Chapter 52

Elle’s Point of view

“My Lady, you shouldn't work or overdo your body. You may proceed tomorrow since it is possible that something else will happen to you." Gaia's voice remained agitated even as I held her hand and assured her that she had nothing to be concerned about. Instead, she turned to face the servant who was accompanying me.

“Lucia! I'm curious as to what happened to her. Can you tell me why Ladyship looks like this?" She let go of my hand and walked behind me to where the servant was waiting for me.

"Gaia, I'm really fine and there's nothing to worry about—"

"Earlier, Ladyship seemed to be waning, and I'm not sure what was wrong with her. Because I'm outdoors, kindly pardon me if I didn't see her immediately away. She also developed a cough that was rather severe." As she said that, the servant bowed, and I gave Gaia an uneasy smile.

"I just drank a little amount of water, Gaia, so I hope we don't make a big deal out of my cough. My need to bake stems from the fear that I would perish in the stillness of my room while waiting for Logan to arrive."

After all, it seemed like she had nothing against me. Gaia let out a big sigh. I saw that a large number of servants were keeping an eye on us. I walked right up to the table where the flour, eggs, and whatever else would be needed for baking were all set out for me.

"Shouldn't you be resting instead of putting out the effort to bake right now?"

I didn't pay attention to what Urla was saying and simply went on with my work. A servant approached me but did not say anything because she felt it was inappropriate to participate in our conversation. I just observed what she was doing and followed her every move; I also chose not to respond to Urla's query.

In the middle of kneading the bread, the flour suddenly went up my nostrils as a result of what Urla had done to me. She yanked me from the floor and immediately stepped away from me so that she wouldn't get her outfit dirty while she was doing it.

“Oh! Please accept my apologies! I'm sorry, Elle; I didn't mean to!" She was going to put her hand on my shoulder when Gaia stepped in. Gaia glanced at her with a ferocity, as if she were enraged.

While they were talking, I couldn't understand what they were saying since my throat was blocked with flour that had been ingested by accident. I was on my knees when I realized that what I was looking at was whirling around. When I glanced at Gaia, I could see that she was saying something to me, but I couldn't make out what she was saying since my hearing had failed me. Everything in my environment is spinning.

I'm not sure what's going on at all times.

I was aware that they were calling, but I was unable to hear them.

When I awoke, it was chilly and gloomy in the room where I had fallen asleep. I noted that the rain was also falling heavily, and that the curtains were being drawn up. I looked out the window to see whether it was truly pouring hard so I could adjust things and avoid them flying. It was, indeed, really intense rain. I was going to walk away from the window since I was getting drench when I glanced down at the floor and covered my mouth when I noticed three dead birds.

I instantly backed away thinking I had seen something, and I was going to escape when I ran into someone behind me, and Gaia looked at me with a concerned expression on her face. I strolled outside and saw that she was by herself. I slammed the door shut rapidly to ensure that no one could hear us.

Gaia looked at me with a puzzled expression.

“Gaia! Call the guards and instruct them to bring Logan back to the station as soon as possible! Even Caius and Urla should not be allowed to depart! Make no indication that you are bothered since they may run away at any time."

“Run away? Why? Did something bad happen?” She glanced at me with a puzzled expression and then behind me.

She moved rapidly to the window, and I fixed my eyes on her. The explanation for my immediate fear seems to have been identified by her.

"How did you know they were the root of the problem?"

"She hands me a dessert and asks me to pass it along to Logan. Due to my negative feelings towards her, I consume the dessert she serves me and, sometimes, I just throw the leftovers to the birds." As a result of my encounter with the dead birds, I've realized that I'm coughing as a result of the poison contained inside the desert.

"Do you mean to tell me that the meal you ate is the reason you're sick now?"

When I nodded, her eyes widened as she looked at me.

"My Lady, please do not leave this room. I'll warn the guards not to leave you alone, and I'll keep a tight check on the situation in your room. I'll also inform the Lycan king as soon as possible. Rest in bed for a while, and I'll have the doctor come in to have a look at you." She didn't even wait for me to finish speaking before running out the door. Because of the terror I was experiencing, I wrapped myself in an embrace.

I returned my attention to the birds and saw that they were already dripping with water.

Agh! With the lightning, my body and throat hurt all over again. I glanced around and didn't know that I'd collapsed again.

• • • • • • • • • • •

I was awakened by the fact that a needle had been inserted into my arm. When I looked around, I saw Gaia and the doctor, both of whom I recognized. Gaia had a melancholy expression on her face, which I noticed.

"I'm sorry, my Lady, but the Lycan king will not be able to return today."