Chapter 24

Third Person’s POV

The next day arrived without the warm light of the morning sun.

Despite it being day time, the skies hung low and dark, as though night had refused to loosen its grip. Thunder rumbled without pause, and heavy rain battered the palace relentlessly. The storm had raged since before dawn, showing no sign of stopping—only growing stronger.

Lena had not left Miu’s bedside.

Throughout the night, she remained seated there, unmoving save for the occasional shift of her posture.

She knew she should rest. And yet—she stayed.

Just in case.
Just in case another nightmare dragged Miu back into that silent terror again.

Slowly, carefully, Lena reached out and placed the back of her hand against Miu’s forehead. The warmth that greeted her was gentler now.

“…Her fever seems to have gone down now,” Lena whispered to herself, her voice barely audible over the rain.

A quiet sigh escaped her.

She straightened and walked toward the window, the sound of her steps muted by the storm.

“Well, at least that’s over…” she murmured, her gaze fixed on the churning clouds. “But now…”

Her fingers curled slightly at her side.

“…I’ve got another problem.”

The thunder answered her words, roaring as the storm continued on, unyielding.

Just then—almost as if on cue—Daliah rushed into the room, her expression tight with urgency.

“Your Highness. Urgent news,” she said, barely catching her breath.

Lena turned from the window at once. “What is it?”

“A call just came in. The temporary levees along Tungsten’s riverbanks are close to collapsing. The rain has been nonstop, and it doesn’t seem like it will ease anytime soon. The situation could become severe.”

Lena exhaled slowly. She had expected this—just not so soon.

“Very well,” she said, already moving toward the door. “Inform the royal guards to prepare immediately for emergency calamity assistance. There is no active administration in Tungsten capable of managing this on their own.”

She stopped just before leaving and glanced back at the bed.

“And also,” Lena added, her voice lowering, “Miss Miu will be waking soon. Make sure her medicine and breakfast are prepared.”

“Yes, Your Highness,” Daliah replied with a bow.

Lena had already stepped past the doorway when a weak but alert voice stopped her.

“Did something happen in Tungsten?”

She frowned and turned back to see Miu sitting up. “You’re awake?”

“Is there trouble in Tungsten?” Miu asked again, brushing past the concern in Lena’s eyes.

“I overheard what Daliah said. I must—”

“No.” Lena cut her off at once, a sigh following as she silently cursed herself for not speaking with Daliah outside.

“You’re far from being better,” Lena said as she walked back into the room and straight to Miu’s bedside.

“And that is exactly why—” She placed a firm hand on Miu’s face and gently but decisively pushed her back onto the bed, “—you need to stay put and rest.”

“Ack!” Miu let out as she slumped down.

“Don’t go running around and making everyone worry again. Understand?” Lena scolded.

She didn’t wait for an answer. Turning on her heel, Lena left the room immediately—knowing full well that if she stayed, Miu would argue, and she didn’t have time for that now.

But despite Lena’s words, Miu lay staring at the ceiling, utterly restless. She knew—she truly did—that both Lena and Daliah were right. In her current state, she would only be a burden in Tungsten, not a help.

And yet, every part of her resisted that truth. Each rational thought was drowned out by the pull in her chest, by the desperate urge to do something. No matter how weak her body felt, her mind refused to stay still, fighting against the very logic she knew she should accept.

—

It took them longer than expected to reach Tungsten. Lena muttered curses under her breath the entire way, frustrated by how treacherous and undeveloped the roads were. Every turn and muddy stretch seemed to delay them, but finally, they arrived.

“YOUR HIGHNESS! YOU’RE HERE!”

Father Gaston was the first to reach her, relief etched across his rain-soaked face. The people around him looked equally hopeful, their eyes lighting up at the sight of Lena and her royal guards.

“What’s the status of the levees?!” Lena shouted over the roar of the storm, rain pelting her raincoat and blinding her at times.

“The temporary banks are holding—for now!” one of the men called back, stepping forward through the mud. “But the current is pushing them back steadily! At this rate, the levees will fail, and the river will flood the nearby homes!”

Lena’s jaw tightened. She gave a sharp nod to the royal guards, who immediately fell in step with the locals as they hurried toward the river

“Some of the weaker spots have already flooded, Your Highness!” Father Gaston shouted, pointing toward the shallow streams creeping through the streets. “If we don’t reinforce the levees quickly, they’ll burst any moment now!”

Lena’s jaw tightened as rain plastered her hair to her face. “I understand!”

Without a second thought, she raised her hand, signaling everyone to gather closer.

“Alric! You’re in charge of evacuating the nearby households to the next city. Take your men with you. Prioritize children, elders, pregnant women, and those with disabilities!”

“Copy, Your Highness!” Alric responded sharply before rushing off with his men.

“Leon! You and your team head to the nearest cities. Gather as many sacks of sand as you can—dirt or stones will work too. Bring volunteers if possible, and transport everything back here immediately!”

“Roger that, Your Highness!”

“And Walter! I need you and your men to stay here and help the people of Tungsten monitor and maintain the levees while we wait for reinforcements. Stack them wider with what we have and make sure they don’t collapse! Understood?!”

“Yes, Your Highness!” Walter called back, already dashing toward the riverbanks.

“And Father! I need you and some of your men to set up a temporary shelter for everyone. Make it ready for all who need it!”

Lena’s gaze swept over the gathered people, her eyes sharp despite the pounding rain.

“This is going to be a very long day!”

—

Lena’s POV

“Curse this rain! The current’s getting stronger!” one of the men yelled, straining against the wind and lashing rain as they tried to shove the last of the sandbags into the cracks along the levees.

I gritted my teeth, scanning the swollen river. The reinforcements from the nearby city had to arrive soon—we are running out of options, and every passing minute made the banks weaker.

I lifted my gaze to the sky. It had been pouring for what felt like an eternity, a relentless gray wall of water and thunder. At this rate… I swallowed hard, already anticipating the worst if we failed to hold the levees.

My eyes roamed the group around me. The people of Tungsten were drenched, faces streaked with mud and rain, lungs heaving as they hauled sandbags and braced against the gusts.

Everyone was exhausted… but none more than them. They had been at it since past midnight, fighting a storm that seemed endless.

I didn’t even know how long it had been since the tempest began, and yet I couldn’t let myself pause. My mind flickered to a single thought I couldn’t shake…

…Has she eaten yet?

A pang of worry tightened my chest. Amid the chaos, amid the exhaustion and desperation, I couldn’t stop thinking about Miu.