Blaine's point of view:-

I woke up to the sound of whimpering. I tried to look around but grabbed my head due to the sharp pain. It felt as I had been run over by an army of men on horses. Ugh, I hate this feeling.

I looked next to me and found Imogen sobbing in her sleep. I rushed to her and tried to touch her and found her clothes and hair wet. I touched her forehead and she was pale as ice. My eyes widened and I scrambled around to find any source of heat. I looked outside, realizing it was just the brink of dawn and ran, or tried to, at least, to grab some firewood.

Lighting the sticks with much struggle, I half-carried, half-dragged Imogen towards the stone and lay her down and rubbed her palms vigorously. After some time, or what felt like an eternity, she finally coughed, showing some sort of reaction. I let out a cold breath and sat down on the ground, trying to remember what on Earth happened.

And then, as if I have been hit by a stick harshly, I remember what happened. The morning yesterday, the riverbank, the white flowers, the algae-

Oh, the algae...

Fifteen years into my existence, my family and I had gone to the Kingdom of Adena for a royal ball. there, I met their prince and he led us to this abandoned strip of land, where moss and algae grew. Since I didn't want to wet my shoes, I took them out and walked barefoot on the algae. That was, by far, the second-worst mistake of my life. I never regretted it and turned red from head to toe. It took me an entire day to sleep off its effects.

Never thought I would encounter this bane here also.

I tried dozing off but forced myself to be awake because knowing myself, if Imogen accidentally lit herself on fire, I would not get even wind of it. So, till noon, I let Imogen sleep while I did everything I was capable of. I collected some more food, boiled some water to drink and cooked our leftover fish to eat.

I can rest now. She must be awake...

I looked at her unmoving body and shook my head gently. This woman has got me feeling responsible in 2 days. Lord only know what else I would start feeling if stayed even a bit longer than a month. I think I just need to sleep this weird feeling off.

Odilia's point of view:-

I woke up warm.

It felt as if I was back in the castle, with Maria who was combing my hair.

Open your eyes, Odilia.

I opened my eyes to find myself looking at the bright blue sky, the Sun shining on me. I tried to sit up but someone was grabbing my hand. I looked to my right and saw Elias holding my hand. Scrutinizing my surroundings, I saw a previously lit fire, its ashes neatly piled next to it.

I certainly did not do it. I was asleep all the while.

Did you hit your head too? Elias must have done this.

We need to have a good conversation before you drive me into insanity.

Lies. You love me.

Try again.

ButElias did this. And took care of your sick self, even though he himself was sick.

You are doing this again...

You can not even take care of yourself.

Stop...

YOU ARE MAKING ELIAS DO ALL THE WORK!

No! I screamed with all my force and tried to shove away the nagging voice in my head. I slipped down the stone I was laying down on and land on my rear, right on the pile of ash. Elias jerked with the sudden movement and must have woken up. And that must be why I could hear him screaming 'Imogen' at the top of his voice.

Who is Imogen? Was my name not Odilia?

You are Imogen, you good-for-nothing princess.

I will kill myself if that means I would never have to hear your voice again.

Go ahead. Take a knife and glide it across your neck-

'Imogen! You scared the life out of me!' Elias hugged me like it was last time he would be seeing me. I was caught off guard and froze for a minute. And then shaking out the second thoughts, I hugged him back. I held him tightly, feeling thankful I was not alone. 

You will always be alone...

We need to have a serious talk. I am not even joking.

Tend to Elias. He is suffocating me.

You are not even real. You are just in my head.

'Do you know how scared I was when I saw you in your wet clothes. You were whimpering in your sleep and, God. I had never been more scared in my life.' He grabbed my shoulders and gazed into my eyes. 

Why are his eyes so blue?

They are like the clearest water body, having the sun shining on it.

'Did you treat me? Why are not saying anything?' He touched my forehead worriedly and kept staring at me until I finally answered.

'I am just fine. Can you give me some water?' I croaked out. He nodded and rushed to my side, helping me sit up and gave me water in a coconut shell. I smiled weakly at him and hugged him tightly. He let out a squeak at my sudden hug and hugged me back.

