The study room felt eerily silent after Chang Hao's departure, the only sounds being Bella's shallow breathing from the adjacent bedchamber. Physician Tanaka remained by her side, monitoring her vital signs with practiced precision.
Chang Hao returned within minutes, his face pale and drawn as he carried the partially completed drawing with trembling hands. He approached Bella's bedside cautiously, not wanting to disturb her fragile rest.
"She drew me," he whispered to Tanaka, holding up the ink-smeared paper. "Look at this - she was drawing my face when she collapsed."
The emperor's voice cracked with emotion as he stared at the cartoonish likeness of himself. "She remembers me even when her mind is broken. She fights to keep me close even when she can't speak my name."
Tanaka examined the drawing briefly before focusing back on Bella's unconscious form.
"She was thinking of me , when her life was almost taken away. He says his voice cracking." He held the paper to his chest, afraid to stain it or crumble it.
"She drew me", he starts crying, loosing his emperor's voice and sounding like an ordinary man , broken by his lover's pain. "She drew me", he knees fell to the ground beside Bella as he start to cry and crumble not caring if his physician or any guard saw him like that.
Physician Tanaka paused his ministrations, his own expression softening with pity as he witnessed the mighty Emperor reduced to tears. He stepped back discreetly, giving Chang Hao space to grieve while continuing to monitor Bella's vitals from a distance.
The guards posted outside the bedchamber door heard the muffled sobs and exchanged uneasy glances. Never in their years of service had they seen their sovereign break down so completely, not even after the loss of his father .
"Your Majesty," Tanaka said gently after a few moments, approaching cautiously. "Miss Bella needs you strong right now. She will need your strength to pull through this."
Chang Hao didn't respond immediately, his forehead pressed against the edge of Bella's mattress as he clung tightly to the drawing. The ink was smudging against his robe but he ,didn't seem to notice or care.
As if hearing my beloved cries in my consciousness, my brows twitched uncomfortably ,my eyes slowly opens, with the little strength I had in me, I painfully raised my hand and stroke his head to comfort him. Hu- Hu- ... Do-dont cr-ry for meee
Chang Hao's head snapped up at the sound of Bella's raspy voice, his tear-streaked face turning toward her with disbelief. The moment her weak hand touched his hair, he grabbed it gently, pressing it against his cheek.
"Bella," he breathed her name like a prayer, his voice hoarse from crying. "You're awake. My love, you're awake."
Physician Tanaka rushed forward immediately, checking Bella's pulse and eye response with renewed urgency. "Her heartbeat is stronger! The antidote is working!"
The emperor ignored the doctor completely, his entire world narrowing to the woman struggling to comfort him despite her own pain. "Don't you dare try to console me right now," he said firmly but gently, capturing her hand in both of his. "I'm the one who should be comforting you."
He leaned down to kiss her forehead carefully, avoiding the rash that still marred her skin.
Q
Chang Hao watched helplessly as Bella's eyes fluttered shut once more, her small hand slipping from his grasp as exhaustion claimed her again. The brief glimpse of awareness had been both a miracle and a cruel torment - seeing her consciousness return just long enough to offer comfort before slipping away.
"Rest now, my brave dragon," he whispered, gently laying her hand back on the covers. "Sleep and heal. I'll be here when you wake again."
Physician Tanaka approached cautiously with another dose of medication. "Your Majesty, she showed remarkable resilience waking up like that. Her body is fighting hard to recover."
The emperor nodded distractedly, his gaze fixed on Bella's peaceful but pale face. The rash had begun to fade slightly thanks to the antidotes, but the memory of its appearance lingered like a nightmare.
"Post double guards outside this chamber immediately," Chang Hao commanded sharply, regaining some of his imperial authority despite his shattered emotional state.
"Indeed, Empress. The trail has gone cold," Chang Hao admitted, his voice measured but his eyes sharp as he observed her reaction. "It's... frustrating to have an enemy hiding in plain sight and be unable to catch them."
Mei's expression remained perfectly neutral, a faint smile playing at the corners of her lips. "Perhaps it is for the best. Accusing innocent people based on suspicion would create unnecessary discord within the palace walls."
Her tone was reasonable, almost maternal in its concern for stability. Yet something about her composure struck Chang Hao as artificial - too perfect given the gravity of the situation.
"I suppose you are right," he conceded reluctantly, picking up his wine cup. "But I cannot ignore the fact that someone intentionally targeted Bella with deadly poison."
Across the room, guards shifted nervously under their armor while servants pretended not to listen intently to every word exchanged between emperor and empress.
"Well , your majesty, I have to take a stroll, as it will be good for our baby". She rubs her swollen belly. She gives a condescending smile before excusing her self.