Tyran spent the whole evening tepid sponging a bare chested Ren who was burning all over.
Fear gripped him,his heart never ceased its frantic pounding as he sat at the edge of the bed,praying while dabbing relentlessly,the damp cloth gliding across his heated skin.
He paused at intervals to press his palm at against the general's skin,only for his hand to recoil each time from the scorching temperature.
Rengyotsu's chapped lips did not stop trembling,he had been wincing and groaning in his sleep,low pained sounds escaping him as rigors coarsed throughout his body sending visible shivers down his frame.
"No...no...I didn't kill her,I would never!"Ren whispered.
He groaned loudly,his teeth grinding faintly and Tyran moved closer,arching his back and leaning in to listen.
"I would never hurt him...arrrrrggghhhh!!...It's all my fault"he winced, turning his head from side to sidd as though tormented by something only he could see.
Tyran moved away wondering what he meant by her.
Had the general once killed a woman he cared deeply for?or a woman belonging to someone he cared for.
The scarlet general care deeply for a woman?
He discarded the thought immediately.
No woman could put up with such cold bizarre personality,the last thing he would think about was the general having a woman in his life.
And the Ren he knew cared nothing for others,he had only ever been loyal to the imperial family and that was nothing but having a sense of duty although hades—hades had told him otherwise,but knowing Rengyotsu's personality too well,it was difficult to be completely convinced.
Even if he asked him he was certain he wasn't getting any response but he would ask either way.
Although it was none of his business,Tyran found himself getting curious,he had lived for a long time but this one memory clinged unto him enough to torment him with nightmares.
Tyran noticed Ren's heart suddenly began pounding fast,his chest heaving with every breath.
The physician had reported a much more stable breathing,his condition appeared to be worsening.
The whole room had been lit up,the lead assassin gone for an errand leaving behind the physician who sat at the foot of the bed with his staff,waiting on the unconscious general.
He had mixed and administered a decoction from the herbs Tyran provided,the bitter scent still lingering faintly in the air and had carefully performed acupuncture.
Tyran pulled the covers gently over the general and the sleeping imperial prince, tucking them in with care.
"Why is he this way?...he appears to be worsening"
"Your majesty this is expected as the poison caused severe organs damages to—"
"But I healed those damages myself,he was more stable then than now".
"Calm yourself your majesty...you might have healed his damaged organs,but their released contents contaminated his blood..he has a strong will to live, such will triumph over deaths own will"The blind physician bowed slightly.
Tyran eyed him for a brief moment before resuming dabbing his face,his arms ached from its continuous motion,his muscles stiffened and protesting yet he didn't stop.
Carolene had offered to help earlier but he had sent her away, prepared to see this to the end.
He paused only when the general's temperature improved slightly,his eyes never leaving Ren's pale face until the quiet strings of sleep slowly began knitting him into its embrace.
In a short while only the physician remained, watching from where he sat,his eyes darting subtly around the room,travelling from one occupant to the other.
His eyes finally rested on the imperial prince,from the prophecy he had been told about.
After what transpired at the courtyard,once the general awakens,the emperor would never let him live to keep the prince's State of health a secret.
If he would be martyred then he would take the cursed prince with him to save Delvin from its looming doom.
He had dipped his acupuncture needle in poison ahead of time and had succeeded in blocking the general's meridians,but his condition wasn't deteriorating as expected.
Only one needle was remaining and he had reserved it for the silver haired child,if ever the opportunity arose.
He supported himself to stand, leaning on his staff and moved swiftly yet quietly to the other side of the bed and from the medicine bag,he retrieved the needle,it's tip glinting faintly under the light.
Without a second thought his hands swung downwards, precise and lethal,targeting the huge artery at his neck.
At the last second,just before it reached him, Ramses's eyes snapped open.
He froze.
"You!...you aren't blind arent you?"He yawned lightly, his voice oddly calm"You think a tiny needle would kill me?".
"Your...your highness I —he paused when he felt the prince's had let his guard down, seizing the moment to stick the needle in but his hand wouldn't move,it hung still, suspended in mid air.
"You even put up a sound proof barrier to block my father's hearing...turns out you are not just any physician,you do have some magic tricks off your sleeves"Rames motioned towards the general with his head.
"That which you did to him,I order you to undo".
A startled physician stared back at him, disbelief creeping through his features.
"You have been watching—"
"No,I can smell the stench of the poison in this needle mingled with his blood"
He slowly guided the physician's immobilized hand aside before sitting up,his movements unhurried.
