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Chapter 15 - No time for gratitude

Alexa blinked, her vision slowly putting into focus. A sterile white ceiling. She was in a bed,a thin blanket covering her. She reached up, her fingers pressing aganist her little bandaged forehead.

" Where am I?" The words were a dry whisper.

The door clicked open, James entered, carrying a plastic tray. His usual crisp suit looked slightly crumpled.

" Thank God, you're awake,Ail." He set the tray down with a sigh relief.

" Jay? What happened? The last thing I remember..." Her memory was a painful blur, a dazzling light, sharp impact.

James pulled a chair closer." It was the speech. You were just starting when the main chandelier broke its moorings." He shuddered. " It was about to come down right on your head."

Her eyes widened. " And?"

" And Edmund," He stressed the name," pushed you clear. But you weren't completely safe. You hit your head hard on the marble pillar. You fainted instantly. " He gestured towards her temple. " He saved you, but he got hurt in the process."

She instinctively reached for the tender spot on her head. A flash of memory: Edmund's face, close, intense, telling her to wake up, right before everything went dark.

" Is he... where is he?"

" He's resting. The doctors are looking over his hand— apparently, the glass from the chandelier cut him pretty badly."

Before he could elaborate, a sudden urgency seized her. She threw off her blanket, ignoring the lightheadedness, the ridiculously- looking patient gown.

" Ail, where are u going? You need to rest!" James protested.

" Out."

Alexa hurried down the quiet corridor, her white slippers silent on the tilted floor. She didn't know why, she had to see him. To confirm.

She reached a doorway a few turns down, heard a familiar, clipped voice.

"...I guess she's finally alright , then. "

It was Edmund.

Peeking around the jamb, she saw him sitting on the edge of the bed, dressed in a simple white t-shirt. Lionel, his impeccably groomed secretary, stood beside him. Edmund's right palm was completely wrapped in thick white bandages, looking huge, clumsy.

" We still don't have an official cause for the failure, Your Highness." Lionel was saying.

" It was maybe a maintenence problem."

" Find one." Edmund replied flatly." I don't believe in coincidences. "

As she leaned in slightly to hear more, her bare heel clipped the edge of a forgotten floor lamp base. The clang echoed shared in the quiet hallway.

Edmund didn't flinch."I know you're there, Alexa. No need to eavesdrop."

She pushed off the door, walked stiffly into the room.

" I wasn't eavesdropping, " she lied smoothly, trying to look casua. " I was just... going by."

Edmund gave her a skepticallook that could curdle milk. " Yeah. Funny how you don't seem to have the manners to stop, saying thank you first."

Lionel cleared this throat nervously. " Miss Donovan , are you feeling g alright?"

" I'm fine," she said, managing a tight smile.

" Just ... my head hurts a bit."

She scoffed, shaking his head slowly." Yeah, it will hurt. Because you're a woman who doesn't even have the manners to express a sliver of gratefulness when someone saves your life."

The gratitude she was looking for immediately dissolved into a familiar, scorching fury.

" You're not a superhero, Royal boy," she shot back, her voice firm despite the headache. " And it don't owe you anything!"

" Oh you owe me an explanation, at least !"

Lionel looked at James, who had just arrived at the doorway, panting slightly. He gave his boss a pleading look, then slipped quietly out of the room, closing the door behind him.

James watched them bicker through the glass panel, then sighed heavily.

" So," he mumbled to Lionel." I guess they're still on the same path."

Lionel smoothed his tie, a look of long- suffering resignation on his face. " What can we do?"

" How... how could this happen?! The chandelier ! I told you , the mission was to cause disruption in the Charity funding campaign, not to... to kill the First Daughter's and The Prince!"

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