In a stroke of twisted luck, the symptoms of a fatal intracranial hematoma perfectly mirrored the first trimester of a difficult pregnancy. She could literally hide her terminal decline in plain sight.
So, she let them believe it. She simply leaned her head against the velvet cushions, murmured that she was incredibly tired, and went to sleep.
When they finally returned to the Vanguard estate, Heena retreated to her chambers and slept for hours, her failing body dragging her into a heavy, suffocating exhaustion.
From that day onward, a noticeable shift settled over the Vanguard Madam. She stopped going out to terrorize the civil court. She spent most of her days indoors, sleeping far more than a seasoned warrior ever should. She ate slightly more to appease her grandparents, only to frequently, violently empty her stomach hours later. Anyone in the estate who harbored even a shadow of a doubt had their suspicions entirely erased by her constant lethargy and nausea.
