Chapter 4 3.

He's alive. Barely, but alive.

Maya let out the breath she didn't know she was holding. With a racing heart, she spent the next few minutes trying to revive him, using the herbs she had gathered. Luckily, she knew a few things to do. Spending her younger days watching her mother as she treated people in the local hospital where she worked after she was kicked out of the palace had taught her how to treat wounds.

And this person had a lot of them, although most of it had stopped bleeding. She tore his clothes and gasped, her face white with horror when she saw the stab wound in his stomach. She checked his pulse again, her heart racing. It was so slow and still so faint. Her mind reeled, her hands shaking. She took deep breaths to calm herself, pressing her lips together in determination.

Maya scooped water out of the river and poured it into his mouth, forcing him to drink. Then she placed him in a comfortable position, giving him air. He coughed a bit, blood and water trickling out of his mouth, his breathing shallow. She checked his pulse again. It was much stronger now. A wave of relief washed over her, but it wasn't over just yet.

Sweat beaded on her forehead as she focused her attention on the stab wound in his stomach. She cleaned it up, ground a couple of herbs together, and placed them on the area. Relief filled her when she saw him twitch. She tore a strip of her clothes, wrapping it around the wound to prevent it from bleeding. She glanced at his face and saw it wasn't so ghastly anymore. That should be good news.

Although he was responding, there was still a long way to go before he was out of danger. She cleaned up, dragging him to a safer place before breaking into a run all the way back to her villa. She was out of breath by the time she arrived at the villa. She hurried to the kitchen where she knew Nanny Naomi would be.

"Nanny Naomi!" she called out, breathless, her eyes searching frantically for the older woman. Naomi peeked up at the mention, pausing with the vegetables she was washing.

"What is it, my princess?" she asked, before her eyes caught sight of the stained and torn clothing. Alarmed, she hurried over, her eyes searching Maya. "What happened? Why are you so dirty? Is that... blood?" she asked in horror, all the color draining from her face.

"Come quick, Nanny. I found someone lying unconscious by the riverside, and he's in so much danger!" Maya called out as she ran toward her nanny.

Nanny Naomi tried to process what she just said. When she did, she glanced at Maya, partly relieved. "So, you're not hurt? There's someone by the riverside!?"

"No, it's not my blood, Nanny, but we need to help this person. I did my best, but it might not be enough!"

Naomi paused for a moment, hesitating. Then she sprang into action. "Is there anything we would need, my princess?"

"Yes! We need a carriage and a doctor."

"Let's go bring in the person first, and then I'll call the doctor." Nanny Naomi said as she hurried out of the room, Maya following closely behind her. They went to the stables where the stable keeper gave them the only available carriage. They immediately mounted it, hurrying to the riverside.

They arrived quickly, and luckily, the stranger was still alive. With bated breath, they carried him into the carriage and brought him to the mansion. Naomi immediately rushed out with the carriage to call a doctor. Maya paced around worriedly as she waited for the doctor to arrive.

It was only minutes, but it felt like hours when the doctor finally walked into the room where the stranger was laid. She immediately relayed everything that had occurred to him. The doctor listened patiently before sending her out of the room to begin treatment. Maya refused at first but gave in at the doctor's insistence, promising to let Nanny Naomi stay behind. Only then did she leave the room.

She waited outside, wondering and hoping they might be able to save his life. It was past lunchtime, but hunger had fled as she stood there, worried. What seemed like hours later, the doctor finally walked out of the room with Nanny Naomi behind him.

She stared at him, nervousness filling her to the brim. He glanced at her with an indescribable look on his face. Unable to bear the strange tension any longer, Maya spoke up.

"How is he, doctor? Is he still alive?" she couldn't help but ask. The doctor sighed, and it only filled Maya with dread, her heart pounding.

"He's fine. He's out of danger for now. We can only hope he improves," he said. Relief was like a wave, washing through her. She couldn't help the smile that grew on her face. The doctor also had one too. "You did a good job, Maya. If you hadn't treated him the moment you saw him, he would've died. Your proactiveness is what saved his life more than anything. It looks like he was washed here by the river."

The praise had Maya glowing, a flush staining her cheeks. "Thank you so much," she whispered, her voice quiet. Naomi was smiling proudly behind the doctor.

"Can I see him now?" she asked.

"Yes. But he's still asleep, I'm afraid. He'll probably be unconscious for the next few days. Please let him wake up by himself."

Maya nodded vigorously. There wasn't anybody to disturb him anyway. "I left some medicines and balms to treat his wounds. Make sure to change his bandages from time to time. Feed him too, although he might not be conscious. It's to help build his strength."

"Noted." Maya replied affirmatively. She glanced at Nanny Naomi, and she gave a nod of approval.

"By the way, do you know who he is?" the doctor asked, and she paused, thinking of what to say.

"Not yet. I plan to ask that once he wakes up," she replied, hoping he took it at face value.

The doctor nodded, "I'll be taking my leave now. Call me if anything happens."

"We will do just that. Thank you so much, doctor," Maya said, bowing her head.

"You're welcome," he replied. Nanny Naomi offered to walk him out of the mansion, and Maya walked into the room, going to see him.

He lay there on the bed, all bandaged up and covered with the duvet. Sweat beaded on his forehead, and it looked like he had difficulty breathing, but his color was a lot better now. Maya walked up to him, staring at his face. Even in this state, he still managed to look so breathtaking, with his dark curly hair scattered across his forehead and sharpened features. Maya pushed it back gently, reveling in the touch. She didn't know how long she stood there, just staring at his face.

"Please, be alright," she whispered, her voice soft. She heard footsteps approaching, and she pulled away, straightening herself. The door soon opened, and Nanny Naomi entered.

"The doctor has departed, my princess," she announced, bowing her head a little. "What do we do now?"

Maya's gaze moved from the stranger to her nanny. In moments like this, Nanny Naomi usually waited for her decisions to prove her stance as a princess. She took a deep breath, adjusting her posture.

"Do not tell the Royal palace yet. See if you can find any information about a missing person in the village instead," she said, her voice cool and authoritative. She glanced at the stranger then. "Then, we wait for him to wake up."

Nanny Naomi nodded, bowing again. "As you wish, my princess."