Philippa smiled and said, “Fernando, I will pray very hard. You will always be alive and with us.”

“Philippa, how long have I been unconscious?”

“Not long, Fernando. You came to your senses very quickly when they put you on the bed.”

“Оh! I have a dance class that should be starting soon! Could you let Isabel know that I won’t be attending today?”

“Of course! I’ll run and tell her. Otherwise, she’ll be worried. You know, Fernando, Isabel is the kindest and best senhorita in the palace. After you, I love her the best. She has a good heart, a pure soul, and the most beautiful eyes in the world.

“I'll run to her and come to you again tonight, OK?”

“Thank you, Philippa.”

When Philippa left, Fernando tried to remember everything that had happened until he fainted. Soon, he began to fall asleep. “The doctor's potion must be working,” Fernando thought as he closed his eyes.

After a while, he heard a knock at the door. He reluctantly opened his eyes and saw a nurse hurrying to the door. Behind the door, he heard Philippa’s voice. She was asking the nurse something.

“He’s asleep,” said the nurse.

“Who’s there? I haven't fallen asleep yet,” Fernando muttered faintly.

The nurse immediately moved away from the door, and Philippa’s head appeared in the doorway.

“Fernando, that’s me, Philippa. Isabel is here with me. Can she see you?”

“Who? Isabel?” Fernando asked once again, unable to believe his ears.

“Yes, Isabel,” Philippa answered.

Fernando felt his heart and temples beat heavily. The effects of the root infusion ceased immediately. “Of course, come in,” Fernando replied in a raspy voice, trying to rise and assume a sitting position in bed. He was dizzy from sitting up too quickly and grabbed the back of a chair. The nurse, noticing this, sprang to his side and promptly arranged cushions behind his back so he could sit up comfortably. When the dizziness passed, he saw Isabel sitting on a chair beside his bed.

“Infante Fernando,” she said in a gentle voice. “You do not need to get out of bed. You still look weak. Let me help you to lie down.”

Before Fernando could answer, Isabel suddenly appeared at his bedside. With smooth, almost airy movements of her hands, she spread the fluffy pillows. She held the back of Fernando’s head with her left hand and his right hand with her right and said affectionately, “Lie down, infante Fernando. You'll be much more comfortable that way. There. Take your time. Slowly.”

When he laid down comfortably, she carefully and skillfully removed her hand from under his head and tried to free her right hand, but Fernando gently took it and pressed her palm to his chest. “Move the chair closer to the bed, Isabel,” he asked. “While you were close to me and touching me, my illness was noticeably receding. I think you have healing properties. Please leave your hand in my hand.”

Philippa nimbly pulled Isabel's chair closer to the bed and invited her to sit.

“Thank you, infanta Philippa,” Isabel said as she sat in the chair.

“I'll leave you to Fernando then, OK?” Philippa asked.

“Thank you, Philippa, for bringing Isabel here.”

When Philippa left, Fernando turned to the nurse, “You can leave, too.” When they were alone, Fernando put Isabel's hand to his lips, kissed her, and said, “Isabel, I must confess something to you. I am ashamed to tell you this, but I lied to you last time.”

“What do you mean, infante Fernando?” Isabel asked perplexedly.

“I lied to you that I hadn't written poetry in a long time.”

“Fernando, I should not condemn you for this, but rather I should admire you. After all, you hid it from me because of your modesty. And, Fernando, it seems that this kind of talk on this subject is not good for you. For your health, you must have only positive emotions now. I suggest this trivial misunderstanding be forgotten for the time being.”