Chapter 5

Arthur was dragged back to my yard and left on the ground, his fate unknown.

I knelt beside him, knowing it was futile but still trying repeatedly to bring him into my arms. "Arthur, I'm sorry. It's my fault. I shouldn't have asked you to buy almond cookies. It's my fault. I'm sorry. I'm sorry."

Tears fell on Arthur's wounded face, quickly turning into nothingness. It left me powerless and desperate.

Just when I thought everything was over, the door was knocked on. Anna stood outside, looking at the silent quarters, her eyes dim and unclear. "Nathan! Get out! I know you're pretending!"

No one responded.

Anna frowned and looked past the courtyard walls. Just in time, she saw Arthur's motionless figure, her pupils contracting suddenly.

However, she soon remembered something and calmed down. "Still pretending? What? Your father's pity act didn't work, so now it's your turn? Do you really believe that pretending to be pitiful will make me feel sorry for you? Ridiculous!"

Anna stared at Arthur's back, her icy tone breaking my heart.

I wanted to ask her why she was so confident and what gave her the right to maliciously speculate about Arthur when he was so well-behaved and sensible.

She was still spouting threats when she realized that Arthur was not reacting. She finally understood something was wrong. She pushed open the door and walked into the courtyard.

"Why aren't you saying anything? Feeling guilty? Get up now. I've seen through you, so stop pretending." Her words grew increasingly urgent, and her pace quickened with each step.

Just as she reached Arthur, his hand twitched.

Anna froze. The panic on her face instantly transformed into anger at having been tricked again. She kicked Arthur hard and shouted toward the side room, "Nathan, is this fun? You're happy to have me played, aren't you? Fine, since you like having the child pretend, then I'll play along. Let's see who's the one who'll be heartbroken in the end!"

With that, she turned and left.

At the door, Anna paused, turned back to look at the silent side room, and her anger could no longer be contained. She left with a cold laugh.

After she left, Arthur suddenly vomited a mouthful of blood. He opened his eyes in a final burst of lucidity. Then, he carefully touched his chest and pulled out a clean almond cookie from his pocket. He had hidden it with his life.

Touching the almond cookie in his hand, Arthur could not help but grin. A heartbreaking smile appeared on his face. "At least I still have one."

Then, he struggled to his feet and stumbled into the room. "Father, I'm back..."

Looking at my lifeless face, Arthur froze for a moment before quickly going to the bedside and putting the almond cookie in my mouth. "Father, I brought back your almond cookie. Father, try and see if it's good. Father, you lied to me..."

With that said, Arthur fainted on the floor.

The next day, a servant came to serve food. A scream echoed throughout the princess' residence.

"Help! Mr. Smith is dead!"

Anna, who was coaxing Zachary to take his medicine, jumped up, her face deathly pale. "What did you say?"