"Who is it?" Vermilion Demon Lord asked wearily.
"It's me, Lindsay."
Her voice chimed clear through the door, yet beneath the brightness hid exhaustion and a brittle thread of worry.
Vermilion swung the door wide. Lindsay stepped in, a tray cradled in her hands.
Resting on the tray were several ornate emerald vials and a clutch of scarlet spirit fruits.
The moment her gaze found Jared sitting upright, relief blossomed across her tired face. "You're awake!"
Lindsay hurried across the room and set the tray upon the low table. "How do you feel? Does the pain still bite? I brought our best Crimson Flame Pills, and these Earthfire Spirit Fruits. They'll help rebuild your strength."
Jared noticed the swollen redness around her eyes and the pallor beneath them. Warmth stirred in his chest. "Thank you, Your Highness. The wounds are heavy, yet still bearable."
"No more titles," she murmured. "Just call me Lindsay."
Lindsay drew a shaky breath, shoulders trembling. "Jared, I thank you, truly. If not for you, none of us would have returned. Lyndon, Ethan, and so many of our people from Earthfire Pavilion fell. It was my foolish insistence on going with you."
Her words made Jared think of Lizbeth.
Faces of countless women flickered through his memory, swift as sparks across embers.
Yet the images vanished as quickly as they came. Now was no time for tender memories.
Jared offered a faint smile. "You need not blame yourself, Your Highness. Malevolent Path Hall planned this long ago. Even if you had stayed behind, they would have struck elsewhere. What matters now is finding the traitor and avenging the fallen."
Lindsay nodded hard, dashing a tear from her cheek. "Father is investigating with all his strength. But… about Elliot…"
The sentence died. Doubt clouded her eyes, yet refusal to believe sealed her lips.
Jared met her gaze, then steered the conversation away. "Your Highness, I have a favor to ask."
"Name it! If it's within my power, I'll do it," Lindsay said.
"I need a place utterly secluded, where no one will disturb me while I heal. This chamber is safe enough, but still has people passing by. And some of my recovery techniques are best kept from prying eyes," Jared explained.
Lindsay blinked, then understanding lit her face.
Jared had the Golden Dragon Bloodline and other secret techniques.
Lindsay bit her lip to think. Then, she lit up and said, "I have a place in mind! It's the forbidden ground. Aside from father and a few elders, no one can enter. I can bring you there."
"A forbidden ground?" Vermilion Demon Lord echoed.
"Is that okay?" he pressed. "If Mr. Ignatius finds out, Your Highness will be in trouble."
"I don't care!" Lindsay snapped.
"Jared pulled us back from the brink. Even Father would honor that debt. The forbidden ground stays empty year-round. It's perfect for healing unseen."
Jared traded a glance with Vermilion and nodded. "Thank you, Your Highness."
"Let's go now. It's midnight. The guards are fewer. I'm familiar with the route to the forbidden ground. We can avoid the guards," Lindsay suggested.

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