Alexander placed Serena gently on the bed in his chambers. His expression was unreadable, but the tension in his jaw and the tightness around his eyes revealed the depth of his worry. Without wasting a second, he called for the royal physician. The man arrived almost imdiately, breathless from how quickly he had been summoned.
He entered the room quietly and bowed before approaching the bed. With steady hands, he reached for Serena’s wrist, checking her pulse carefully.
For several long minutes, the physician worked in silence. He examined Serena’s breathing, her eyes, her heartbeat, and the strange discoloration forming beneath her skin. Alexander and Arthur stood nearby, unmoving, watching his every movent with heavy anticipation.
Finally, the physician let out a slow, defeated sigh.
He turned to the king. "Your Majesty... I am sorry to say this, but I cannot diagnose her. Nor can I treat her."
Alexander’s eyes darkened imdiately.
"What do you an?" he asked, his voice low, dangerously low.
The physician swallowed hard, visibly startled by the king’s tone. "Your Majesty... I believe she has been poisoned. But whatever was used is sothing I have never seen before. It is completely unfamiliar. And mind I say... it does not seem like a normal poison attack."
Arthur’s brows furrowed. "What exactly are we supposed to do to cure her then?"
The physician shook his head helplessly.
"Lord Arthur, I do not know. But I can recomnd soone else... soone who may have knowledge about what is happening to her. If this is a poison, it is not an ordinary one. It may not even be from this kingdom."
As the n spoke, Serena’s consciousness wavered in and out. Their voices sounded distant and muffled, as though she were underwater again. She forced her eyes open, but everything around her was blurry—shifting shapes and faint shadows. She tried to turn her head but couldn’t make sense of where she was.
Heat surged through her body an unbearable, burning heat that felt as if fire was spreading through her veins. She let out a small sound of pain without realizing it.
Alexander was by her side instantly.
"Your Highness..." she whispered weakly.
He sat on the edge of the bed and gently helped her sit upright. His hand supported her back as he pulled her closer, trying to steady her breathing.
The physician hurried forward again.
"My lady, how do you feel?"
Serena swallowed hard. Even speaking felt like forcing words out through flas.
"I... feel really hot. It’s burning on the inside," she whispered, her voice barely audible.
Arthur stepped closer, studying her carefully.
"Your Majesty... her eye color has changed."
Both n looked more closely. Serena’s green eyes were now glowing bright red—unnatural, vivid, alive with so unknown energy.
The burning sensation grew stronger. Serena clutched the bedsheets, her body trembling as another wave of heat ripped through her.
"Your Majesty," the physician said urgently, "I fear I may have to sedate her. If we don’t, the pain may intensify further."
Alexander didn’t hesitate. "Do it. Anything to stop her from feeling this."
The physician nodded and prepared the vial. Alexander held Serena firmly but gently as the needle touched her arm. Within seconds, her trembling eased, her breathing slowed, and her eyes fluttered shut as the sedative pulled her into unconsciousness.
Alexander laid her back down carefully.
They stepped out of the room to give her space to rest. The physician bowed once more. "Your Majesty, I will return with the person I ntioned before the day ends. She should be able to identify what is afflicting the lady."
"We’ll be expecting you," Arthur said, nodding respectfully.
When the physician left, Alexander ran a frustrated hand through his hair.
"What the hell is happening?" he muttered under his breath.
Arthur leaned against the wall, arms folded.
"Do you think this is connected to the person who pushed the princess? These things happening at once can’t be a coincidence."
Alexander didn’t respond imdiately. He closed his eyes for a brief mont before opening them again. "Let’s speak to Athyst first."
The two n made their way toward the princess’s chambers.
---
Athyst sat quietly in front of her mirror. Her maids had already cleaned her up and dressed her carefully. Her food had been delivered to her room, but she hadn’t taken a single bite. Her thoughts were too loud, her nerves too shaken.
Soone had tried to kill her today.
And Serena... Serena had collapsed right after saving her.
Nothing felt safe anymore. Even the palace, her ho felt unfamiliar and threatening.
She wrapped her shawl around herself, needing the comfort. She walked toward the door and had just reached for the knob when a knock startled her. She stepped back quickly, her hand flying to her chest as her heart raced.
Taking a deep breath, she opened the door and relief washed over her when she saw her brother and Arthur.
"Co in," she said softly, stepping aside.
Arthur sat on the couch while Alexander remained standing, scanning the room with a sharp gaze.
"How are you feeling?" Arthur asked, observing her carefully.
Athyst managed a small smile.
"I’m feeling a little better," she replied.
"It’s normal to feel scared," Arthur said gently. "You don’t have to pretend otherwise. It was a terrifying situation, but we got to you in ti."
She nodded. She had seen the worry on his face earlier. He had tried to hide it, but she knew Arthur well enough to recognize when he was concerned. "I was really scared," she admitted quietly.
Alexander walked to the window and opened it. A strange look crossed his face—cold, sharp, alert. "There is soone else’s scent in your room," he said. "Did anyone co here?"
"N-no... just my maids," she stamred. She hated when Alexander’s eyes changed; it always ant danger, and it always terrified her.
"Tell us everything that happened from yesterday until this morning," Arthur said gently. "And how you ended up at the cliff."
Athyst looked between them before lowering her gaze. "I... I don’t really rember much."
Alexander leaned against the window fra, arms folded, watching her intently. "Try to recall sothing."
"Okay..." she whispered, gathering her thoughts.
"Well, I t Lady Serena yesterday. She gave a little pearl. After that, I was returning to the palace when soone bumped into . I can’t rember their face. It might have been a guard... I don’t know. And this morning, I woke up at the edge of the cliff. I turned around and soone pushed ."
Arthur glanced at Alexander, whose expression had grown darker.
"Did you see anything identifying? Even sothing small?" Arthur pressed.
"Um... there was a red symbol on the person’s hand," she said softly. "Brother... how is Lady Serena?"
The room fell silent.
Arthur opened his mouth to answer, but Alexander spoke first. "Eat and rest. Do not leave the palace without guards."
Athyst nodded imdiately. She didn’t dare question him.
"Arthur. Co with ," Alexander ordered.
Arthur stood and paused at the door.
"If you need anything, call ," he said gently.
"I will," she whispered.
When they left, she walked to the small table in the corner where her al waited. She sat down slowly and uncovered it.
Everything will be fine, she told herself.
Alexander will handle it.
And with trembling hands, she finally began to eat.
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