Chapter 149: For Medicine, Of Course

Chapter 149: Chapter 149: For Medicine, Of Course

So... It had not been a dream after all.

Elysia sat completely still.

Her face was still burning from the realisation.

Doctor Grey glanced at her curiously but said nothing.

"How did you know?" Elysia finally asked. Her fingers curled slightly against her skirt.

Doctor Grey gestured towards her arm.

"You still carry the scent of the burn salve."

Elysia looked down at the faint mark remaining on her skin.

"Is the scent of this salve unique?"

"Yes."

Doctor Grey’s expression became serious.

"This particular salve was bestowed by His Majesty. There are only two jars in the entire kingdom."

Elysia’s eyes widened.

"Only two?"

Doctor Grey nodded.

"One is kept in the palace."

He paused.

"The other is in His Grace’s possession."

Elysia stared at her arm.

Doctor Grey continued, "It is an exceptionally effective remedy. No one alive has been able to reproduce its formula."

Elysia looked at him.

"Not even you, Doctor Grey?"

He shook his head.

"No."

Elysia fell silent.

So it truly was a precious medicine.

No wonder her burn had healed so quickly.

Her thoughts drifted back to the previous night.

Cassiel had opened the porcelain jar without hesitation and scooped out a generous amount of the precious salve.

He had not seemed concerned about wasting even the slightest amount.

He had simply seen that she was hurt and used it.

Elysia lowered her gaze.

He really did not spare any expense when it came to her.

A strange warmth spread through her chest.

She remembered how casually he had handled the jar, as though it contained nothing more valuable than ordinary ointment.

Yet there were only two such jars in the entire kingdom.

Had Doctor Grey told him how precious it was?

Perhaps he knew but he simply did not care.

Either way, the thought left Elysia feeling strangely warm.

She could still remember the quiet concentration in his eyes as he had treated her. He had not once complained about the late hour or the effort required to return to the manor. His only concern had seemed to be whether she was hurting.

Nearby, Miriam murmured, "I truly did not expect His Grace to return last night."

She looked towards the window.

"He must have come back very late. I did not hear a thing, and I have no idea when he left this morning either."

Elysia’s fingers tightened.

Her mind immediately returned to the words Cassiel had spoken.

I missed you.

Her mood became strangely restless.

She had assumed those words were merely the result of the after effects of aphrodisiac wine.

But if he had really crossed the city in the middle of the night...

Perhaps they had not been entirely meaningless.

Before Elysia could dwell on the thought any further, the door opened.

Bertha entered and curtsied.

"Your Grace."

Elysia looked up.

"A formal invitation has arrived from the Crown Prince’s household."

Bertha held out an invitation card.

Elysia accepted it and broke the seal.

"They are holding the formal betrothal ceremony for His Highness and Lady Deborah," Bertha explained. "It will be a small affair, but His Grace and Your Grace have both been invited."

A hazy memory surfaced.

Cassiel had mentioned this the previous night.

She had been far too drowsy to pay much attention.

In Aveanlor, it was customary for noble couples to hold a formal betrothal ceremony before the grand wedding.

In her previous life, she and Vaelen had gone through all those rituals.

This time, however, everything had been different.

Because Cassiel had been unconscious for so long, most of the usual ceremonies surrounding their marriage had been omitted.

Their own betrothal had amounted to little more than the palace sending gifts to her family.

Elysia lowered the invitation.

How strange.

In her previous life, she had once believed she knew exactly where her future was leading.

Now, she was married to Cassiel.

And instead of thinking about Vaelen’s betrothal, she found herself wondering when Cassiel would return from the army camp.

Bertha leaned closer.

"There is something else, Your Grace."

"What is it?"

"I heard that the Marchioness of Gildemont will also be attending."

Elysia’s gaze flickered.

Cassiel had mentioned that as well.

His aunt would be there.

Last night, after her conversation with Melissa, she had refused to stay at the guest room prepared in Draevenor Manor and insisted on going back to her own residence in the capital despite the late hour.

Considering what had happened, Elysia wondered what opinion she had formed after leaving.

She folded the invitation neatly.

"Of course we shall attend."

