Chapter 354 - Three Hundred And Fifty Three

Chapter 354: Chapter Three Hundred And Fifty Three

The morning sun rose higher into the sky, casting bright golden light through the high windows of the master bedroom. The room was warm and quiet, filled only with the faint sound of the wind outside and the steady breathing of the unconscious man on the bed.

Camilla stood up from her chair near the vanity. She had already dressed herself in a comfortable dress. Her hair was tied back neatly behind her head, and a clean white bandage was wrapped around her forehead. Her body still felt sore, and a dull ache remained in her back, but her face was pleased.

She walked over to the side table, picked up the bowl filled with warm water, and carried it to the bedside. She set the bowl down on a small stool next to the mattress, alongside a stack of soft cotton cloths.

Damon lay still under the thick blankets. His pale face was peaceful, his eyes closed in a deep, uninterrupted sleep.

Camilla sat on the edge of the bed. She dipped a soft white cloth into the warm water, squeezed out the extra liquid, and gently began to clean his skin. She started with his face, moving the damp cloth carefully across his forehead, down his cheekbones, and along his jaw. She moved with great care, as if she were cleaning a delicate glass.

After wiping his face, she reached down to take his right hand. She held his palm in her left hand and used the cloth to clean between his knuckles and along his fingers, removing every faint speck of dust.

A quiet knock sounded against the door.

Camilla did not stop wiping Damon’s wrist. Her voice was clear and calm. "Come in."

The door opened smoothly. Kade stepped into the room. He was wearing his dark military coat, his boots clean and his hair combed back. He closed the door quietly behind him, walked across the thick rug, and stopped three steps away from the bed.

Kade dropped down on one knee before Camilla. He placed his right fist over his chest and bowed his head low.

"My lady," Kade said, his voice deep and respectful.

Camilla did not turn her head toward him right away. She dipped the cloth back into the bowl of water, wrung it out, and picked up Damon’s left hand.

"Report," Camilla spoke quietly.

Kade kept his head bowed as he began to speak. "General Howe is in royal custody. The King’s guards seized him at his estate before sunrise, along with all his trunks and documents. His trial is set for the end of the month, and when he is found guilty, his execution will follow almost immediately."

Camilla nodded slightly. A quick, cold glint passed through her eyes. Seeing General Howe brought to justice was the first step toward securing Damon’s safety.

However, Kade did not continue right away. He went silent. He kept his knee on the floor, but his shoulders grew tense under his coat, and he hesitated to speak his next words.

Camilla noticed the sudden pause. She stopped wiping Damon’s fingers, turned her head, and raised a brow at him.

"Speak, Kade," Camilla commanded gently. "What else?"

Kade took a short breath. He raised his eyes to look at her face. "The old Duke suddenly collapsed."

Camilla’s eyes widened in sudden surprise.

She stood up abruptly from her seat on the edge of the mattress. Her dress rustled loudly, and her leg caught the edge of the stool. The bowl of water tipped precariously to one side, almost knocking over onto the rug. Water sloshed over the rim, splashing onto the floor.

Camilla did not pay any attention to the spilled water. She stepped forward, staring down at Kade with sharp, intense eyes.

"How?" Camilla asked, her voice tight with sudden alarm. "What happened?"

Kade adjusted his stance on his knee, keeping his hands steady. "After General Howe’s arrest early this morning, word traveled quickly through the noble districts about the assassination attempt on Lord Damon and what happened to him. Some were saying he is already dead and the Benson family is covering his death while some are saying he’s still alive but not for long. When the news reached the Benson estate, the old Duke collapsed out of shock."

Camilla stood frozen in the middle of the room. Her mind raced with dark memories of the past.

Not again, Camilla thought to herself, her heart sinking heavy in her chest. He collapsed years ago when Damon’s parents died, too. That terrible shock put him in a coma for a very long time. And while the old Duke was bedridden and helpless, Duke Collin and his wife took advantage of the chaos to plot against little Damon and steal control of the family estate.

She closed her eyes for a brief moment, letting out a long, slow sigh through her nose to steady her racing heart. She forced her mind to remain calm. The old Duke was Damon’s grandfather, the head of the powerful Benson family, and a crucial protector of Damon’s political standing in the capital. If the old Duke fell ill, their enemies would undoubtedly use his weakness to strike again.

Camilla opened her eyes and looked down at Kade once more. "How is he?"

Kade shook his head slowly, a grim look on his face. "I don’t know, my lady. The report from the estate says he hasn’t woken up yet."

Camilla stood in thought for a second, then gave a short, firm nod. "Thank you for the information, Kade. You can go. Prepare your horses and leave for the military camp. The soldiers need their second in command."

Kade placed his fist over his chest once more. "Yes, my lady."

He stood up from the floor, bowed deeply, and turned on his heel. He walked quietly across the room and stepped out into the hallway, closing the door behind him without making a single sound.

Once Kade was gone, the room returned to silence.