Chapter 157 --157
The world tilted.
Elara dimly felt the edge of the desk slam into her ribs as her legs gave out, then hands caught her, several at once, voices blurring together.
"Your Highness!"
"Call the physician!"
The ceiling spun overhead as they carried her—out of the office, down the corridor, through doors she couldn’t focus on. Heat roared under her skin, like she’d swallowed a furnace. Every heartbeat pushed fire deeper.
By the time they laid her on her bed, her clothes were damp with sweat. The familiar crimson canopy above her looked distant, like she was seeing it through water.
A cool hand pressed to her forehead. Another lifted her wrist.
"Step back," an older male voice said tightly. "Give me light."
Lanterns flared as someone snapped their fingers. Elara forced her eyes open.
The imperial physician knelt beside the bed, hair white, hands steady—but his expression was anything but calm. He checked her pulse once, twice, then again, frowning deeper each time. He uncorked a vial of clear liquid, let a single drop fall on the red stain still faintly clinging to her fingertip.
The droplet hissed, turning black.
He inhaled sharply.