"You are lucky. No shattered bone. You should recover fast," the Daughter said flatly, after examining him.
"That is good to hear," replied Blanc, his exhausted eyes barely holding themselves open.
"But," the Daughter began, her flaming red eyes wandering around the empty room inside the mansion for a few moments, "Never mind."
"What is it?" Blanc asked.
"Do not mind me. I will share with the Patriarch the results and my recommendations as well. Now rest," she added coldly, before getting up and leaving the room.
The room Blanc found himself in was in the same old mansion he grew up in, yet this side of the mansion was seen by him only a few times, during smaller skirmishes when they would bring some wounded soldiers here. The last time he was in here, he was ten.
He managed to sneak around with Sera, curious to see what these rooms had to offer.
It was disappointing for them to see barely anything that was interesting enough for their young mind. He was wounded now, with no interest in being here, but even if he wanted to leave and retreat to his room, he could not.
Even though it was just two stories above him, his body would not allow it.
He was beyond exhausted. His body was weak. Still too weak. However, he knew that no amount of Raw Vita and strength would make much of a difference after one lost as much blood as he had. But he will recover soon.
Hopefully, in time for the battle that marches ever closer. As certain in its coming as the sun that sinks in the evening only to rise again the next morning.
With such thoughts, Blanc's body finally gave up, the tension from the earlier battle all but gone, allowing him to drift to an all-needed sleep.
The Main Hall was far from peaceful, unlike Blanc, who now rested in calm.
After the Daughter delivered the report on Blanc's current condition to the Patriarch and the entirety of Blood Denegis. Old and young alike.
A heavy silence fell over the room. Not a calm kind of silence, but one thick with tension, stirred by every word she had spoken.
"Thank you, Daughter, feel free to rest as well," said Elion after her report, dismissing her with a wave of his hand.
"In that case," she replied, bowing to all present before turning on her heel and leaving the hall.
"I'm sorry," Celine began, jumping to her feet, "If it were not for my inability to defend myself, Blanc would not have been in such a situation now."
"Is this your fault?" muttered Lune, eyes wide as she watched Celine.
"Yes, he protected me with his body from a sword coming my way… I fear if he had not done that, it would have killed me, and-" Celine replied, but a yell that took anyone by surprise made her stop.
"IT WOULD HAVE BEEN BETTER IF IT KILLED YOU!" Lune cried out.
"Lune!" retorted most of the people present.
"I am sorry," Celine muttered, her eyes looking at the floor, trying to hold the tears from leaving her eyes.
"Lune, you do not mean it," Kae said, his worry for his older brother visible in his eyes.
"Lune!" Elion began, "Tell me, if you were there, instead of Celine, and Blanc had taken a sword for you, would you have said the same?"
"Well, I would not have let that happen," she replied, her anger still present.
"You do not understand war, child. And it shows," Auren shook her head in disappointment.. "But I have neither the desire nor the wish to explain that to you. Either you apologize to Celine, right this instant, or leave this hall until you find the words to apologize."
"But why should I-" Lune wanted to speak.
"LUNE!" yelled Elion, his deep voice and anger making the teacups tremble on the wooden table.
"I. I am sorry, Celine," Lune said between sobs before taking her seat.
"Celine, dear," Mera started, "You have no fault in this. Blanc made his choice. And it was the correct one. Both politically and honorably."
Celine stuttered, trying to find her words, "I, uh, I understand that. But- but I did not wish for it to happen."
"Neither did we, and I am sure neither did Blanc. Yet it happened, and that is all there is to it," Mera replied, offering her the warm smile and comfort only a mother could give. "He is to be your husband. You two are to live the rest of your lives together. No matter who else is besides you two. You are next to each other through everything. Whatever that may be. Good or bad."
"You are also the daughter of Blood Maroux," Auren added, "You are important not just because you are Blanc's fiancé but also because of the blood that runs in your veins."
"I am of Blood Maroux no longer," Celine said, "But thank you for your kind words. I do hope Blanc would not come to hate me for it."
"Was he angry with you?" asked Mera.
Celine shook her head, "He was not. But things are different now."
"Blanc is not that kind of man," Valar disagreed, "I know my little brother. He knew that sword could have killed him. Yet he still jumped in front of it. This does not change anything."
"Valar is right," agreed Mera, "You will see."
"I do hope you are right," said Celine.
"Can we go see him?" asked Kael.
"The boy is resting now," began Elion, "Do not disturb him, and let him heal."
"Please…" asked Kael, "I want to see if he is in pain. Celine can come as well."
Mera giggled at Kael's words, "Celine has more of a right to go to him than you, little ones, have. But go. And Celine dear, please go with them and make sure they do not disturb Blanc."
"Mera, they shouldn't," Elion shook his head, "He is beyond exhausted."
"Either you let them go, or they will find a way to do it, just like Blanc and Sera did in the past," Auren added, amused, "The little rascals are smarter than you give them credit, husband."
"Very well," Elion sighed, before staring in the twins' eyes, "But wake him up and I'll make you fly."
And with that, Lune and Kael dashed towards the door, worry and curiosity all at once. Celine, with a bow, bid the rest farewell, then followed behind. The guilt created by Lune's words, still present behind her eyes as she walked.
I'm sorry, my love. You will not like what you hear when you wake up.