The Scar-Faced King

by Isabell Schmitt-Egner

  She led the doctor up to her rooms, where Auntie Jahne and Sophia were kneeling beside the bathtub. They thought the fever might have gone down a little. The young doctor examined Florian and Lilli again noticed the difference to the behaviour of the personal physician. Very strange. Were the lowly people at court really worth so much less to him?

  “This needs to be surgically treated,” the doctor said. “I suspect there is a contaminant in the wound, which is causing the inflammation. Can we put him on a bed or table?”

  “Of course.” Lilli nodded.

  “I need hot water and lots of light,” the doctor said.

  A little later they had prepared a table and Florian was lying on it. Although he was barely conscious, the doctor, who had introduced himself as Berard, pressed a sponge with a sleep-inducing drug on the boy’s face. Shortly afterwards, Florian was breathing very calmly and lying completely still.

  Berard had cleaned his hands and Lilli could hardly look as he worked on the wound with a sharp-looking object. At a cursory glance she saw a mixture of blood and pus flowing onto the sheet and she felt a little nauseous.

  “Look somewhere else and breathe,” Aunty Jahne said beside her and there was nothing crazy in her voice at that moment. Nothing at all.

  “There you go,” Berard said. “A considerably large splinter of wood.” He dropped a bloody, elongated something on the sheet. “The wound must remain open for two more days and be rinsed. Only then can it be stitched.”

  “Will my son survive?” asked Sophia. Her voice sounded rough.

  “I think so.” Berard said this in a tone that didn’t rule out or promise anything, yet Lilli heard herself breathing a sigh of relief.

  Berard cleaned the wound thoroughly, then bandaged it and Lilli felt gratitude when there was no sign of all the blood.

  They carried Florian over to Lilli’s bed and laid him down in the pillows. Sophia tucked him in and Berard said he would keep watch by his bedside until morning.

  Lilli felt it when she was lifted up, but her eyelids felt too heavy, so she just rested her head against the shoulder of the person carrying her. It grew colder around her, a breeze, and Lilli pressed closer to the warm body. The man smelled pleasant, a woody scent, and she felt his hair against her cheek.

  She returned a little more to wakefulness and her mind began to process. Florian ... the operation. They had sat at the table and watched by candlelight. Then she must have fallen asleep. Lilli opened her eyes and saw black hair, a cheek with a scar.

  “Go back to sleep, Your Highness. The boy is better.” Now, at the latest, she understood, for Amon’s voice sounded unmistakably in her ears. And then he was putting her down, she felt cool sheets beneath her and saw his figure bending over her in the dim morning light as he covered her.

  “What?” she whispered.

  “Your bed is occupied, and you fell asleep sitting up. Rest a little longer. I have taken you to another room.” He nodded to her again, then disappeared from her sight. Lilli lay there, under the covers, slowly growing warm. She was still trying to think about what she had just experienced, then tiredness picked her up.

  When she woke up, the morning sun was shining outside. She didn’t know what time it was, but certainly before noon. Lilli threw back the covers and felt a slight headache, which she ignored. She looked for her shoes, they were neatly placed in front of the bed. Amon must have put them there. She slipped them on and then ran out into the corridor, where she had to find her way around for a moment. Then she realised where she was and found her way back to her room quite quickly. There she saw Sophia, tired but very happy, sitting by her son’s bed.

  “Where is Berard?” was the first thing Lilli asked.

  “His Majesty has had a room assigned for him. He may stay here until my boy has recovered. Your Highness ...” Sophia stood up, her face looking helpless. “There is nothing I can do to make up for what you have done. Nothing.”

  “You don’t have to make up for anything that’s already fine.” Lilli flashed her a quick smile and then looked at Florian, who was now blinking and looking around in confusion. Sophia immediately picked up a cup and poured water for him.

  “You need to rest too,” Lilli said, but Sophia shook her head. “If you change your mind ... my bed is wide enough, you can also rest a little next to Florian.”

