The Grand Duke's Soulmate
Chapter 143: Hope For Healing

Chapter 143: Hope For Healing

"Everyone, please leave the room! I need to thoroughly examine the patient," Rafe’s voice rang out sternly, commanding the men. "Ayden, I require your assistance."

Without hesitation, the assistant healer swiftly responded, fully aware of his role in supporting the healer. Making his way to the cupboard, he efficiently retrieved the necessary medical equipment and prepared to aid the examination.

Following Rafe’s instructions, the knights withdrew from the room, creating space for the healer and his assistant to do their vital work. Meanwhile, Noah approached Emily, gently coaxing her to follow him. Initially hesitant, the troubled young woman reluctantly agreed, allowing the knight to guide her away from the scene.

Elis bravely stepped forward, offering her assistance.

"Mr Amares, I’m Elisabeth Canton. Although I’m not a healer, I’ve been diligently administering medication to her based on the prescription provided by the healer at Gerhard’s castle. Additionally, I have all the details of her medical history. If it helps, I would like to stay and offer my support," Elis expressed, her voice filled with earnestness and determination.

Rafe’s gaze shifted towards the maid, a flicker of surprise crossing his features. Though intrigued by her familiarity with his name, he knew there was no time for questions or explanations. The priority lay in attending to the patient’s needs.

"You may stay," the healer affirmed, acknowledging Elis’s assistance. A glimmer of hope lit up the maid’s face, knowing she could contribute to this critical situation.

As Rafe continued his examination, his focus shifted to the maid. Opening Clara’s eyelids and carefully inspecting her pupils, he inquired, "Aside from the prescribed medication, what else did you administer to her?"

Elis responded promptly, "I administered an extract of Arkette flower."

Rafe’s eyes widened, his realisation mirrored by Ayden, who paused in his preparation. They momentarily froze in their tracks. The room fell into a heavy silence as their focused gazes converged upon the maid, their expressions solemn and determined. Rafe’s piercing stare bore into Elis, his breath held in anticipation.

In a stern voice, the healer pressed for a resolute answer, his tone filled with urgency, "How much did you administer, and how did you prepare it?"

Elis met Rafe’s unwavering gaze, her voice steady as she provided a detailed response.

"I brewed a single piece of the flower with precisely three cups of water for an hour under slow fire. I maintained the exact measurement throughout the process. After cooling it for an hour, I administered three tablespoons orally to her every hour for three consecutive hours."

As Elis concluded, a collective exhale of relief escaped from the healer and his assistant, their tensed shoulders relaxing ever so slightly.

"Very good. You are familiar with the preparation method and the administration frequency. However, considering she is a female, the optimal dose for the best effect should be four tablespoons. Nonetheless, you have done well, especially for someone without formal healing training," Rafe acknowledged, his tone carrying a measure of appreciation. "Now, please provide me with all the details regarding her illness."

Elis felt a wave of relief wash over her as she absorbed Rafe’s words. She swiftly began recounting the necessary information with a nod of gratitude, leaving no stone unturned.

***

"She appears quite pale. Mr Foster, could you kindly arrange a room for her to rest in and ensure a meal is sent to her?" Garin requested, expressing concern for Emily’s well-being.

"May I know who these guests are? You haven’t informed me since your arrival," asked the steward.

"They are Lady Raychard’s people," responded the knight.

"I see... Right away, Sir Skyler. I will promptly instruct the servants to make the necessary arrangements," Anryr responded, acknowledging the order upon hearing the explanation. He swiftly summoned the servants to carry out the task.

Emily’s tears flowed uncontrollably, and her cries echoed.

Noah, deeply empathetic to her anguish, spoke soothingly, trying to offer reassurance amidst her fears. "Rest assured, Emily. Our skilled healer and his assistant are highly talented. They will do everything in their power to save her."

Overwhelmed by her emotions, the young woman sought solace in Noah’s embrace, holding onto him tightly as if seeking refuge from the storm of her worries.

"I can’t bear the thought of losing her, Sir Brooks! I just can’t! She’s not just a friend. She’s my saviour!" Emily’s words poured out between her sobs, her voice filled with desperation and love for her dear companion.

Noah, taken aback by the sudden embrace, recognised the fragility of her heart in this delicate moment and didn’t push her away. With compassion, he gently patted her back, offering comfort through the weight of his presence.

The demeanour added an air of surprise to the knights around them. However, noticing the vulnerability of the young woman’s emotions, they didn’t leave a comment.

"Everything will be alright, Emily. Have faith. She is in capable hands now, receiving the best care possible," Noah assured her, his voice calm and steady despite the dampness of his chest from Emily’s tears.

