Rebecca continued cradling Freen in her arms as the knights and Lord Harrington escorted Prince Renard away to the dungeons to face the consequences. Watching the prince disappear brought immense relief, allowing Rebecca and Freen a moment to catch their breath.

Freen trembled against Rebecca, the shock slowly wearing off. The throbbing in her bruising face became more noticeable now, but the relief of being rescued overshadowed the pain.

Soon Lord Harrington returned, his intent to discuss the investigation and potential charges clear in his demeanor. But as he approached, Rebecca, without saying a word, discreetly gestured for him to keep his distance. Freen was in no state for an inquiry at the moment. Understanding the unspoken request, Lord Harrington held back, allowing Freen the time she needed to calm down and gather herself.

As Freen gradually began to regain some composure, her trembling eased and her frantic breathing slowed to a steadier rhythm. Rebecca felt Freen's heartbeat settle into a more regular pace where she was pressed against her chest. Seeing Freen grow calmer and sensing her regain some control, Rebecca gently pushed her back to look into her eyes.

"Freen," she began softly, "I want you to know that I'm here for you, and I'll support whatever decision you make... Lord Harrington is here when you're ready to talk about what happened. But I want to know what you're comfortable with right now. Do you want to talk to him now or would you prefer to wait until you're ready?"

Freen bit her lip, wincing slightly at the sting. She knew that she should talk to him, but she needed some time.

"I... I want to talk to Lord Harrington," she rasped, her voice slightly hoarse. "But not right now. I need some time to collect myself."

"Please, can we go back to my room?" she continued, feeling utterly exhausted. "I don't think I can bear to stay for the rest of the ball."

Her plea sounded as weary as she felt. The weight of the evening's events hung heavy, draining what little energy remained after the tournament. All Freen wanted now was to rest.

Rebecca tightened her hold around Freen, providing the comfort she so desperately needed. "Of course, Freen. We'll go back to your room right away. Just let me talk to Lord Harrington briefly...I'll be quick and we'll head straight to your room."

Freen, still nestled in Rebecca's embrace, gave a subtle nod to indicate that she heard. But as Rebecca started to get up, Freen tightened her hold, seeking just a few more moments of warmth. Rebecca responded by holding her even closer. She gently pressed her lips against Freen's forehead in a loving kiss before easing herself out of the embrace.

"I won't be long," Rebecca promised softly. "I'll make sure everything is in order, and then we'll be on our way to your room, just as you wish." With that, she left Freen's side briefly and made her way to Lord Harrington who had respectfully given them some space.

She spoke to him in a hushed tone, her concern evident in her voice.

"Lord Harrington," Rebecca began, "Princess Freen does want to talk about what happened, but she needs some time to collect herself. Right now, she's too shaken, and I don't want to pressure her. Can we give her a little space? We're heading back to her room, where she can feel safe."

Lord Harrington nodded in understanding. "Of course, Princess Rebecca. Princess Freen's well-being is our priority. Please assure her that I'll be available whenever she's ready to discuss the matter. In the meantime, I can start the initial questioning with Prince Renard and gather preliminary information."

Rebecca gave a grateful smile. "Thank you for understanding, Lord Harrington. Please proceed with the questioning. I'll have my handmaiden come and fetch you once Freen is ready to speak."

With that, she left Lord Harrington to his task and returned to Freen's side. Kneeling down beside her, Rebecca softly asked, "Freen, are you ready to go back to your room now?"

Freen looked up and slowly nodded her head, her mind still clouded. Rebecca helped Freen to her feet and wrapped her arms around Freen's waist, holding her close to make her feel her presence. Together, they began their quiet journey back to Freen's room, away from the prying eyes of the guests in the ballroom.

------------------

As they entered Freen's room, a wave of relief washed over both of them. Rebecca gently guided Freen to an armchair near the window and Freen sank gratefully into the plush chair, welcoming the support and softness against her aching body.

Freen's eyes remained unfocused as if still lost in the chilling aftermath of Renard's violence and hateful threats. She wasn't responding to much in her shell-shocked state, but one thing was clear - Freen wanted, maybe even needed, Rebecca to remain close after that harrowing ordeal.

