Not long after, Devon snapped back to the current lapse upon hearing the door opening. She moved her gaze to the door, seeing the man she was with since the moment she woke up come in.
"You're back? So soon?" She asked, furrowing her brows and tilting her head to the side.
Lewis glanced at her as he closed the door behind him.
"What do you expect? Ride a horse with them and comeback until dawn?" He humored with a bit of sarcasm as he trudged inside the private hospital room.
"Obviously."
Yet, her answer was not what he had expected. Still, he ignored it.
Devon watched him take his seat on the felicity arm chair right beside her bed. She arched her brow, studying his naturally elegant demeanor radiating around him.
"You," Devon spoke, but at the same time, Lewis spoke as well.
"Hey,"
"What?" Devon asked, still had her brow arched as she raised her chin a little.
"What? You first." Lewis urged, shrugging his shoulders nonchalantly.
Devon cleared her throat as she fixed her posture. She faced him, back straight, hands on her lap, and chin up.
"What are you?" She inquired without beating around the bush.
Lewis furrowed his brows as he cocked his head to the side. "Well, that's an odd question, my lady."
"You've been here since I awoke. Thus, I'm asking what are you to me?" Devon asked as simple and clear as possible.
"Are you, perhaps, my personal attendant? Butler? A knight?"
Devon added her series of guesses. Since she didn't know this odd kingdom and this man who had been with her, it was time to ask questions.
If she was going to live the life of this woman, she might as well know the basics. Devon, or rather, the princess inside her was not a fool.
Even back as a princess, she was taught to learn and adapt to her environment as fast as possible. All to please her husband.
Hence, when she was married off, she was quick to adapt to the new kingdom.
"Uh…" Lewis leaned back, his eyes still on her even when he rested his jaw on the back of his hand.
"How odd to have an amnesia after a mild concussion. Yet, you speak like some ancient princess."
Lewis mumbled, studying her brave countenance.
The doctor had told him they had to run a few test for possible head injuries. He also recommended the best psychiatrist.
Doctor Shen had a few conclusion, but it was just odd. Devon didn't remember anything about what happened, but remembered things that never happened.
And now, she was interrogating him. How strange to conclude he was one of them in the 21st century.
"Hmm…" Lewis narrowed his eyes, intrigued at this strange ordeal no one had expected.
He rubbed his chin lightly. His curious eyes never left hers.
"What?" asked Devon the longer he stared at her.
"Well, it's a little complicated, but I'll make it simple." Lewis said nonchalantly.
"I'm paying you to sleep with me."
When Lewis spoke those words, Devon's eyes went wide. Her breath instantly hitched as she sported her dismay.
"Impossible!" She yelled, grinding her teeth. "I'm your whore?"
Lewis nearly choked in his own saliva.
"What?"
"No, No. It can't be!" Devon shook her head, clasping her chest as she huffed.
"How can I be a whore?"
She gasped as she covered her mouth with her palm. She just had a taste of freedom. She couldn't be a whore or his slave, right?
No. She wouldn't live like that again. She's tired of dealing with her former husband's mistresses or being shackled by things that hurt her.
"No…"
"You're not my whore, alright?" Lewis explained seeing her on the verge of a mental and emotional breakdown.
"Huh?" Devon raised her head as she looked at him, aghast.
"What are you saying? You can't be my whore, right? I may hate him, but I don't indulge in such vulgarity."
She added. Her eyes brimmed with dismal, peering at him from head to foot.
"Haist…" Lewis scratched his temple with his finger.
He felt like having a headache. Surely, this Devon was different. Was it possible for someone who had amnesia to act like this?
He never met one, after all.
"Look." he paused, changing his sitting position as he slightly leaned forward. His hands forward, elbows resting on his knees.
"You and I are not like that. I pay you to sleep with me — sleep, as in sleep not the other kind of sleeping together."
He explained. Lewis looked at her straight in the eye, nodding reassuringly.
"Sleep…?" Suspicious, Devon drew back as she arched her brow again.
"It's weird, I know. Don't you dare ask me why I need such services because I have no answer." Lewis let out a heavy exhale from his mouth.
"…" Devon studied him with narrowed eyes.
In her eyes, he didn't seem lying. She could understand him, though. In the past, she hardly slept properly or peacefully.
Devon couldn't recall a night she had a good night rest. Afraid she would be assassinated or the monster under her bed would devour her.
"Doctor Shen advised me I should refrain from sleeping with you since you're unstable. But, I'm desperate and I need to rest."
Lewis said exasperatedly. He wouldn't be here, wasting time looking after her, if not for that.
What they had was a mutual agreement with a win-win benefit. Lewis' health had been declining for the lack of sleep and rest.
But ever since he met her, he slowly regained his health back. He couldn't just stop sleeping with her now.
Indeed, he was desperate. Desperate to survive and live longer. Which was frustrating because…
She's the only cure.
"But…" Devon pursed her lips. "Is it not illegal to sleep together out of wedlock?"
Frustrated, Lewis finally snapped. He clicked his tongue and scratched his temple again.
"Are you listening? We're not doing other things aside from sleeping. How is that illegal? or immoral?" He asked, annoyance was evident in his raised tone.
Devon bit her lower lip. Her breath hitched as air built up in her throat.
"Why are you angry? You don't have to yell at me! I'm merely confused!"
He could have explained it in a much calmer tone. He didn't need to shout at her.
It… scared her.
"What? I'm not — ugh…" Before Lewis could explode at the allegation, he let out a heavy sigh.
Right. He hadn't slept after his business trip and his patience had been running short.
"I…" He took deep breaths to calm his nerve. "I'm sorry. I didn't mean to raise my voice. It's just the lack of rest."
He explained, as he waved lightly. Leaning back, Lewis closed his eyes as he massaged his temples.
Devon pursed her lips in a thin line as she watched him. Lewis seemed very frustrated, and it just made sense if it was due to the lack of sleep.
"You haven't slept since last night?"
"I haven't slept for three days straight." Without stopping from massaging his temple, he replied blankly.
Devon clasped her hands on the quilt over her lap.
"We just sleep together? In the same bed? No physical interaction?"
She asked, her eyes full of curiosity. She knew money was important everywhere. How could she start a new life without a gold with her?
Else, she'll have to endure poverty. Devon didn't want that. She wanted to live this new life in comfort; she had faced too much tragedy as a princess to make this life as Devon Lin one of them.
"Huh?"
Slowly, Lewis opened his eyes and cast her a look. For some odd reason, he bit his tongue and pondered.
"Well," He paused as he lightly rocked his body back and forth.
"We held hands… and cuddled, sometimes."