I sat beside Caleb's bed for hours, staring at his motionless face, not knowing what to do next. Frustrated and exhausted, I stepped out of his quarters to my usual garden.
Nothing had changed. His chest still rose and fell slowly. His skin remained pale, and his eyes remained closed. The passing hours had heightened my anxiety and twisted my thinking, causing a heartburn sensation inside my chest.
Keith and Lady Lydia had not returned since I was brought to Caleb; the healers had left much earlier. The Queen had left, too; even Princess Lena had disappeared after speaking privately with Queen Celeste.
Only the maids remained outside his quarters. I wasn't trying to eavesdrop, but when two maids stopped outside the chamber door and started whispering, their voices carried clearly.
"It
