CHAPTER 87: YOU ARE NOT ONE ARE YOU?

"Someone! Anyone out there! Bring the royal physician!" Ashen’s voice rang through the chamber, with panic.

Within moments, Stella and Ero rushed in, their faces pale with alarm as they saw Lumina in a weak state.

"My lady... what is wrong?" Stella asked, moving quickly to Lumina’s side.

"Po... poison," Ashen managed to choke out, his hand trembling as he reached toward her. But Lumina, despite her weakness, pushed her hands forward.

"It won’t reach me. I just... need to flush it," she whispered, her voice faint.

Stella’s eyes widened, but she nodded immediately. "My Lord, please... I can take care of her."

Ashen’s brows furrowed. "What? She is poisoned, and you would have me leave her in your care?"

"Ero! Go and fetch the royal physician!" Ashen barked. Ero spun on his heel to obey, but shook his head in worry.

"She doesn’t need a physician," Stella murmured, weakly lifting her hand and immediately she rushed outside leaving Ashen confused.

"I promise... I can handle this. The poison hasn’t reached my vital organs yet. All I need is flushing... to purge it from my system." Lumina explains weakly.

Ashen’s eyes stare at her panic warring with disbelief. He opened his mouth to argue, but Lumina’s gaze stopped him.

"Take me to the bed, Stella will be back soon" she forced out. Ashen picked her up and moved toward the bed, laying her down softly.

The door opened again and then Stella walked in with some herbs and a bowl in her hands.

"My Lord, it would be advisable if you leave the room," Stella said softly, glancing at Ashen’s tense form.

"Leave?" Ashen’s voice was laced with anger. "I will leave when you push me out. Not a moment before."

Stella’s lips pressed into a thin line. Lumina inhaled deeply, her hand reaching for Ashen’s briefly. "Do it, please you don’t want to see me dead do you?" she said.

Stella nodded and motioned for Ero also and without another word they stepped back leaving the room with quiet bows.

Ashen’s fists clenched as he paced, every step echoing against the stone floor. He could not touch her, could not help her directly, and yet he could hear her soft groans of pain as Stella began the procedure.

Ashen burst inside after a few minutes, not able to bear the groaning sound of Lumina.

"Are you sure a physician won’t be needed?"

"Step back, Your Highness. She must endure this herself. If you touch her, you will worsen it."

Ashen’s teeth clenched, and he nodded, his chest heaving as he stared at her pale face, willing her strength to hold.

Minutes dragged on, each one stretching longer than the last as he could only watch from afar how she was getting purified.

Lumina’s lips were cracked, her cheeks damp with sweat, her body shaking as the poison was slowly forced from her system.

She whispered words of discomfort through clenched teeth, but Stella’s hands were gentle guiding her, supporting her, ensuring her body did not succumb completely to the pain.

Finally, after what felt like an eternity, the flushing process ended. Lumina went limp, utterly drained.

Ashen didn’t hesitate as he swept her up in his arms, catching her before she could collapse to the floor.

Her head fell against his chest, her breathing shallow and ragged. He held her tightly, every muscle in him taut with relief and lingering anger.

Stella bowed respectfully to Ashen. "Your Highness... she will require complete rest now. Her body must recover fully."

Without another word, Ashen straightened, his hands still holding Lumina close. "Leave," he ordered.

Stella gave a small, understanding smile and retreated, bowing before stepping from the chamber.

Ashen remained, pacing slowly while keeping Lumina pressed to him still in fear.

The moment Stella walked out, Ashen pressed his ring and not long Aria flew inside morphing into her human form.

She stared at how her master had Lumina wrapped around his arms, no single form of irritation in his face, and this made her smirk.

"They will surely be shocked to hear you are here, supporting a woman," Aria said, her voice laced with caution as she stepped closer.

Ashen glared at her, his eyes sharp. "She is not just any woman, she is my wife," he replied, annoyance threading his tone.

Aria hesitated for a moment before continuing. "You still can’t trust her. She has several schemes up her sleeve..."

"Aria..." he warned softly, but his gaze remained steady on the sleeping Lumina.

"My lord... You cannot trust anyone, especially during a critical period like this," she pressed.

Ashen let out a slow sigh. He understood the caution, yet he could not deny what he had witnessed. Lumina was sly, yes, cunning in extraordinary ways but she had also proven herself.

"But she got me into the royal palace... She..." Ashen began, then paused, the memory of her decisiveness clear in his mind.

"My lord... what if she is doing all of this to gain your trust? The fact that Prince Adam brought her here is still unexplained..." Aria continued, her voice careful, but Ashen’s attention had shifted.

He glanced down at Lumina, lying pale but serene on the bed. Slowly, he adjusted her, ensuring she rested comfortably.

"I called you here for a reason!" Ashen let out interrupting her and she shut her lips instantly.

"She was poisoned by her father... I need to gather information about the truth behind this," he muttered.

"Investigate everything you can about her family, her allies, the powers she may possess. I need to know exactly what kind of woman I am dealing with. She has begun to hit me by surprise, again and again."

"Really? How?" Aria asked, stepping back in shock.

"She is an enchantress," Ashen stated flatly, the certainty in his voice making Aria take a small step backward. "I am beginning to believe the woman I married is more than ordinary."

"What? That... that is a taboo. That’s a weakness to you," Aria stammered, her eyes wide.

Ashen let out a tired sigh, his jaw tightening. "Just find out more about her," he ordered. Aria bowed deeply before retreating, leaving him alone with the quiet of the room and the steady rise and fall of Lumina’s chest.

Ashen’s gaze softened, and a small smirk curled his lips. He leaned closer, speaking quietly.

"I once called you an enchantress for a joke... You are not one, are you?"

Lumina remained still, her eyes closed, unmoved by his words. And yet, he could not help but linger, curiosity and concern warring in his chest.