She took out a sheet of paper and wrote a brief reply confirming their attendance.

"Have this delivered to the Crown Prince’s household."

"Yes, Your Grace."

Bertha accepted the letter and bowed before leaving.

Once the door closed, Elysia glanced towards Doctor Grey’s clearly displeased expression.

Noticing her gaze, he clicked his tongue.

"His Grace has still not returned."

There was clear irritation in his voice.

"If he does not take his medicine on time, who knows how long it will take for those legs to heal?"

Elysia’s brows knitted.

Cassiel’s injuries had already troubled him for long enough.

And now he was remaining at the army camp while still recovering.

An impulse stirred in her chest.

Before she could think better of it, the words slipped out.

"I shall take it to him."

Doctor Grey looked at her.

"You will?"

"Yes, if he can’t be here to take the medicine on time, then I’ll ensure the medicine goes to him."

Her decision was immediate.

Doctor Grey blinked.

"His Grace should be at the army camp now."

"I know."

Elysia rose from her seat.

"If his medicine is ready, please seal it properly and place it in the tiffin carrier."

Then she turned towards Miriam.

"Have a carriage prepared. I am going to the camp."

Miriam’s eyes widened.

"Your Grace, you are going yourself?"

"Yes."

Elysia glanced down at her arm.

The burn was almost completely healed now.

Her knees still ached from time to time, but she could manage.

Besides, there was no reason to make Cassiel wait for his medicine simply because he had chosen to remain at the camp.

At least, that was what she told herself.

She paused.

Then another thought quietly surfaced.

She wanted to see him.

After what had happened the previous night, perhaps she wanted to see him a little more than she was willing to admit.

But Elysia immediately dismissed the thought.

---

Meanwhile, at the royal palace, another matter was being settled.

King Zephyrus finished writing a missive and carefully folded the parchment.

He sealed it before holding it out to Vaelen.

"Take this to the army camp."

Vaelen accepted the letter.

"Deliver it directly to Cassiel."

He glanced at the seal.

"Is something urgent?"

"Nothing that cannot wait."

King Zephyrus’s expression remained thoughtful.

"But I would prefer that he receive it before the betrothal ceremony."

Vaelen nodded.

"I understand."

He tucked the missive safely inside his coat before turning to leave.

Then King Zephyrus called after him.

"Vaelen."

Vaelen stopped.

"Do not remain at the camp longer than necessary."

"I shall return once the letter has been delivered."

He gave a slight nod before leaving the chamber.

Neither of them knew that Elysia had already decided to make the same journey.

---

The army camp lay beyond Caelvyr, surrounded by open ground and rolling fields.

By the time Elysia’s carriage passed beyond the city gates, the morning sun had risen higher into the sky.

She sat quietly inside the carriage, her hands resting in her lap.

The tiffin carrier containing Cassiel’s medicine was secured beside her.

Elysia glanced at it.

Then her thoughts inevitably returned to the previous night.

Her face heated and she quickly turned towards the carriage window to distract herself.

She had come to deliver his medicine.

Nothing more.

At least, that was what she intended to tell herself.

But as the distant outline of the army camp gradually came into view, Elysia’s heart began beating a little faster.

For some reason, she was suddenly nervous about seeing him.

She had faced assassins without hesitation.

She had stood up the Marchioness despite knowing she might already dislike her.

Yet the thought of facing Cassiel after what had happened the previous night made her palms feel inexplicably warm.

Elysia quietly pressed them against her skirt.

Perhaps she should simply pretend nothing had happened.

Yes.

That would be easiest.

She would deliver his medicine.

Ask about his injuries.

Remind him to take proper rest.

And then return to the manor.

That was all.

The carriage slowed as it approached the camp entrance.

Elysia lifted the curtain slightly.

Rows of tents stretched across the field, with soldiers moving between them.

The sight reminded her, with sudden forcefulness, that this was Cassiel’s world.

A world of armies, strategy, danger and war.

And somewhere within it was the man who had crossed the city in the middle of the night simply because he had missed her.

Elysia lowered the curtain.

Her heart beat a little faster.

The carriage finally came to a stop.

"Your Grace," the coachman called from outside. "We have arrived."