3 Idiots

Mede took off ahead of us, flames dimmed to embers as he flew low and purposeful down the corridor. Clearly, he’d decided he was leading now.

Riye lingered behind for a moment. I glanced back and saw him exchange a few quiet words with Father. I couldn’t hear them, but the King’s posture was calm, steady. Riye nodded once, sharp and respectful, then turned and followed me immediately.

The medical wing was farther than I imagined from Raiona’s journals. About ten minutes or so of walking?

I skipped for part of it, light-footed at first, riding the relief and momentum of finally getting what I wanted. But the exhaustion caught up fast. By the time we reached the tall doors of the wing, I was gasping for air.

‘Wow,’ I wheezed and I grabbed the door handle for support. Not a single energy in me to push it open.

‘So… this is what happens when you survive multiple near-deaths and think you’re invincible.’

I need someone to educate me about the powers I get from these silly marks on my body…

Mede fluttered down instantly and began fanning me with his wings. Little gusts of warm air puffed against my face.

‘Thank you,’ I murmured weakly.

I glanced sideways, half-expecting Riye to already be at my side. But he wasn’t. He stood a few steps back with a subdued expression. His shoulders looked tense, his gaze lowered like something sat wrong in his chest.

‘Riye?’ I asked softly.

He looked up startled, then forced something like a smile. He stepped forward to unlock the door for me.

Ah so it is magically locked.. figures..

‘Thank you…’

Seeing him like that, all quiet, pouty, carrying words he hadn’t said yet, made me sad too.

But Celphi.

I straightened, pushed the doors open, and stepped inside.

The medical wing was calm and dim. The magical light lantern thingies turned low for the evening. Staff were tidying and murmuring softly until they noticed me.

Instant chaos.

Bows everywhere. Flustered movements. Someone nearly dropped a tray.

‘Your Highness—!’

‘Princess Ina—!

’We were just—!’

‘It’s okay! Please, go rest soon. All of you. You’ve done enough. Thank you for tending after the convoy today. And Celphi.’

With gratitude written plainly across their tired faces, they bowed again. All of them did. Except Pan.

He walked straight toward me without hesitation, hands in his pockets and all. He stopped mere centimeters from where I was standing and he leaned down to press a gentle kiss to my forehead.

‘You smell immaculate,’ he said softly.

Riye’s hand appeared out of nowhere. It covered Pan’s entire face like a starfish.

‘Face off, hands off,’ Riye spat.

Pan’s voice came out muffled. ‘I was being polite.’

I sidestepped both of them smoothly, pretending not to see the silent standoff.

‘Goodnight, everyone! Please rest well.’ I called off to the rest of the staff as I ran.

I ran past beds, past curtains and straight to the far room.

My heart finally unclenched. Celphi laid there peacefully. He was breathing slow and even. His lashes rested softly against his cheeks. He looked beautiful in sleep, like the world hadn’t dared trouble him further.

‘I’m here! I made it.’

I paused at Celphi’s bedside, fingers hovering just above the blanket, and glanced back over my shoulder to see where the rest were. Bad idea.

Riye and Pan were standing a little too close to each other, they might as well kiss. Mede hovered between them and squawking from one to the other like he was instigating.

I narrowed my eyes. ‘Don’t.’

Mede chirped innocently.

‘Don’t fight in the medical ward guys…’

Something unspoken passed between the two men. As if my words had the opposite effect. Pan moved first. Riye answered immediately.

Mede screeched in delight and dove straight into it.

SSIIIIIIGHHHHHH…. I absolutely had no energy left to parent three overpowered beings.

I covered my face with my palms. When I opened my eyes again, Pan had Mede tucked under one arm like a flaming football while still trading blows with Riye. Mede was squawking furiously, occasionally singeing the air.

They fought politely.

No shattered furniture. No cracked walls. No spilled vials. Their strikes landed clean and square. Heavy thuds echoed softly through the ward, but always directed and controlled. The kind of fighting that came from excellent training and even better restraint.

Absolute idiots… but professionals.

A laugh slipped out of me before I could stop it. Celphi, who I didn’t realize I was sitting on, twitched after hearing my laughter. I turned back to him.

He slept on. His chest rose and fell steadily. I leaned down and pressed a gentle kiss to his head.

‘I’m here. Rest.’ I said again.

The sounds behind me stopped abruptly it made my shoulders tense. I didn’t need to turn. The glass cabinet beside Celphi’s bed was polished enough to mirror the room in pieces.

The men stood a little apart now. Pan’s shoulders slumped. His smile was gone.

Riye looked hurt. He was trying very hard not to show it.

Mede perched on what I assume was the IV pole. He exhaled controlled breaths that came out as faint flickers of flame. It was the closest a bird like him could get to a sigh.

Awwww…

I was suddenly very afraid of what effect that small gesture had just had on three extremely capable beings.

Some things, I decided, were better left unseen. They probably didn’t want to show me this anyways. So I stayed where I was, one hand resting lightly near Celphi’s, pretending very hard that nothing at all had changed behind me.

But wait a minute… How exactly am I supposed to balance everyone’s hearts?

I turned my attention back to Celphi before my brain could spiral any further.

Wait. Wait. Wait. Who said I’m going down the harem route? Just because it is normal here doesn’t mean I have to.

I adjusted the blanket around Celphi gently and carefully not to wake him. I squeezed his hand softly between both of mine. His fingers were warm.

‘I’ll come back tomorrow.’

I finally turned around. They were all fine.

Pan smiled easily, like nothing had ever weighed on him. Riye’s expression was calm, composed, and unreadable. Mede perched neatly. Flames all tucked away.

Just three beings trying very hard not to burden me. Guilt bloomed in my chest.

They’re hiding it for me, I realized. All of them.

I offered them a small smile in return. One that said thank you without using the words.