CHAPTER 35: A STEP CLOSER

Queen Sephora’s unconscious body was gently laid on the soft divan in the royal healing chamber. Her silk gown was slightly torn, and her face was pale and swollen.

The golden light from the lanterns danced across her skin, casting flickers of shadow that made her look even more fragile.

Around her temples, small blisters had started to form, and her lips had turned a strange, deep red almost like dried blood.

Ashen stood nearby, staring down at her. His jaw was tight, but his eyes were filled with worry. He hated seeing his mother like this. The poison had done enough damage to leave her body weak and struggling.

"Be quick," Ashen said in a low voice to the physicians inside the chamber. "Prepare everything we need."

"Yes, My Lord," one of the older physicians said with a deep bow, though his hands shook slightly as he opened a large wooden box. Inside were herbs, glass bottles filled with elixirs, and small jars of thick, colored salves.

Before any of them could speak, Lumina stepped forward. She moved without fear, her voice calm.

"I need aloe-tar, waterleaf resin, and sunroot oil," she said clearly. Then she paused. "The red one, not the green. The green will burn her."

The physicians scrambled to obey, pulling out each item quickly but carefully. Ashen didn’t wait either. He took the ingredients from their hands one by one and passed them to Lumina, his movements quick but controlled. Not a single drop was spilled.

He watched her closely. She looked focused. She wasn’t a royal healer, but she moved like one.

Lumina knelt beside Queen Sephora and placed the ingredients in a clean silver bowl.

She took a small wooden spoon and stirred the aloe-tar and sunroot oil together until it formed a smooth, reddish paste.

Then she slowly added the waterleaf resin when sure it was the one, which thinned the mixture and gave it a soft shine.

She dipped her fingers into the mixture and rubbed it gently on the Queen’s temples where the blisters had begun.

The balm gave off a cool, earthy scent. The Queen’s skin twitched slightly at the touch, but she did not wake.

Next, Lumina rolled up her sleeves and placed one hand on the Queen’s chest, right over her heart, and the other hand just below the throat. She waited a second, then gave a quick, firm push upward with her lower hand.

The Queen’s body jolted forward, like someone waking from a nightmare. A deep cough burst from her lips, and dark, sticky liquid poured from the side of her mouth onto a cloth. Her body shook, and her breath came out in heavy, painful gasps.

The physicians gasped. Ashen just stood there watching her in awe

Lumina gently lifted Queen Sephora’s chin and used a clean cloth to wipe away the poison. Then she took a small drop of the sunroot oil and placed it on the Queen’s tongue.

"She should be able to breathe better now," Lumina said softly, mostly to herself.

Suddenly, the chamber doors burst open with a loud bang.

"Enough!" Prince Adam’s voice boomed through the chamber. "How dare a blind girl lay her hands upon the Queen?!"

He stormed toward them and before anyone could react, he drew his dagger and was about to place it on Lumina’s neck. But Ashen was fast, he grabbed the blade of the dagger, stopping it from touching his woman’s neck.

Ashen’s eyes darkened instantly "Put it down," he growled.

"She’s poisoning her again! Look at her, what can she even see?" Adam barked. "Get her away from Mother!"

"I said put it down." Ashen’s voice wasn’t loud, but it rumbled with fury.

"Don’t make me forget you’re my younger brother," Adam said coldly.

But Lumina, still kneeling beside the Queen, didn’t move. Her voice was clear, "If you interrupt me now... then the moment I remove my hands before the last of the poison is drawn out, your mother will die. And her blood will be on your hands, not mine." This made Adam freeze.

Ashen stepped closer to his brother, his hand on the hilt of his blade.

"Move it, Adam," he said again, this time with a tone that made even the physician look up in awe.

For a long, tense second, Adam stared down at Lumina. Then, with a sharp breath, he withdrew the dagger, fury lingering in his narrowed eyes.

Lumina returned her attention to the Queen, her fingers trembled slightly, but her voice never faltered.

The moments that followed were silent save for the soft drip of the herbs and the slow chants under Lumina’s tongue.

At last, the Queen’s chest stopped heaving and settled into a softer, more rhythmic breath.

The physician stepped forward, examining her quickly when Lumina said she was done.

"The worst has passed," he said, his voice breathless. "The poison has left her bloodstream... Her Highness is resting. She should wake within a few hours." Everyone in the room exhaled in relief hearing this.

Ashen turned to Lumina, watching her as she stood, her body swaying slightly from exhaustion.

Her face was damp with sweat, and yet she held herself like royalty. Prince Adam’s voice was subdued when he finally spoke. "Thank you..."

Then, for the first time, the ever-arrogant Crown Prince bowed.

At the same time, King Aden stepped into the room just as Lumina gave a graceful nod in return. "It was my pleasure," she said simply and turned to leave the room with the guidance of Ashen.

The moment they got outside the door Rhynera also came running from the hallway and reached for Lumina’s hand with fear written all over her face. "How is the Queen?" she asked, her voice full of worry.

But before Lumina could answer, Ashen’s tone boomed through the air. "Don’t come near."

Rhynera froze mid-step, startled. Her gaze flicked from Ashen to Lumina, unsure.

Ashen ignored her. He turned to the King, giving a short bow. "She is sleeping now, Father."

King Aden, overwhelmed with relief, stepped forward and placed a firm hand on Ashen’s shoulder.

"You both have done well. And you..." He looked toward Lumina with something unreadable in his expression, "You have earned this whole realm’s respect today."

But Lumina only bowed her head gently. "Don’t thank me yet, Your Highness. Let’s wait until the Queen wakes."

King Aden nodded and walked into the healing chamber where his wife lay peacefully. The doors closed behind him.

Ashen and Lumina walked away without a word finding their way back to their chambers.

Stella was the first to rush forward as she saw them. She threw her arms around Lumina.

"You did it!" she whispered joyfully, clutching her lady with trembling hands.

Ashen and Ero exchanged glances. "What does she mean by that?" Ero asked and Stella paused and glanced at Lumina, unsure.

"Is he to be trusted?" Stell asked in a low tone.

Ashen didn’t hesitate before he responded. "He is my aide. He had been with me since childhood. I trust him the way you trust your lady." Ashen replied, glancing at Lumina.

Lumina lifted her chin slightly. "Stella... forget making anyone trust anybody."

She stepped out of Stella’s embrace and walked slowly toward the window.

"This is only the beginning.." Ashen watched her carefully, now curious about what was going on. "What do you mean, Lumina?"

She smiled faintly, tilting her head. "No need to be bothered about that, the real deal is that... When the Queen wakes... We would be a step closer."