Rebecca knelt down in front of Freen, her hands resting on Freen's knees as she looked up with deep concern. "Freen...," she called out, her voice soft, "I'm not going to say everything is going to be alright, because I know that's not what you want to hear right now... But I just want you to know that you're safe now, and you don't have to face this alone. We can talk whenever you're ready, or we can simply stay here in silence if that's what you need. I'll be here until you don't need me here anymore. I promise."

Freen seemed to break her daze as she listened to Rebecca's comforting voice. A tear trickled down her cheek, and she reached out, her hand trembling, as she gently cupped Rebecca's cheek. She gently traced Rebecca's cheek, an unconscious motion that seemed to gradually bring her back to her senses and calm her down. The room felt quieter, and the weight of the recent events began to lift, if only slightly.

Rebecca, still kneeling before Freen, leaned into her touch, her eyes never leaving Freen's. As the minutes passed, they remained there in the quiet room, the soft rustling of curtains in the breeze and the distant sounds of music coming from the ball. Rebecca's lips curled into a soft smile as she closed her eyes for a brief moment, before she eventually reached up and gently covered Freen's hand with her own.

"Freen, would you like to go and take a bath, and perhaps change out of your gown?" Rebecca softly asked. "It might help you feel a bit more comfortable... I don't know about you, but I think it'll help you clear your mind...I'll be waiting here, right outside. What do you think?"

Freen's gaze remained fixed on Rebecca, her expression still tinged with pain and exhaustion. However, she nodded in agreement.

Rebecca squeezed Freen's hand before rising to her feet. She went out to call for both Elara and Freen's handmaiden before making her way back to Freen slowly. As Freen's handmaiden went about preparing the bath, Rebecca distracted Freen by brushing out her hair.

Starting at the ends, Rebecca carefully worked through Freen's long blonde locks with a comb. "I always loved the gorgeous color of your hair," Rebecca murmured. "My hair is plain brown, and it's a common hair color in my kingdom..." Going section by section, she soothingly untangled any knots or pins, talking in low comforting tones just to keep Freen distracted. Freen would let out small smiles here and there as Rebecca talked away. Rebecca wasn't used to talking this much, especially about herself. but for some reason she didn't mind. Especially if it could help Freen.

By the time the handmaiden returned to help Freen undress, some hints of her usual spark had returned to her exhausted eyes.

Meanwhile, Rebecca stayed sitting in the armchair, waiting for Freen. The sound of knocking suddenly came from Freen's bedroom door and so she made her way to the door. When she opened it, she found Elara, standing there with a concerned look on her face.

"Elara," Rebecca called out softly, "could you please bring some ice? Something happened at the ball, and I would like to have some." She gave Elara a brief explanation of the evening's events, allowing her to understand the situation.

"Of course, princess," Elara replied softly. "I'll get it right away. Is there anything else I can assist you with?"

"Just the ice for now, Elara. Thank you for your help. There's no need to rush. Princess Freen just went in to take a bath so it should take a while."

Elara nodded, her expression filled with concern. With that, Elara hurried off to fetch what was requested, leaving Rebecca to wait for Freen. She returned shortly with a bowl of ice and a cloth. She also had a book in her hand, knowing that sometimes Rebecca preferred to read while waiting.

"Here you go, Your Highness," Elara said softly, her concern still evident in her eyes. "I brought a book as well, just in case you wanted something to do while you wait."

Rebecca nodded appreciatively. "Thank you, Elara. I appreciate your thoughtfulness."

With that, Elara left the room, leaving Rebecca to settle back into the armchair with the book Elara had brought. As she began to read, she couldn't help but glance at the bathroom door from time to time, her thoughts never straying far from Freen.

Time seemed to pass slowly in the quiet room, the only sounds being the rustling of pages and the soft ticking of a nearby clock. Rebecca was engrossed in her book, but her ears remained attuned to any movement from the bathroom.

