CHAPTER 11
928 Words
The royal healing chamber was filled with fear.
Hours had passed since Pearl collapsed during the celebration, and still she had not regained consciousness.
The glowing healing stones surrounding her bed had begun losing their light, while the sacred herbs burned endlessly beside her.
Queen Queen Seraphine remained beside her daughter the entire time, refusing to leave even for a moment.
Meanwhile, King Thalor stood near the chamber doors speaking furiously with the healers.
“You said she would wake up,” he growled.
The chief healer lowered his head nervously.
“The poison was stronger than expected, Your Majesty.”
The king’s expression darkened instantly.
“Then why are you standing here instead of saving her?”
The tension inside the chamber grew heavier.
No healer wanted to admit the truth.
They were losing her.
Suddenly, one elderly healer stepped forward quietly from the back of the room.
Unlike the others, she wore simple ocean-blue robes and carried no glowing stones or expensive healing tools.
But her eyes were calm.
Wise.
“I would like to try something,” she said softly.
The room fell silent.
The chief healer frowned immediately.
“With respect, this is royal blood. We cannot risk—”
“She is already dying,” the elderly healer interrupted calmly.
Silence.
King Thalor stared at the woman carefully before finally stepping aside.
“Do whatever you must.”
The healer bowed gently before approaching Pearl’s bedside.
Queen Seraphine moved back nervously while tears filled her eyes again.
The elderly healer placed one hand gently against Pearl’s forehead and closed her eyes.
Then softly—
She began chanting ancient ocean words no one else inside the chamber recognized.
The water around the room slowly began to move strangely.
Soft glowing currents circled Pearl’s body while the healer continued whispering the ancient language.
Everyone watched in stunned silence.
Then suddenly—
Pearl gasped sharply.
Queen Seraphine froze instantly.
“Pearl?”
Pearl’s eyes fluttered weakly before slowly opening.
The queen burst into tears immediately.
“She’s awake!”
King Thalor rushed toward the bed in relief.
“Pearl.”
Pearl looked confused.
Weak.
“What happened?” she whispered painfully.
Queen Seraphine held her hand tightly.
“You collapsed during the celebration.”
Pearl slowly touched her head weakly.
Everything felt blurry.
Then suddenly—
Her eyes widened.
“The baby.”
Silence filled the room instantly.
The queen looked away.
King Thalor’s jaw tightened painfully.
And the healers lowered their heads.
Fear slowly entered Pearl’s expression.
“No…”
The elderly healer gently touched Pearl’s shoulder.
“I’m sorry, Princess.”
Pearl stared at her blankly.
“No…”
Tears immediately filled her eyes.
“No, please…”
Queen Seraphine broke down crying beside her daughter.
“The poison was too strong.”
Pearl froze completely.
Then the words finally reached her.
The child was gone.
A broken sob escaped her lips instantly.
“No!”
Her cries echoed painfully through the chamber while tears streamed endlessly down her face.
Queen Seraphine held her tightly, crying with her.
Meanwhile, King Thalor turned away briefly as rage burned through him.
Someone had poisoned his daughter.
And killed his grandchild.
Pearl shook violently with grief.
“My baby…”
The pain inside her voice shattered everyone in the room.
Even some healers began crying quietly.
After several moments, Pearl finally managed to breathe properly again.
Then slowly—
Confusion appeared across her face.
“Poison?” she whispered weakly.
The king turned toward her immediately.
“Yes.”
Pearl blinked slowly.
“You were poisoned during the celebration.”
Pearl looked genuinely shocked.
“No…”
Queen Seraphine wiped her tears.
“The healers confirmed it.”
Pearl shook her head weakly.
“I don’t understand.”
Her voice trembled.
“Who would poison me?”
Nobody answered.
Because the truth sounded impossible.
Pearl looked heartbroken.
“I don’t believe anyone could do something like that to me.”
The innocence in her voice made the room painfully quiet.
Pearl truly believed nobody around her was capable of such evil.
Then suddenly—
Something flashed through her memory.
The old healer.
The glowing blue drink.
Pearl’s breathing slowed.
“I drank something.”
King Thalor stepped closer instantly.
“What?”
Pearl looked up slowly.
“There was an old healer at the celebration.”
The room became silent again.
Pearl tried to remember clearly.
“She gave me a drink.”
Queen Seraphine frowned.
“What kind of drink?”
Pearl swallowed nervously.
“She said it was a blessing for me and the baby.”
The king’s face darkened immediately.
“Did you know her?”
Pearl slowly shook her head.
“No.”
The elderly healer beside the bed suddenly spoke.
“There was no registered healer from another village invited to tonight’s celebration.”
Silence.
Then realization struck everyone at once.
King Thalor’s expression turned terrifyingly cold.
“She poisoned you.”
Pearl’s eyes widened completely.
“No…”
The king immediately turned toward the guards standing nearby.
“Seal every palace entrance.”
His voice thundered through the chamber.
“And find that woman immediately.”
The guards bowed quickly.
“Yes, Your Majesty!”
They rushed out instantly.
Queen Seraphine held Pearl protectively while fear spread across the room once again.
But Pearl remained frozen.
Because deep inside—
Something felt terribly wrong.
Not just the poison.
Not just the death of her child.
But the strange feeling that somehow…
This betrayal had come from someone closer than she realized.
- Writer
