22 22. Checking pulse

"Yes, your highness. You should take complete rest to heal from the wounds." Chiron answered as Doris entered the room.

"His highness asked me to accompany you back to the palace." Chiron said this to Doris, who nodded before greeting Vesta and leaving.

'What wounds! Is he seriously a royal physician? Anyway, it's good that she went back. At least I can leave the room now.' Vesta thought, an evil smirk replacing her face.

'Asterion, I won't let you slip this easily. Just wait and watch.' Vesta looked out of the window.

"What do you think about her health?" Doris asked as soon as they left the palace.

"Why do you ask?" Chiron questioned back.

"I felt she was acting all along. Is she seriously that weak? I have heard that she is a level four fire cultivator." Doris explained.

"No, she isn't." Chiron replied briefly.

"I just knew it! Thank God his highness didn't marry her. She seems evil at heart. Her highness is way better than her." Doris spoke.

"Stop speaking." Chiron said, reminding her that she wasn't supposed to say anything related to Ether.

Soon they reached the palace in silence before Doris left to attend Ether while Chiron met Asterion in the study.

"Your highness. Her highness has no significant wounds. All of those are superficial. There is nothing like being attacked by someone." Chiron summarised his observations.

"What about now? Why did she ask for attention?" Asterion asked.

"Nothing serious. I think her highness wanted you to attend to her personally." Chiron explained.

"You may leave now." Asterion said as Chiron greeted him and turned around.

"No wait." Suddenly, Asterion said.

Chiron just stopped in his tracks, waiting for further orders from Asterion.

"Could you please check Ether's pulse again? She has been cultivating with me for quite some time, but I am not sure if what we are doing is correct." Asterion explained.

"Sure." Chiron replied before both of them left for his chamber.

Inside the chamber, Doris was styling some flowers in Ether's hair while they were talking about random stuff.

"The garden is truly well taken care of." Ether sincerely appreciated.

"Yes. His highness prefers strolling there whenever he has time. Hence, special attention is paid to it. Not everyone is given the garden duty." Doris said, a little pride visible in her tone.

"You mean only a few people are allotted for this duty? For taking care of plants, watering them?" Ether asked, showing her curiosity to make Doris feel more enthusiastic while speaking about the same.

"Yes, your highness. His highness has assigned three people to maintain the garden. We can only visit the garden when needed." Doris said, her energy fading a little.

"Will you accompany me to the garden next time?" Ether asked, knowing that somewhere Doris wanted to do this but didn't have the opportunity.

"Sure, your highness. It would be my pleasure." Doris exclaimed.

"Who are those three people, though?" Ether turned to face Doris once her hair was done.

"They include the head maid-" Doris was still speaking when there was a knock on the door, followed by Asterion and Chiron entering the chamber.

"Your highness." Doris greeted Asterion before going and standing near the door.

"Wait outside the door for some time." Asterion ordered her before turning towards Ether, who looked pretty in her flower-done hair.

"Your highness." Chiron greeted her.

"This is our royal physician. I wanted him to check on your pulse. We have been cultivating for some time now." Asterion explained.

Ether nodded while sitting by the bedside as Chiron walked ahead before taking her pulse. He concentrated for a few moments before stopping, all this time keeping his expression plain.

"Have you ever checked His Highness's pulse?" Suddenly, ether asked, surprising both men.

"Yes, but it was many years ago. His highness rarely falls ill, so he didn't get it checked." Chiron answered honestly.

"Could you please check his highness's pulse for me?" Ether questioned Chiron before looking at Asterion.

Asterion simply smiled, thinking it was such a sweet gesture of his wife to show similar concern for him.

He nodded while stepping towards the bed, sitting on the edge, before signalling the royal physician.

Chiron nodded and checked his pulse, his actions looking smooth and his practice and experience visible.

But after a few beats, Asterion noticed a change in his expression, something that had happened after a very long time.

Chiron finally left his hand, but his expression said it all, something different was happening.

"Your highness, I wanted to discuss some matters with you. Shall we move to the study room?" Chiron spoke, thinking it was a little inappropriate for him to speak in front of Ether.

Asterion turned to look towards Ether, who had a knowing expression on her face.

"You detected something?" Asterion asked, but it sounded more like a statement seeking confirmation. He completely ignored Chiron, waiting for Ether to reply.

"Yes, your highness." Ether answered honestly.

"Now you tell me what your observation was." Asterion turned back towards Chiron, knowing he needed to clear some things with Ether, but that will have to wait for now.

"Your highness, your.. body is poisoned." Chiron finally managed to speak up.

Asterion looked back at Ether, who nodded, signalling that she suspected the same.

"The poison seems to have been present in your body for quite some time now." Chiron added further.

"What damage can it cause to my body? Does it involve my cultivation and elemental powers?" Asterion asked.

"Yes, your highness. This poison has spread into your circulation and is obstructing your vessels now. Though you may not feel it, your cultivation has a lesser effect on your elemental powers now, mainly because their channel is getting blocked." Chiron explained.

"It must be having some antidote?" Asterion asked, though he didn't lose his cool.

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- Kizy