Chapter 197: Roots of the Blackthorn
Emily stared at the marking on her chest in the mirror, which she hadn’t noticed when she got dressed earlier that morning. It bore a striking resemblance to the root-like markings that once marked the backs of her brother’s hands. But what did that have to do with her?
"Ah!" She winced in agony as a searing pain shot through her, akin to a lightning bolt striking her chest, serving as a stark reminder of the fragile state of her soul. The pain refused to relent, coursing through her body and causing her to lose her balance and collapse to the ground.
Upon hearing a faint noise coming from inside the room, Julia turned the doorknob and entered, letting out a gasp.
"Princess! Are you alright?!" Julia asked, her voice filled with alarm. She quickly bent down to help Emily raise her head, who was hunched over in pain, her face hanging low towards the floor.
"I..." Emily took a deep breath as her vision slowly returned after the blinding pain. "I—I need water. Water," she gasped.
The maid swiftly rose and made her way to the table where the water jug was placed. Pouring some into a glass, she hurriedly returned to Emily’s side with it.
Emily’s lips trembled as she gulped the water down in slow sips. Unshed tears had pooled in the corners of her eyes as a result of both the intense pain and the realisation that Nathaniel and Layla’s bond had grown stronger. She inhaled deeply, her chest heaving with each breath.
"Should I order a physician to attend to you, Princess Emily? You appear to be sweating," Julia inquired, noting the temperature inside the castle was colder than the outside. "I can go and—"
When her maid attempted to stand up, Emily reached out and grasped the young woman’s hand to stop her. She whispered, "Don’t."
She didn’t suffer from an illness that medicines could remedy. This was a condition beyond the physician’s control.
Emily felt the urge to cry, but she knew that tears wouldn’t fix anything, and she silently cursed the unfortunate luck that had befallen her. Was this what people meant when they said that the offspring inherited the parents’ fortune? This is what kismet, the inescapable destiny, was, she thought to herself. Despite her love for her father and his affection for her, he had caused harm to many people during his lifetime, and it seemed she was now bearing the consequences of his actions.