Elara's POV
Later that day at the council meeting , felt like an ambush.
I sat at the head of the long table, my back straight, my face composed. Trying to look like a queen even though exhaustion dragged at every bone in my body.
I hadn't slept well. Again. Every time I closed my eyes, I saw Kaelen's back torn open by the whip. Heard his screams. Felt his blood on my hands.
And underneath all of that was something else. Something I'd been trying to ignore.
The sickness.
It had started a few days ago. Waking up feeling like my stomach was turning inside out.
This morning had been the worst yet. But it had passed. Now I just felt weak. Tired. Like my body was fighting something I couldn't see.
I kept telling myself it was stress. Sleepless nights. The constant pressure of decisions that could kill people if I got them wrong.
That's all it was. Just stress.
Around the table, the council members were talking. Discussing trade routes. Tax collection. Normal business.
