CHAPTER 191: PLEASE GET BETTER

Lumina lay weakly on the bed, her skin pale and damp, her lips trembling as though she could no longer hold any strength.

Her breathing came uneven, her body curling slightly as if she were struggling to hold back pain.

Ashen sat beside her, worry written all over his face. No matter how many times he asked what had happened, she refused to speak. She only turned her head away, her blindfold slightly damp from tears, her lips pressed together like she was trying to hide something.

He brushed his thumb gently across her cheek. "Lumina, please talk to me," he whispered. "What happened to you? You are getting me so worried."

But she didn’t answer at this moment. Her silence frightened him more than anything. He could see how fragile she looked, her fingers twitching slightly, her breathing shallow. He reached for a bowl of cold water beside the bed, dipping a towel into it before pressing it against her forehead.

"Please, stop burning like this..." he murmured. The water cooled her skin for a few seconds, but soon enough, her temperature rose again. He felt completely helpless.

Lumina groaned softly, her voice so faint it sounded like a whisper of wind. Her hands gripped the blanket tightly, her face twisting as another wave of pain hit her.

She didn’t know what Adam had done this time around but it was very painful for her.

"Lumina!" Ashen panicked, holding her shoulders gently. "Please, open your eyes... don’t scare me like this."

He quickly fetched another cloth, trying to keep her cool, trying to make the pain stop, but nothing was helping.

He even lifted her, cradling her close to his chest, hoping his warmth would ease her shivering. Tears built up in his eyes, the thought of something. He had seen many injuries in battle, but never something like this. Never something that made him feel this powerless.

When Stella entered with a bowl of soup, she tried to coax Lumina into eating. "My lady, please. You need to take something."

But Lumina only turned her head away like a child refusing medicine.

Her lips trembled, her eyes hidden behind the blindfold. "No," she whispered weakly, "I don’t want it..."

"Lumina.." Ashen called out weakly and also in fear.

"She hasn’t eaten anything since morning," Stella said softly, setting the bowl down now fully worried.

Ashen rubbed his forehead in frustration. "She needs strength... this isn’t good," Stella added.

It was the first time Aria hadn’t accompanied her, since Aria had told him that Lumina isn’t happy with the way she tracks her he had told her to stay back and let her be.

Ashen had gone out in search of a cure for his mother, completely unaware that his wife would be attacked in his absence.

He didn’t even know something was wrong until the golden bracelet he had given Lumina flared faintly on his wrist. He had never been so terrified in his life when he saw that he could tell his wife needed him so badly.

By the time he returned, Lumina was already in this state. He had a lot of questions about how she got there and what had hurt her but she refused to say a word.

Her temperature wouldn’t go down. No matter what the cold water, herbs, or wet clothes, nothing worked. Lumina wouldn’t speak, wouldn’t move, wouldn’t eat. She just lay there, staring blankly, like she had forgotten how to talk.

Just then, the door opened and Serena walked in. Her expression was cold and unreadable.

"Everyone leave," she ordered, not minding Ashen was there.

Ashen’s head snapped up immediately. "Are you saying..."

"This isn’t the time for arguments," Serena cut in. "Someone tampered with the herbs Lumina took. She inhaled poison and it spread fast, mixed with the herbs inside her. I need to detoxify her now, otherwise it would be dangerous."

Stella stepped in front of her protectively. "Poison? Again?" she hissed. A strange, fierce aura surrounded her, so intense that Serena instinctively stepped back.

"What poison? And what herb? My lady doesn’t take herbs without my interference... she is very picky and conscious when it comes to what she puts in her mouth." Stella stepped forward again so close to Serena.

"W..what are you?" Serena demanded, startled. Stella’s eyes darkened, not ready to answer that question. Even Ashen is amazed seeing how the obedient hand maiden changed instantly.

"Is my lady like this because of you?" Stella asked again, ready to unleash her anger on Serena.

"I don’t understand what you are talking about," Serena replied quickly. "I just want to help her, because she told me about it today!" Serena quickly lied, hoping this would calm Stella.

