Chapter 8: Delirious State
Archibald looked down on the unconscious Aisha as the physician examined her condition. He had an unpleasant look on his face, making the latter break out in cold sweat.
"It's been two days. Why hasn't she regained her consciousness yet?" Archibald asked in a cold tone. His eyes narrowed down dangerously.
The physician dared not to look him in the eyes as he answered, "Your Majesty, the Priestess was severely exhausted, and her constitution is unique. It's difficult for me to prescribe the right medicine to cure the Priestess. Especially in this foreign terrain."
Archibald shot him a dangerous glare. "Are you saying that you can't save her?"
The physician immediately prostrated himself on the ground as Archibald's tone grew more menacing. His whole body shook like a leaf. He cursed himself for trying to make an excuse and quickly corrected himself. "Your Majesty, this humble servant is wrong for saying that! Please give me one more day, and I'll make sure the Priestess will recover."
"You'd better do a good job, or you won't be able to afford the consequences."
"Ye-Yes, certainly!"
After finishing examining Aisha, the physician immediately excused himself and ran out of the tent as if he was being chased by an evil spirit.
Leslie, who had been standing near the entrance, shifted his gaze to Archibald, who couldn't seem to pry his eyes off the unconscious Aisha. He only looked at her silently with an unreadable emotion on his face.
Leslie sighed inwardly. As someone who had known Archibald longer than anyone else, he had to admit that even he couldn't understand what was on his mind sometimes.
The Emperor clearly needed the Priestess, yet he insisted on showing her his ruthless side, which cornered her to do the extreme.
"Leslie, what about the poison test on the food and beverages?"
Archibald's question snapped him out of his thoughts. He straightened his back before answering, "Your Majesty, we have conducted a thorough test, but we found no harmful substance. I think that the physician's diagnosis is correct. This isn't a poisoning case. There is nothing wrong with the dishes and beverages served that night, but the Priestess accidentally consumed something she shouldn't."
Archibald snickered mockingly as his eyes darkened. "Ha. Who would have thought that the sheltered and naive Priestess from an unknown island could be so conniving? It seems I have underestimated her too much."
Leslie chose not to comment on that and added, "We have searched on the Priestess's belonging. According to the soldier, except for the dagger, the Priestess didn't bring anything else with her. We don't know what kind of means she did to receive such a result then."
"There is no need to wonder about that. We will know once she wakes up." Archibald grinned wickedly. "She wouldn't be able to sleep forever, after all. Not in my watch."
Even Leslie felt pity for Aisha for having to go through various ordeals in a span of a few days. However, as the Emperor's loyal subject, he had no right to question his decision.
"What should we do about those villagers? Should we ask our men to capture them again?"
"Don't bother. I never intended to execute those people anyway."
Leslie was confused. Then, why did he deliberately make that show back then? Of course, Leslie could only utter this question in his mind. He still cherished his life very much.
"Ugh…"
While they were conversing, Aisha suddenly groaned and looked like she was in so much pain. She clutched on the blanket tightly, with her temple profuse with sweat.
Leslie was immediately alerted. He was ready to call the physician if the Emperor ordered him. However, Archibald only stood there with an expressionless face.
The next moment, her eyelashes started to flutter, and there was a crack in her previously tightly shut eyes. She opened them slowly and shifted her gaze toward them. Her unfocused eyes glistened under the sunlight.
Archibald didn't say anything and only stared at her. His cold eyes met with her watery ones.
To his surprise, Aisha didn't withdraw her gaze in disgust or fear as he expected. Instead, she smiled softly at him.
It was a feeble smile that made people feel heartache for her and wants to protect her.
A surprise flashed across Archibald's face. Seemingly trapped in another trance, he walked up to her, his gaze never leaving her. He reached out his hand to push the hair that stuck on her forehead. Then, she whispered gently.
"Ren…"
Archibald's movement immediately halted, and a frost filled his eyes. He retracted his hand and watched as Aisha smiled at him gently.
There was no doubt that this woman was mistaking him for someone else. An unpleasant feeling bubbled in his chest.
"Are you here for me again? I'm glad."
Again? What kind of relationship would she have with this Ren person?
Oblivious to the other person's chaotic mind, Aisha kept talking to him through glass-like eyes as if he was someone else.
"Are you alright? I'm very worried about you. I hope you don't get hurt…."
Leslie could feel the temperature in the room kept dropping as time passed and immediately interjected. "Your Majesty, should I call the physician to check on the Priestess again?"
Archibald scoffed. "No need. She looks like she can talk just fine. I'm going to check on the soldiers. Your job is to keep watching her."
Leaving those words behind, Archibald turned around and walked out of the tent. He didn't spare another glance at Aisha, even though she seemed startled to see him leaving. She forced herself to sit up.
"Ren, where are you—Ack!"
"Priestess!" Leslie hurriedly came over and caught her burning body before she could fall from the bed. "Are you alright?"
However, Aisha couldn't answer as she had fainted once again. All that talking must have consumed her remaining energy.
Leslie had a mixed feelings inside as he vaguely noticed how light she was. He couldn't tell if Archibald actually cared about her or not.
Such a small woman would have to deal with the temperamental Emperor. Leslie couldn't help but pity her again.
Gifts
-- Gift
received Weekly Power Status
-- Power
Ranking 
-- Power
stone