  “How nice of you to arbitrarily populate my rooms with servants, Lilliana.” Amon stood in the doorway; his hands clasped behind his back.

  “What a pity your personal physician is too foolish to heal a servant. Otherwise, it wouldn’t have been necessary,” Lilli returned. To her surprise, she thought she saw an amused gleam in Amon’s eyes.

  “I have nothing against what you have done. Nevertheless, you must bear the consequences. Your room is now occupied, you must move.” He signalled and six servants came into the room where they began packing up Lilli’s books and carrying out the cases of clothes.

  “Your new room will hopefully suit you as well as this one,” Amon added.

  “Thank you, but I don’t care, as long as Florian can stay here until he is well,” Lilli replied, holding the king’s gaze. Amon indicated a nod, then walked over to the window and stopped in front of Lilli’s almost finished painting. Wordlessly he looked at it. Then he beckoned one of the servants over.

  “The easel and the paints too. Be careful with the painting.”

  “Yes, Your Majesty,” said the man. The king left the room without looking around again or saying a word.

  The new room was almost magnificent compared to Lilli’s first accommodation. The curtains, blankets, and pillows, as well as the carpets were a soothing dark green. There were more windows and thus more daylight, which would be useful for her painting. But Lilli was particularly delighted with an expansive area in front of the fireplace, which was upholstered with fleeces. There she could read in the evening by the light of the fire.

  And she realised that Amon had tried to do her a favour here.

  She had a bath prepared for her, but not by Sophia, who was on leave until Florian was feeling better.

  The hot water relaxed her and soon she felt like a new person. The excitement of the previous night finally fell off her. Lilli closed her eyes, the scent of soap and bath oil rose to her nose, and the image of Amon surfaced. She tried to remember how it had felt to be carried by him. And why had he done that? Why hadn’t he woken her or ordered a servant? She imagined what must have happened. Amon coming into the room, Sophia submissively explaining the situation to him, while he discovered Lilli at the table, asleep; how he then lifted her up and carried her out.

  Lilli opened her eyes. She was aware that he didn’t have to do that. Nor would she have been surprised at an angry reaction; after all, she had defied various boundaries and chains of command.

  She considered that perhaps it was appropriate to go back to him and thank him. He should not think that she had no manners at all and took it all for granted. And he might think that after the last words she had spoken to him in her old room.

  Yes, she would go to him right after her bath.

  She still needed a fair amount of time before she felt presentable enough to go and see the king. Surprisingly, Constance had not shown up for lunch, but that was more than fine with Lilli at the moment. She even considered asking the king to have lunch with her. There was actually not a single reason to stay away from him. There was agreement between them, after all. She would live here for a while and then leave.

  When Lilli was finally satisfied with her hair as well, she made her way to Amon’s chambers. Or rather: to his study, where he apparently spent most of the day. Before she left, she took a look down the corridor, because she didn’t want to be questioned by others about where she was going or anything like that.

  Fortunately, she reached the study without incident and then knocked cautiously. She listened but heard neither a request to come in nor voices like last time.

  Lilli stood alone in t
he hallway and pondered. Could she dare to just walk in? Again, she knocked, and when she heard nothing, she pressed lightly against the doorknob and peered cautiously into the room. She saw no one. The desk, deserted. The curtains were half drawn, so there was a certain twilight. Involuntarily, she entered and closed the door behind her. She did not know herself why she did so.

  “Your Majesty?” she asked quietly into the room. She should go out, she knew, but something held her back. Step by step she walked further into the room. A wine goblet stood on the desk, just like the last time she had been here. The writing utensils were all in place, the papers had been neatly stacked by the king. Lilli’s gaze fell on a curtain that hid the back of the room like a room divider. She had not noticed that before. And the curtain was not completely drawn.

  With a queasy feeling because she was basically doing something unheard of, she went closer and took a look through the open gap.