Eventually, the bathroom door creaked open, and Freen emerged, wrapped in a fluffy robe. She still looked exhausted but there was a faint glimmer of tranquility in her eyes.

Rebecca closed her book and stood up to walk closer to Freen. "Feeling a bit better?" she asked softly.

Freen nodded, and Rebecca noticed the faint smile that tugged at her lips. She noticed the visible bruise on Freen's left cheek, and her heart sank at the sight of it.

"I'm glad," she whispered softly, her voice laced with concern. "Let's get you to bed so I can put some ice on that bruise. It looks pretty bad."

Rebecca guided Freen to her bed before retrieving the bowl of ice that Elara had brought. She then wrapped the ice in a cloth before gently placing it against Freen's swollen cheek, careful not to put too much pressure.

Freen winced slightly as the cold ice pressed against her skin, but she appreciated the soothing sensation that followed after. As the minutes passed, the ice seemed to soothe the swelling, and Freen let out a sigh of relief, her body slowly relaxing under Rebecca's gentle care. She closed her eyes for a moment, basking in the comfort of the present moment. Rebecca continued to hold the ice against her cheek, her gaze filled with tenderness and worry.

"It's going to be alright, Freen," she whispered, her fingers lightly tracing Freen's bruised cheek. "We'll make sure Prince Renard faces the consequences for what he did. My parents will not let this go."

Freen opened her eyes slowly and gazed into Rebecca's eyes. As the initial shock and pain began to ebb away, Freen found her voice returning. She slowly shifted on the bed, turning to face Rebecca more fully. "Thank you, Rebecca," she said gratefully. "I don't know what I would have done without you tonight."

Rebecca smiled back warily, her hand still cardling the ice pack against Freen's cheek. "You shouldn't thank me, Freen... If only I stayed with you instead of going to get us some water. Then none of this would have happened. It was all my fault that I left you alone out there..."

"Don't... You mustn't blame yourself," Freen said, reaching up to place her hand on Rebecca's. "What happened tonight was not your fault in any way. You didn't leave me alone intentionally... How could you have known what Prince Renard was up to."

Rebecca's eyes welled up but she nodded her head. Even still, she felt the weight of the evening's events on her shoulders.

"I know! I know I shouldn't blame myself but I just wish I could have protected you better," she whispered, her voice trembling slightly. "I was worried for you after what happened at the tournament today. And I was worried that something like this would happen... That's why I didn't want to leave you at the ball. But I left you alone anyways and you got hurt.'

Freen leaned in closer, her free hand cupping Rebecca's cheek gently. "You did protect me, Rebecca. You're still protecting me now," she said.

A soft, resigned laugh escaped Rebecca's lips, though it was tinged with sadness. "I should be the one comforting you right now," she whispered, her voice trembling with emotion.

"Oh Rebecca," Freen said softly. "Please believe me when I say you are comforting me. Just you being here is more than enough."

Rebecca wanting to drop the subject, decided to focus back on Freen's bruise again. "Alright, let's see how that bruise is doing."

Freen giggled at Rebecca's attempt at changing the subject, but she let it go. "I'm sure your expert nursing skills are already working wonders."

Rebecca's smile grew, and she carefully removed the ice pack from Freen's cheek and examined the area. She gently traced the bruised cheek, feeling the skin beneath her touch. Freen winced slightly at the contact, the tenderness of the bruise still evident.

"Sorry. I was trying to be gentle," Rebecca whispered, her voice filled with concern.

Freen shook her head, a soft smile playing on her lips. "No, it's just... sensitive," she admitted, her voice equally soft. "Your touch is comforting."

Rebecca's heart skipped a beat at Freen's words, and she continued her examination, careful not to apply too much pressure.

"It's still tender, and I think there's still quite a bit of swelling," Rebecca said sympathetically. "We should still continue icing your cheek."

Rebecca rewrapped the ice pack in the cloth and gently placed it back against Freen's bruised cheek. "There you go, my brave Freen," she whispered, her voice filled with affection. "We'll have you feeling better in no time."

"Oh? I didn't know I was yours?" Freen softly asked, her voice low. Her eyes were so soft and they were crinkling at the ends while she was smiling slightly.

