Chapter 48
YUKI gazed at the familiar imposing building. Not too long ago the gatekeeper there had treated her rudely. And the days she once spent inside its sprawling parlors and glamorous rooms felt like ages past.
“…At long last…” she muttered, staring emotionally at the castle.
Five days had passed since Rhad received the good news. Word had come saying the Queen of Adolunde might have contracted an illness in line with the Ten Day Fever.
“The castle has royal doctors, but they do not have special medicine explicitly for the Ten Day Fever. You can bet they want to get a hold of anything rumored to work. At any rate, this is our ticket inside,” Rhad said.
Just yesterday Yuki and the others arrived in the capital. They spent the night at Rhad’s manor. Summons came for Yuki as pustules and a rash had erupted on the queen’s skin. The royal doctors had given up hope.
Selena and Vigo were on standby at Rhad’s manor because of their renown as Rvydom soldiers. Medicine from Vigo was secured in the bag Yuki gripped in her left hand.
“Shall we go?”
Yuki peered up at Rhad standing beside her. Her thoughts returned to when she stood side by side with Luca. Though she stood in the same spot, her position in this world had changed. No large hand wearing a matching ring held hers. No ring sat on her right hand’s middle finger. The fear-inspiring castle gates swung open before her, letting her back inside the place everything began.
✦ ✦ ✦
AN uncountable number of eyes followed Rhad and Yuki. Discomforted by the unduly impolite stares, Yuki stole a peek at Rhad and found him calmly walking with his eyes trained forward. How long had they walked through the castle? The plush rug squishing underfoot removed the strain on her feet and her nerves further dulled her sense of time.
Ascending stairs, descending stairs, Rhad strode on in silence and she walked with broad strides to keep pace with him. The big steps she took quickly drained her of what little energy she had. By the time her heavy breathing shuddered her shoulders, Rhad halted.
“The audience chamber is just ahead. As his and her Majesty are both bedridden, the audience will be with Prince Orga…. Whatever he may say, please do not let it rile you. Do not take his bait.”
Orga…
Pain seared through her chest as if a creature were trying to claw its way out from the inside. Closing her eyes, she took several steadying breaths to overcome the familiar yet unceasing ache.
“…I’ll be okay,” she rasped.
“I will do all the talking. Please keep your head down and your mouth shut, Lady Yuki.”
“Okay.”
Yuki recalled the conversation she exchanged with Rhad before coming to the castle.
“I need you to understand the situation, Lady Yuki. The queen has contracted the Ten Day Fever. Meaning not only the capital, but Adolunde’s royal castle has been infiltrated by such a severe case of the Ten Day Fever to where it has reached the most protected, cloistered members of the royal family. Do understand what that means?”
“I guess I do…?” she answered, unsure.
“Uncertainty is written all over your face. Listen to me very closely. Let me give it to you straight: it means the chances of Prince Luca being infected with the Ten Day Fever have skyrocketed.”
“…They have?!”
“Why do you have such difficulty realizing these basic things, m’lady? The future is bleak.” Rhad ran his hand over his face.
“I-I’m sorry.”
“Let me lay things out for you nice and clear. Our primary objective is to see Prince Luca. You can heal all things related to the Ten Day Fever, Lady Yuki. Understand?”
“Are you implying we want Luca to be infected with the Ten Day Fever?!”
“Now you’ve got it. You will use your power to heal the queen, Lady Yuki. Not long after, Prince Luca will become infected with the Ten Day Fever as well. How do you believe they will react when he is contagious?”
“They will summon for me again…”
“Exactly. I will do my best to finagle a way for us to get an audience with him sooner, but please consider this as the most effective method we have.”
But the probability of it working is slim.
There was no guarantee Luca would contract the Ten Day Fever just by residing inside the infected palace. Although his health was deteriorating from the curse he was under, Luca was Yuki’s Knight and a Violet Knight at that. Knights were tougher than normal people, as seen by how Selena could work with the sick and never even caught a cough.
But their plan hinged on the chance of him catching the Ten Day Fever. Yuki grabbed at the cloth covering her heart. What if she couldn’t save the queen? What if Luca didn’t catch the Ten Day Fever? Or if he contracted it and she couldn’t save him? Unnerved and worry ridden by those what-ifs, the blood drained from her face and her fingers went cold. Her hands shook uncontrollably. The hammering of her heart rippled through her chest.
I can’t get stuck on the ifs.
“Everything starts from here after all.”
Yuki’s words were erased by the heavy double-doors opening.