Callis let out a pained moan as her forehead creased. Beads of sweat began to form on her brows. She had been sleeping for a while, and her eyes were still closed.
Concerned, Elis, standing by the bed, approached to check on her. The derian Princess’s contorted expression deepened her worry. She gently bent down and touched Callis’s forehead to examine her.
"Oh, no! She’s running a fever!" the maid exclaid in alarm.
Pulling the blanket, Elis uncovered Callis’s shoulder by revealing the neckline of her gown. There, she noticed the redness around the area where the princess had been injured. A sense of urgency washed over her.
"This is not good!"
Acting swiftly, Elis covered Callis’s body again, knowing that the princess required imdiate attention. She hurriedly rushed out of the room, searching for Kiev, who had ntioned going out to get so fresh air before the princess slept.
Elis hastened to the garden, scanning for the derian Prince, but he was nowhere in sight. Despite searching diligently, Kiev remained elusive. Anxious and determined, the maid made up her mind and went in search of Rafe.
After learning from a servant that the healer was seen nearby, Elis found him conversing with Damon and Eli outside Anna’s room.
"Mr Amares! I need your help!" the maid exclaid as she ran towards him.
Elis’s shout abruptly interrupted Rafe’s conversation with the knights, causing all eyes to dart in her direction. As she approached them, the maid panted, trying to catch her breath.
"What’s the matter, Miss Canton?" asked the healer, surprised by her sudden appearance.
"It’s Her Highness, Princess Callis! You must co with !" Elis urged urgently.
"Why? What happened?" Rafe inquired, curiosity evident in his voice.
"She’s running a fever! I checked her injury, and the affected area has turned red," the maid explained.
"What? Didn’t her brother heal her already?" the healer questioned, his expression growing serious.
"I’m afraid not! I don’t know why. He left after speaking to the princess, ntioning he would get so fresh air in the garden. I searched everywhere for him, but he’s nowhere to be found!"
Rafe’s surprised look quickly transford into one of grave concern.
He turned to the two knights standing nearby and commanded, "Both of you, stay here and guard the lady. Do not leave her side until His Highness the Grand Duke returns. I need to examine Her Highness Princess Callis imdiately."
"Yes, Mr Amres!" Both knights responded in unison, understanding the gravity of the situation.
Rafe hurried to his room across from Anna’s to retrieve his dical bag. Once he had it in hand, he turned to Elis and said, "Let’s go, Miss Canton! Lead the way!"
Elis nodded and quickly moved, guiding the healer to the designated room for the princess.
As the door swung open, the maid and the healer rushed inside. Rafe sat at the edge of the bed and began examining the derian Princess while Elis stood nearby.
"How long has she been like this?" Rafe inquired, his focus on his patient.
"I didn’t notice at first because she was asleep," Elis responded. "I saw her tossing her head a few tis as if she were uncomfortable. Initially, I thought she was having a bad dream. Then, she started moaning. When I checked on her, she was already burning up."
Rafe’s brows furrowed with concern as he continued his examination. Seeking confirmation, he asked, "Did she take the dication I prescribed?"
Elis shook her head.
"No. She refused, saying she didn’t like dicine and believed she didn’t need it since His Highness Prince Kiev would heal her soon."
The healer sighed in frustration towards the prince.
"How could he simply leave her in this state?"
Rafe opened his dical bag and retrieved several pouches containing redies. He then instructed the maid, "Please fetch a kettle of boiled water and so warm small cloth. I need to apply a poultice to her injured area and administer a different dication."
"Can’t we use the previous dication?" Elis inquired.
"Her injury has beco inflad from within, and it’s already visible on the skin. She requires stronger dication to combat this. Otherwise, it’ll start bruising soon," explained Rafe, his voice filled with concern.
"Understood. I’ll prepare it right away, Mr Amares!" Elis responded, adhering to the order.
She quickly left the room to gather the necessary items and returned after a short while. Rafe began patting Callis’s cheeks.
"Your Highness, please wake up," he urged gently.
Callis’s eyelids fluttered and slowly opened, revealing her red irises.
"Brother?" she weakly called out as she heard a male voice calling for her.
"No, it’s , Rafe Amares," the healer replied.
