He returned with a bowl of boiled medicine, bitter and reeking.
Over the years, I couldn’t count how many bowls I had consumed.
He feared I would truly die from blood loss, yet he didn’t want me to find peace.
I took the bowl and, of my own accord, drank it all in front of him.
Kael’s eyes were shadowed, unreadable.
I used to hate bitter tastes. The first time he brought me this medicine, I’d knocked it away,
stubbornly refusing.
After that, every single time, Kael had forcibly pinched my nose and poured it down throat.
“Lyra, as long as you remain this obedient, I might consider…”
my
Kael paused, turning his head slightly.
“…reluctantly allowing that child a headstone.”
My eyelashes trembled. It was his child too.
Yet even a headstone was given “reluctantly.”
“You will kneel in the courtyard and reflect on your misdeeds today. Consider it punishment for alarming Lena and causing her to have a fragile pregnancy!”
Just after midday, a wolf’s howl suddenly echoed from outside.
At Lena’s birthday feast the day before, one of the Wolfen commanders had gifted her a young
Western wolf cub.
Wolves are drawn to the scent of blood.
My heart plummeted. As I looked up, that agile shadow already leaped towards me.
By the time Lena came running, feigning to stop it, several chunks of flesh had already been torn
from me.
Lena called back her wolf pet, feigning remorse. “Your Majesty had just taught me how to train beasts, and I’m still not skilled enough. This is why my sister was hurt. I truly deserve to be punished.
“Your Majesty, you are the Queen! Why apologize to a mere wretch? Even if she were eaten alive by beasts, His Majesty wouldn’t blame you!”‘
Her personal maid fumed, indignant.
Their voices seemed to come from a great distance.
My vision was swimming in red. I couldn’t see or hear anything clearly.
I remembered my King had also died by wolf fangs. Those adult Western wolves were massive, capable of biting off a man’s head.
My body trembled, yet I felt no pain at all.
“Lyra? Serene, Serene…”
Someone was calling my childhood name repeatedly, their voice low and strained.
It had been so long, so terribly long, since I’d heard that endearment.
Through the haze, I saw a black robe, embroidered with the symbols of royalty. I clutched its sleeve, my hands slick with blood, tears streaming as I cried out, “My King…”
The voice stopped.
When my consciousness and senses returned, the familiar bitter taste was in my mouth again.
I opened my eyes and saw Kael’s face incredibly close to mine. He was personally feeding me medicine, mouth-to-mouth.
As I registered what was happening, I instinctively turned my head away in rejection.
Kael froze, his fingers tightening around the medicine bowl.
“Lyra, since you’re awake, drink the medicine yourself!”
I pushed myself up and, as he instructed, drained the bowl.
But the next second, I vomited it all out, accompanied by black blood and several strange, writhing
larvae.
