Dear Immortal Tyrant

For the entire night, Kade nursed her back to health. The Imperial Doctor prescribed herbal tonics to heal her from the inside out. 

Because it was too dangerous to feed her when she was unconscious, the doctor had prescribed bundles of herbs to be burned in the room, so the smoke could be inhaled by her. He even had her hands and feet dipped in the tonics, so that she'd be gradually warmed up.

"Leave us," Kade said to everyone in the room, which consisted of the doctor and Sebastian.

"Except you," Kade told Isabelle. 

Kade never allowed Lina out of his sight, except once. It was only when Isabelle came in to change her out of the wet clothes, dry her body, and then Kade lowered her into the bathtub. He held her in the water, preventing her from drowning.

Kade had embraced her with his clothes on. He needed to keep her skin warm, so he continuously rubbed her entire body with his hands. It was the only way the heat could be transferred. Only when the water grew cold did he finally let her go, dry her off, and then called for Isabelle to dress Lina.

Once all of that was done, Isabelle was excused from the bedroom.

"My dear wife…"

Kade stroked her face tenderly. She was in a  deep sleep. Finally, she stopped fighting him. It was only in her sleep that she didn't hate him.

Kade watched her all night long, never once sleeping a wink. However, he couldn't stay by her side forever. When the sun was high in the sky, he was called from his room to discuss the war.

"Ugh." 

Lina woke up in a cold sweat. She was uncomfortable and sticky. Opening her eyes, she realized there were thick layers of blankets on top of her. Furthermore, there was a thick, pungent smell which lingered in the room.

Lina felt suffocated. Was this how Kade planned on killing her? By making her overheat into exhaustion? She kicked off the blankets and hissed in pain.

"Ow…"

Lina shakily flipped the blankets over and saw the damage. Her ankles and knees were bandaged. There was a dark green stain over the white cloth. When she touched it and brought her hand to her nose, she realized it was a herbal paste. 

"Great, now I can't run away," Lina mumbled to herself.

Lina felt not only useless but a fool. To think she could outrun Kade… She shook her head. Could she do anything right?

Luckily, Lina could still move her knees and ankles. It shouldn't be that bad, right? She swung her feet off the bed and choked down a cry of pain. Electricity shot up her leg.

Even so, Lina gritted her teeth through the agony. She pushed off the bed, barely able to stand. Her legs wobbled and she fell forward with a loud THUD!

Suddenly, the doors flew open.

Whilst Lina was on the floor, she saw Kade. He seemed to have been in a hurry; his hair windswept and his clothes disheveled. When she met his face, he had an exhausted expression. At the sight of his wife on the floor, his features sharpened.

"What are you doing out of bed?" Kade demanded.

Kade rushed to her aid, but she turned her head and pretended not to hear him. He bent down to pick her up, but she slapped his hand away.

"Dove." Kade didn't care that she was angry with him. He didn't care that she'd fight him until the end of time. All he worried about was keeping her within reach.

"Who's leading the other side?" Lina coldly asked him.

Lina already knew the answer to that, but she wanted to hear it from his mouth one last time. Just to be sure. She wanted to hear the man her husband would murder. To know their name. To know that it was her long time best friend.

"Atlan."

Lina squeezed her eyes shut. She shouldn't pity Atlan, but she did. Lina didn't believe she had been assaulted by him. She thought she had consented. He had begged her enough. She couldn't find it in herself to believe Atlan drugged the tea. 

"Don't look so pained," Kade stated.

Kade's heart burned with his wrath. One day, she was going to give him high blood pressure. No words could describe his fury towards her and his hatred towards Atlan. She'd look hurt by the death of her assaulter? 

"You are MY wife, Lina," Kade quietly stated. 

Lina glanced away. He used her name when he was serious with her. 

"Don't tell me you're trying to protect that bastard," Kade snarled.

Kade could barely control his emotions. He was out in the rain, didn't sleep for an entire day, and still attended military meetings. He couldn't hold back his frustrations anymore.

He professed his love for her the other day. She brushed it off like they were talking about something as insignificant as the weather. 

Now, Kade was beginning to realize why.

"I'm not trying to protect him," Lina argued. "I'm just saying—"

"You're defending the man your husband despises!" Kade shouted, causing her to freeze with fear.

"Have you forgotten what he has done to you? Have you forgotten he drugged you and now, used your sullied bed sheets as reason for war. Soon, word of it will reach my Father. Then, he kidnapped the one and only little sister I care for!" Kade roared, his voice like that of a violent tide. 

Lina's breath was caught in her throat.

"And then, he sent soldiers to do what? Guide you into the middle of the forest during a rainstorm? What was his purpose? Think about it!" Kade spat out.

"He wanted you injured and by his side. He wanted you sick from the rain, so you'll have no choice but to rely on him," Kade reasoned.

Lina couldn't suppress her emotions anymore. Kade argued for his side of the story, but what about hers? What about her emotions? She came all the way to Ritan, not because she loved him, but because she didn't want any more wars!

"He was an older brother to me," Lina finally managed to say. She couldn't ignore that history.

"He taught me all that I knew in swordfighting, he—"

"Atlan leaves me no choice," Kade continued, "He's going to die for his actions."

"I came to Ritan to stop wars!" Lina shouted at him. "My entire purpose and the reason for our marriage is to put an end to everyone's suffering!"

Lina's blood boiled.  Could he not see the bigger picture? This was not just about her. It was not just about Atlan. Or Kade. 

It was about the people of both kingdoms. It was about the soldiers who'd lose their life or return home, wishing they had died instead. It was about the mothers that sobbed for their sons, the wives that lost their husbands, and the children without either parents.

Hadn't the people of both kingdoms already been through enough? Hadn't they already lost everything? 

Her thoughts briefly flickered to the dead soldier's daughter and wife, whom she had met that horrifying day. They were just beginning to rebuild their lives. They didn't deserve to be dragged back into another war. There should be no more killing.

"You were naive, I'll give you that," Kade sneered. "Naive enough to fall for the ploy of Atlan, but at the least, you should've known to burn the bedsheets. This war is caused by you Lina, not me."

Something within Lina snapped. She was suddenly tired from their fighting. Tired of trying to reason with him. They both had their reasons and they were both stubborn. No one was going to win in this battle of wits.

There could only be losers. 

"So this is it?" Lina asked. "You're going to take everything from me."

"Take everything from you?"  Kade questioned. His voice rose at her stupid statement.

Lina had the audacity to firmly nod her head.

"I tried to give you everything!" Kade hissed. "New clothes, jewelry, food, and anything that you could possibly want, I supplied it. I behaved like a husband should whilst your heart was torn between me and another man."

"I never once saw Atlan that way—"

"I gave you everything I could, Lina," Kade screamed, his voice loud and powerful. "What about my younger sister? She was eight years old!"