The knight’s intimate behaviour and his use of the woman’s first name continued to pique the curiosity of the other men, leaving them intrigued about the nature of Noah and Emily’s relationship.

After a moment, Emily raised her tear-streaked face and noticed the perplexed looks on the faces of the other knights. A wave of embarrassment washed over her, causing her to withdraw herself from Noah’s embrace.

"I’m sorry... I... I got carried away," Emily stammered, her cheeks flushed red.

Noah’s understanding was evident as he spoke confidently to her. "It’s perfectly fine. I completely understand."

Just then, the servant approached, interrupting the awkward moment, and informed Anryr that the room was ready for Emily’s use.

"Lady, if you would please come with me, I will personally escort you to your room," the steward suggested, his voice filled with compassion.

Emily hesitated, her voice trembling with worry.

"But... but I want to wait for her. If anything happens..." Her words were interspersed with sobs, revealing the depths of her concerns and fears.

"I comprehend your worries. Please trust that we will keep you informed of any developments. Our healer will spare no effort to ensure her well-being. However, it may be best for you to rest and regain your strength. We will notify you immediately if there is any change," Garin responded.

"He’s right. Go on. Take a good rest. Dame Verns would be relieved to see you in good shape later," advised Noah.

Emily nodded reluctantly, her trust in the knight’s words slowly outweighing her reservations. With a heavy heart, she followed Anryr towards the room, praying for positive news and a swift recovery for her cherished friend.

As Emily and Anryr departed from their sight, Garin took the initiative to suggest a course of action to the remaining knights.

"Let’s convene in the knight’s quarters and gather at the main lounge while we wait," he proposed, his voice conveying purpose.

Once they had gathered in the main lounge, the knight took a deep breath and addressed the inquisitive knights.

"I understand that all of you have questions regarding the current situation. Let’s go ahead with patience and clarity. The lady you witnessed earlier is Miss Emily Baker. She was previously employed as a maid in Constance and had a close relationship with the patient we encountered."

Eli, unable to contain his curiosity, interjected with excitement. "Constance? Was she, by any chance, a palace maid? You said she’s Lady Raychard’s people."

Garin’s eyes widened in surprise at Eli’s assumptions. "A palace maid? What leads you to believe that?" he asked, seeking clarification. His brow furrowed in confusion.

"Lady Raychard is the Princess of Ardel. If Sir Brooks brought Miss Baker here, she must hold great significance to her," Damon added.

Garin’s expression shifted from confusion to sheer shock. "Our lady is the Princess of Ardel?!" he exclaimed in astonishment.

Noah turned to the other knights, seeking confirmation. "You all knew this already?" he questioned with surprise and bewilderment.

The knights nodded in unison, acknowledging their prior knowledge.

Garin glanced around, feeling left out. "Am I the only one who didn’t know about this?" he asked, his tone filled with self-deprecation.

Luke spoke up, breaking the silence. "I thought you knew, considering you were the one who brought an Ardelian here."

"Not just an Ardelian, but two Ardelians! The patient we encountered is also from Ardel," responded Garin.

Drystan, intrigued by the unfolding revelations, inquired about another person they had encountered. "What about the lady with the blue eyes who remained in the treatment room?" he asked.

"She was once a Dracorian. Now, she serves as a maid in Gerhard’s Castle," Garin revealed, sharing the information with his fellow knights in a hushed tone.

"Appointed by who? His Highness is going to be furious when he learns about this!" Alex exclaimed, raising his concern.

Garin took a deep breath, assuming responsibility for his actions. "I asked Mr Foster to hire her. It’s a complicated story, but I will personally inform His Highness about this," he stated, determined to handle the consequences of his decision.

Drystan furrowed his brow, deep in thought, as he tried to recall where he had seen the woman before.

"Come to think of it, she does look familiar... Where have I seen her?" he mused, his gaze fixed on the ceiling as he searched his memory.

A sudden realisation struck Luke.

"Wait... Isn’t she—" But Garin swiftly intervened.

"Yes, she is! Please, let’s not bring up that topic," he interjected, cutting off Luke’s words.

In a silent exchange of understanding, Garin signalled to the others not to speak of Elis’s true identity. Luke, catching on to the unspoken command, sealed his lips and refrained from further discussion.

Garin’s expression changed as he turned his attention to Noah, clarifying that there was more to address and discuss.

"How could you keep this from me? I felt like a fool not knowing about the lady’s true status in front of the others," he scolded, shifting the focus of the conversation.

Noah, feeling the weight of the accusation, defended himself.

"I told you, it’s part of the secret mission given by His Highness! I couldn’t simply disclose it without his explicit order," he explained, his voice hinting frustration.

"Fine!" Garin grunted in annoyance. He then redirected his attention to the other knights, seeking an explanation.