Blaine's point of view:-

Thank God she was alive! I would really prefer coming out alive after a month's time. And it was only possible if Imogen was alive. 

'Did you treat me? Why are not saying anything?' I touched her forehead worriedly and kept staring at until she finally answered.

'I am just fine. Can you give me some water?' She croaked out. She must have been quite tired. She smiled weakly at him and hugged him tightly. I let out a squeak at my sudden hug and hugged her back.

This is the most action I will ever get from a woman...

I patted her head lightly, showing her I was there to support her. She pulled away from me and asked me if I was fine from my allergic reaction.

I thought I was in heaven, but I found you there so...

'I am fine. I woke up with no rashes so, I am just fine.' I smiled and winced looking at my foot. There were swollen red and purple wounds that made me look like I was ill for the last 11 decades. 

'Yeah. I just used some Jewel Weed, thanks for the tip, and made a paste of it. I applied it on your feet and then, it gradually went away.' She moved her hand a lot and gave a weak smile.

Then I remembered that she was wet.

'It did not rain last night.' I spoke in the realization of the fact. If there was no rain, how was she wet? It was not possible unless...

Unless she went to the seaside to retrieve the antidote.

'Quick question. Did you go to the seaside?' I said. Her eyes widened in fear but she recovered quickly. She gave me a smile, a fake one though.

'Yeah. You said to procure the jewelweed. So, I went there and got it.' She answered slowly as if trying not to give away any information. I nodded lightly and went inside to bring some berries for her. Thank God there was some food left for us because an angry Blaine is the rudest Blaine in the world.

'You went to get us food?' She gave me a wide smile and touched my hand. A blush crept up my cheeks and I rubbed the nape of my neck.

I do not know how to deal with women.

Yeah, I thought this was the reason for your failed marriage, Blaine.

'It was leftover food.' I mumbled and stuffed my face berries to stop talking. Imogen gave me a bright and wide smile and happily munched on the food. I kept thinking about how she was wet without rain. It was very odd.

I am sure she didn't fall into the water and got wet. The jewel weed did grow near the seaside, but nowhere near the actual sea. It was in a somewhat marshy area so, there was no reason for Imogen to get wet.

Out of nowhere Imogen started coughing and choking on a stone and wheezed. I quickly slapped and rubbed her back in a pattern. After some time, she groaned, clearly showing that she was fine.

'Elias and his hotness...' I heard her mumble.

Wait, she was thinking about me? What did she even think about? A devious plan formed in my head and I grabbed her waist tight enough. She must have been shocked because she let out a squeal.

'What were you thinking about?' I whispered in her ear, trying to be as seductive as possible. I really wish I had learnt something from the countless women mom had demanded me to court. Or at least from Lucas. That little kid knows more about love and sex than me. And I am older than him by three whole years.

'What... what are you... you even talking... about?' She let out what I understood as a nervous chuckle. I gripped her waist a bit tighter and she let out a moan.

Oh my God, Blaine. She moaned from your touch.

The very fact I don't even know what to do after this has me in a bundle of nerves. I now really wished I had taken the offer of Countess Katrina to teach me the art of seduction. She had apparently read some ancient Sanskrit literature about sex and wanted to try it with me.

I really wished I took her offer.

Now, Imogen turned around and sat on my lap and she was grinding on me, and I couldn't help but feel aroused. She turned around and kissed my ear with her feather-like touch. She kept going lower and lower until she reached my collarbone. She kissed the spot feverishly and almost bit it, producing a sound from the back of my throat. She smiled slyly at me came forward to kiss me.

This is the best time to tell her that I have never had sex...

Imogen kissed me, more like drank me like I was the last drink on Earth. Her lips made me remember the softest of pillows I had in my room. And the colour of her lips made me go crazy. I tried to kiss her back with determination but instead bit her lip.

She will now know that I can not do this.

But quite contrary to that, she moaned even louder. She brought her lips close to my ear and whispered, 'Your illness will not get you any absence. Collect food for us.'

What?

***

1835 words

This was by far the longest chapter of the book.

Anyways, WHAT JUST HAPPENED???? Odilia and Blaine almost did the frickle-frackle but the Odilia practically turned him down?!

And the male lead did not have sex till date??

Normalise male virginity.

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