Cursed is the Crown

What He’s Done

{Melanie’s POV}

This time, the deep throaty chuckle of the man in front of me caught my attention. “No, you’re neither asleep nor dead.. but you are injured. You should allow Lynovia and I to look over you.”

I shook my head, gripping the cloak around me. “I-I don’t think.. I don’t..” I muttered, unable to formulate a sentence.

“Don’t worry dearie, we just want to check you for any other injuries, you can keep your dress on, but we need to remove your cloak.” Lynovia smiled, brushing a strand of hair behind my ear.

I pulled the cloak tighter around me, if they take my cloak they’ll see the bruising on my arm. As Lynovia brushed my hair back she gasped, looking over my face carefully. “You’ve got some bruising on your cheeks..” she whispered. “And it looks like your head is bleeding..” she said softly, her hand gently brushing across my forehead. I hissed and backed away, my hand instinctively going to my head.

“I-I’m fine.. don’t worry about me, I can take care of it myself..” I smiled softly, looking anywhere but at them. I turned on my heel about to make my way back inside, but my ankle throbbed, and twisted once again, causing me to fall forward.

Before I even knew what was happening, strong arms wrapped around me, lifting me against a toned chest once again. “You’re not okay.. you’ve hurt yourself, and you need help. There’s nothing wrong with needing a little bit of help.” The man from before smiled. “Now, how about introductions?” He smiled, it was a dangerous thing, his smile, confident, but genuine. Something about it drew me in, but I closed that part of me off, I knew better than to lean in too much to him.

I nodded, before my hands wrapped around his neck, my hands resting on his shoulder. “I’m.. Melanie.. Melanie Mills.” I smiled back trying to stay polite.

His smile brightened as he nodded to me. “I’m Fenrick Varlow, and this is my steward Coriealis, and his wonderful wife Lynovia.”

“I-It’s a pleasure to meet you all..” I whispered, my face flushing as I looked over the man holding me in his arms. Fenrick.. it suited him, something in me felt that I knew him.. like I’d met him before, but I couldn’t place it, no matter how hard I tried. “I-I’m okay.. really..” I nodded to Fenrick. “I can walk, it’s just going to take a me bit longer to get from place to place.”

His deep chuckle had me bouncing slightly against his chest as he held me tight. “I’ll take you to the infirmary, and we’ll get you bandaged up. Then I’ll have Lynovia give you a tour of the castle, and show you to your room. Walking around on that ankle is only going to make it worse until we can get it looked at properly.” He smiled at me again, and I couldn’t stop that annoying fluttering in my heart. Genuine kindness.. for no other reason than to just help me. I couldn’t trust this.. nor believe it. There’s a good chance that they may try to torture me for information. They thought I came from another kingdom.. that’s what they said. I have to try to keep a level head, but it’s getting harder by the second when I’m around him.

He carefully packed me inside, taking me up a set of marble stairs, and into a room that had bandages, jars, and books. He sat me down carefully on a chair, and knelt down on his knees in front of me, carefully pulling my heels off. He studied my ankle for a moment, moving it from side to side before nodding. “I think it’s just a sprain.. it’s swelled, and red, but it isn’t bruising too badly like a break would.” He said, grabbing a jar filled with a green sludge and a bandage wrap. He set them on the table beside me, before opening the jar and sinking his hand inside.

“W-What is that?” I asked, my eyes trailing to the sludge as he pulled his hand from the jar.

“It’s a healing salve, it has some herbs mashed up in it that help with swelling and pain.” He smiled, before lifting my foot towards him again. He massaged my foot and ankle, earning a gasp, from me. As he worked the salve into my skin, I could already feel it working, the pain beginning to subside. I bit my lip to stifle a mo** that tried to escape my lips. Once he was done, he wiped off his hands and grabbed the bandage wrap, wrapping it around my ankle and foot. “There you go, all better.” He smiled up at me. “How does it feel, does it still hurt?” He asked.

I shook my head. “No.. it feels better.. thank you.” I smiled back.

His eyes trailed over my face before he walked to a sink and washed his hands. He came back, and grabbed the jar of healing salve before sliding his hand back inside. He pulled it out, rubbing the salve between his fingers and walking to me. He knelt down in front of me again, and gently cupped my cheek with one hand. “Let’s get this taken care of.” He said softly, as he massaged the salve into my cheeks, rubbing against the bruises that formed there from my father’s slaps. I winced, trying to pull away, but he moved his other hand to cup the side of my head and pull me closer. “I know it hurts, but this’ll help, I promise, just stay still.” Once he was done he sat back on his knees and wiped off the leftover salve on his hands. “Is there anywhere else you’re hurt?” He asked, his eyes trailing over me.

I shook my head, I didn’t want them to see my father’s hand print bruised around my throat, nor the scars that littered the backs of my legs, nor the burn scars across my arms. “N-No.. I’m okay.” I smiled, trying to keep my head held high.”

“You don’t sound so sure..” Lynovia said from the corner, stepping closer to us.

“I-I am.. I’m sure.. I’m okay..” I nodded, trying to keep a smile on my face.

“Fenrick.. please, give us a moment.” Lynovia said, nodding to Fenrick. He nodded back, standing and leaving the room without a single word. “Melanie.. is it.. is it somewhere you don’t want him to see?”

I shook my head, tears beginning to prick in my eyes. “N-No.. I’m okay.. I told you.. I’m fine.” I whimpered, at this point, even I wouldn’t believe me.

She grabbed my cloak, and pulled it off, her gasp filling the air as she got a good look at my throat and my arms. “Who did this to you? Was it Fenrick’s brother?” She asked.

I shook my head. “No.. this happened back home..” I said, wiping the tears that had begun to slide down my cheeks. “I’m okay.. really, I’m okay..” I said, trying to get her to believe me, but I knew she didn’t. “Please.. don’t tell anyone.. I-I don’t want them to know.. I don’t want them to see.. I didn’t ever want anyone to see.” I whimpered. “I only wore this dress because he made me.. he looks at these wounds with pride for what he’s done..”