"The supreme happiness of life consists in the conviction that one is loved."

– Victor Hugo

Odettes POV-

It is the night after the bloody banquet and I am notably exhausted and very if I dare say completely hungover, my bags are massive and dark and my mouth still tastes of alcohol. Yet here I am answering Ms. Williams's urgent call for assistance. What could she need at this hour?

"Milady may I come in," I chirped, knocking lightly on Lady Williams door, the oak door slowly went ajar leading me into her ivory room. She has only ever called me here once, why would she need me again? Am I in trouble? My palms sweat as I advanced into the plush ivory chamber, though what was represented in front of me left me in awe. The so-called princesses of grace and elegance seemed to be standing in front of me embedded in tears. Her face is swollen and her neck seems to be bruised. Oh dear, what happened here.

"Odette, p-please come in," she sniffed, cautiously I made my way in and the sheets were a mess and her hair seemed even messier.

"My lady, what is the reason that I'm here," I quizzed tilting my head to the side.

"Ohh, Odette, you're, you're my only friend here so I thought maybe I could confide in you," she whined as she began rubbing her eyes vigorously. My heart strained at the sight of her tears, I know that type of cry I cried in that same manner when Sebastian left me. Though what truly cracked my heart was the fact that she thinks we're friends. Are we? I mean I think that I do have a soft spot for her.

"My Lady, what's the matter, did someone hurt you," I'm referring to the bruises that laid on her neck and her swollen lips that look as if she suctioned them. Suddenly she turned to me and came dashing forward, leaping at me she instantly wrapped her arms around me holding me tightly in her embrace. Poor thing, what happened to her.

"Am, am I a bad person Odette?" she whispered.

"Of course not-"

"Tell the truth I don't care what you say I just want the damn truth." She squeezed tighter.

"Well, my lady, no one is perfect and you and I don't have the best history but I would be lying if I told you that you are a 'bad' person." I finally managed to wrap my arms around her bringing her closer. Poor thing is so far from home and she doesn't have anyone here with her, the least I could do is console her.

"H-he said he doesn't care that I'm leaving," she mumbled, resting her head upon my shoulder still sobbing hysterically.

"I'm sorry-"

"He said he doesn't care for me anymore!" she shoved me off of her and sank to her knees rocking back and forth.

"My lady please can you explain I'm so lost."

"Odette he doesn't love me, why? Am I ugly? Am I unlovable, this makes no sense he used to love me we used to be-"

*Knock Knock*

"Odette, get the door," she deadpanned. Her tears seemed to vanish and her stance seemed to strengthen. What in the name of god just happened? Did I just witness a future queen's mental breakdown? I stepped towards the door keeping my sights on Ms. Williams, upon opening the door I noticed Eli's worried and shocked expression gawking at me.

"My lady would you mind if Odette leaves for a moment the prince requires her assistants since sadly he has fallen ill," Eli seemed rushed as she shoved her way through the door, my mind seemed to stick on the part where she said prince Sebastian is... Ill.

"My lady-"

"Just leave already," she shewed us away instantly but not before giving me a look of sadness and maybe even insanity. Is this what love is? Is it insanity? Hatred of one's self? I seemed to ponder that thought as Eli yanked me through the halls. I still can't comprehend what's going on? Why was her neck all bruised up? Though I am almost certain that it is all Sabastains doing considering he is her fiance and that she is leaving him to go to Italy. Yes, it has to be him.

"Ok, Detta we made it, though I do warn you he is a bit, how do I put it, pissed off," she nervously giggled as she pushed his highnesses chamber door wide open. Stepping in I notice a hot and bothered Sebastian laying on his back coughing and sneezing, he is sick. At his bed I stand gazing at his reddened face and sleepy eyes, he is in deep rest, I guess I must work quickly so I can rid him of this fever.

