CHAPTER 307: INCREDIBLY WEAK

"Master Vallyn," Lord Paul addressed her father quite politely. Rose didn’t even think he knew her father’s name.

"Yes," her father replied, his hands falling to his sides as he unfolded his arms. He gave the physician a receptive look and with his arms unfolded he looked less threatening.

The seriousness of Paul’s voice and expression was hard to ignore. Regardless of how her father felt about the situation, this was a physician that looked after the crown prince—he was without question better skilled than anyone around.

"I must speak plainly," Paul said, looking from father to daughter.

Rose shuffled on her feet and leaned her head forward. She felt very disturbed, and Paul’s expression wasn’t making her feel any better.

"As my lord pleases," Vallyn stiffly replied.

Paul nodded before he started to speak again. "Your wife is incredibly weak, and the illness of her heart worsens." Paul noticed the bigger man didn’t say anything, just glanced at his wife who was peacefully sleeping.

"You can see how her lips turn bluish and how her skin has lost color. Her breath is short, and her limbs are swelling—a contrast to her shrinking body. These are not symptoms that can be restored. I will do what I can to alleviate the pain but..." Paul paused as he stared from father to daughter again.

"I cannot cure her and her..." he paused again, taking a deep breath. "Her time is drawing near."

Rose didn’t even know when her father grabbed her palm, but he suddenly squeezed it at the physician’s final words, and Rose’s breath hitched. She used her free hand to cover her mouth to keep from crying out.

Her father, on the other hand, didn’t even flinch. Paul immediately understood that it wasn’t the first time Rose’s father had heard this. He could see the pain in the older man’s eyes, but other than that there was no other change as he listened to Paul.

Paul had suspected he would not be able to help much, but he didn’t imagine the severity of it. She must have been gravely sick for a very long time. Perhaps he could have helped, but the chances of that were still slim. She would have succumbed to the effects of her illness eventually.

Paul allowed some time to pass before he continued speaking again. "I will prepare herbs that she will take tonight. It should help with the pain," he said. "I am sorry I cannot do more."

Rose watched the corner of Paul’s eyes crinkle as he apologized. Rose thought he was too nice for someone who was attending to the next King. He didn’t even have to help, but she was glad he did.

Rose slowly nodded and pulled her hand off her mouth. She had to pull herself together even though all she wanted to do was sit in a corner and weep for her dying mother. She couldn’t do that, she had to be strong for the woman who birthed her.

"Thank you, Lord Paul," Rose whispered.

He turned to her and gave her a sad look. "I cannot stay too long, especially since I know the state of your mother. There is nothing I can do that will change her situation. I have to return to Furtherfield. I worry about His Highness. I hope you understand."

Rose nodded. "I understand."

"I shall seek out the herbs I need to make the brew for her," Paul said and started towards the door.

"Let me come with you, Lord Paul," Rose softly offered.

"No," he said, shaking his head without turning back. "You have only just returned. Spend as much time with your family. I shall bring you the herbs before nightfall," Paul replied.

He paused as he got to the front door, knowing that Rose had followed after him. She opened the door to the small cottage and curtsied.

Paul smiled tightly at her and walked out the door. His horse was tied to the side of the house. Rose stepped out of the door with him and helped undo the horse.

She led the horse to him, and Paul didn’t immediately climb onto the horse. He looked at her as though he might say something. However, he simply accepted the reins and climbed onto the horse.

Rose wanted to ask if he knew his way around here. She wasn’t worried about Thomas—he had been here before. Paul, on the other hand, didn’t seem like he had lived anywhere else except the capital.

"Where will you go?" Rose asked softly.

"The marketplace," he said softly. "I should find what I need there."

Rose wasn’t sure about that. Depending on the kind of herbs he needed, it might be a little hard to find them in the market, and some might need to be fresh. The only person who had those was the healer at the outskirts of town. That was where Rose had gotten the herbs her mother had been taking.

She wasn’t a physician, but most of the villagers went to her if they fell ill or hurt themselves, and she always had the right herbs for them. Rose was certain she would have the herbs Paul needed.

"You could ask for Madam Carol, the healer," Rose mumbled. She didn’t want him to waste his time looking around. "Better yet, let me come with you." She glanced towards her horse.

"No," Paul said sternly. "I will be fine. If I need anything, I will ask around. Stay with your family. You haven’t seen them in a long time..."

Rose nodded, feeling her eyes swell. She could almost hear the rest of his words. Her mother didn’t have long—she should spend as much time as she could now.

"I will get the herbs. If I can’t bring them, I’ll send someone."

Rose nodded and stepped away from the horse. She knew Paul and Thomas would stay in the baron’s house. She didn’t know how long they intended to stay in Edenville, but with the snow and Paul’s urge to return to the crown prince, she knew it wouldn’t be long.

When Paul rode off into the distance, she was still standing in the empty yard with snow falling onto her skin. She didn’t feel it. After some time, she turned around and walked into the house.