Rebecca flushed suddenly realizing what she had said. "I-I mean..." Rebecca stuttered but she didn't know what to say. Rebecca was left opening and closing her mouth, desperately searching for words. The blush on her cheeks deepened as Freen's gaze changed to one that was teasing.

Before Rebecca could make an excuse, Freen suddenly leaned in, closing the remaining distance between them. Rebecca's eyes widened in surprise, her breath catching in her throat as Freen's lips met hers. Before Rebecca could reciprocate, Freen moved back, her gaze back to being soft.

"Thank you for being here and taking care of me Rebecca," Freen said softly. "...and I don't mind being called yours"

Rebecca, still slightly dazed from the unexpected kiss, managed a shy smile. "I... I don't mind that at all," she admitted

The room settled into a comfortable silence as Rebecca continued to tend to Freen's bruise. Both were happy to simply be together, words seeming inadequate for the moment. After everything that had happened, Freen felt grateful not to be alone. And even with the silence, Freen felt comforted by Rebecca's presence.

Eventually, Rebecca gently asked, "Freen, are you feeling up to talking about what happened? Lord Harrington is here to help, and he'll need your account of the events."

Freen considered the question for a moment, her gaze drifting to the window where the soft glow of moonlight filtered in.

"I... I think I'm ready to talk," she finally replied. "But please, stay with me. I don't want to be alone when I talk about what I went through."

"Of course, Freen," Rebecca replied tenderly. "I'll stay right here with you, every step of the way. You won't be alone."

Rebecca carefully removed the ice pack from Freen's cheek, noting with relief that the swelling had reduced considerably. "Let's finish icing you up," she said gently. "And once we're done with the icing, I'll help you get dressed into something comfortable, and then I'll call Elara to let Lord Harrington know that you're ready to speak. Is that alright with you?"

Freen nodded once more. "Thank you," she whispered, a fragile but genuine smile gracing her lips. "I'm feeling much better now, thanks to you. I'm sorry that you had to take care of me like this. I know it's not what you expected tonight."

Rebecca leaned closer to her, her voice warm and reassuring. "Freen, you don't need to apologize for anything. I'm here because I want to be, because I care about you.....Now, let's finish this up, get you dressed comfortably, and then we can face whatever comes next together."

--------------------

As Rebecca and Freen continued to prepare for the upcoming conversation with Lord Harrington, a knock came at the door. Both of them turned their attention towards it, and Rebecca gave Freen's hand a reassuring squeeze before rising from the bed.

"That must be Lord Harrington," Rebecca said in a hushed tone, her eyes fixed on Freen, making sure she was ready for this conversation.

Freen drew a shaky breath, gathering her resolve. "I'm ready," she whispered, her eyes never leaving Rebecca's.

Rebecca gave an encouraging nod as she went to receive the Lord. "Come in," Rebecca called out.

The door slowly swung open, revealing Lord Harrington. His usual air of authority was softened by a look of genuine concern as he stepped into the room. He nodded politely to Rebecca before directing his attention to Freen, who was now seated on the bed, composed but battered.

"Princess Freen," Lord Harrington began, "I apologize for the intrusion at this late hour. How are you feeling?"

Freen inclined her head slightly, acknowledging Lord Harrington's presence with a weary but polite smile. "I appreciate your concern, Lord Harrington," she replied, her voice bearing the weight of recent events. "I'm... I'm holding up as well as can be expected given the circumstances."

"I appreciate your cooperation in this matter. I understand this is a difficult time for you."

Rebecca, standing beside Freen, gave her shoulders a squeeze, reassuring her that she'll be here whenever she needs.

Lord Harrington took a seat in a nearby chair, his demeanor calm and professional. "This may be difficult, Princess," he began carefully, "but I would appreciate it if you could recount for me the events of this evening at the ball. Your detailed account will be invaluable for our investigation."

Freen took a deep breath, her gaze steady as she prepared to recount the traumatic events of the evening. Her voice quivered slightly as she described the encounter with Prince Renard, the fear she had felt, and the moments leading up to the assault.

