The Male Lead isn't Following the Script!
Chapter 214: A Friend By Your Side

Chapter 214: A Friend By Your Side

The infirmary was quiet except for the soft sound of Adeline’s breathing and the occasional rustle of paper as Victoria’s book slipped slightly in her grip.

Adeline’s eyes fluttered open, her vision blurry as she tried to make sense of her surroundings. Her neck throbbed with a sharp pain that radiated down her spine, making it difficult to lift her head.

The dim light in the room revealed that it was nighttime, and the faint moonlight streaming in from the window cast shadows on the walls. Adeline’s vision was slowly returning.

She shifted her gaze, spotting Victoria sitting in a chair beside her bed. A book was clutched in her hands, her head tilted forward in sleep. She was such a studious girl. Adeline would’ve taken the opportunity to escape classes.

Despite the peacefulness of her slumber, Adeline could see the exhaustion etched into her features. She must have been watching over her for hours.

Aww, Victoria...

Adeline felt a pang of guilt. She hated seeing Victoria like this, worn out because of her. Slowly, she tried to sit up, her muscles protesting with every movement. Her neck screamed in pain, forcing her to halt her efforts halfway. She let out a shaky sigh, frustration bubbling up inside her. She could not even lift her head properly.

Her neck muscles felt weak and her injury made her feel like her skin was on fire.

Her thoughts raced as she tried to piece together what had happened. The fight with Lucas, the assassins, the fire—it was all a blur. She remembered the pond, Cassian’s icy path, and then the chaos of battle.

But how had she ended up here? Had they won? Had Lucas escaped? The unanswered questions made her restless, and she felt an urgent need to get up, to find out what was happening. Cassian... What happened to him?! Was he alright?!

He was the target of the assassination, she could not live with herself if something happened to him! She felt regret. A lot of regret. Why did she ignore him? For six long months, she had ignored him. He had to be alive, she needed to apologise!

Adeline felt her eyes sting. She felt like crying but she tried her best not to.

Summoning every ounce of strength, Adeline tried again. This time, she managed to tilt her head slightly, enough to take in more of the room.

The infirmary was sparse, with rows of neatly arranged beds and shelves lined with vials of medicine. It was quiet, almost unnervingly so, as if the rest of the world had stopped while she lay here.

Victoria was still asleep, her chest rising and falling steadily. Adeline didn’t want to disturb her, but the restlessness was unbearable. She moved again, this time attempting to prop herself up on her elbows. A sharp, searing pain shot through her neck, and she hissed involuntarily, her hand flying to the wound.

The sound startled Victoria awake. Her eyes fluttered open, confusion briefly clouding them before she registered Adeline’s movement. The book slipped from her hands and landed on the floor with a soft thud as she straightened in her chair.

"Adeline!" Victoria exclaimed, her voice a mix of relief and worry. She moved closer, her hands hovering over Adeline as if unsure where to touch without causing more pain. "What are you doing? You should not be moving!"

"I am fine," Adeline managed, though her voice was weak. Her expression betrayed her. The pain was too much, she felt like she could black out.

"No, you’re not fine," Victoria said firmly, her hands steady as she gently but insistently eased Adeline back down onto the bed. "Lie still. You’re going to hurt yourself more."

"I can’t just lie here," Adeline protested, though the effort of speaking left her breathless. "There’s too much to do. Lucas—"

"Lucas is not a problem," Victoria said firmly.

Adeline did not understand what she meant, her eyebrows furrowed. Was he defeated? Was he arrested? What happened? And most importantly, was Cassian okay?

Victoria cleared her throat and explained, "Lucas is... Dead."

Adeline’s eyes widened in shock. "Wh- what? Just what happened?"

"First, rest." Victoria interrupted, her tone was clear. No arguments. She reached for a cloth and pressed it gently to Adeline’s neck, where fresh blood had started to seep from the reopened wound. "You need to rest. You’re lucky to even be alive."

Adeline winced but allowed Victoria to tend to her. The sensation of the cloth against her skin was unpleasant, but the warmth of her friend’s hands was grounding. For a moment, the urge to argue faded, replaced by a deep exhaustion that settled over her like a heavy blanket.

"Cassian?" Adeline asked after a pause, her voice barely above a whisper.

"He’s fine," Victoria assured her, though her expression darkened slightly.

Adeline closed her eyes briefly, relief washing over her. Cassian had always been protective, but knowing he had stayed until she was safe meant more to her than she could express.

"You scared all of us, you know," Victoria added softly. Her hands stilled as she adjusted the cloth on Adeline’s neck, her gaze dropping. "When we heard what happened... It was chaos."

"I’m sorry," Adeline murmured.

Victoria frowned slightly, "It’s not your fault." She insisted.

Who could have imagined this would happen?

She hated feeling so helpless, so dependent on others. But now, even lifting her head felt like an insurmountable task.

Victoria seemed to sense her inner turmoil. She placed a reassuring hand on Adeline’s arm, her grip firm but gentle. "No one in their right mind would think you are weak."

Adeline managed a faint smile.

"Alright," she whispered finally, her voice barely audible.

Victoria nodded, she adjusted the blankets around Adeline and sat back in her chair. She looked like she was extremely sleepy and tired but she refused to leave and go back to her dorm.

"Someone has to be here with you." Victoria would say with her usual deadpan voice and expression. Adeline felt warm but also worried for her.