Chapter 12

"How...how are you...holding up?" I awkwardly asked. She glanced up and looked at me curiously. She put a shaking hand above the two marks I gave her. "I...it hurts...a bit..." Diana said, her voice shaking slightly. I walked towards her and she grimaced. Seeing her reaction, I stopped and just sat down on a chair near her desk. "I apologize." I gruffly said. Diana took a deep breath and nodded. "I don't understand." Diana helplessly said, and I clenched my fists as I saw that tears were again threatening to spill down her eyes. Gathering my courage, I walked over and sat down next to her. I put my arm around her, forgetting how awkward everything seemed between us. She instinctively leaned into my hold. "The King and Queen are expecting us in the morning." I said, clearing my throat. She immediately sat back up. I cursed myself€that wasn't how I was supposed to talk to a girl who was about to cry. "Oh...okay..." She said, her voice shaking. "How...how are you...feeling?" I asked. Tha