Chapter 353 - Three Hundred And Fifty Two

Chapter 353: Chapter Three Hundred And Fifty Two

He took a clean cotton cloth, soaked it in the clear disinfectant liquid, and held it near her skin.

"This will sting, my lady," Doctor Aris warned softly.

"Just do it," Camilla replied flatly, her face showing no fear or hesitation.

Doctor Aris pressed the wet cotton into the open wound.

A sharp, burning pain shot up Camilla’s arm, feeling like hot fire pressed against her skin. Camilla’s body went rigid for a split second. Her right hand gripped the armrest of the chair so tightly her knuckles turned white, but she did not let out a single cry. She did not even flinch or move her arm away. She kept her face blank, staring straight ahead.

Doctor Aris secretly admired her terrifying self-control. He quickly cleaned away all the dirt, blood, and impurities from the cut. Once the wound was clean, he took a silver spatula and applied a generous layer of the thick green herbal ointment over the raw flesh. The cooling sensation of the herbs immediately replaced the burning pain, soothing her skin.

Next, Doctor Aris took a long roll of clean white linen bandage. He wrapped it tightly around her upper arm, pulling it firm enough to keep the edges of the cut pressed together without stopping her blood circulation. He tied the bandage off with a neat, secure knot.

"That handles the arm," Doctor Aris said softly.

He then reached out and gently touched the white bandage wrapped around her head, checking to make sure it was not bleeding again. Satisfied, he examined her pulse at her right wrist. Her pulse was faint and slow, showing how close her body was to total physical collapse.

Doctor Aris reached deep into his medical bag and pulled out a small glass bottle filled with a dark, thick amber liquid. It smelled strongly of honey and bitter tree bark.

He uncorked the bottle and handed it to her.

"Drink this, my lady," Doctor Aris instructed warmly. "It is a concentrated tonic made from rare mountain roots. It will help your body rebuild its lost blood and give you back some of your physical strength. It will also help you sleep deeply."

Camilla took the small glass bottle from his hands. She brought it to her lips without hesitation and drank the dark liquid in one long gulp.

The medicine tasted bitter and warm, spreading a soothing heat down her throat and straight into her stomach. Almost instantly, a faint feeling of warmth spread through her cold limbs, easing the tight ache in her bruised muscles.

She handed the empty glass bottle back to the doctor.

Doctor Aris took the bottle and began packing his tools back into his bag. He closed the brass latches with a click, then stood up from his stool.

He looked down at Camilla, his face filled with worry.

"You have to be really careful, my lady," Doctor Aris spoke, his voice full of concern and warning. "Your spirit is strong, but your body has reached its limit. You have survived a terrible fall, severe exhaustion, and now a blade wound all in less than twenty-four hours. If you push yourself like this again before your body heals, you will collapse, and no medicine in the world will be able to wake you up easily."

He handed her a pot of ointment. "Let your maids apply it to your bruises so that they heal quickly." He added.

Camilla looked up into the doctor’s kind eyes. She saw the true care and respect he held for her.

"I will," Camilla replied softly, collecting the ointment, her tone quiet and sincere. "Thank you for your service, Doctor."

Doctor Aris bowed his head low toward her. "Rest well, Lady Camilla."

He picked up his bag, turned around, and walked quietly out of the bedroom, closing the door shut behind him without making a single sound.

The room returned to silence.

Camilla sat in her chair for a moment, letting the warm medicine settle in her body. Her eyes felt heavy, and her limbs felt relaxed.

She slowly stood up from the cushioned chair. Her nightgown rustled softly as she walked over to the large canopy bed.

She lifted the blanket and slid her body under the warm covers.

She did not lie flat on her back. Instead, she turned onto her right side, propping her head up on her right elbow, resting her cheek against her open palm.

She looked at Damon.

He lay right beside her on the wide mattress. His face was only a few inches away from hers.

Camilla stared at his sleeping face, her eyes filling with relief and deep, aching sadness. All the coldness, cruelty, and ruthless anger she had displayed toward their enemies vanished, leaving only a vulnerable woman who loved her husband with every fiber of her soul.

She slowly reached out her left hand. Her fingers trembled slightly in the air.

She reached his forehead, gently pushing away a few stray locks of dark hair that had fallen over his skin. Her fingertips lightly brushed against his forehead, feeling the smooth, warm texture of his skin.

Her hand moved lower. Her fingers trailed down the side of his forehead, tracing the curve of his dark eyebrow, and moved down onto his cheekbone. She caressed his cheek softly, her thumb rubbing against his warm skin with soft tenderness.

She leaned closer to him, her breath warm against his face.

The silence of the room weighed heavily on her heart. Looking at his motionless body, the fear she had been hiding deep inside her chest for the past day finally broke through her defenses.

"When will you open your eyes and look at me?" Camilla said softly.

Her voice was low, trembling with an intense, raw emotion that held back a flood of tears.

A warm, clear tear gathered at the corner of her right eye. It overflowed, sliding slowly down her pale cheek, tracing a wet path across her skin before dropping onto the white pillowcase below.

Her throat choked up, and her chest tightened with painful longing. She wanted so badly to hear his deep, confident voice call her name. She wanted to see those sharp, dark eyes look back into hers with warmth and fierce protection.

Camilla leaned forward, bringing her face down to his.

She pressed her soft lips against his forehead, placing a long lingering kiss on his warm skin. She closed her eyes, holding her lips against him, pouring all her strength, and her soul into that single kiss.

She pulled back slowly, resting her forehead gently against his shoulder.

"I miss you," she whispered into the dark.