en
into the dark volcanic rock of the northern mountains, its colossal walls bearing deep, jagged gouges from centuries of
self as Mr. Price, the castle steward, waited by the frozen steps alongside two nervous servants. Hi
formidable seat of military glory, the fortress no
ked, pulling my woolen cloa
murmur. "Lord Carlisle... is in a critical state, my
of the main keep, stopping at the m
o me. It was a vile, nauseating cocktail of dried blood, festering flesh, stale lin
nded quietly, keeping my voice
pped
vet drapes. In the center of the vast room, resting upon a massive four-poste
d. Boyce
in this state of severe emaciation, his features were strikingly sculpted, with high cheekbones, a sha
wrought upon his b
his chest down to his abdomen. The wound was severely infected-blackened necrotic tissue lined the edges, oozing f
gust. Instead, my blood ran cold
s medical malpractice the instant I saw it. This wasn't merely the aftermath of a catastr
ysiological indicators: shallow, erratic respirations, cyanotic nail beds in
there was an unmistakable foreign toxin suppressing his ce
Widow'
s. It was completely colorless and odorless, systematically destroying neura
im micro-doses for months, making sure
e. This was a calculated
t the motionles
d by our families, judged as worthless by a co
passive shield against House Reynolds. I was going to surgically excise every inch of ro
ad buried a dead beast, I would
rway where Mr. Price sto
l be staying in
. it is unfit for a noble bride. The smell alone is toxic!
onward, his life, his room, and his medical care belong entirely to me. Now, listen carefully: bring me the cleanest boiled li
sibly stunned by the
d, bowing low. "
turned back to the bed and gently pulled
ers lightly testing his faint pulse. "Your executioners
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