Acantha looked at the duke when she felt his hand grasp hers, which was still holding him.
She felt her tears streaming down her face. She felt relieved, and—she didn't know what to feel, but what she knows is she was happy.
"W-what happened?" The duke said as he finally opened his eyes fully.
"D-duke..." she heard the three say at her back, and Acantha turned and saw that they were also teary-eyed at the moment.
"W-water..." The duke asked them in a hoarse voice when no one answered his first question.
Acantha took the water from the bag she had, which was given to her by Flamear when they arrived here in the forest.
The duke accepted the water that she had and drank it carefully.
"Now, can someone answer my question?" He said as he looked at them.
"You were gone for days, Your Grace." Zerth answered as he looked at Duke with sadness in his eyes.
"What do you mean, gone? Am I sleeping here the whole time?" The duke asked them with confusion in his eyes.
