Chapter 25: Much-Needed Clarity
"Soleia, there's really no need for you to go through all this trouble," Ralph muttered weakly as his eyes darted warily to the bubbling concoction in Soleia's hands. "I feel a lot better now."
It was a particularly garish shade of green and it smelled positively rancid. Ralph felt himself retch as the smell carried through his home.
"Don't be ridiculous, you were burning up mere hours ago. In fact, your skin is still reddish," Soleia tutted disapprovingly as she held the back of her hand to his forehead. Just as she expected, he was warm to the touch, and slightly out of breath. He also seemed to be sweating.
Soleia frowned and shoved the cup of medicine into Ralph's reluctant hands. It had taken her the better part of an hour to boil it so that it was at least mostly liquid by the time she fed it to Sir Ralph, and not a strange runny paste.
However, Sir Ralph didn't seem to appreciate her good intentions. Soleia crossed her arms in front of her and stared at him evenly, until he realized there was no way he was getting out of it without ingesting it all.
If Sir Ralph dared to waste her money, there would be hell to pay! Not to mention the earlier humiliation she faced, thanks to Orion and his relatives. The very thought made her face darken further.
Sensing her anger, Ralph gulped and obediently drank his medicine, even as he choked and gagged through most of it. Eventually, the cup was empty, and Ralph slumped back against the bed, exhausted. He had never drunk something that tasted so disgusting in his entire life!
"Oh god, that was foul. I feel like I've walked through the gates of hell and back," Ralph sighed.
He chanced a quick look at Soleia, who seemed preoccupied with something. Ralph had assumed it was because she was concerned about him, but she remained distracted still.