Callis blinked a few tis, and after a brief mont, her consciousness fully returned.
"Mr Amares? Why... why are you here?" she asked, her voice filled with confusion.
As Callis noticed the proximity of the healer and the concern in the healer’s grey eyes, her face flushed red with embarrassnt.
"You’re not well. You are having a fever, and your injury has worsened. Didn’t I tell you that you shouldn’t move recklessly and need assistance?" scolded Rafe in a frustrating tone.
"I... I’m sorry. I should be fine later. My brother will heal ," Callis repeated the sa reassurance she had given Elis.
"And where is he now? Miss Canton has been searching for him to update him on your condition, but he is nowhere to be found!" the healer’s voice turned angry.
"I’m sure he has sothing important to attend to," she replied, attempting to defend her brother.
"Shouldn’t he have at least healed you in the first place if he has other urgent matters to attend to?" Rafe’s frustration grew.
Callis looked away, unable to disclose her brother’s lost ability to the healer, the reason why the healing wasn’t done. Besides, Kiev wouldn’t simply disappear unless he had sothing urgent, as he was always by her side.
"I thought he cared for your well-being!"
"He really does!" Callis raised her head, trying to emphasise her statent.
However, a sudden pain shot through her body as she moved her shoulders forward. In a swift motion, Rafe reached out and held them, preventing her from worsening her injury.
"Don’t move! It will only make things worse!" Rafe advised firmly. "If you knew he wouldn’t be healing you right away, you should have at least taken the dication I previously gave you so that you wouldn’t be in this state."
Callis didn’t argue back, realising her fault in neglecting her health.
"I’m sorry," she said, her voice filled with guilt.
Feeling a sense of pity, Rafe softened his tone. "Forget it. What’s done is done. I won’t nag anymore. But please, after this, listen to my advice. You’re my patient, and I bear the responsibility for your health. It hurts to see you in pain."
Callis’s heart ward upon hearing the healer’s words, as no other man had expressed such concern for her other than her family.
"Now, I’m going to apply so poultice. I need you to sit up. Can you manage?" Rafe asked.
The derian Princess nodded slowly. She attempted to raise her body, but as she moved, the pain surged once again, causing her to moan. Rafe quickly supported her waist and shoulder, providing the necessary assistance.
Before Callis knew it, she found herself in the healer’s arms, her back resting against Rafe’s chest, feeling the warmth of his body enveloping her. Her cheeks began to blush, unable to ignore the closeness between them.
"Miss Canton, I need you to help expose Her Highness’s injured shoulder and apply the poultice. I will step back, so please take over," Rafe instructed Elis.
Upon hearing that the healer was about to move away, Callis instinctively grabbed his arm, surprising the healer.
"Don’t go!" she pleaded earnestly.
A faint blush coloured Rafe’s ears as the derian Princess held his arm suddenly.
"Your Highness... this position, it’s not quite appropriate. I was just helping you up earlier," the healer responded, his tone hesitant.
Not wanting Rafe to leave, Callis quickly ca out with an excuse, "But... but... it hurts!"
"It hurts?" the healer inquired, concerned by her pain.
"Yes... badly. So, please support while Elis applies the poultice," the derian Princess requested, hoping to convince him to stay.
Rafe seed sowhat uncomfortable with the situation. Holding the princess in this position would give him an unintended view when the maid pulled down the neckline of her gown. However, he understood his duty as a healer to help and treat his patient.
"Very well, then. I will look away when you’re ready," Rafe agreed, trying to maintain professionalism despite his internal discomfort.
Callis smiled, appreciating the healer’s carefulness and respect for her modesty. Elis began the preparation by mixing the ingredients from the pouches, following the healer’s instructions. When the poultice was applied to Callis’s shoulder, its coolness gradually alleviated the pain.
"It feels good. I already feel relieved!" the princess exclaid, expressing her gratitude.
Elis completed the application by placing a small cloth over the poultice.
"We haven’t finished yet. Now, you need to take your dicine," Rafe reminded her.
"Oh, no! I don’t like them!" Callis protested, wrinkling her nose.
"Well, now you have to," the healer replied firmly.
"But it’s bitter!"
