Edmund opened his eyes ?and gasped for air on his bed, his hands touching his neck, but nothing was wrong with it. Looking at the ceiling, he noticed he was in his room.

  ‘Did they just stand there watching Ariadne kill me? What was that?’ Edmund was stunned and incredulous at what had happened.

  ‘Yes, I would too, but Her Highness was in a moment where she wasn’t thinking straight.’ Eliza stood up from a chair next to Edmund.

  ‘Eliza? It was you that saved me?’ He looked at the healer.

  ‘Yes, I think Her Highness forgot you were not in your usual state; you were weaker than normal; she would feel guilty if you died.’ She put her hand on his forehead.

  ‘Ok… Now that you are saying, yes, I wasn’t at my best; she just used her usual strength; that was dangerous. Wait, did you say you would let her kill me?’ Edmund widened his eyes, continuing to look at Eliza.

  'Is it like her Highness says, How can someone so smart be this dumb? Almost cost your life.’ Her hand glowed.

  A sensation of peace entered Edmund’s mind, making him relax more to the point of closing his eyes, something the hero did when he needed to sleep more comfortably.

  ‘I took it too far; I didn’t consider my body state. I’m sorry. I will ask for forgiveness.’ Edmund lowers his head.

  ‘I forgive you, peasant.’ Ariadne opened her fan to hide her mouth.

  The fan's crack and her voice's sound took him aback. He didn’t notice her at all. Maybe the magic relaxed him so much that he became numb to his surroundings. With his eyes now open, he looked at the duchess by Eliza’s side.

  ‘I’m sorry, playing like that was a terrible moment; maybe another time.’ He chuckled.

  ‘I can’t, such a child.’ Eliza slapped him on the forehead.

  ‘Ouch!!! It didn’t hurt.’ He smiled.

  ‘You were right, peasant; I almost killed you with my order, and for that, I’m sorry, but I can’t have your disrespect go unpunished in front of the people who look up to me; it doesn’t matter if it is a joke or not.’ Ariadne cooled herself with her fan.

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  ‘I understand it's boring just to work, and that is why I do these things; it was the same with my friend Ruppert, the blacksmith; I guess I didn’t grow out of it.’ Edmund looked at the ceiling.

  ‘Just remember the state of your body and that nobody will help you if you do this again, peasant. If you accept those risks, I have nothing to say.’ She hid her smile behind the fan.

  For a moment, Eliza looked at the duchess as she talked and noticed her smile. She took her hand off Edmund’s forehead, took a deep breath, and smiled shyly.

  ‘I need to return to the doctor’s office if you excuse me, your highness.’ Eliza walked toward the door.

  ‘No problem, Eliza; you did well. Thank you for everything and your dedication.’ Ariadne looked at the healer with a tender smile, giving her a nod.

  ‘I will do everything in my power for our goddess.' She turned around and saluted Ariadne before going out of the room.

  The room became silent momentarily; only the birds outside could be heard. Edmund was still looking at the ceiling, and Ariadne’s eyes were fixed on the door that was now closed.

  ‘Even she is a believer now, hum?' Edmund stroked his chin.

  ‘I was going to talk about this with you, peasant; something strange is happening to me.’ She sat in the chair close to Edmund’s bed.

  ‘With you? These people think you are a god.’ He changed his position and sat on the bed, leaning against the headboard.

  ‘I understand, but this influences me and may affect them too; I feel their prayer. I feel pure joy when they salute me, unlike a monarch; it is something greater; it fills my heart.’ She put her hand over her chest.

  ‘Let’s say it is true; maybe it is because it is an open gate; you give them the ability to use the devices, but as a side effect, you sense their feelings towards you, which is reciprocal.’ Edmund crossed his arms, looking at the white sheet, deep in thought.

  ‘It began at night one day. I felt like a drop poured into my heart. It increased the amount from then on, and my feelings also changed. I’m kinder to them, but not because I want to; I just am.’ Ariadne began to fan herself again.

  ‘Humm. it’s beginning to make sense; nobody helped me before; whatever you do is right on their minds; Eliza saved me, but she was only thinking about you.’ He looked at the duchess.

  ‘This sounds like brainwashing; I don't know how to feel about this.’ She gave Edmund a concerned look.

  ‘You could say the same about someone who is overzealous about a cause or loyal to a king; they still have their individuality. Whatever you do is morally gray in their eyes. I don’t know... He tapped his chin with his index finger.

  ‘Well, I still think for myself. I have this motherly love for them now, not everyone, of course; for you peasant, I feel nothing.’ Ariadne put one of her hands over her chest.

  ‘I don’t know if that was pure information or a personal attack, so you still think straight even if you feel this way. These are just feelings, not mind control. I’m saying this because if it affects you, it will do the same to them in theory.’ Edmund frowned, thinking deeply about it.

  ‘Is not mind control, but it was the trigger to command you to help the soldiers in the forest so that it can somewhat cloud my judgment.’ She directed the hand that was over her chest to her cheek.

  ‘I’m glad you almost killed me out of love.’ Edmund rolled his eyes and sighed while looking at the ceiling.

  ‘Is not that bad, peasant; you are a skilled warrior; I knew you could do it.’ Ariadne chuckled.

  She smiled right after but covered her mouth with her two hands. Edmund didn’t see her smile, but he was surprised by her words.

  'Ok, what just happened? I don’t know if you were confident in me or you just don’t care if I die; why did you chuckle?’ He shook his head in disbelief.

  Ariadne took a deep breath, made herself more comfortable in the chair, and closed her eyes. Edmund looked at her calm expression and lay down again, closing his eyes. Now, his mind was full of possibilities for what could happen if more people saw her as a goddess.