"How did all of you come to know about this?" he inquired, his tone indicating his genuine curiosity.

Alex was the first to respond.

"Mr Amares informed us a few days ago when the couple had a heated argument about the concealment of their identities from each other," he revealed, recalling the details.

Eli chimed in, his eyes wide with the memory of the intense conflict.

"It was a massive fight, I tell you. The lady gave His Highness the silent treatment and his tantrum... oh, it was like nothing I’ve ever seen! He smashed anything within reach, and the whole mansion was in chaos because of his rage," he recounted earnestly.

"You were saying they don’t know each other’s identities all this while?" asked Garin again, bewildered.

"Apparently, somehow, His Highness knew about our lady. But she didn’t. It all broke up when they got caught amidst His Highness’s fans’ commotion at the main gate," added Damon.

"This is unbelievable!" Garin shook his head.

Noah, being the lady’s first escort, couldn’t help but worry.

"Did he hurt her?" he asked, his concern for Anna’s well-being evident in his voice.

"Hurt her?" Drystan chuckled, a confident tone in his voice. "No one can harm our cunning lady, not even the almighty Grand Duke of Gerhard! If anything, I believe Mr Amares was the one who suffered greatly from the incident rather than the couple," he continued, his laughter echoing through the room.

"Are they still quarrelling?" Garin inquired, eager for an update on the situation.

Drystan’s smile widened as he shared the positive outcome.

"Definitely not! It ended remarkably well, all thanks to our Love Coach, Sir Navin. He managed to resolve everything in less than an hour, and to top it all off, Lady Raychard confessed her love to His Highness! They’ve been inseparable and overflowing with affection these past few days," he revealed, a hint of joy evident in his voice.

Garin’s amazement was palpable.

"Dear Lord! That’s incredible! And what about His Highness? Did he confess his love in return?" he inquired eagerly, his eyes widening with interest.

Eli added in, providing additional insight. "Well, there hasn’t been a verbal confession from him yet," he admitted.

"He doesn’t need to express it verbally. It’s written all over his face. Everyone knows he’s completely smitten with the lady," Drystan interjected, emphasising the depth of Kyren’s feelings.

"I believe ’crazily obsessed’ would be a more accurate description," Alex corrected with a smirk, prompting unanimous agreement from the other knights.

"So, who is the sick patient?" Luke inquired, shifting the focus to another aspect of their conversation.

"She is Dame Clara Verns. She is a knightess, an escort of our lady back in Ardel," Noah told them.

"A knightess?" Eli looked at the knight with widened eyes in astonishment. "I’ve never met a knightess before!"

"What happened to her? Why did she become so sick?" asked the blonde knight again, eager to know.

"I believe it’s best to halt the discussion about the new guests for now. While I understand your curiosity, it’s crucial for me to maintain the secrecy until I report the findings to His Highness," Noah interjected. "By doing so, I can ensure that I provide him with accurate information before revealing everything to you."

The knight then shifted the topic, seeking information about His Highness’s whereabouts. "Where is His Highness at this moment?" he inquired.

Alex promptly responded, providing the requested information. "He and Lady Raychard are currently at the palace. They had an audience with Their Majesties due to a Royal Decree issued by the king and were invited to spend the night there," he revealed.

"I’m aware of the Royal Decree. His Highness left me a message at the camp, and I discovered it upon my return. But shouldn’t he have met with Their Majesties much earlier?" Noah asked again.

"We only arrived here a few days ago, Sir Brooks. The journey was prolonged due to Lady Raychard falling ill and an encounter with a pack of wolves. Additionally, we had to switch our mode of transportation from land to sea due to her deteriorating condition. Sir Mills and Sir Jarr were dispatched ahead of us to relay the message to the palace," Luke explained, providing a detailed account of their journey.

Garin interrupted the conversation. "Oh... I thought you all had arrived much earlier!" he exclaimed.

Drystan couldn’t help but add. "You have no idea how adventurous our journey has been!" he exclaimed, hinting at the thrilling experiences they had encountered along the way.

"I suppose I’ll have to wait for their return then. At the moment, the most crucial matter is Dame Verns’s recovery. Her condition is not good, and I fear the worst," Noah stated, his worry apparent in his voice.

The group’s excitement quickly faded as they realised they had been caught up in their own stories, oblivious to Noah’s concerns.

"We apologise for our insensitivity, Sir Brooks. Rest assured, Mr Rafe Amares and Mr Norman should be more than capable of providing her with the necessary treatment," Damon said, his voice filled with empathy.

Noah nodded, grateful for the reassurance. He fervently prayed that nothing worse would befall Clara, hoping for her swift recovery.

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