168 Chapter 168: Pending Talk

Jinha stood by the door with sweat trickling down his forehead. His chest was heaving up and down searching for her inside the room. When his eyes landed on her, he let out a breath before he walked towards her bed and slumped on the chair.

"God! you scared me."

Freya sighed before asking, "Why are you here?"

Jinha glanced up in hurt and clutched his chest and wailed, "I ran as fast as I can when I heard you were awake, and yet, you ask me this?"

Freya rolled her eyes at his dramatic self before her eyebrows knitted together at one part of his answer.

"Why are you in the palace? Aren't you supposed to be at the academy?"

Jinha gaped at Freya before he turned his head towards the old lady who shrugged, "I might have forgotten to tell her what day it was"

Freya furrowed her brows before she asked them, "What do you mean?" Looking at their faces, she asked skeptically, "What day is it?"

Jinha shook his head as he said, "My sleeping Princess, it has been a week since the battle and that means..."

Freya continued dumbfoundedly, "It's been a week since I fell unconscious." Then her eyes widened as she quickly darted towards her Grandmaster and asked, "He has been unconscious for a week?!"

The old lady sighed, "As I said, he still needs time to recover"

Freya narrowed her eyes and gritted her teeth. 

"How long?"

"Ah?!" The old lady looked at her in confusion making Freya ask through her clenched jaw, "How long would he take to open his eyes?"

"That is not something I can say, Freya" the old lady chid her softly before she said, "I can only say that the day must be near"

Freya rubbed the space between her eyebrows. She remembered how he looked when he held her close to his body. His pale face and trembling fingers. 

Jinha pursed his lips as he said, "My Princess has changed so much in a week."

Freya looked at him puzzledly to which he retorted, "Right after hearing that you were asleep for one week, all you cared for was him."

He looked at her and accused, "You didn't care about my injuries or anyone else's." 

Jinha narrowed his eyes as he said, "Maybe I need to have a duel with him again." 

Freya chuckled at his grumpy countenance that she held his hand in hers and squeezed tightly.

"I don't have to worry about anyone else because I know you will take care of them well."

Jinha snorted and removed his hand, turning his head aside while folding his arms, "Your sweet words won't be able to coax me."

Freya covered her lips to hide her smile as she looked at him. 

"How's the academy?"

Jinha peeked at her and noticed the worry behind those beautiful emerald orbs. He sighed before he scooted to her bed. Freya immediately made space for him beside her.

Freya shook her head and waved her hands. She threw an accusing glare towards her Grandmaster who nimbly ignored her. 

"No... its nothing"

But Jinha didn't listen to her as he removed the blankets swiftly making Freya groan internally.

'Not again!'

Jinha's eyes widened on seeing a bloody dressing on her abdomen. 

He looked at her worriedly and asked, "Why isn't your pills working?"

Freya threw an exasperated look at him as she said, "It's not that it's not working but it's because it's been confiscated."

Jinha looked at her in confusion and saw her throw a glance at her Grandmaster making him glance at her. 

The old lady felt suffocated when she felt two pairs of eyes focus on her. She could ignore the lass's eyes but the other one was making her heart tread speedily. It was a well-known fact about how overprotective the fiercest general is about Freya. He might have a smiley face and a flirty mouth, but his complete demeanor changes when it involves their princess.

Seeing that Jinha didn't remove his gaze on her, the old lady turned around and said, "I want her to learn a lesson and take care of her body next time. She will be given those pills tomorrow morning."

Freya bit her lips and looked at Jinha expectantly. She didn't know whether her plan would work but she really didn't want to stay another minute on this bed. If she was given a choice, she would choose to be near Usui's bed.

But to her utter disappointment, she saw Jinha nod at her Grandmaster making the latter let out her breath. 

Jinha tilted his head and smirked, "If she gives you the pill now, you will run off to your Prince Charming"

Freya pouted making Jinha smile. He climbed back into the bed and carefully wrapped his arms around her. He sighed in satisfaction before he began to share the news. 

"The volunteers are helping out the city. The reapers had damaged half of the city when they attacked leaving quite a mess to clean. Everyone is helping out and the word has passed all over the campus how their Princess Hazel was the mighty general Freya."

He chuckled, "Many people look up to you now and are waiting for your arrival. Your followers are quite good. They have helped the majority of the people thereby increasing your popularity."

"You are exposed now, so better get used to those gawking eyes" 

Freya sighed tiredly thinking about her future in the academy. 

"What about the Heroes Council?"

Jinha smiled, "Liz has recovered while the others have been helping out the city. The last I heard from was that they are returning to the kingdom soon."

Freya looked at her hands and asked softly, "What about Harold?"

Jinha's smile fell as he gripped his hand tight. 

"We didn't find his body in the room. All there was left was black ashes. We have collected it and buried it behind the academy."

Freya nodded and bit her lips. She was startled when she heard Jinha laugh out loud.

On noticing him ignoring her, Freya frowned before nudging him with her elbow. He gasped as he said, "I forgot to mention Ren who went almost crazy breaking all the things inside the room, given that there wasn't pretty much left to break."

Freya looked at him confused making him grin, "The word has spread, my Princess."

"What?"

Jinha smirked, "On how our dear Princess forced a kiss on a Prince in the middle of the battle."

He commented, " Aish! so romantic isn't it?"

Freya's face turned red until her head exploded. Her face was beet red making Jinha chuckle loudly. She buried her head inside her palms as she didn't expect Loki to be such a tattletale.

Jinha raised her eyebrow as he asked amusedly, "Oh my! I didn't know that my Princess would get embarrassed so easily."

Freya puffed up her cheeks, glaring at him making him shake his head. 

"Well, we would have lots of fun from now on right, Princess?"

Freya groaned as she slapped her forehead with her palms. Why did she ever think that kissing him at that time was a good idea?

Ah! no... she didn't think... her body acted on its own desires.

"It seems like I am interrupting something" a grumpy voice was heard from the door making Freya gasp.

"Father"

Julian smiled at his daughter who seemed to be enjoying yet he couldn't help but complain, "Well, I should be glad that you didn't completely forget about me."

She rubbed her nose awkwardly nudging Jinha to help her. Jinha hurriedly stood up and said while hiding his laugh, "Your Majesty, Please" and gestured to sit beside her.

Freya glared at Jinha who remotely ignored her gaze. Julian waved his hands as he said, "It looks like my daughter would murder someone if I take the seat beside her."

Freya quickly turned towards her father and whined, "No, Father"

Julian looked at his daughter who seemed to have recovered well. He was glad. He hated that even though he was alive, he couldn't protect his kids well. 

The image of Freya getting struck numerous times, as well as that terrible night, haunted him for a couple of nights. He was having difficulty in erasing the image of his children covered from head to toe in blood, pointing at him and accusing him of being weak.

He had lost his first son, he didn't want to lose another kin of his. His eyes oozed with gentleness as he rubbed her head fondly, "I'm glad you are safe, Hazel"

Freya froze slightly understanding the meaning behind his words. Even Jinha who was standing beside her bed clenched his fists.

A heavy atmosphere soon filled inside the room as everyone stared at each other but mostly at Freya who was staring at her hands. Yet, the Princess took them by surprise when she mumbled, "Brother wouldn't blame you either, Father"