Alina limped across the last stretch of the courtyard, every step making the pain in her ankle and shoulder worse. Behind her, the nobles were already whispering again, pretending the sabotage didn’t happen at all. There was no way they hadn’t noticed it but they decided to ignore it.

"She was never suited for this."

"She looked so pathetic."

Alina kept on walking. Austin was already waiting for her at edge of the courtyard.

The moment she crossed the line, he moved towards her immediately.

"Alina."

Before she could lie and say she was fine, he scooped her carefully into his arms. Alina leaned her head against his chest and closed her eyes. She was exhausted.

He carried her through the palace corridors in silence. Servants and guards moved out of their way when they saw them coming. As soon as they reached her room, he pushed the door open with his shoulder and carried her inside.

Laura was already inside waiting for her. The moment she saw Alina’s condition, she hurried over.

"Alina..."

Austin made her sit on the bed carefully while Laura immediately knelt beside her.

"Let me get this off first," she said.

Laura first removed her riding gloves, then moved to the heavy riding coat. When the thick fabric slid away from Alina’s shoulder, sharp pain exploded through her body.

"Ahhh!" she gasped.

A dark bruise had already spread across her shoulder and collarbone. She couldn’t hold herself together anymore. The last bit of strength she had been holding onto finally broke. She bent forward, covering her face with her hand and sobbed.

"I’m so tired," she cried.

Austin immediately knelt in front of her while Laura quietly stepped back.

"It hurts," she whispered, her voice cracking. "I felt so humiliated and so small. I don’t know how much longer I can keep doing this."

Austin held her tightly in his arms. After a very long time, Alina wasn’t pretending to be strong or brave. At that moment, she was just a girl who had finally reached her limit. She was tired of a court that was trying to bring her down at every damn opportunity.

"I always tell myself I can handle it," she whispered. "But...I don’t think I can keep pretending I’m strong enough anymore."

Austin didn’t say anything. He just let her cry and say everything she has been holding in for so long.

Minutes later, someone knocked at the door. Dorian stepped inside with an elderly healer carrying a heavy bag of medical supplies. Austin reluctantly stepped back, making space for the healer to work.

The healer immediately crouched down in front of her and began cleaning the scrapes on Alina’s hands and knees. Then she examined her shoulder and ankle carefully.

Alina winced every time the healer touched the bruised areas. Austin couldn’t stay still. He paced across the room like a caged wolf, trying very hard not to lose control. Then suddenly he stopped.

"I saw a man throwing a metal pin right under the horse’s hooves. Then someone cracked a whip from the crowd."

"They sabotaged her?" Laura was terrified.

Austin nodded.

"It wasn’t an accident. They had planned it," he replied.

Alina closed her eyes as tears continued rolling down her cheeks.

"I should’ve gone down there," Austin muttered. "I should’ve dragged him out in front of everyone."

"Austin," Alina said softly. "It’s fine."

"No it’s not," he snapped. "You could’ve been seriously injured,"

"But if you go after them now, they’ll use it against you again," she whispered. "What if they remove you from the palace?"

"They crossed a line today."

"I know," her voice trembled. "But I need you here with me much more than I need revenge."

He looked away for a moment, fighting the rage burning inside him.

The healer finally finished wrapping her ankle and shoulder, and stood up.

"She’ll recover," the healer said. "Her ankle is sprained but it’s not serious. Still, she needs to rest."

Alina stared at her bandaged ankle for a long time before speaking again.

"I failed," she whispered. "I failed this trial. I’ve probably ruined all my chances."

"To hell with the trial," Austin said fiercely, turning to her. "To hell with this kingdom and its stupid rules. It’s not worth it."

He crouched in front of her again.

"I don’t care about their trial anymore."

"Austin..."

"You could’ve been seriously hurt today."

"Are you serious about me quitting?" she asked.

He nodded.

"I’d rather have you safe and with me than watch you destroy yourself trying to prove something to this court who will never see your worth."

Alina didn’t have any words. So she did the only thing she had been doing lately, she cried and hugged him tightly.

The medicine eventually made her drowsy. Austin helped her lie down carefully, covering her with the blanket. Then he sat beside her, gently stroking her hair until her breathing slowly evened out.

When he was sure, she was asleep, he stood up and walked out of her room. Dorian was already waiting for him there.

"Did you find him?" Austin asked.

Dorian nodded.

"He is at the stables."

Together, they walked to the stable and found the man who had sabotaged her trial, trying to run away. But Austin was fast. He reached to him in three strides, grabbing his shirt with his fists and slamming him hard against the wall. The man gasped in pain."

"You bastard," Austin snarled. He shoved his forearm against the man’s throat, pinning him there. "You threw that pin under her horse and made her fall!"

The man’s eyes bulged with terror.

"P...please... I was just..."

"Shut your mouth." Austin pressed even harder. "I want to break every bone in your body right now. Give me one reason why I shouldn’t."

Dorian stood a step behind Austin with his arms crossed, but his eyes were just as cold.

"Answer him," he ordered.

"I was paid!" the man wheezed. "A hooded man gave me a pouch of gold. He said... said it will only make her fall lightly. I swear!"

Austin’s eyes burned with rage.

"You could have killed her," he growled. "She could be lying there right now with a broken neck because of you."

"I didn’t know the horse would panic like that!" the nobleman gasped. "Please... let me go."

"You must remember something about the man?" Dorian asked.

"He had kept his face hidden," he stammered. "Yes!! His hands...his hands had a tatoo. I’ve seen that mark on men from Lord Valdren’s faction."

Austin and Dorian looked at each other at the exact same moment.

"Valdren," they said together. 𝗳𝚛𝚎𝚎𝘄𝕖𝕓𝕟𝕠𝚟𝚎𝕝.𝗰𝕠𝐦

Austin held the man for several more seconds. Then, he shoved him away. The man fell on the ground , coughing and gasping for air.

"If I ever see your face near one of her trials again, I won’t stop at threats. I will end you right there."