Anna's eyes opened to an unfamiliar domed ceiling.
Her entire body was full of pain, and the moment her eyes opened and she became aware of it, dull aches rushed through her entire body.
"Ow," she winced, squeezing her eyes shut.
I almost died. Again. And I've never come this close to death before. What are the chances I'll even survive till a goal change?
Her thoughts turned bleak. And all she could see in the future was more depressing bleakness.
"Cutie, are you awake?" A soft, musical voice asked beside her.
She turned her head and spotted Kai. The shark beastman laid curled up beside her, beautiful eyes watching her with predatory sharpness, it was then she noticed his hand resting on her hip.
Yet she didn't feel threatened. Or annoyed that he had invaded her personal space.
She nodded. Slowly. Even the movement hurt her a lot.
Kai moved closer to her. He smiled, showing jagged teeth. Blues and greens danced in his eyes.
"You saved me," Anna whispered. Her throat felt dry and she swallowed hard.
"I smelt your blood," he replied, not acknowledging her praise.
Ah, sharks. Right. Biology class did say they can smell three drops of blood in an Olympic sized pool.
"Your highness, you're awake." An elderly but stern voice called.
A tall beastman dressed in a white doctor's coat walked up to her bedside. Anna blinked, stunned for a few seconds, apparently doctors hadn't gone extinct:
The doctor bowed, his eyes flashing worriedly to Kai. Everyone in the palace knew how problematic the Princess' shark husband could be. There's a good reason why he was always locked up. The doctor, seeing that monster let loose like this, was worried beyond words. Kai had already hurt one of the nurses by biting off her finger when she tried to move him away from the Princess.
Even now, Kai inched closer to The Princess, throwing a smug look at the doctor.
I'm supposed to be neutral, thought the doctor. Her highness has advanced our science by hundreds of years. But maybe if her husband bites her to death, that was her fate.
So the doctor gave up trying to remove Kai from her side.
Meanwhile, Anna found that she didn't hate Kai's presence beside her. She could feel his cool skin, and she liked it. It felt warm, having someone stay by her side while she was passed out for so long. And his touch on her hip felt comforting rather than creepy. It reminded her of a clingy dog trying to make sure its owner doesn't vanish.
I'm sorry Kai, you're not a dog. She thought with a sigh.
"What…where is Leon?" She asked the doctor.
The man stiffened. "Your highness, you should be worried about yourself right now. You lost a great deal of blood, and the wounds were so deep we thought you wouldn't make it. It's a sheer miracle the surgery was successful, your highness. Please, rest. And worry about getting better."
Anna swallowed hard. "I asked a question, Doctor."
"He's on trial," Kai said as he rubbed circles into her hip with his thumb. "He tried to kill you twice, cutie. Your parents are furious."
"What?" Anna gasped. She tried to sit up, accidentally putting tension on her shoulders. Pain wracked through her and she screamed. Immediately, Kai was at her side.
His hands were gentle as he propped her up, surrounding her with fluffy pillows. He worked fast, almost like it was muscle memory. Once he was done, he flashed her a lopsided smile, sitting back on his knees and watching her expectantly.
Does he want a head pat? Does he do this often for Princess Orchid?
Anna was perplexed. Still she managed a smile and said, "thank you,"
He seemed satisfied with that and laid his head on the pillow closest to her.
The doctor watched this exchange and thought monsters do attract other monsters. Anyone who sees them like this won't know the evil they've committed.
"Tell me about this trial," Anna said, her voice carrying a sharp, authoritative quality. "What's going to happen to Leon?
"He could be executed for treason, or stripped of his rank and title."
"Why?! That's terrible!"
"He tried to kill you, cutie," Kai sang.
Anna bit her lip. The first time with her spores was just the system's task. And the second time…
She looked up at the doctor. "He was glitching, therefore he was having a Corruption flare! He wasn't in his right mind! He didn't —"
"And whose fault is that?!" The doctor suddenly yelled.
Anna gasped, shivering at his tone.
Kai's gentle touch vanished as he sat up straighter, his eyes sharpening. He sensed a threat to his cutie and his killer instincts activated.
The doctor noticed this and stepped back, his hands clasped behind him. Then he bowed. "My apologies, your highness. I shall accept any punishment you deem—"
"What do you mean by this is my fault?" Anna snapped.
She was feeling fed up with being in the dark about the very body she possessed. Part of her anger was at Princess Orchid, and the rest was directed at whoever was unfortunate in that moment. Right now, that was the doctor.
"I wouldn't dare,"
"I don't recall asking you to dare, doctor."
The man shivered. "I…General Leon has been showing signs of Corruption for years now. And… you, your highness, were supposed to soothe his Corruption with your spores. But you refused to do so. Even when he became your legal husband, you still refused to soothe him."