"Mmm, Odette," he sighed, yet he still seemed to be in deep slumber, I placed my hand gently upon his forehead feeling extreme heat against my hand. I quickly dashed to his washroom grabbing a piece of cloth as I dipped it in freezing water. I placed the cloth on his head and placed two pills beside him to help him fight whatever he has caught.

"Why do I always babysit you? You would die without me you know," I huffed as I placed my hand once more against his cheek searching for a temp decrease. Suddenly he yanked my hand forward causing me to tumble atop of him. My hand in his clutches and my other at his side as my chest lay upon him.

"Odette, are you sure you're not the sick one? I mean your face is very red, you look like a radish," he coughed.

"Haha, your very funny highness now please let me go. I need to go fetch you some soup," I began to slowly slither myself off of him but his hold on my hand wouldn't cease.

"Your hand is very cold so I will hold it to keep me comfortable and don't even think about getting me soup since you would most definitely burn it," he spoke with his eyes fluttering closed and I sat beside him on his bed. Does he remember yesterday? My face instantly flushed as I recalled his hand searching the bareness of my upper thigh.

"Odette? Do you happen to recall anything from the party? I can't remember a single thing, I woke up today sick to my stomach and I dear say, hungover," Its as if he read my mind, I couldn't remind him of our little intimate moment or else he would say I took advantage of him.

"You should apologize to her," I mumbled.

"Huh? Apologize to who exactly?" he gazed at me utterly confused.

"Lady Williams, she was crying in her chamber this afternoon, saying that you don't care for her and she seemed truly hurt," I bit out each word as a protest for what he did to her.

"Odette, what the bloody hell are you talking about? I haven't seen Belle since the beginning of the banquet," he huffed as the hold on my hand became much stronger.

"But she said-"

"I don't know what you're talking about ok? Just call some maid and tell her to bring me some tomato soup and maybe even a breadstick."

"I'm going to need my hand for that sir," yanking my hand from his hold I called out for the kitchen staff to send his highness a trolley of soup and breadsticks' with some ginger lemon tea to help his throat.

"Ok now go get me those files over there I should work since I have all this free time," I patted my way to his desk and grabbed a quill pen and the files he was speaking off.

"If that's all your highness then I will see myself out," I began to make my way out when a rough hand seized my elbow, halting me. Turning around I gazed at Sebastian as he huffed and puffed as if it took all his strength to grab me.

"I want- I mean you will be staying here by my side to serve me and take care of me when I need you so clear all your other plans," he ordered, I gazed at our closeness and the tightness of his grip on my elbow.

*Knock Knock*

"Ms. Laval the soup and ginger tea you ordered is ready," a sweet girl chimed, Sebastian cleared his throat as he waddled his way back to bed not breaking eye contact with me. I rolled the trolley into his room and picked up the china cup filled to the brim with steamy ginger tea.

"Ok, your highness please drink this quickly so you can start on the rest of your meal."

"No, you know I despise ginger tea, why did you order it," he huffed. What a child!

"My grace, everything I do is to help you so when I bring you tea ginger or not you. drink. it," I placed the cup in his hands and encouraged him to at least take a sip.

"You know you're lucky, you're the only person I will ever let order me around like that," he chugged the simmered tea down and began on the rest of his meal. I sat beside the bed on a chair waiting diligently for his next command.

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Sebastian has been working on this one document for what seems like hours, the clock reads twelve yet he is still awake. I for one feel myself slowly dozing off ever once and a while but it seems to be getting worse with each passing second. He hasn't ordered me to do a single thing he has barely talked to me at all.

"Can I leave now my grace?" I asked, praying the word yes would be his answer.

"No, not yet," he deadpanned. I yawned as I felt my headrest upon a soft pillowy fabric. I couldn't control my body or my movements as I slowly began to sleep. My eyes fought to stay open but I couldn't seem to pry them apart. Nothing is working I guess it wouldn't hurt to rest for a little while right? The masculine scent made my mind woozy as I began to escape to the land of dreams. This is going to be a long night.

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