Tensa could not help but look down and blink a bit from the shooting pain going through her eyes. It was all she could do to not allow her facial expression to change, but she felt she had to be careful in front of this elf. Because of her averted gaze, she failed to notice the strange expression that flitted across the eyes of the head of the Temple.
"...my future fiancee. Tensa, this is Her Holiness Emina Vinci, the head of the Temple of Light." Tensa came to her senses and realized that Obliv had continued with the introductions, erroneous though his introduction of Tensa might be.
As Tensa nodded her head without looking up, Obliv finally noticed something was off.
"Tensa, you look pale! Have you still not recovered from your injury?!" Obliv asked loudly without concern for the surrounding people. Tensa sighed inwardly. It was only at the most inopportune times that Obliv managed to be aware of such things.
"It is nothing, your Highness," Tensa forced herself to smile and raise her head, although she kept her eyelids lowered and her gaze anywhere but on Her Holiness.
"Perhaps I can be of some assistance?" Priestess Vinci broke in with a generous smile. "A prayer for healing?"
"I would not dare disturb Your Holiness, especially at such an occasion," Tensa quickly and tactfully refused, still unable to shake the sensation that there was more to this elf's intentions than met the eye. Not to mention that Sanci's face became more dour with each statement. "I just felt a bit winded. Maybe I overdid it a little."
"Maybe you should rest a bit more," Obliv reluctantly stated, and before he could proceed further, Tensa jumped in.
"Thank you for your suggestion; I'll return to my room for now, your Highness. Please apologize to His Majesty, Her Majesty, and all the guests on my behalf," Tensa quickly pushed responsibility onto Obliv. "It was a pleasure to make your acquaintance, Your Holiness," Tensa said with a slight bow, then exited the hall before anyone could object, especially Obliv.
Tensa rushed up the stairs and through the hallways back to her palace bedroom. Thankfully, all of the maids had left, as it was assumed she would be at the banquet for much of the evening. Closing and locking the door behind her, Tensa panted in relief that she no longer had to ignore the pain she had felt. Why were her eyes in pain? Was it from sleeping so long? But it felt more like the pain she had experienced in her arm earlier. Was there something wrong with her that she didn't know about?
As the pain subsided slightly, Tensa made her way to the mirror to examine herself. Catching her breath, Tensa saw...