The physician bent over carefully, pulling the thorns embedded in Roven’s skin one by one. Roven clenched his teeth to keep from groaning, though his body trembled from the pain. Blood still oozed from his arms, now covered in cuts like cracked glass.

After removing the last thorn, the physician soaked the bandages in antiseptic and wrapped the wounds with practiced hands.

— “You mustn’t use your hands for the next few weeks, my lord. I’ll send someone every few days to change the dressings. It’s important to keep them clean and let them heal.”

Rais gave a faint smile, though worry still lingered in his eyes.

Once the physician left, Rais sat beside Roven and said: — “I suppose you’ll need my help more than ever now.”

Roven, weary but curious, asked: — “Why?”

He tried to move his fingers slightly, but all that came from beneath the bandages was a weak twitch.

He gave a faint smirk.

— “Ah… I see what you mean.”

Rais smiled back and said: — “You should eat. You need to stay strong.”

He picked up the food bowl and a spoon, carefully preparing the meal for Roven. At first, Roven hesitated, but then quietly accepted the food.

Midway through eating, Roven paused. He stared off into the distance and said: — “After what happened today… can we… go outside again?”

Rais blinked in surprise, then smiled. — “Of course we can, my lord.”

But silence settled between them. Rais hesitated, pressing his lips together before speaking with eyes full of anxiety: — “My lord… can you promise me something?”

Roven tilted his head slightly. — “What kind of promise?”

Rais spoke softly, but his voice shook: — “Promise me… that you’ll never run away. Please, my lord… I know life here is hard… and I know many things feel cruel… but… promise me you won’t leave…”

Roven paused, then slowly said: — “I’ve never thought about running away. Honestly… I don’t know anything about the world outside.”

Rais leaned in a little closer, his voice gentler but more serious: — “I’ll teach you. Everything you want to know. But please… promise me you won’t even think about it.”

Roven gave him a tired, gentle smile — one that came from a place of pain: — “Alright… I promise.”