"You need to take it, Your Highness. Otherwise, your fever won’t go down," said the maid, persuading the derian Princess.
"That’s right. The poultice can only provide temporary relief. If you don’t want to experience more pain and symptoms, you must drink the dicine," Rafe insisted.
"Miss Canton, please hand the tray with the dicine," he instructed, turning to the maid and requesting the previously prepared dication.
"I can help feed Her Highness," Elis offered.
"No, don’t touch it!" Rafe warned. "Your hands were used to mix the poultice, and the ingredients are unsuitable for consumption. I don’t want to take the risk of contamination. So, I’ll feed her myself."
"Yes, Mr Amares," Elis acquiesced, understanding the healer’s caution.
Hearing that Rafe would feed her the dicine himself, a mix of joy and anticipation filled Callis’s heart. The healer carefully held the warm bowl and spoon while the derian Princess leaned her back against his chest.
"Now, open up," Rafe instructed, holding the spoon near her mouth.
Callis crumpled her face, seeing the black gooey dicine on the spoon. Her forehead creased, and she instinctively clamped her mouth shut.
"Don’t be stubborn now. Open your mouth," Rafe urged.
"I’m not stubborn... I’ve just never taken any dicine in my life!" Callis protested.
"Are you scared?" the healer asked, trying to understand her hesitancy.
"Of course I am!" Callis replied, her voice filled with vulnerability.
"But you’re a derian Princess, Your Highness. Your clan mbers are known for their cunningness, magical abilities and combat skills. How can you be scared of a re dicine?" Rafe questioned, surprised by her fear.
"I may be a derian, but I’m still a human being! Even if I co from a strong lineage, I still have feelings like anyone else. I do get scared sotis!" Callis defended herself, her voice on the verge of tears.
Realising the impact of his words, Rafe softened.
"All right... I understand."
The healer thought for a mont, considering how to persuade her. He recalled how Kyren had managed to coax Anna into taking her dicine when she was sick. Then, an idea struck him.
"Why don’t we do this together? I’ll take a sip and show you that it’s completely fine. Then, you can follow suit."
"You would do that for ?" Callis asked, her surprise evident.
"Why not? If it helps you to drink it," Rafe replied reassuringly.
"Fine... Then go ahead. If you drink it, I will too," Callis agreed.
"Deal!"
Rafe took a sip from the spoon and swallowed the dicine. It was indeed bitter, but he was accustod to the taste of various dicinal ingredients, so it didn’t bother him much.
After a mont, Callis asked with uncertainty, "Is it really fine?"
"It’s perfectly fine. See? I’m still alive and talking," Rafe convinced her.
The derian Princess chuckled, feeling slightly relieved.
"Now, it’s your turn, as agreed," Rafe said, ready to serve her.
"All right. Please feed ," Callis responded, preparing herself for the dicine.
Rafe scooped another spoonful of dicine and started feeding the derian Princess. As soon as the liquid touched her tongue, the overwhelming bitterness almost made her gag.
"Don’t spit it out! Drink all of it! You promised!" Rafe reminded her.
Compelled by their agreent, Callis forced herself to swallow. Then, she opened her mouth wide and took a deep breath.
"Water! Water, please!" the princess exclaid, desperately needing sothing to wash away the taste.
"I’ll get it for you," Rafe replied, quickly placing the bowl of dicine back on the tray held by Elis. He retrieved the water from the side table and carefully brought it to Callis’s mouth.
"Be careful, don’t choke yourself. Take it easy," he advised, observing her sowhat clumsy drinking.
Callis let out a sigh of relief after finally having a drink of water. She wiped her lips with the back of her left hand.
"That was awful! You lied to !" she complained.
"I apologise if it was more bitter than you expected. I’m accustod to dicine, so that taste isn’t that strong to . I had no intention of tricking you. It was for your own good," Rafe explained sincerely.
As the healer finished speaking, a subtle knock ca from the door.
"Ah... That must be your brother," Rafe comnted. Callis panicked at the statent.
The door opened, and to their surprise, an elegantly aged lady entered instead of the expected derian Prince.
When she saw Rafe holding Callis in his arms on the bed, she exclaid with wide eyes, "What are you doing to my baby princess? Let her go!"
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