Chapter 298: Take Full Responsibility
Arturo never left Riela’s side.
He personally took care of her and would often fall asleep while sitting beside her bed, his head resting against the mattress as he kept watch over her.
The Queen Mother let out a soft sigh before quietly leaving the room and gently closing the door behind her.
“If you want, I can talk to him,” Marius offered. He had been waiting outside for Wilma, leaning against the wall.
Wilma gave him a faint smile and shook her head.
“Let him be. He’s just worried.” Her gaze softened. “And honestly, I appreciate it. It’s comforting to see someone so devoted and sincere toward my daughter.”
She paused before continuing,
“Riela has been through so much. But I’m glad things are finally going to be alright for her.
She has someone whose feelings for her are genuine. I can only hope and pray that she wakes up soon.”
Marius sighed before stepping closer and draping an arm around her shoulders.
The moment he did, Wilma finally let go of the emotions she had been holding back and ended up crying against his chest.
“I’m sure Riela will wake up soon,” Marius comforted gently. “The prophet himself said she’s a strong woman with a strong will. Gavriel already delivered her from the demonic entity, and she has all of us supporting her. She’ll be fine.”
He gently squeezed her shoulder.
“Come now. You must be hungry. Let’s have lunch first, and afterwards, you should get some rest.”
A teasing smile appeared on his face.
“You’re not getting any younger, my dear. Remember, the two of us are already getting old, so we need to take care of our health.”
That earned a small smile from Wilma.
She slowly pulled away from the embrace and instead slipped her arm through his, leaning on him for support as they began walking down the hallway.
“I’m fortunate to have you in my life, too,” she admitted softly.
By now, their relationship was no longer a secret among the citizens. Everyone already knew about Wilma and Marius. It was only recently, however, that she had become comfortable showing affection toward him openly in public.
*****
Back in Riela’s bedchamber, Arturo still had not gotten any proper sleep.
He gently took Riela’s hand and held it between his own, giving it a light squeeze as he whispered,
“Please wake up soon, Riela. I’ll wait for you no matter how long it takes.”
He pressed a kiss to her hand, and tears slowly streamed down his face.
For years, he had loved her in silence.
He had been preparing to confess his feelings and pursue her properly the year before, but then Cain had suddenly entered the picture.
His greatest regret was stepping aside after learning that Riela had felt the mate bond with Cain. He had convinced himself that seeing her happy would be enough, even though it broke his heart.
So he had let her go.
Only to later discover how deeply Cain had hurt and damaged her.
By the time Arturo returned, it was already too late. Riela had lost her sanity, and no one was allowed near her except her immediate family. That was when he had wanted to hunt Cain down himself.
But their King had stopped him and ordered him not to abandon his post, insisting that he would handle the matter personally.
Arturo released a heavy sigh as he gazed lovingly at Riela’s peaceful face.
Even while unconscious, she looked beautiful to him.
“Please wake up soon, my love,” he whispered softly. “I will always wait for you. So don’t make me wait too long, alright? I won’t let go of you this time, no matter what, Riela. Do you hear me?”
Tears streamed down his face, but he quickly wiped them away.
He had never been an emotional man, yet now he felt the same agonizing pain he had experienced a year ago. That sharp ache in his heart had returned.
The difference was that this time, Riela was right here beside him. He could see her. He could touch her.
And yet, the uncertainty of whether she would wake up still tormented him.
Even after hearing that she would recover, fear continued to linger in his heart because everything still depended on Riela herself. It depended on her own will to return.
“Please, Riela,” Arturo whispered near her ear. “I’m here. I’ll always be here waiting for you.”
His voice trembled slightly. “Your family is waiting too. You have so many reasons to fight and wake up as soon as you can.”
He leaned forward and pressed a gentle kiss to her forehead.
Then he softly caressed her cheek, hoping she could somehow feel his warmth. He brought her hand closer to his lips, kissing her knuckles before resting them against his cheek.
For a long while, he simply sat there, quietly watching over her. He refused to leave her side.
Still holding her hand, exhaustion eventually overtook him. Before he even realized it, Arturo had fallen asleep in the chair beside her bed, his fingers still intertwined with hers.
After some time, Riela finally stirred on the bed and slowly opened her eyes.
She turned her head slightly, and a faint smile curved her lips when she saw Arturo asleep beside her bed, his head resting on the mattress while he held her hand close to his lips.
“Arturo,” she called weakly.
But he didn’t stir. So she gently squeezed the hand that was holding hers. That was enough.
Arturo’s eyes immediately flew open.
“Riela!” he exclaimed, straightening up so quickly that his chair nearly tipped over. “You’re awake! How are you feeling? I’ll call the healer!”
He hurried to stand, but Riela weakly tugged on his hand.
“I’m fine. Come here,” she whispered.
Arturo seemed not to hear her clearly, so he leaned closer until his ear was near her lips.
“What is it?” he worriedly asked.
Riela slowly lifted her hand and cupped his face, guiding him to look at her instead.
She gave him a weak but genuine smile. Then she gently pulled him closer and pressed a soft kiss to his lips.
Arturo froze completely.
Riela smiled faintly against his lips before whispering, “I kept hearing your voice calling me back.”
Her fingers lightly brushed his cheek. “Now that I’m awake, you should take full responsibility for taking care of me like you promised.”
*************************
Author’s Note | June 2, 2026
I have a new book titled The Mad King’s Tribute Bride. I’m still unsure which app it will eventually be contracted to, but for now, you can read it on Patreon and Inkitt.
LINKTREE:
PATREON:
INKITT:
P.S. This book is ending soon with only a few Chapters left. I know the story went through a drastic change in plot, and I sincerely apologize for that.
Something unexpected happened in my real life, and because of it, I had to step back from writing and romanticizing werewolves. Honestly, I struggled a lot since last year and kept contemplating whether I should just drop this book entirely. However, I felt bad doing so because I’m not used to abandoning stories I already started.
That is why the plot ended up taking a complete turn, and I truly apologize for the sudden changes. Thank you so much for staying with me despite everything.
I wish for all of you to always stay safe and sound. I also hope you can continue supporting this humble author in my future works.
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Eustoma Reyna