Chapter 139 - 141

Chapter 139: Chapter 141

Ivy’s Point of View

“Is everything ready?” Dominic asked.

I checked the last box, then closed it. “The herbs are here. The medicines are here. The healing tools are here.”

Ama lifted one of the smaller bags. “And this?”

“That’s mine, Ama,” I said.

She looked inside to be sure. “More herbs?” She asked.

“Yes,” I replied lazily, because I already knew why she asked.

“Aren’t these too much?” She asked, and I gave her a look.

“I’ll remain shut, Doctor.” She said with a little smile on her face.

I closed the box and locked it. The moment we were done, we left. Our group moved through the night toward the borders of the Kingdom of Howling Ashes.

Alpha Alaric and Alpha Gary had planned everything before we left. They had secretly sent some of the strongest warriors from each pack with us. The soldiers from both packs moved through the mountains, keeping their distance from us while watching for anyone who might try to attack or follow us.

No one was supposed to know we were coming, and that was important.

She glanced at my mask. “You’re really going to keep that thing on the entire journey?”

“Yes, to hide my identity,” I replied.

“Even while sleeping?” She asked curiously.

I looked at her. “Do you want to try taking it off?”

She laughed. “No.”

“Then stop asking,” I said. I had a plan to take off my mask as soon as we reached the kingdom because no one knew me there. I could simply pretend to be a man without wearing the mask.

Dominic, who was walking behind us, chuckled. This made Ama turn around. “You think this is funny?” She asked, and Dominic nodded.

I looked back at Dominic, and I almost laughed. “Both of you, enough.”

The two of them became quiet. We continued through the mountain path. Soon, we reached the main ridge; the stronger members of our group shifted into their wolf forms, and we followed them across before heading down the other side. When we reached the rocky valley below, we saw several men waiting.

I realized they were Prince Vikron’s soldiers. It seemed they’d been waiting there a long time. The soldiers saw us and quickly ran toward us. Their leader dropped to one knee.

“Physician Lin!”

I stepped forward. “Stand up,” I commanded, because I wasn’t comfortable with him kneeling to me.

“The King is getting worse. Physician Lin, please. You have to hurry.” He urge.

Ama is brilliantly pretending to be nothing more than my submissive assistant and follower. Dominic did not hide his face behind a mask, nor did he sit inside his wheelchair.

“Lead the way,” I commanded with my fake voice.

“Yes, physician Lin.” He said, standing and the rest of Prince Vikron’s men followed suit.

We traveled for three days. Three long days through the cold mountains. There were times when my legs felt too heavy to move, but I kept going. Dominic stayed close to me the entire time.

On the third day, he finally said, “You need to rest.” He looked concerned about me.

But I knew there was no time to show any form of weakness. “I’ll rest when we reach the kingdom,” I replied stubbornly. He hissed at my stubbornness, and I laughed.

We were completely exhausted, our muscles aching from the speed of the run, but we did not falter. Prince Vikron had already sent a private honor guard to pick us up at the city arches, bypassing the public ministries to let us enter the palace.

The palace came into view. It was huge. The architecture of the kingdom was perfect. We were brought straight into the private study where Prince Vikron was already waiting; the moment he saw me, he stood.

“Physician Lin.” He greeted.

“Prince Vikron,” I responded.

He walked toward me. “You came.” He said, stretching his hand for a handshake.

“You asked me to,” I responded, receiving his hand.

“I wasn’t sure you would.” He said, looking disheveled, and relieved.

“I gave you my word, and I don’t back out of it,” I assured him.

His expression softened. “I am grateful.”

“You can thank me after I save your father. Tell me what is happening.” I asked.

“My father is getting weaker every hour.” He sighed, cleaning the sweat off his head.

“What have the palace physicians done?” I asked out of curiosity.

“They tried everything, and they failed. But, I believe you can save him.”

"Let us not waste time, Prince Vikron," I spoke out. "I have traveled here because of the king, and for the money you promised to give me.

Prince Vikron did not take offense at me. “I don’t forget money; I expected you’d ask for it. I do not care about the gold, Lin," Vikron said. "The fact that you were fully willing to ride to this kingdom just to attempt this treatment has already earned my loyalty.”

He clapped his hands, and a guard entered the room carrying a large wooden chest. Vikron unlocked the seals himself, taking out a tray containing exactly 200,000 imperial gold coins and handing them directly into my hands on the spot as an advance deposit. I gladly accepted it, passing it straight back to Ama to hold it.

Vikron looked at me again. “You truly came all this way because of the payment?”

“I came because your father needs a physician.” I paused. “And I came because I expect to be paid for my work.”

He laughed softly. “Fair enough.”

Vikron had his guards take us to the royal guest rooms, where we rested for a few hours, but I barely slept. The King’s condition was already bad, and every minute mattered.

*

*

*

By the next morning, I was ready to see the king. This time, I removed my mask. I deliberately did not wear it because the people of this kingdom had never seen my face and completely didn’t know my true identity; there was no risk of exposure.

I only utilized a masculine cosmetic disguise—contouring my jaw into sharp angles, binding my chest tight beneath leather tunic wraps, and using my shamanic restraint to drop my voice into a young man’s tone.

Dominic and Ama walked on either side of my robes as we stepped into the corridor, where Prince Vikron was already waiting. He suddenly stopped when he saw my face without the mask.

“You’re Physican Lin?” he asked, staring at me in surprise.

“Yes. Why are you looking at me like that?”

“I just didn’t expect you to look like this.” He said.

I frowned. “And what exactly did you expect?”

“An older man,” he admitted awkwardly.

He had clearly expected someone older and looked almost confused by what he saw. I raised an eyebrow at him, amused by his reaction, while he quickly looked away.

"My father’s condition has gotten worse,” he said. "Walk with me directly to the king’s quarters."

On our way down the hallways, Dominic and I couldn’t help but admire the magnificent palace, but the aesthetic appreciation vanished the exact second we turned the final corner toward the royal wing. When we finally got to the king’s chambers, the doors suddenly clicked open. Outside the doorway, a small, cluster of court doctors came stumbling out into the corridor, their faces pale.

I froze entirely on the spot. The doctors were weeping in despair; I realized that I wasn’t the only healer present inside this palace.