  There lay Amon, on a wide bed furnished with silken, sumptuously embroidered pillows and blankets. He had his left arm across his face and was breathing quietly. Was he asleep?

  Lilli knew it would have been best to leave now, but she stood frozen, gazing at the king. As she did so, she shifted her weight, and the floor creaked a little.

  Amon jerked his arm away from his face and jerked up. There was a terror in his eyes that Lilli could not explain.

  “What are you doing here?” Amon exclaimed, sitting up in bed. Lilli could only stare at him. How embarrassing! Yes – what was she doing here? What would the king think of her now? She briefly thought of running away, but that would make it worse. So, she decided to tell the truth instead.

  “Forgive me, I just wanted to come and see you. To thank you. I didn’t know you were taking a nap.” She felt her cheeks burn and waited for his reaction. This turned out to be completely different from what she had expected. Amon said nothing and simply closed his eyes. He took a measured breath and then ran it over his face; a movement that seemed strangely powerless.

  “Are you unwell?” asked Lilli, taking a few steps closer as if of her own accord. Amon did not answer her.

  “Shall I fetch you a cup of water?” Now she was really a little worried. She thought of the moment when she had seen the doctor coming out of his room. Had he been unwell then too?

  “No, don’t bother,” Amon said without taking his arm from his face.

  “I wouldn’t mind,” Lilli said kindly. “Do you have a headache? Is it too bright for you?” The next moment she realised how stupid her question must sound, considering the curtains were drawn.

  “Do you often turn up at other people’s bedsides to offer them help?” asked Amon. He slowly lowered his arm. Lilli thought he looked pale. The contrast with his black hair reinforced that impression.

  “Only if I have nothing else to do,” Lilli said helplessly. She really should disappear. To her surprise, Amon gave a soft laugh. Then he covered his eyes again.

  “You do have a headache, don’t you? I can send for the doctor. Or do your eyes hurt?”

  Why she couldn’t manage to keep her mouth shut was beyond Lilli. This conversation seemed to have taken on a life of its own.

  “No, my eyes are fine. I always sleep like this.”

  “And why is that?” Lilli felt a wave of heat in her cheeks again.

  “I have my reasons. Is this an interrogation, Highness?” Amon lowered his arm and his grey eyes scrutinised her. “What are you doing here? And why am I even talking to you? Anyone else would have discreetly left the room by now, don’t you think?”

  “Possibly,” Lilli murmured. “I really should be going now. I wish you a pleasant midday rest.”

  “You have finished it skilfully. I would ask you not to disturb me again at this hour if you do not mind.”

  Now Lilli felt a slight shame and a little offended as well. After all, she had meant no harm.

  She put on the face she always wore, even to her father, when she didn’t want to let on, and was just about to retreat and demonstratively close the curtains behind her when she saw Amon slump down with a soft sound. His arm sank limply down and his head to the side.

  Lilli gasped and then she was beside him at his bedside.

  “Majesty!” She tapped him lightly on the arm and when he didn’t respond, after a moment’s hesitation, Lilli took his head and placed it on the pillow so that he could breathe easily. Then she looked around frantically. There was a washbowl and a jug in the corner. She ran to it, poured water into the bowl, and grabbed one of the small linen cloths that had been neatly folded for drying. She drenched the cloth with the cool water and quickly went back to Amon. She ran the cloth over his face, pressed it to the back of his neck and spoke to him in a loud voice. As she did so, she wondered whether she should fetch this incompetent doctor – his personal doctor, ridiculous! – or whether she should rather look for Berard. While she was still considering, Amon groaned, and his eyelids fluttered. He made a gruff defensive movement when Lilli tried to put the cloth on his forehead, and she saw a hint of panic in his face until he recognised her and blinked in confusion. And at that moment she realised something or thought she did.

  “You fainted quite suddenly, Your Majesty,” she said softly. “How do you feel?”

  “I ... I’m all right ...” Amon put his arm over his face again.