As Freen recounted the traumatic events, her face started to pale, and beads of sweat formed on her forehead. Her breathing quickened as signs of panic set in. It was evident that reliving the experience was taking a heavy toll.

Rebecca, who had been standing by her side, felt Freen's body tensing. Without hesitating, she quickly circled around from behind Freen and knelt right next to her seat, grabbing her hands.

"Freen.... Look at me... You're OK...," she whispered, her voice filled with encouragement and concern.

Freen tightened her grip on Rebecca's hand, and closed her eyes. She tried taking a deep breath to steady herself, but it didn't seem to work.

Rebecca guided her, her voice gentle and reassuring. "That's it, Freen. Take a deep breath with me. In... and out... In... and out.."

Gradually, Freen's breathing began to slow, and the tension in her body eased.

"You're doing great," Rebecca whispered supportively. "You don't have to rush. Take your time. I'm right here with you."

Freen nodded slightly, grateful for Rebecca's support. She took another deep breath, this time more controlled, and then continued recounting her encounter with Prince Renard. Throughout it all, Lord Harrington listened attentively, making notes and occasionally interjecting with questions to clarify details.

"Thank you, Princess Freen," he said with a nod of appreciation. "I understand how difficult that must have been. Your detailed account is invaluable for our investigation. We will ensure that Prince Renard is held accountable for his actions."

Freen managed a weak but relieved smile at Lord Harrington's words.

Lord Harrington's expression remained serious as he asked the next question, his tone careful and deliberate. "Princess Freen, I must ask you this as part of our continuing investigation: was Prince Renard involved in any way with the foul play at the archery tournament?"

Freen hesitated for a moment, her brow furrowing in thought. After a brief pause, she answered, "I can't say for certain if it was foul play or by accident, Lord Harrington, but... he came to me because he thought I accused him of sabotaging me during the tournament... That must mean something. If he was not guilty, he would have felt as if he needed to confront and harm me."

Lord Harrington nodded, his expression becoming more somber. "Thank you for your honesty, Princess Freen," Lord Harrington said sincerely.

He then addressed both Freen and Rebecca, his tone resolute. "I want to assure you both that we will thoroughly investigate both matters— Prince Renard and the potential foul play at the archery tournament. The events of the tournament have raised concerns, and while we cannot jump to conclusions, there may indeed be a connection between the two incidents. There also must be more parties involved and so I want to mention that the investigation for the archery tournament will start tomorrow."

Freen nodded, feeling a sense of relief that someone of his stature was taking the matter seriously.

Lord Harrington continued, "I must also inform you that my presence at the ball tonight was not solely coincidental. I had intended to speak with you about the tournament. The investigation into the tournament will officially commence tomorrow, and I would like to know if you observed anything unusual or anyone acting suspiciously during the event. Any information you can provide will be invaluable."

Freen's brow furrowed as she recalled the events of the tournament. "During the tournament, some would bump into me intentionally as they were done with their turn, trying to unnerve me, I suppose. And others would mock me when it was my turn to shoot."

Freen continued, "And then, there was something even more concerning. I discovered that the fletchings on one of my arrows had been loosened, which could have caused a serious accident. I can't say for certain who was responsible though..."

Rebecca added, "And I have a suspicion about Prince Tristan. I don't know if it's my intuition as an omega, but when I went to talk to him at the final round of the tournament, I felt something was off. There was a strange tension around him, and he wouldn't meet my eyes at first, which was oddly unlike himself."

Lord Harrington's expression grew graver as he listened to these accounts. "Thank you for sharing these details. They will certainly be part of our investigation. It's clear that there were efforts to undermine your performance in the tournament. We will do our utmost to get to the bottom of this."

Freen nodded, her gaze fixed on Lord Harrington's eyes. "I trust your judgment, Lord Harrington. Thank you for taking this matter seriously."

Lord Harrington acknowledged her words with a solemn nod. "Rest assured, Your Highness, we will conduct a thorough and impartial investigation, questioning all those involved. The guilty parties will face the consequences of their actions."