Arelyn Is Sick and Tired

Arelyn Halbern has already made peace with her fate. A mere extra within the pages of a novel, she knows exactly how her story is meant to end: a young life quietly cut short by a terminal illness she has no intention of fighting. Yet not everyone is willing to let her fade away. The Caretakers' Council, a group of devoted servants bound by a single purpose, has committed itself entirely to one mission—nursing Arelyn back to health against all odds. Everything changes when Crown Prince Pession Allermand takes an unexpected interest in the ailing girl. Before long, the prince becomes a constant presence at her bedside—coaxing her to eat proper meals, urging her to be more active, and relentlessly nagging her to get up, go outside, and play. His unyielding attention makes it impossible for Arelyn to simply wither away as her story demands. With the novel's male lead now lending his strength to her cause, Arelyn faces a question she never expected to ask herself: after accepting death for so long, can she finally find the will to fight her illness?