The thought of Styx's visit was what occupied Zeidan’s mind as he lay there on the mushy bed while Luana massaged his back. He remembered the decree he signed to protect Lyne. He had failed Luana. He had failed her unborn child. He had failed himself by not fulfilling his promise. Perhaps she was even alive somehow. If she was alive, he ought to have seen her by now. Another thing is that she would not have waited this long to come back to the palace. He saw disappointment and a lot of anger in Styx today. But he had tried his best in finding Lyne. Long before he fell sick he had checked everywhere but all to no avail. 

    “Ouch! Lyne, slow down.”

    Luana stopped and sighed in exasperation. He heard her mutter inaudibly under her breath. Now, Zeidan suddenly realized what he had just done and sighed sadly. Then he turned slowly with a groan to face Luana who was staring at him with disdain. 

    “What does her father want? She is dead. Why can’t you all just forget her? Here you are calling me Lyne. Perhaps she should come and finish this massage for you.” Luana said folding her hand in annoyance.

Zeidan coughed for a while before speaking.

    “Look Luana, I am sorry, okay?” He said apologetically.

    “But come to think of it, don’t you think her corpse should have been found by now if she was truly dead? I still don’t agree with the fact that she is dead.” 

    “It does not seem like she is alive. No sign at all. No one has reported that she has been seen or heard of.” She sounded exasperated and frustrated but could he blame her?

    “That does not erase the hope that she might be alive somehow,” Zeidan replied making Luana more furious.

    “She is dead Zeidan!” She said emphatically as she tried to hide her frustration.

    “I just hope you can just let her go. You need to make it clear to her father that she is gone. I heard the way you spoke to him today and you still gave him hope by promising to find her. I don’t even know how you plan to do that. You can barely walk.” 

    Zeidan closed his eyes and placed both of his hands on his forehead. He then sighed loudly and a moment of silence ensued. 

“Even if truly she is dead. At least, her corpse should be there to prove it. I wish to find her corpse so that I can give her a proper burial for her soul to be at peace.” He said looking up at Luana. She shrugged in reply.

    “Turn and let me finish up,” Luana said as Zeidan turned to lie on his stomach with a little bit of difficulty. 

    After Luana finished up, she then went to get Gabe from the maid that was bathing him.

    Luana was right about all that she had said. But one thing that kept playing on his mind was that he needed proof that she was dead. The only proof would be her corpse. Unless he finds this somehow, he won’t believe completely that she was dead. Styx will return, which he was very sure of. He needed to act fast, yet he was lying on his sick bed.

     Luana walked in with Gabe that was now asleep. He watched as she placed him in his cot that was placed beside their bed at the end of the room close to the wall.

    “He will need a bed and probably a room soon,” Zeidan said smiling. 

    Luana laughed and walked to stand in front of the dressing table beside Zeidan as she began to undress. She unzipped her silk gown. The gown slid down her body, revealing her back and buttocks to Zeidan. Although she was still clad in bra and panties, Zeidan wished he had his strength in this present moment, the thought of Lyne vanishing quickly from his mind. She unbuckled the hook of her bra and let it fall to the floor making her unclad. Zeidan saw as her full round breast burst free. She bent to pull off her panties and in the process, Zeidan could see the inner parts of her labia. She turned to face him, smiled, and stepped into the shower. She was teasing him. 

    After she finished bathing, she opened the wardrobe on the right side of the room, a little far from the foot of the bed. She picked a red silk night robe, wore it, and walked briskly to the dressing table. She sat down, opened the drawer, and brushed her hair. The silk robe cascaded down her thighs revealing most of it as she was brushing her hair.

    Zeidan observing this looked away and occupied his mind with the thought of his people. Luana refused to tell him what had happened to the crowd that gathered outside the palace some days ago. He knows what the people are capable of. The state of his health has been kept hidden from the people for a long time and he feared the outcome should they find out very soon. The people could demand a new king as he was hardly functional. Besides, no one wants to stand and be ruled by a sick king in the middle of a war. 

    Gabe is just a boy and he was just a toddler. Perhaps if he had had a boy that had come of age, he would have just let him take over while he recovers. Luana was trying her best but deep down within him, he knows the people will slowly turn against her and demand the presence of their king. 

    “I wish I can go out to give my people hope that we are still very much in this battle. I know you are trying your best Luana but it will give them hope against the were-cats. And about the were-cats, have they minimized their attacks on the city, or has it gotten worse?” Zeidan asked Luana who was still busy with her hair. 

    “The Werecat's attack is minimal now. We always find a way to fight them off.” She said. She opened the drawer to return her comb and also bring out the syrup she was given earlier by Stevenson. 

    “Sit up Zeidan, let me give you your dose.” She said as she helped Zeidan to sit up and gave him a measured portion of the syrup to drink. 

    She watched him gulp it down and helped him to lie back on the bed. 

    “Hhmmm….. I don’t think Shelbrooke will back down in a fight that easily. Perhaps you should mobilize the men and warn the people to be cautious and watchful.” Zeidan said with a tone of concern.

    “I just want you to get better and leave the matters of the state for me to handle.” She added.

Luana returned the syrup to the drawer, put out the lights, and crawled to the other side of the bed beside Zeidan.

    “Thank you, Luana. I’m so lucky to have you.” Zeidan said detaching himself from all his thoughts and drifting off to sleep.

    She smiled wickedly with her gaze fixed on the ceiling as she drifted off to sleep.