220: Who Brought Me Here?

Who Brought Me Here?

Before Drayce left for the day's conference, he inquired about the situation of his friend's mate.  1

"How is she?"

"She is still unconscious, Your Majesty," Martha answered. 

Doubts appeared on the king's face. "Is she with fever?"

"That is not the case," the woman politely responded. "According to Lord Yorian, there must be another factor that troubles her body, but we determined it is not related to her powers."

His brows furrowed. "Where is he now?"

"Lord Yorian has left to seek out clues from her room."

Drayce nodded before dismissing Martha. He would let Yorian first understand Oriana's real situation before informing Arlan.

The King of Megaris had headed out by the time the ancient elf returned to their mansion. Yorian went to check on Oriana where he found Martha on the door, about to enter. Stepping inside the quiet chamber, they found the young witch still unconscious.

The morning sunlight filtered through the partially drawn curtains, casting a soft glow on that fragile figure clad in a white nightgown. A small crease could be found between her brows, her lips pale and dry. Her delicate face was framed with tresses of reddish blond hair that cascaded over the pillow, further highlighting her sickly complexion.

The sight of the pale and motionless Oriana made her resemble a wilting white lily, nothing short of a noble lady suffering from an ailment. 

Martha moved to replenish the incense on the side, making sure the soothing fragrance would at least alleviate the pain Oriana was suffering from. 

"Anything useful you found, Lord Yorian?" 

Yorian pulled out a small pouch made of dark fabric. "This."

"What is it?"

"I am unfamiliar with this pill, but this child has quite a stock of this in her luggage. It ought to be related to her current situation." Yorian passed the pouch to Martha. She pulled out one pill and observed it. She smelled it and even tasted it which made her brows furrow. 

In the past, Martha might not be Erich's apprentice, but with their relationship, she had learned a thing or two from him about medicinal herbs. Not to mention, she was a witch who could create potions, she had enough knowledge to understand the use of this pill. 

"She has been taking that herb?" Martha mumbled as she guessed the main ingredient of the pill. "Since she turned out this way, if I am not wrong, she must have been taking it for a long time." 

"What is it?"

Martha briefly explained its usage, before adding, "It must be her last resort to not get caught when she is in a disguise as a man."

"No wonder she is like this," Yorian spoke as she looked at Oriana with a pitiful gaze. 

Yorian went to check her pulse. "At least her pulse is better than how weak it was last night. Her temperature has gone down as well." He walked towards the door. "Though you are giving her witch potions, I will also create an elixir my people use as well to help her regain her strength faster."

"Thank you, Lord Yorian."

—

The sun was at its peak by the time Oriana regained her consciousness. 

Feeling weak and heavy-headed, she struggled to open her eyes. Despite her blurry gaze, she was able to determine she was not inside her own room within the servant quarters. After all, a servant's bed had no canopy and the mattress could not be this soft.

'And this smell…frankincense?'

She slowly rubbed her eyes. "This shouldn't be a dream?"

"It's not a dream, Oriana," said Martha who just entered the room. "How are you feeling?"

"M-Miss Martha?!" Shocked and puzzled, she shot to sit up, but she could not help but let out a groan at the discomfort her movement brought about to her body. She tried to get hold of her situation. "W-Why are you here? No, I mean, but, you…?" 

The older witch understood her disorientation.

"Lie back down. It's fine," Martha said as she gently pushed Oriana back to bed. "You are in a guest room in our mansion. We found you unconscious in your room, so you are brought here to be treated."

"Treated?" she mumbled and tried to remember what happened. 

Some time in the night, as she wept inside her room, she was struck by intense waves of pain in her belly. Her body had turned numb due to the cold and she could not even get up or walk properly.  She belatedly understood what was happening to her, but it was too late for she had soon lost consciousness.

Despite Martha's attempt to calm her, the young woman was visibly agitated.

"'We'? Who is 'we'? Who found me? Who brought me here?" Oriana asked, as her identity being discovered scared her the most. The one who brought her to the mansion of Megaris ought to have discovered she was having her monthly cycle, and in turn, the fact that she is a woman. 

"Does that matter at this moment?" Martha countered. 

"It does. You know my situation, Miss Martha." Oriana was panicking. "I want to know. Does everyone know that I am a woman now?"

"No one knows other than us," Yorian replied in Martha's stead as he entered the room, "and I was the one to bring you here. You need not worry."

Martha bowed towards Yorian as a greeting, using the gesture to hide the complicated expression on her face. She had mixed feelings about lying to Oriana, but she also could determine  if what they were doing was right or wrong. However,  it was what Drayce told them to do and they could not go against the King's order. 

The elf was so fluent with lies that he said those words with a straight face, without a tinge of hesitation.

"My lord did? How did you know I passed out?"

"I happened to be stargazing last night when I saw you fall into the water. Didn't I tell you before that I can be the one to get you out of trouble when things go out of your hand?"He smiled playfully at her.  "I thought you needed a shoulder to cry on so I visited you, however I found you on the floor, unconscious. Seeing you with blood did scare me. Oh, my poor heart."

An embarrassed flush colored her cheeks. 

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