"Heal him before I kill you myself ".
"I don't believe it...what are you?You are but a child yet not only do you have a sharp tongue,your sense of smell is beyond what is considered normal.The prophecy is true,you are indeed cursed—"
Ramses suddenly grabbed his chin, pulling him closer to his face,his eyes glinting with a dangerous playful mischief.
"Never mind that....You don't want to find out".
"Then do what you must,the emperor will kill me either way,I am old and grey headed,i seek nothing but Delvin's good".
Ramses's face twisted into a smirk as he let go of him to adjust himself on the bed.
"Hmmm...I wonder whose blood smells so similar to yours"he sniffed in the air before his gaze rested on the physician"I can smell her blood from miles away,it's a girl, your daughter?"
He raised a brow.
"If I may guess correctly you planned to killed me and flee with her someplace where my father wouldn't find you"
His eye widened as the idea lit in his head before letting let out a soft dark chuckle,shaking his head.
"Perhaps she isn't even in your records to begin with...Even if you die,I won't breathe a word about this to my father,so what do you think?... Think fast!...would you rather die alone or do you need company on the other side?".
"I have no such daughter—".
"And while you are at it,tell me about the prophecy and whose lips spilled it into your ears,make it quick"Ramses pointed to the general,his gaze hardening as he moved aside for the physician"Last chance!.... before I wake father!".
A trembling physician climbed into the bed to sit close to Ren before he began healing him,turning occasionally to look the prince's way whose eyes never left them.
"Who sent you?"Ramses asked,he could feel the physician swallow the lump of saliva in his throat as his lips trembled.
"I won't ask again—"
"A noble man by the name Tydor...Lo—lord Tydor your high—ness".
"And about the prophecy?".
"That you are Delvin's doom.Long before you are born a prophecy has been fortold that your birth will cause Delvin's inevitable destruction...The sorceror's and elders requested your father got rid of you but he paid no heed to their words ".
Ramses placed a hand under his chin, considering this.
"That would explain their glaring at me earlier...but how would I harm a realm I would rule,makes no sense"His gaze returned to the physician."Any more?"
"You are not a full semonio—"
"Stop!!"he let out a palm to stop his talking.This was the part did not want to hear a word about.He knew he was different and hated being reminded of it.
"Something else?"
"That is all,I was told my poor daughter would be well taken care of when I am gone and all my debts cleared.Have mercy your highness.It wasn't my intent,I only wanted delvin's good—"
"Shhhhhuuuhhh"Ramses cut in,his eyes closing to reopen immediately as he pressed his index finger against his lips.
"I want to see that which I smell mingled with his blood,extracted and show it to me!"Ramses said watching the physician's hand slide above Ren's body and towards his head,his mouth falling open to release a small black liquid shaped like a ball.
His palm stretched below it as he showed the prince who studied it carefully,titling his head from side to side.
"Say...I wonder how this would taste,why don't you help me find out and tell me".
"Your highness!"the physical cried out.
"Didn't you say father would kill you either way?"
"Have mercy!have mercy"he cried out again, shuddering from fright.
Ramses chuckled lightly at the sight before shaking his head.
"Nevermind my jesting,I'll get father do the honours—but don't worry,I will keep my promise,your daughter will see no harm nor will father know anything about this...as for your debt,consider it cleared".
"Your grace is immeasurable your highness"he said,his head lowered"Your—".
He paused when Tyran stirred slightly in his sleep,then his eyes swung open.
But the physician had climbed down quickly before he raised his head.
"What is this noise"he asked,his expression brightening up when his gaze fell on Ramses.
"You are awake!"
"Yes father"
Then Tyran caught sight of the physician's leg which he instantly pulled out of the bed.
"What are you two doing?"
"No—nothing father he was just uhhh playing blind man's lane with me"
Tyran eyed him quizzedly.
"Blind man's lane?"
"It's a game I picked up at the academy where both players shut their eyes and uhhhhh...uhhh hide... their feet—themselves I mean"he cleared his throat before he continued."Yes themselves,he appeared the most suitable player because he lacks sight".
"Your majesty as concerning the result of this test play,he is quite energetic and well"The physician added with a low bow.
Tyran's attention returned back to the general,taking his warm hand in his.
He touched his forehead to confirm his temperature then turned to the physician with a warm smile before returning his gaze back to Ren.
"Father,i found something interesting on the one named Lord Tydor,it appears he wants to get rid of me".