Chapter 544 AWAKEN
Ovior waited impatiently in the cave. After Felix dived into the water, he noticed a few bubbles before things remained quiet. He knew Felix would resurface soon, but the silence was unnerving. He couldn't tolerate the stillness. He strode from one corner of the cave to another. Three minutes…
Five minutes…
Ten minutes…
'That's it. I'm going,' Ovior decided when no one showed up on the surface. As he took off his shoes, someone popped out. Startled, he halted on his track only to see who came back. He spotted silver locks in the blue lake. Following the brunette and light brown hair.
As Veronica moved closer to the shore, Ovior came forward and pulled Dorothy to the dry area. He didn't even look anywhere else. Cupping her face with his shaky hands, he checked her vitality. Dorothy opened her clear blue eyes and coughed out water. He helped her to sit straight and let her have fresh air. She calmed down after oxygen filled her lungs. "Do-Dorothy? Can you…. hear me?" A trembling voice came with a suppressed sob. Dorothy finally looked at him. At first, she seemed confused. She didn't seem to recognize him. However, her memories slowly started returning; she opened her mouth.
"Ovi…??"
She sounded so confused when she uttered his nickname oh so sweetly.
"Oh, thank goodness."
Droplets of tears fell from Ovior's eyes. He couldn't contain his emotions. He tightly embraced her wet body without caring that his clothes were getting dirty.
Bewildered by his outburst, Dorothy simply wrapped her arms around him. She stayed quiet, attentively listening to his cry.
Those two completely ignored the other two people who got drenched by trying to save her. Veronica wiped her face and checked on Felix who was coughing up water.
"Goodness, Felix, are you okay?" she asked in concern. "Why did you jump in the lake?"
"Why do you think so?" Felix asked her back after catching his breath. He couldn't help but shiver and then muttered, "So cold!"
"It's not cold. The temperature of the water is okay," Veronica said.
"For you but not for me," Felix grunted. "Maybe it's because you were an unwelcome guest by the lake. Anyway, I could have handled it."
"You were unconscious."
"The last time I checked, it was YOU who were unconscious," she retorted.
After she dived into the lake, she had a vision. She saw something that seemed familiar but couldn't catch it. By the time she opened her eyes, she found two people drowning in the lake.
One was obviously Dorothy who was supposed to be in the lake. Another one was unexpectedly Felix who was supposed to be in the dry land. He wasn't unconscious but he was able to move. She didn't think twice before grabbing both of them and pulling them to the shore.
Felix was unable to move due to the excessive coldness of the lake water. He had no interest in having any argument with her. He thought about what he saw earlier and then kept his mouth shut.
The two of them looked at the couple who reunited after a decade. None of them ever saw the mighty, ferocious Ovior crying his heart out. His face was wet from the waterfall dripping from his eyes. They waited until his emotions were under control.
Ovior calmed down and then inspected Dorothy once again.
"Are you sure you are okay, Dorothy?" he inquired again.
"Y-yes…" her tongue seemed frozen because she could barely talk. She moved her head.
Veronica noticed their little interaction and couldn't help but smile. Her heart was at peace.
Whenever she did something forbidden that brought happiness to others she was happy. She found happiness by bringing joy to people.
If she was capable of doing the right thing, why wouldn't she do it? She was given the power to make this world better. Since she could do it, why wouldn't she try it?
Forbidden or not, she brought people happiness; the people who deserved it. She didn't have an ounce of regret.
Felix loudly cleared his throat.
"Apologies for disturbing your passionate moment but I'd like to go back to the camp and change into dry clothes."
His comment made the couple distance themselves. Dorothy shyly looked at the strangers.
"Dorothy, they are my friends," Ovior introduced them to her. "Veronica and Felix. She is the one who saved you."
"Saved me?" Dorothy tilted her head. Veronica didn't want to disclose anything further. She said, "You must be feeling uncomfortable wearing wet clothes. Why don't we go to my place? I can give you some clothes. You must be hungry as well…"
She didn't finish her sentence before the drenched girl's stomach growled. Embarrassed, she covered her stomach and said, "I-I'm sorry."
