Chapter 435:

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“Yet an assassin slipped past them. Disguised as a healer, no less, and came to murder the king under your watch,” Lord Ottai barked. “Investigate this matter thoroughly. I want to know who this man was—his family, his friends, everyone he’s come into contact with in the last forty-eight hours. No one is to be spared from questioning.”

Wegai gave a solemn nod. “As you command, Your Highness.”

“Leave no stone unturned. Take your men and raid his dwelling. We must find evidence of who sent him,” Lord Ottai ordered, dismissing him with a curt nod.

After Wegai departed, Emeriel stepped closer to Lord Ottai. “Do you truly believe the assassin wasn’t acting alone? The humans here aren’t exactly known for their fondness and loyalty to the monarchy.”

“If there’s a mastermind behind this, they want us to think it was a lone act. We’ll rule it as such only when there’s no evidence to the contrary. And we’ll make it clear to the court—the investigation will be thorough, and no one is above suspicion.”

They both turned their attention back to the grand king. His eyes remained open, but… distant. Unseeing.

He hadn’t moved, nor had he blinked.

“What’s going on?” Emeriel asked.

“Those eyes are vacant. He is not awake, Emeriel.”

Her hope waned. “But—”

“But it’s progress, perhaps,” Lord Ottai glanced at her. “You saved his life. Thank you.”

Emeriel shook her head. “You don’t need to thank me.”

“How did you manage to disarm an assassin on your own?” he asked, his curiosity piqued.

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“Fairly easy.”

“It wasn’t easy. But I’m glad I was able to help.”

Unable to hold back any longer, she leaned down and touched King Daemonikai’s shoulder. “Your Grace, can you hear me?”

No response. No movement.

“His body is burning up again. I need to sponge him down again,” she muttered, her gaze drawn to the dark veins that stood out against his pale arm.

“Perhaps this time, he will stay with us, right?”

Lord Ottai looked so hopeful that Emeriel nodded. “Yes, I hope so too.” She sat beside King Daemonikai and picked up a washcloth, dipping it in cool water. Carefully, she began to run the cloth down his scorched skin.

The room fell into a heavy silence, broken only by the soft sound of water dripping from the cloth.

Lord Ottai lingered for a while, keeping her company, before duty pulled him away, leaving Emeriel alone with the grand king.

She continued sponging his heated skin for hours, refraining from undressing him completely. Slowly, gradually, the fever began to subside, until it finally broke.

Exhausted, she finally allowed herself to rest. Laying her head beside his ribs, she closed her eyes, the rhythmic rise and fall of his shallow breaths lulling her into a much-needed sleep.

Emeriel stayed by the grand king’s side, barely leaving his chambers except for brief respites to refresh herself.

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