208: Chapter 208 Carolie Awakens! Her Highness the Princess Has Arrived!

The next day, early morning.

Sunlight filtered through the gaps in the curtains, casting a long, thin beam of light into the room.

Garuvi slowly opened her eyes.

The moment her consciousness returned, her body instinctively tensed up.

She did not know where she was.

She did not know if she had already fallen into enemy hands.

She tried to sit up abruptly, but the sharp pain shooting through her body forced her to gasp, and she fell back into the soft pillows.

She gasped a few times, then forced herself to calm down and began to observe her surroundings.

It was a simply yet elegantly furnished room.

There was not much furniture, but the materials were exquisite. The curtains were light-colored, and on the windowsill sat a pottery jar holding a few fresh flower branches.

The air was filled with a faint scent of ointment and a certain crisp incense.

Her clothes had been changed.

It was a clean white pajama set, soft and comfortable in texture. Her original, tattered cloak and coat were nowhere to be found.

Her expression changed slightly, and she subconsciously checked her body.

Her wounds had all been carefully cleaned, medicated, and bandaged; it was handled quite professionally.

Her undergarments had also been changed, her body had been wiped clean, and although her hair was not yet completely dry, it had clearly been washed as well.

Her cheeks burned slightly.

But she also knew that in this situation, being properly treated was already a stroke of great fortune.

She had no time to dwell on such minor details.

She took a deep breath, braced herself against the edge of the bed, and slowly sat up. Her gaze fell upon the unfamiliar courtyard scene outside the window, her mind filled with a thousand thoughts.

She did not know how Count Golden Flame would deal with her.

Would he hand her over to the imperial authorities for a bounty?

Or would he offer her shelter for the sake of Princess Alice's token?

She had no way of knowing.

She could only recall the backlit figure she saw just before losing consciousness, and that gentle power that flowed continuously into her body while she was in a half-dreaming state.

That power seemed to carry a certain warmth of life, pulling her back from the abyss inch by inch.

Just as she was deep in thought, the door to the room was gently pushed open.

A young maid wearing a neat apron walked in, carrying a tray with a steaming bowl of porridge and a glass of clear water.

Seeing that Garuvi had sat up, she was slightly taken aback at first, then a joyful smile bloomed on her face:

"My lady, you are awake! That is wonderful! I will go tell my lord at once!"

She placed the tray on the small table by the bed, then hurried out of the room and gently closed the door. The sound of her footsteps quickly faded down the hallway.

Garuvi listened to the fading footsteps, her expression shifting slightly.

She knew she would soon meet Count Golden Flame.

She took a deep breath, raised her hand to smooth her somewhat messy long hair, and straightened the collar of her pajamas, trying to make herself look less disheveled.

Her gaze fell on the steaming bowl of porridge by the bed. After hesitating for a moment, she picked up the bowl and quickly took a few sips.

The warm porridge slid into her stomach, allowing her long-emptied body to feel a hint of long-lost warmth.

Then she put down the bowl, sat up straight, and waited.

Not long after, footsteps sounded in the hallway again. This time, the footsteps were steady and powerful, completely different from the light steps of the maid from before.

The door was pushed open. Rowan walked in.

He was wearing deep gray casual loungewear today, making him appear a bit less imposing and more easygoing than in formal settings.

His gaze fell upon the awakened Garuvi, and a flash of admiration could not help but cross his eyes.

The awake Garuvi was even more vividly beautiful than when she was unconscious.

Those beautiful, spirited eyes were currently focused on him, carrying a look that was both cautious and guarded.

Like a female leopard that refused to lower its guard even when injured.

Garuvi was indeed carefully observing the young Count before her.

The first impression he gave her was—handsome!

His facial features were sharp, and his demeanor was composed.

His build was tall and well-proportioned; although he wore loose loungewear, her senses as an Earth Knight could still discern the well-honed body beneath the fabric.

The two observed each other for a moment, and a subtle silence filled the air. Finally, Garuvi spoke first.

Her voice was hoarse: "Lord Count Golden Flame, thank you for saving me."

Rowan heard this, smiled slightly, and waved his hand: "Miss Garuvi, there is no need for such formalities. Just call me Rowan."

He paused, then added: "Her Highness the Princess once did me a great favor. Furthermore, as a direct vassal of the royal family, I naturally have an obligation to help Her Highness's friends."

Garuvi was shocked when she heard this. The other party knew her identity?!

However, she thought about it again and felt it was not strange. Now, her portrait was plastered all over the towns and cities of the Empire's Northern Territory; anyone who had seen the wanted poster could recognize her face.

She pursed her lips, looked up at Rowan, and said in a serious tone: "Count Golden Flame... Lord Rowan, I did not commit treason. The fall of Cangyuan City was a trap designed by my brother, Richter Lance, and Duke Witton in collusion. My father..."

She was halfway through her sentence when the door to the room was suddenly knocked upon. Garuvi's words came to an abrupt halt.

Rowan frowned slightly, turned his head, and looked toward the door: "Come in."

The maid pushed open the door, a look of haste on her face, and bowed to report: "My lord, Her Highness Princess Alice has come to visit in person and is currently waiting in the reception hall!"

The two people in the room were both startled by this news.

A look of mixed surprise and joy instantly appeared on Garuvi's face. Alice was here! She had actually come in person!

...As for Rowan, his surprise was more about something else.

He glanced at Garuvi, who was sitting on the edge of the bed, and quickly re-evaluated the weight this Blood Rose Knight held in Princess Alice's heart.

To be able to make a royal princess rush from the Imperial Capital to the Northern border so quickly—this bond could by no means be summarized by the simple words "ordinary friends."

He nodded and said to the maid: "I understand, I will go at once."

Then he turned to Garuvi, about to tell her to rest here for now.

"Wait, I am going too!" Garuvi said urgently, bracing herself against the edge of the bed to stand up.

Her movements were somewhat rushed, but her body, still not recovered from serious injuries, clearly could not support such strenuous action.

As soon as she stood up, her legs went weak, and she tipped forward.

Rowan was quick-witted and agile; he stepped forward in one stride and extended his arm to steady her waist firmly.

Garuvi's body froze in mid-air. Her hand instinctively grabbed Rowan's arm, and in that instant, the distance between them became extremely close.

She looked up, meeting his eyes that were right before her, and her cheeks turned slightly red involuntarily. However, she did not back down, but instead repeated earnestly: "I am going too. I must explain the situation to her in person."

Rowan looked at her determined, beautiful eyes, paused for a moment in silence, and then nodded: "Very well. Follow me."