Chapter 143 - 145

Chapter 143: Chapter 145

Ivy’s Point of View

Something felt wrong. I could not explain exactly what it was, but the moment Deyani moved closer to me, a strange feeling settled in my chest. It was because what she said. It was simply the feeling that I needed to create some distance between us.

So I quietly stepped back, and Deyani noticed immediately. Her eyes followed my movement, and the small smile on her face slowly faded.

“Physician Lin?” she called softly. “Did I do something wrong?”

“No.” I shook my head. “You did nothing wrong.” I said.

“Then why are you moving away from me?” She asked.

I did not know how to answer that without making things awkward. Deyani had been unusually friendly toward me, and I had noticed the way she looked at me several times. I could not allow that impression to become something deeper. I was here to treat King Damon, protect my identity, and leave.

Before either of us could say anything else, I heard footsteps behind me. I turned immediately, and saw Dominic walking toward us. Even though he looked relaxed, I could tell from his eyes that something had changed. He stopped beside me and glanced briefly at Deyani before turning his attention to me.

“It’s time to leave here,” he said. “We should arrange our things.”

I understood what he meant immediately. “Of course, Brother.”

Deyani looked between us. “You are leaving already?”

“Yes,” Dominic answered. “We were planning to leave soon.”

Deyani’s expression became slightly disappointed, but she did not argue. “I hope you will visit again, Physician Lin.”

I gave her a polite nod before following Dominic.

*

*

*

The following morning, we returned to King Damon’s chambers. Several doctors were already standing around his bed, checking his condition. Unlike the first time I had seen them, none of them looked terrified.

One of the senior physicians turned toward us with a relieved expression. “Physician Lin, the toxins are almost completely under control.”

King Damon was sitting against the headboard, looking much stronger than he had two weeks earlier.

“How do you feel?” I asked.

“Much better,” he answered. “I can finally breathe without feeling as if something is crushing my chest.”

I smiled. “That is a good sign.”

The physician bowed. “The Black Lotus toxin is no longer spreading through his body. The remaining traces are weak enough for his body to remove naturally.”

I nodded. That meant my work here was almost finished. I turned toward King Damon. “Your Majesty, the treatment has reached the point we agreed upon. Since your condition is now stable, I believe it is time for us to return home.”

King Damon frowned slightly. “So soon?” The king looked at me for a long moment before slowly nodding. “I cannot force you to remain here. You have already done more for me than any physician in my kingdom could.”

Later that afternoon, Dominic and Vikron met in the council chamber. The treaty between Evernight Kingdom and the Kingdom of Howling Ashes was placed on the large table between them. Every condition had been reviewed, discussed, and approved. When both sides finally signed the document, the atmosphere in the room became much lighter.

The agreement was official. Vikron then turned toward me. “As promised, Physician Lin, your payment.”

A servant stepped forward carrying a box. When he opened it, there were gold coins inside.

“One million gold coins,” Vikron announced. “You have earned every single one.”

I looked at the box before nodding. “Thank you, Your Majesty.”

For a moment, everything seemed finished. The king was recovering, the treaty was signed, my payment had been made, and we were finally ready to leave. But just as we were preparing to depart, a guard rushed into the hall.

“Your Majesty!!!” The guard yelled.

Vikron immediately turned. “What happened?”

“A foreign envoy has arrived at the kingdom gates.” The guard reported.

“From where?” Vikron asked. “I’m not expecting any envoy.”

The guard swallowed. “Bloodmoon Kingdom.” The room instantly became silent. They came with a large military escort and is demanding an immediate audience.”

Dominic and I exchanged a glance. There was no reason for Bloodmoon Kingdom to suddenly send an envoy here unless something serious had happened.

“We should stay,” I said quietly. Dominic nodded.

Ama also looked concerned. “We need to know why they came.”

Vikron ordered the banquet hall prepared immediately. That evening, the banquet hall was filled with tension. The Bloodmoon soldiers stood outside the main doors while their envoy walked into the hall.

He was a tall, heavily built man with a long scar running across one side of his face. His black clothes carried the crest of Bloodmoon Kingdom, and the sword hanging at his waist made it clear that he was not the kind of envoy who had come simply to exchange polite words.

I watched him carefully. He scanned the hall. He studied me briefly but said nothing else.

He did not know me. To him, I was simply the young physician called Lin who had been staying in the kingdom.

The man returned his attention to Vikron. “My name is Ausen. I speak on behalf of Bloodmoon Kingdom.”

Vikron gestured toward the empty seat. “Then sit, Ausen. Tell us why you have come.”

But Ausen did not sit. Instead, he placed both hands on the table and leaned forward. “I came because Evernight Kingdom has something that belongs to us. The iron box.”

I narrowed my eyes, I noticed Dominic balled his fist. But we tried to remain calm although.

Ausen continued. “Evernight’s defenses have already been weakened because of the chaos surrounding the box. Bloodmoon Kingdom has decided not to wait. We have already sent our army few months ago.”

It was the same war Alpha Alaric had sent Bastian and Fred to, with Bastian leading from the frontline. Dominic’s face remained calm, but I noticed the slight change in his eyes.

“You attacked the Evernight Kingdom? And you came here to tell us?” Vikron asked.

The Kingdom of the Howling Ashes knew nothing about this war, probably because they were occupied with the health of their father.

“No.” Ausen smiled. “I came here to offer you an opportunity. Join us in this fight.” Silence filled the banquet hall. Ausen continued without hesitation. “Bloodmoon Kingdom will destroy Evernight’s remaining forces. If the Kingdom of Howling Ashes joins us, we will divide the conquered territory between our two kingdoms. And the iron box will belong to the Kingdom of Howling Ashes.”

The room became completely silent. I slowly clenched my fingers beneath the table. This was no longer a simple diplomatic visit. Bloodmoon Kingdom had already started a war a very long time ago, and now they were trying to drag another kingdom into it by offering them land and a mysterious iron box containing a secret formula.

I looked at Dominic. He was staring at Ausen with a cold expression that told me he was thinking the same thing I was. There was more to this. But Ausen had already made his offer.

Now it was Vikron’s turn to decide whether he would accept it... or become Bloodmoon’s next enemy.