The cold wind of the Imperial Capital brushed softly against the side of the car as it drove into the Razalo estate. The sky above was blue and clear, a view far from the chaos Aeliana had just come from. Her body was weak, her thoughts drifting in and out as the engine stopped and the door opened.
She felt strong and steady arms lift her. Her eyes opened slowly. The first thing she saw was Reinhardt's face. He was carrying her without a word.
What is he doing?
Why would he carry me?
Aeliana blinked in surprise. She was sure she could walk. She didn't expect this silent gesture of care from him, not from the man who barely spoke to her unless necessary. But she said nothing.
Aeliana had learned long ago how to hide her emotions. So she relaxed in his arms, even though her heart was a mess.
Her voice was low and tired. "I can walk…"
Reinhardt didn't answer.
He didn't stop, even unbothered.
He moved forward like he heard nothing from his wife.
She looked up at him, searching for some trace of what he might be thinking. But his face was blank. Cold, as always. He walked through the hallway without a word, each step echoing against the marble floor. Finally, he reached her room.
He pushed the door open gently with his foot and walked inside. Without a word, he laid her down carefully on the bed. Then, just as quietly, he turned around and walked out.
Aeliana stared at the ceiling.
He must hate speaking... to me at least.
Even after everything, the attack, the poison smoke, the fear, and being rescued, they still felt like strangers. Even after nearly losing her life, they couldn't sit and talk like husband and wife.
Her body ached. Every joint and every muscle screamed in pain. Her lungs still felt heavy. She shut her eyes, and a cough escaped her lips.
It wasn't a soft one.
It was deep, dry, and painful.
She tasted blood.
Aeliana sat up slowly, clutching her chest. This had happened before. Ever since she was young, sudden stress or exhaustion would cause her to cough up blood. Doctors had checked it, but no one found a clear answer. So she just learned to deal with it.
She wiped her lips with the corner of the blanket, then sank back into the pillows. Her mind was cloudy, and her breathing was slow.
Meanwhile, in the room across the hall, Reinhardt sat on the edge of his bed, eyes locked on the floor. His mind was far from calm. He had been thinking about the jade pendant again.
Something didn't add up.
Why did Aeliana have it? What really happened in the past? And if she was the girl he made that promise to, why didn't she recognize him?
He stood up. Without thinking, he walked back across the hallway, stopped in front of Aeliana's door, and opened it. He didn't knock. He didn't expect anything strange. But the moment he stepped inside, what he saw froze him in place.
Aeliana was lying on the bed, one hand gripping the blanket, and the other over her mouth. Blood stained her lips. She was breathing heavily, clearly in pain.
His chest tightened.
"Aeliana!"
She opened her eyes and looked at him.
"I'm fine," she whispered, trying to sit up.
But Reinhardt was already next to her. His eyes weren't calm anymore. "This isn't fine."
"This happens sometimes. It's normal for me," she said softly, but he didn't believe it. "Really… it goes away after a while."
Reinhardt didn't listen. He scooped her into his arms again, tighter this time. His jaw clenched. "I'm taking you to the hospital."
Aeliana tried to protest. "No, I don't need..."
"You're coughing blood," he snapped. "There's nothing normal about that."
She saw something in his eyes now.
Worry.
Real worry.
Why would he worry about a stranger?
Not the usual cold, distant look. This was different. It shocked her more than the coughing itself. Still, her pride made her resist.
"I've lived with this for years. No one ever found the reason. I'll be fine."
Reinhardt didn't let her finish. He walked out of the room with her again in his arms. She didn't fight anymore. She was too tired. Her vision started to blur again, and her breathing became more shallow. She rested her head against his chest.
He could feel how hot her body was.
A fever?
And she said she was fine!
Outside, the car was already being prepared. Reinhardt's secretary, who had rushed to the house after hearing the news, opened the door quickly. He didn't ask questions. He just drove.
Inside the car, Reinhardt held Aeliana close, watching her carefully. She had closed her eyes again. Her body trembled slightly, and the color on her face faded.
He gritted his teeth. He hated this feeling, this fear of not knowing.
She had almost died on the island. Now, she was breaking down in front of him, and he had no idea how to protect her. No idea what was wrong.
He had always controlled everything in his life. But now, he couldn't even understand his own wife.
"Just hold on," he whispered.
At the hospital, the staff moved quickly. They brought Aeliana to the emergency room while Reinhardt stayed just outside the glass doors, watching their every move. His hands were in fists at his sides. He had never felt so helpless.
Minutes passed.
Then an hour.
Finally, a doctor stepped out.
"She's stable," he said. "We've done some blood tests. It seems this wasn't the first time this happened, based on her medical history. But her recent exposure to toxic gas, stress, and lack of rest triggered the worst attack we've seen in her records."
Reinhardt let out a slow breath. "Is it dangerous?"
"It could be, if ignored," the doctor said seriously. "Her lungs are sensitive. If something like this happens again, it might not be so easy to treat. She needs rest. And proper care."
The words hit him hard.
Proper care.
He did not even know her enough to care.
Reinhardt stood by Aeliana's bed later that night, watching her sleep under the warm hospital lights. Her face was calmer now. There was no more blood or pain on her face. But his heart was still heavy.
He had ignored her for too long and assumed too much. Even after marrying her, he had stayed away, cold and distant. But this girl, the one who nearly died twice in one week, was stronger than she looked. And she was holding onto secrets even he couldn't guess.
As he reached out and gently touched the jade pendant on her chest, his thoughts returned to the past.