Chapter 12: Cold As Snow
"I don't need you to tell me that," Soleia hissed out, blood on her lips. If Orion's words had not sunk in, the blow to her face certainly did.
Lucinda's eyes widened with fear at the sudden bloodthirstiness in her eyes, but Soleia merely turned around and walked out with her head held high.
However, that bravado only lasted until she found herself alone in the corridor. Wet tears fell thickly down her face as she thought about her predicament. Even if she left, where would she go? And her inventions...
She stared down at the bag morosely. Her fall had caused some of them to break again, which meant that she had to start over on more of her projects, which would eat into her private funds...
If she was leaving, she needed all the money she could get.
Her cheek continued to ache. Soleia knew she wasn't going to waste resources on medicine, so she put on an extra coat and made her way outside to clutch a handful of snow to her cheek.
To her surprise, there was someone already outside. Before she could turn back indoors, the figure huddled on the ground rose and addressed her.
It was none other than Sir Ralph Byrone.
"Princess, I've placed your items in the servants' quarters as per your request― oh my god, what happened to you?" Ralph exclaimed as he caught sight of Soleia and her swollen right cheek.