Chapter 565 (+265 Bonus)

Upon arriving at the inn, Kayla collapsed to her knees as she stepped from the carriage, her legs numb and weak with exhaustion. She had endured much, both physically and emotionally.

"Hurry, take me to him," she said as Carissa helped her up.

The greatest torment of Kayla's journey had not been the motion sickness or the carriage's jolting, but the constant worry about Lawrence's condition.

Carissa supported her inside, where Rafael met them. They exchanged a glance; Rafael's nod silently assured her that Lawrence was still alive. Carissa breathed a sigh of relief, then, deeply concerned, noted how much weight he had lost.

She assisted Kayla up the stone steps and to the room's door. Everyone stepped aside, allowing Kayla to see her husband lying on the bed.

She paused at the door, covering her mouth with her hands. Tears blurred her vision, falling in large, heavy drops. Just when everyone expected her to break down, Kayla wiped them away with determined strokes. She managed a faint, trembling smile as she approached him.

She sat at the bed's edge, gazing at his face. After days of treatment, the swelling had mostly subsided, though bruises remained. The wounds at the corners of his mouth and eyes had largely healed. His face, however, was covered in bruises, making him hard to recognize. The sun had darkened his skin, and the bright red medicinal cream smeared across his face was stark against his complexion. His deep purple lips added to the unsettling look.

Seeing his condition, Kayla felt a pang of sadness.

As if sensing her presence, Lawrence stirred from his deep slumber. He opened his eyes, initially unfocused. Then, as if something had captured his attention, he fixed his gaze on Kayla. He blinked in disbelief, and only when her hand touched his face did the reality of her presence sink in.

Kayla forced a smile, her trembling hands and lips conveying both vulnerability and strength. "My dear, I'm here."

Lawrence tried to reach for her hand but couldn't lift his arm. Kayla gently took his hand, noticing the medicine-coated fingers, each dotted with small punctures, and the missing nails. The sight caused her head to ache intensely.

Before tears could fall, Kayla quickly raised her head, regaining her composure. Her smile remained as she looked at him again. "I'm here. I'm right here."

Chapter 565 (+25 Bonus)

Lawrence hadn't spoken since arriving at the inn. Now, he moved his lips several times before managing two words: "I'm sorry…"

His eyes remained fixed on Kayla's face, as if pinned there. The dreams he'd cherished were now realized, and despite his muddled state, he felt the encouragement she brought. She had always been like this—seemingly fragile, yet stronger than anyone.

"I will… get better!" he said, each word a struggle.

Someone in the crowd sobbed.

Although everyone was on the verge of tears, Sebastian had been adamant for days about not crying. Who would dare challenge Sebastian's order? The men looked around for the culprit, only to see Sebastian jogging from the room. It took a moment to realize the sob had been his.

With Sebastian's outburst, others could no longer hold back their tears; they wept openly.

Carissa stood beside Kayla for a moment, feeling the weight of the situation. Overwhelmed, she turned and left the room. Rafael followed, taking her hand. They stood in silence before he said softly, "I've missed you so much these days, more than ever."

Carissa wiped her tears and threw herself into his embrace, her voice thick with emotion. "I've imagined myself as Kayla so many times during this journey. I've missed you so much. It's such a relief to know you brought him back. I can't believe he's actually Septimus!"

Rafael held her tightly. This was the first time she'd openly expressed her feelings. Still, he felt the need to clarify. "Lawrence is Septimus, but there are ten more people inside who are also Septimus."

Carissa pulled back, eyes wide. "Wait, do you mean those men standing in the room earlier? I thought they were undercover soldiers escorting him!"

Chapter 566