"It's okay, Dorothy. Let's go somewhere comfortable," Ovior said. He took her in his arms and headed toward the entrance of the cave.
Soon, they reached Veronica's house. Arthur was already in the living room, waiting for his wife.
Upon hearing the footsteps, he went to the doorway to welcome her but stopped in his tracks when he saw an existence he absolutely wasn't expecting to see.
"…What is going on?"
Ovior let Dorothy step on the ground and made her follow Veronica. Once the girls were in the bedroom, he said, "Let me explain."
By the time Dorothy and Veronica changed clothes, he completed the story.
Afterward, everyone was sitting in the dining room. Two elves served them dishes and then left. Dorothy was quietly eating and others were discussing the situation.
"Is there any side effect from whatever happened?" Arthur inquired.
"No, not at all," Veronica denied his claim. "I don't feel anything in me. Moreover, it wasn't me who did the miracle. I just brought Dorothy there. Now, all we have to worry about is about Dorothy's health."
Ovior glanced at Dorothy and asked her, "How are you feeling now, Dorothy?"
"I'm okay. Just a bit hungry," she politely replied. "This bread is amazing. I have never tasted something like this before."
After some tongue exercises, she could talk fluently. Her tongue didn't tangle anymore while speaking.
"What is the last thing you remember? Can you tell?" Veronica inquired. She hoped Dorothy would be lucky like Elizabeth.
"I do remember receiving a letter from Ovi," Dorothy answered. "Then, I went to the school to meet him. I was in the carriage. I don't remember what happened next. Did something bad happen?"
She gazed at Ovior and asked, "Why do you look so old? Even Arthur looks like he grew bigger?"
Ovior coughed. "Do I look old?"
"You must look like an old man to her," Felix joked.
Ovior glared at him. "Shut up."
Dorothy was flustered. She hurriedly tried to clear the misunderstanding saying, "I-I didn't mean you look that old. I mean you look older than the last time I saw you."
"I understand what you mean," Ovior's voice became softer as he talked to her. "When you were in the carriage, you had a little accident. You have been unconscious for years."
"For years? Just how long?" Dorothy was curious.
"Enough to make Ovior grow 'old'," Felix commented.
Ovior shot another death glare at him. Before he could speak, Veronica said, "Even though they have all grown up, Ovior still cares for you. Others lost hope but he waited for you. And now, you are finally awake. Welcome back, Lady Dorothy."
Her warm smile made Dorothy's anxiety go away. It was as if a weight had been lifted off her shoulders and she felt a sense of calm washing over her. Dorothy knew she was in good hands with someone who genuinely cared about her well-being.
After their tea time was over, Ovior took Dorothy with him. He didn't forget to meet Veronica privately and thank her.
"You have nothing to thank me for," Veronica replied. "You have done a lot for me and Arthur. Consider it as a return of favor."
"You don't understand, Veronica," Ovior stated. "You gave me my life back. I'll forever be in debt to you."
"You don't have to be," Veronica said. "Please be the way you always are and be happy with Dorothy. That's all I want from you."
Ovior respectfully bowed to her before leaving. Felix met her afterward and told her, "Please don't forget about Ruth."
"I won't but please don't forget what I said before. Don't bear any hope," she reminded him.
He smiled pitifully in return. "The only thing that still keeps me alive is hope." Then, he followed Ovior and Dorothy.
After they were gone, it was just the two of them in the house. Arthur held her hand. He gently asked, "Are you sure you are all right?"
Veronica smiled at his gentleness and replied, "Yes, I am. Don't worry about it. What did King Erestor Culnámo say? Did you argue with him?"
She wanted to bring this topic to the table but didn't mention anything in front of Dorothy. She just woke up and the topic would be too heavy for her. Ovior and the rest had the same thought.
"We didn't have any argument," he replied. "Why? Don't you trust me?"
"I completely trust you," she answered. "However, I met King Erestor Culnámo before. He is a wise and cunning ruler. I'm just worried if he did anything to trap you."
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