The small wooden door of the room was pushed open very slowly, making absolutely no sound. Javien stepped into the silent space, his eyes instantly fixing on the bed in the corner of the room.
There, Olivia was fast asleep. The maid's face looked utterly exhausted, her breath rising and falling steadily in the stillness of the afternoon.
Javien walked over to the bed and knelt beside Olivia's sleeping form without making a single sound.
He stared at her peaceful face the face of the girl who had sacrificed so much to heal the traumatic scars in his life.
Javien's grip on the hilt of his sword tightened, and his chest felt tight with an incredibly heavy weight of guilt.
"Sleep, Olivia..."
Javien whispered sorrowfully in his heart. He raised his hand slightly, longing to gently touch her hair, but he stopped himself, fearing he might disturb his beloved girl's rest.
"I swear... this time, if you do the same thing again, I am willing to fall right alongside you."
