Marriage Alliance With The Lycan Monarch
Chapter 25: Bedridden

Chapter 25: Bedridden

I didn’t give Mother an answer.

I left without a word, and at long last, I made it back to my wing. I walked a turn in the corridor and found Garrick standing at a door.

"Garrick?"

"My liege..." He greeted me in a shifty tone, and I was quick to discern that something was wrong.

I didn’t bother to ask as I pushed the doors open and stormed into the room, my eyes briefly dropping on the handmaid and then on Eloise on the bed.

She was unconscious, face contorted in pain, and beaded with sweat. The sight of her in such distress caused a sinking feeling to settle upon me like a tide.

It took everything in me to channel my focus on Garrick and not release my wrath on a first strike.

Garrick could sense this, and his entire body went stiff, keeping his gaze averted from my eyes, which I could tell had an eerie glow due to the red hues in my line of vision.

"I told you to protect her, and I come back to this?"

"My liege—"

"Maybe I shouldn’t have entrusted you with this. She is of great importance, and you failed miserably in ensuring her safety." With each word, I closed the distance between us.

"Explain," I gritted out as a growl tried to crack out of me.

"The Dowager summoned her. I tried to stop her, but she mentioned it was her duty. I could not use force."

"Goddess!" I swore silently. Certainly, it was Mother’s ruse to keep me away so that she could meet Eloise.

"I think the Alpha command must have taken too much strain on her body."

She used the alpha command?

Mother went that far knowing a human cannot withstand it. I was hoping we would settle this peacefully, but Mother has proven that cannot be done.

"Knowing the Dowager, Eloise could’ve been dead the moment she walked into that room." As much as I wanted to be relieved that the inevitable didn’t happen during that encounter, I only got more bothered.

Mother was a straightforward person; letting Eloise go was not her style.

"Lady Sloane was present. But I do not think that stopped the Dowager from doing anything rash."

Then what did?

Garrick cleared his throat. "Your Grace mentioned your marriage has been consummated."

I paused momentarily, taking in what he’d just said, before a smile tugged at the ends of my lips. I need not say more as I turned to Eloise, my gaze softening as I walked closer to the bed.

She was a marvel. I knew that moment she hid the petals from me.

"Have you diagnosed her?" I asked absentmindedly. I wanted to touch her, but I couldn’t, fearing that my hands would be too cold for her.

"Not yet."

"What exactly are you waiting for?" I questioned sharply.

"The Handmaid wouldn’t let me near her after I brought her in."

I turned to the young woman, and she tensed when she noticed my attention on her.

"Forgive me, but I can take care of my lady. She just needs rest."

"You..."

"Talia."

"Your name is of no concern to me. What does concern me is your poor judgment relating to the matters of your lady."

She straightened her position, looking me in the eye but briefly as if she couldn’t linger longer. "My judgment of her health is correct; she has ridden for days under the rain. It’s only a cold."

"As did you," I countered. "But I don’t see you bedridden and in pain."

"My liege—"

"Garrick, check her."

"Please, my liege!" She implored, and it made me wonder why she was willing to oppose me so foolishly.

"It is just a cold, my liege. It’s nothing serious."

"Nothing serious?" I asked, unable to mask the coldness in my tone. "I consider your duty to your lady premature; that is a great offense because her health is my utmost priority."

She dropped to her knees instantly like a speeding bullet. "No! Please, my liege, I—"

I stared down at her with eyes like frost and a finger pressed on my lips. "Careful, maid, you don’t want to get me angry. Trust me. I suggest you lower your voice and not disturb my wife. She’s already in distress, and your wails are adding to that."

She remained frozen in place, eyes trembling profusely.

"My liege."

Garrick’s voice pulled my attention to him.

"Well?" I asked, getting impatient, eyeing Garrick as he checked Eloise’s pulse.

He was the best healer known in Valkanor, and during the war, his performance in fixing things was far better than his performance in fighting.

"It’s—" he paused as if trying to understand.

Garrick was a master in his field, and it was odd seeing him unable to come up with a result.

Before I married Eloise, I made sure he read everything about human physiology; he was a fast learner, so he should be able to decipher this.

"Her pulse, it’s difficult to read. It’s unstable."

I narrowed my eyes in confusion, before throwing a look over my shoulder.

"Is there anything you should bring to my notice, or do I need to succumb to tedious methods to get you to explain this?"

There was a deep feeling that this maid was keeping something. I admire her dedication to stay loyal to Eloise as she should, but I’ll not tolerate her doing so to endanger her life.

She hesitated again.

"Talia," It was Garrick who spoke in my place, for he knew what would transpire if this maid continued to act foolish.

"Do not make this anymore worse."

"M-My lady was born with a weak body," she confessed suddenly, defeated.

"Stand and explain more," I commanded.

The maid did as I said, whilst keeping her head downcast. It took a moment before she continued. "She has a lingering ailment. Humans, as you know, my liege, we get sick or fall ill to any diseases, but in spite of this, we’ve strong immune systems that help the worst pass away." She paused as if she didn’t want to continue, but she was wise in doing so. "My lady here does not have such. Whether the cold or any slight discomfort can cause her a great deal."

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