Ema spent days in the hospital after her surgery to remove the bullet. She had been burning a high fever for days, drifting in and out of consciousness. The doctors were worried that if her fever didn't break soon, she would suffer brain damage. Klavier spent every day and night beside her bed, unwilling to leave without seeing her wake up.
Ema was actually close to waking up, but her dreams were turmoiled and two voices constantly argued back and forth in her head before she could break through the haze and wake up.
He likes you.
Yeah, right. As if that's even possible.
Then why'd he kiss you?
Because he's a flirt! I bet he does that to every other girl he meets.
But he was so protective…he seemed genuinely anxious.
He probably just felt guilty for not getting a guilty verdict for Narcissus after you worked so hard.
That's going a bit far, isn't it?
Ema Skye! Don't tell me you've fallen for that glimmerous fop!
Well…he's kind of sweet…and he really is quite good-looking…
Ha! Are you going to be another one of those girls who swoon over him? Do you really think you would have a chance? There's a huge line up of girls for him.
The other voice was silent, unable to find a comeback against this argument.
Klavier was still loyally sitting by Ema's bedside. He stroked her hair.
"Fraulein," he whispered. "Please wake up soon. I know you're there."
Klavier felt torn. A new trial for Narcissus was scheduled for tomorrow and he desperately wanted to get that guilty verdict for Ema. But he couldn't bear to leave her side before she had awoken.
That night, Ema's fever finally stopped. She felt a searing pain in her shoulder and her head was throbbing. She slowly opened her eyes, only to see an unfamiliar ceiling.
Where am I?
That was when she noticed someone in a chair beside her bed with his head in his arms, resting on the edge of her mattress. She recognized the twist of blond hair on the side of his head and the flashy rings.
"Klavier?" she whispered, her throat hoarse from the lack of use.
"Hmm?" his head twisted lazily to the side and he opened one sleepy eye. He sat up instantly when he saw Ema awake, grabbing her hand instinctively.
"Fraulein! Are you really awake this time?"
Ema frowned slightly. "How many times was I partly awake?"
Klavier only shrugged. "You mumbled and tossed around a lot in your sleep."
"Not to sound rude, but how come you're here? And what happened?" Ema was still extremely bewildered to find Klavier beside her bed.
He pressed a button on her bed to let her sit up.
"Well…Narcissus shot your shoulder and you were already unconscious when they performed the surgery to remove the bullet. You've been out for three days with a raging fever." He placed his hand against her forehead and gave a relieved sigh.
"But luckily, I think it stopped." There was a brief silence as Klavier pulled his hand away.
"Oh, Fraulein, I wanted to ask you something. It's about Narcissus' trial tomorrow."
"Do you need me to be a witness?" Ema was relieved that there would be a trial.
"Nein, Fraulein. Nothing stressful like that. I just wasn't sure if you would want me to stay here with you instead of prosecuting tomorrow."
Ema clapped a hand to her cheek. "Oh, Klavier. You don't have to do that for me! How long have you been here, anyways?"
Klavier smiled. "As long as you've been here. But if you want me prosecuting tomorrow, you be a good girl and stay in bed, ja?"
He leaned closer and his eyes grew determined. "And I will do everything I possibly can to get here convicted." He kissed Ema on the cheek.
"I should go prepare for tomorrow. I'll come visit you soon, Fraulein."
Ema nodded numbly as he slipped quietly out of the room. The arguing voices in her head started again.
I told you he likes you.
Enjoy it while it lasts. He's doing this because he feels bad.