Chapter 955: Raphael Keeps Finding Excuses To Stay

Rowena tried to blink a couple of times, and when she rubbed her eyes, it was finally gone. She took a deep breath and realized she was still seeing things.

Even just the familiar shadow of the man whom she considered her best friend made what she presumed to be her okay self become reduced into tears.

Hot tears stung her eyes and leaked out of her eyes, which she furiously wiped.

Not knowing when Raphael would return, Rowena quickly made the decision to rush back into her room.  At least it was the place where she could get privacy.

Once the door shut down behind her, Rowena slowly stumbled into the bed and buried her head into the pillows.  There was a terrible ache across her chest once again.

Raphael finished washing the dishes, and so he returned back to the hut. As expected, Rowena didn't wait for him. He actually wished he could say goodnight.  It seemed rude not to.

Which was why the Seventh Prince made his way to the outside of Rowena's room and maybe make an excuse of wanting to check up on her condition. However, before he could knock on the wooden frame, he caught the sound of something.

It was the sound of sniffling, muffled and slightly hoarse… the voice belonged to none other than Rowena herself.  When Rowena thought that Raphael was away, the tough exterior she had put up earlier faded away.

The Seventh Prince thought that their conversation had helped her immensely, that she felt better but it was no other than an attempt to hold up a facade of being in control of herself as always.

Raphael closed his eyes for a moment and let his arm fall away.  As much as he wished to be there for her, he was now aware that his presence only made her attempt to clam up her grief more than anything.

If he knocked right now, she'd stop crying to come to face him but that didn't actually lessen the pain at all.  Raphael turned and stepped away, a guilty expression on his face. 

He wanted to make his way back, to open the door and intrude, tell her that it would be alright—but it was not within his position to do so.  However, it only made him sure of something.

"I can't leave her when she's still in a state like that," Raphael told himself, his own resolution to stay here at Rowena's side strengthened.

***

The next few days were spent by Rowena with Raphael by her side.  The day following her waking up, Raphael insisted on staying with her until she was fully back to health. 

"While you might be awake now, you still need to get as much rest as you can if you wish to recover quickly," Raphael said. "We can't underestimate an illness alright

?"

"Fine. But at least let me do something alright? This is my hut but you're the one—"

"I don't mind… I just don't want to strain yourself," Raphael said as he looked around the dining room during breakfast. "If you must insist on aiding me, then perhaps I would appreciate it if you could boil some tea?"

"You want to drink tea?" Rowena raised a brow.

"Well, it's not important but—"

"I'll do it." Rowena looked at him seriously. "Since you always get preoccupied with a lot of things in running the house, this is the least that I could do for you."

"Then I'm looking forward to it." Raphael smiled.

However, no matter how gentle, kind, and thoughtful the Seventh Prince turned out to be, Rowena couldn't help but find herself always on guard.  She knew he proved nothing wrong with himself and his acts were all chivalrous, but he kept making excuses as to why he needed to stay.

"Haven't you been with a group of your friends when we met?" Rowena said. "Are they not upset that you haven't returned yet or did you send them a message about it?"

She had sometimes caught Raphael entertaining some birds and tying short scrolls or even just speaking honestly around them.

"They do not need to constantly be around me," Raphael said. "They also have their own agendas and interests—plus they are more than capable of taking care of themselves, so they're not missing out on me."

At least that was what the Seventh Prince hoped. So far, there was no incident akin to when the Water and Fire God fought, but he was still a bit doubtful of it not happening again.

At least the God of Aviary would act as an intermediary, alongside him and Nymia, who were the least combatant among them.

"Do you think I'm incapable of taking care of myself?" Rowena raised a brow, a touch offended.

"It's not that…" Raphael said. "I just like it here?"

The Seventh Prince couldn't tell Rowena that he noticed how her eyebags were getting a little darker or he knew how some nights of hers were spent in insomnia and tears.

Other times, Raphael would hear of her screaming and crying in bed—how could he leave without any burden in his chest if she was that way?

Rowena let out a sigh. "I do not know what is it that you like it here—there's not much around for someone like you."

"You don't know that." Raphael insisted. "I like it here, it's peaceful and quiet, there's not much of a disturbance at all and I appreciate that."

"I see… well, I guess you're free to stay for a coupl

e of days more." Rowena sighed inwardly. "You are after all the person who saved my life—that's the least I can do for you."

"Thank you, I won't make you uncomfortable, I'll make sure my presence is of help to you. So, please do not hesitate to ask me for anything, alright?"

"Alright."

After another couple of weeks with Raphael still at her side when she was clearly fully recovered, it made her choose a different tactic.

"Your family must be looking for you and missing you," Rowena gently brought it up during their dinner time. She poured a nice aromatic blend of tea down a cup and offered it up to him. "Wouldn't you agree?"