After the snake bit Nathan, Giselle opened the bottle, letting the small snake slither down her wrist and slip back inside.
Giselle looked at Nathan and said, โMake sure you come see me once a week, alright?โ
โHere, let me wipe that for you,โ Zinnia said softly as she carefully dabbed the cold sweat from Nathanโs forehead with a tissue.
โAlright,โ Nathan replied gently. โIโm fine. Donโt worry about me.โ When his gaze met Zinniaโs, his eyes were impossibly tender.
Giselle looked at Zinnia and Nathan, sighed, and said, โGo back and get some proper rest.โ
Giselle took a red pendant from her small bag and gently hung it around Zinniaโs neck. โZinnia, keep this with you at all times. Think of it as a Christmas blessing from me. Promise me youโll never, ever lose it.โ
โThank you, Giselle,โ Zinnia said.
Zinnia didnโt understand why Giselle had given her the pendant, but she glanced down at the pendant hanging around her neck.
When Nathan saw the pendant that Giselle took out, his fist clenched tightly.
He thought, โBack when I left, Giselle also gave me a red pendant because I was facing a great trial. But now Zinnia has received one, too.โ
โGiselleโฆโ Nathan looked up at her urgently, his voice tight with concern.
โNathan.โ Giselle lowered her eyes, suddenly looking weary. โEveryone has their own trials. Each soul must walk its own path.โ
Simon dashed out of the kitchen, carrying a bag filled with fried cheese and steaming mussels. โZinnia. Here, take these. Theyโre fresh out of the pot and absolutely delicious.โ
Giselle watched as Zinnia and Nathan walked away slowly, leaning on each other for support, with their backs to her. She let out a heavy sigh, her gaze lingering on their departing figures.
โNathan, keep a close eye on those around you,โ Giselle said, her voice heavy with meaning.
At that, Nathanโs chest tightened.
As Zinnia and Nathan walked away, Giselle closed her eyes. A single tear rolled down her cheek. โWhy must their paths be so fraught with hardship?โ she thought to herself.
Zinnia steadied Nathan as they left Giselleโs courtyard. Noticing his unbroken silence, she asked with concern, โNathan, whatโs wrong?โ
Hearing her voice, Nathan was pulled back from his thoughts. His grip tightened unconsciously on Zinniaโs shoulders. โZin, you must keep the pendant Giselle gave you with you at all times. Promise me that you must never, ever lose it,โ he said urgently.
Zinnia winced at his uncomfortably tight grip, but seeing the unusual intensity in Nathanโs eyes, she obediently agreed, โOkay.โ
โZinnia, promise me youโll never take this off, no matter what,โ Nathan said, gazing at her with deep seriousness. After a brief pause, he added sternly, โAnd never, under any circumstances, tell anyone who gave this to you.โ
Meeting his deeply concerned gaze, Zinnia touched the pendant around her neck and nodded earnestly. โOkay, I promise Iโll never take it off-โ
To be honest, Zinnia couldnโt shake off this nagging sense of unease lately.
Chapter 333
Zinnia and Nathan returned to the courtyard, only to find that Quincey and Fiona still werenโt back.
Noticing his ashen lips, Zinnia gently supported Nathan as they made their way upstairs. โNathan, why donโt you get some rest?โ
โAlright, Iโll rest for a while,โ Nathan said weakly. Inside him, the two poisons were locked in a relentless battle. Though this had temporarily halted his physical decline, the struggle was draining him to the core.
Nathan was really tired. His bedroom was right next to Zinniaโs. Unlike Zinniaโs carefully decorated room, his was much more basic.
The furniture and decor were simple, and while the room was usually filled with a faint, pleasant scent of agarwood, it was now tinged with the bitter note of herbal medicine from Nathanโs frequent doses.
The bed was now covered with a warm yellow duvet that Zinnia had put on herself.
Nathan had always preferred simple, light colors, but Zinnia declared his white quilt โtoo boring.โ With a flourish, she rolled it up and tossed it aside, replacing it with the warmโcolored one sheโd chosen.
She said the warm color palette looked cozy and inviting, and Nathan just let her do as she pleased. A plush doll sat on the little sofa, and Zinniaโs beading supplies were scattered across the coffee table.
The clear glass window was covered with smiley faces and sunflowers that Zinnia had drawn in colorful markers. All of them were adorably goofy. The bookshelf was still dotted with the stickers sheโd put up, which Nathan had never bothered to peel off.
The bedroom was supposed to be Nathanโs, but there were barely any traces of his presence. Instead, every corner bore Zinniaโs mark.
โWhat are you looking at?โ Nathan asked softly, following her gaze around the room.
โNathan, this room doesnโt feel like yours anymore. Itโs practically mine now,โ Zinnia remarked with a laugh.
Actually, it had been quite a while since she last came into Nathanโs room.
Ever since they returned from Jinston, Zinnia hadnโt set foot in Nathanโs room again. She used to come and go as she pleased, but after Nathanโs health began to decline, he restricted her access, afraid she might notice something was wrong.
Nathan heard her words and smiled. When Zinnia was little, she would follow him everywhere like a shadow, always clinging to him. Before she turned seven, they practically shared the same room, and there was even a princess bed specially set up just for her.
Before Zinnia turned seven, she was always in poor health. The slightest breeze or a hint of a chill would leave her feverish and dizzy.
Juggling both his studies and taking care of her, young Nathan truly had it tough.
Zinnia gently supported Nathan toward the bed and murmured, โNathan, you should rest for a while.โ
Still weakened from the snake bite, Nathan could barely muster the strength to walk.
Zinnia pulled back the duvet, helping Nathan settle onto the bed.
Zinnia bent down again to tuck Nathan in, making sure even his hands were under the covers. With a gentle, playful tone, she reminded him, โNow, donโt go kicking the covers off while you sleep, okay?โ
Nathan lowered his eyes, watching her movements, and a mix of emotions flickered in his gaze. โI used to be the one taking care of her. Now, itโs her turn to look after me,โ he thought.
โGet some rest. Iโll leave now,โ Zinnia said softly as she tucked Nathan in. Seeing his pale, exhausted face, she decided not to stay and disturb him any longer.
She turned to leave when suddenly a pale, slender hand grasped her wrist. It was a cool, fragile touch. Looking down, she saw it was Nathanโs hand encircling her wrist.
Chapter 333
Nathan gave her a tender smile. โZinnia, stay with me for a while, will you?โ
It was rare for Nathan to ask her forโฆ
Zinnia turned and pulled the armchair, returning to Nathan on the bed.
Zinnia readily agreed. โSure,โ she replied.
Kneeling down, โNathan, go ahead and get some sleep. Iโm not going anywhere,โ she said softly, her gazeโฆ
Nathan gazed at Zinnia, who was keeping watch by his bedside. A gentle smile curved his lips. โAlright,โ he murmured, and then he closed his eyes.
Zinnia gazed at his face. He looked handsome, yet deathly pale and frail.
His lips were almost colorless, and his breathing was so faint that it was barely perceptible.
Perhaps comforted by Zinnia keeping watch at his side, Nathan soon fell into a deep sleep.
Zinnia reached for Nathanโs wrist again, her fingertips trembling uncontrollably. Every time she checked his pulse, it was like putting herself through torture all over again.
She pondered, โWhat does Giselle mean by someone destined to come from the southwest?โ