  “Shall I fetch the doctor?”

  “No need.”

  Lilli was silent for a moment. Did she have the right to call him on it? However, discretion was not her strong point, never had been.

  “It’s because of the thing with your brother, isn’t it?”

  Amon took his arm from his face.

  “What are you talking about?”

  “That’s why you put your arm over your face when you sleep. Did he attack you in your sleep?”

  The king’s expression darkened, and Lilli’s heart was beating faster.

  “I can imagine why no one would want to marry you,” Amon said, his voice sounding controlled. “You know how to shut down your opposite with your careless chatter.”

  Lilli snorted. “Ridiculous! It’s just the other way round! I had numerous opportunities, but ME! – I didn’t want to! I scared my suitors away because I wanted to.”

  “I don’t doubt for a moment that you succeeded in the twinkling of an eye.”

  Lilli stood up abruptly. “And if no one wants to marry you, it is certainly not because of your scars, but because you have no manners. You didn’t even welcome me. What will the servants think if you don’t even greet your bride? That’s just not proper!”

  To her surprise, Amon smiled and then closed his eyes again, exhausted.

  “Since when have you been my bride?”

  “Only in appearance, of course.” Lilli smoothed out her dress.

  “Of course.” He was breathing heavily.

  She would have preferred to dash out now, but she didn’t like losing a battle of words. She looked at him as he lay there pale, shielding his face from an attacker who might come at him with a knife. Yes, she was sure it had something to do with that.

  “Lilliana, what must I do to make you leave? As good as you are at scaring away men interested in you, it’s just as hard to get rid of you yourself.”

  “Well ...” Lilli took a breath. Stubborn King! “... I wanted to thank you for allowing Florian to stay at the castle. And now I see that you are unwell, which is why I dare not leave you alone.”

  “You are not responsible for me, Lilliana.” Amon now scrutinised her from his grey eyes.

  “Who is responsible for you?” Lilli asked. His face was processing something, and she felt a little sorry for him, so she switched to a gentler tone. “If you like, I will sit in the front room and you can sleep. If you need anything, you just give a shout.”

  Again, his gaze rested on her for a while.

  “I don’t understand you.”

  “You can stand in line with my father and numerous other people,” Lilli replied. “Wo
n’t you tell me what is wrong with you? Are you ill?”

  “I ... I get a little sick sometimes. It will pass.” Amon closed his eyes and shielded his face with his arm.

  Lilli sighed.

  “I’ll wait out front. Call if you need me.”

  It was late afternoon when Amon reappeared in his writing room. Lilli sat calmly in a chair with a book. She looked up only briefly when he entered.

  “How are you?”

  “You have really been sitting here? All this time?”

  “I had no other commitments,” Lilli said, turning a page.

  “I don’t understand.” Amon ran a hand over his face.

  “You don’t have to understand everything. Can I borrow this book?” She held up the cover.

  “If you like ...” Amon poured water into a cup for himself.

  “Thank you. I’ll leave you to it then. It seems you are on your feet again.”

  With these words, Lilli rushed out.

  She made a brief detour to Florian and Sophia, who was beaming as if she had been given an entire castle. Florian sat up in bed, pale, his pretty eyes fixed anxiously on Lilli as she moved closer to the bed. He must have been taught to respect the nobility and Lilli did her best to ease his doubts.

  Afterwards, she went to her own room, ordered something to eat and finished her painting. As she did so, she thought about Amon’s strange condition. What was this illness called? Perhaps she could ask Berard about it. He seemed like a bright, interested man.

  That evening, Lilli went to bed early. The excitement of the night had exhausted her for a long time.

  The next morning, she awoke to the sound of swords clashing in an irregular rhythm, and when Lilli stepped up to the window, she saw Amon down in the courtyard slashing at his opponent. He was again wearing the training outfit and the gloves that would protect him from the edge of the sword. She had not noticed until now that below the window of her new room was this courtyard where the men practised sword fighting.