into excitement as they squealed and rushed to Lory’s side.

"Are you okay, Lory?" Lydia asked anxiously, her eyes scanning her friend from head to toe.

"You have no idea how panicked I was when I heard what happened to you and the King!" Maddy added, her wide eyes filled with worry as she recounted the chaos.

The memory of Lory collapsing and the urgency surrounding the King’s condition had shaken everyone in Cestine Palace. Word of the crisis had spread like wildfire, leaving staff and guards alike in a state of hushed fear.

Yet no one had dared to ask questions—not with the Archknights patrolling the halls with stern faces. Only Leon had run back to the palace in a frantic attempt to find out what had happened.

Meanwhile, those who knew the truth kept their silence. When Lydia and Maddeline back to Cestine Palace, they were stunned when they were asked to help Lory and Lucas.

Of course, they felt indescribably honored to use their powers to help the heir of Lucients, therefore, they did not hesitate. Once their task was done, they were instructed firmly not to leave the vicinity without the Archknights’ permission.

Their hearts had been pounding ever since, waiting endlessly for news of Lory and Lucas’s condition. They didn’t even know if their efforts had been of any real use. But now, finally seeing Lory awake and smiling, the tight knot of anxiety in their chests began to unravel.

"Thank you for your help," Lory said sincerely, her voice warm with gratitude.

Maddeline and Lydia both blushed, flustered by her heartfelt words. They waved their hands dismissively. "It was nothing... honestly, we didn’t do much," Maddeline replied sheepishly.

"That’s right," Lydia agreed with a soft chuckle.

In truth, when Gifted people exhausted their mana reserves, they were usually advised to drink a mana potion immediately to avoid slipping into mana depletion. But if depletion occurred, a healer’s power could help, even though the effect was limited.

Their ability could only replenish a small fraction of the lost mana, just enough to stabilize the patient and keep their life from being at risk. Still in a dire situation, it served as a great help for many people.

"Still, you help me if not, I wouldn’t recover this fast," Lory smiled.

Lydia and Maddy smile sheepishly.

"By the way, why do I only see a few healers other than us, I thought Harland had the second largest healers in the world, just below Dolza, so I thought there would be more healers," Maddy expressed her confusion.

Lory tilted her head in contemplation."My guess is because we don’t want the news about me and Lucas’ recovery leaked to the outside."

"You think there’s a mole in healers at Harland?" Lydia whisper.

Lory shrugged. "I’m not sure, this is a preventive measure." Lory then diverted the conversation, "How are you in the youth academy, Did you settle in?"

Lydia’s face lit up instantly. "Yes! My roommates are wonderful, and it’s actually quite fun because not all of them are healers. Some are Gifted, and even a few Creators. It’s exciting to meet so many different kinds of people." She described her life in the women’s dormitory at the Youth Academy with a cheerful glow.

"That does sound fun..." Maddy admitted, a hint of envy in her voice.

"Then, when all this is over, why don’t you join too?" Lory suggested with a warm smile.

"Can I?" Maddy asked, her eyes widening slightly. She had never considered attending a school before—not when she spent so long hiding her identity. But maybe, just as Lory said, when all of this was over, she could finally do the things she once thought impossible.

"Why not? If you run into trouble, I can give you a recommendation letter," Lory added nonchalantly.

Maddy blinked at her, the corner of her lips twitching slightly. "I think that’s overkill, don’t you?"

Lory looked back at her in mild confusion, while Lydia quickly covered her mouth to stifle a giggle.

After chatting for a while longer and finishing her porridge, just as Zhao Li Xin had instructed. Meanwhile, Maddy and Lydia were finally given permission to leave the palace. They were, however, reminded sternly not to speak about anything they had seen or done, except with those present at the private meeting.

A few moments later, Lory wrapped herself in a soft knitted robe and stepped out of her room. She padded quietly to the room next door, where Lucas was staying. Carefully, she opened the door and peeked inside.

Fredhardt was there, slumped in a chair, half-asleep with his arms crossed. The deep furrow in his brow eased the moment he sensed someone enter. His eyes opened and softened when he saw it was Lory.

"You should get some rest. I’ll watch Luc" Lory said gently.

Fredhardt rubbed a hand over his tired face, the exhaustion in his movements impossible to hide. "I’ll sleep on the couch. You take the chair," he murmured.

As he rose from his seat, Lory slipped into the chair, her eyes fixed on Lucas sleeping soundly. Meanwhile, Fredhardt settled on the couch, and the moment his head rested on the armrest, he drifted into sleep, his breathing evening out within seconds.

This 𝓬ontent is taken from fre𝒆webnove(l).𝐜𝐨𝗺