"If it would save her then do it," Ashen said sharply, his voice low. "Now. Stella, move aside."

Stella hesitated, until Ashen glared at her once more she snorted and shifted away.

"You also need to leave Ashen." Serena let out and he snickered.

"You are my brother’s lover... how will I trust her with you?"

Lumina suddenly reached out to his hands the first movement she had made since she had been brought into the chambers and weakly gripped Ashen’s hand, he could feel her desperation from that hold.

"Please," Serena whispered faintly.

Ashen tightened his hold on her hand and nodded at Serena. "Do whatever you must... I don’t think I can leave."

Serena bit her lip. "Ashen, I am sorry, but you need to step aside..."

"I am not leaving her!" His voice cracked slightly. "Can’t you see she needs me? I already ignored her once, and looked where that led. I won’t walk away again."

Serena stared at him for a moment, clearly conflicted. "Ashen, remember you have a mother fighting for her life and I carry the heir of this family. Don’t test my patience."

Ashen’s gaze hardened. "And remember you are also touching my wife. If anything happens to her, I won’t hesitate to destroy whatever future that heir holds."

Serena swallowed hard and said nothing more. She knelt beside the bed, placing her hands above Lumina’s chest. A faint glow began to form, a soft golden light swirling around her palms.

She whispered a few words, and the light seeped into Lumina’s skin. The air shimmered faintly, but the effect didn’t last Lumina suddenly gasped, her body jerking slightly before going limp again.

"It’s not working," Serena said under her breath, frustration flickering in her tone.

Ashen quickly sat behind Lumina, lifting her so she rested against his chest. "Try again," he said urgently. "Please, try again."

Serena nodded and placed her hands once more over Lumina’s stomach. Her eyes began to glow faintly this time, her Drakonis mark shining through her wrist. A pulse of energy burst outward as she muttered another word. The room was filled with a soft light that quickly faded into thin air.

Lumina groaned, her hand clutching Ashen’s shirt weakly. Ashen looked down, fear in his eyes. "It’s going to be over soon."

Serena kept going, beads of sweat forming on her forehead. Finally, after several tries, Lumina’s breathing steadied. Her face relaxed slightly, the color slowly returning to her skin.

Serena exhaled in relief. "It’s done... the poison’s been neutralized. But she’s too weak. You need to keep her calm, Ashen. Don’t let her get upset or frightened, or the poison might return."

Ashen nodded, brushing the hair away from Lumina’s forehead. "Thank you," he let out quietly.

Serena turned to leave, but his voice stopped her at the door. "Wait."

He laid Lumina gently back on the bed, her hand still clutching his sleeve even in her sleep. "What herb did you say she took?" he asked.

Serena froze. Her eyes widened slightly, and for a moment, she said nothing.

"Serena," Ashen called again, his voice holding a warning this time around.

"Speak...or I won’t care that you are my brother’s concubine."

She sighed now, lowering her gaze. "She... she asked me for a mixture of herbs. She said she wanted to play the pity card, to get your attention since we were angry at her, and she thought if she looked ill, you would forgive her faster."

Ashen’s heart dropped. "What?" he whispered.

"She didn’t mean for this to happen," Serena continued. "It was her own doing, Ashen. You can’t blame anyone else. If anything, it’s your fault for making her feel unloved."

He was speechless as she quietly left the room. The door closed behind her, leaving only silence.

Ashen turned back to Lumina, guilt tearing at him from inside. He sat beside her again, gently pulling her into his arms. She stirred faintly, her head resting on his shoulder.

"I am sorry," he whispered, his voice breaking. "I should never have let you feel alone."

He held her closer, kissing the top of her head softly. "Please get better... I can’t lose you."

Her hand moved weakly, resting against his chest, and even though she didn’t say a word, that small gesture was enough.

Ashen stayed beside her all night, whispering quiet apologies into her hair, praying silently that she would open her eyes again by morning.