"This is what I get for helping this ungrateful asshole. I should've left him to bleed out…." Elara kept spurting out colourful insults at the king as the general gently dragged her to the council wing.
The general was grateful that the council wing wasn't faraway from the moon garden.
"...I swear to god there was a burn right here on my left hand, and then the moment I showed the king,..it went poof. How is that even possible? Help me try and make sense of it all—"
"We're here, Royal Consort" he curtly bows gesturing for her to get in. She looks from him to the council wing's door.
"Oh. Thank you, it was nice meeting you. Don't worry, I won't come and haunt you as a ghost but I won't say the same for your king" she bows then entered with her head held high.
The general gazed at her like a proud father. She refuses to let people see her cower, just like when she was to be executed.
Just then Madame Tilda rushes to him breathless. "What happen?" The general shrugs also clueless.
He could see worry etched on her face as she looked at the council wing's door.
Meanwhile in the king's quarters, the king was fuming. Why did he stay when he saw her there? None of this would've happened.
He's still waiting for the poison to kick in but all he feels is energetic and light.
He cannot remember the last time he felt like that. He shakes his head before heading to the bathroom.
The moment hot water engulfed him—he felt a million times better. He gazes at her cloth wrapped around his finger before forcefully removing it.
He expected blood to rush out but instead he found the cut healed—although it left a scar, it was healed nonetheless.
How was a lowly tribute girl able to heal such a wound without stitches?
As soon as he stepped out of his room fully bathed and dressed, he instructed one of his head Eunuchs to call the royal physician to the council wing.
He pushes the door to the council wing open with such vigor, his eyes immediately landing on Elara who was kneeling in front of everyone.
She looks up to him then gives him her most meanest scowl before looking back down.
"Let us begin," Lord Varos declared before pointing at her. "Plead your case"
Elara scoffs still looking down "what's the point if I'm going to die anyway"
The king sat up straighter and the councillors with the scholars just kept quiet.
What is that chilling feeling they're all feeling? Lord Varos clears his throat before looking at the king.
"My lord, she refuses to speak up"
"What did you put in your tea?" The king asks louder, his voice bouncing off the wall.
"It's a fucking herbal tea to rejuvenate the blood you loss" Elara wanted to add a few more insults since she won't live to see another day.
Just then, the royal physician steps in with a big box as he strides fastly towards her.
"Your majesty, if you don't mind, may I ask her some questions?" The king agrees; seemingly invested in this conversation.
"Royal Consort. Could you please relay what and what you gave to the king?"
She relayed what happened to the royal physician, she told him about the herbs and the mango leaf she gave.
The royal physician walks up to the king to check his vital points and his wounded finger that was now healed.
"Your majesty, you seem fine and although her methods baffle even a royal physician like me, she meant no harm"
The king wasn't pleased with that, he wanted to use this opportunity to finally get her out of his life.
He stands up to declare his decision. "The royal Consort is indeed innocent…." Elara perks up with a smile. "But!!! She dared to touch your king without permission, even went further to reveal his mask"
Great!! Just great, this is what Elara gets for letting curiosity get the best of her.
"And such an act needs to be punished. Take her to the dungeon of solace for the night. No food, and no water" the guards rush over to take her away.
But the guard grabbed her roughly. Elara tried resisting but he wasn't budging.
"Let me go. I can gladly walk there" she grunts trying to force her hand away. The guard suddenly pushed her harshly.
She turns, glaring at him. She was injured on her knee but kept quiet. The king was displeased with what he saw.
He wanted to instruct the guard to let her go when all of a sudden. As the guard reached for her again….he flew across the room.