By the time she reached there, the king wasn't moving.
She couldn't hear his batted breath. Couldn't see his chest rising and falling.
It was with deep seated fear she approached him and placed her two fingers on his pulse point before sighing.
For a second there she thought the king was dead and in the eyes of anyone, it would seem like she killed him.
Elara doubles over trying to catch her breath and calm her heart because of how fast she ran…in this wretched gown.
After regaining composure. She opens the king's palm and gently rubbed the mashed herbs on his finger.
The king groans trying to close his hands but Elara grips harder to stop him.
She tore her clothes before wrapping it on his finger. "This is gonna leave a scar" she whispers to him before glancing at her left hand with the glass scar still there.
She sighs sitting properly on the floor waiting for the king to awake before it clicked to her. The king lost a lot of blood so she has to make him a mango leaf tea.
"Wait right here, I'm gonna make you tea" she lightly pats his chest before gripping her gown up and running to the lower halls.
The servants there gaze at her surprised that a consort is in the kitchen making tea. Just moments ago she came with leaves and grinded it.
Elara taps her feet impatiently waiting for the tea to brew. The moment she heard it's whistle, she gripped the pot too fast; burning her hand in the process.
She glanced at it—red and throbbing before tearing her gown and wrapping it around her palm then proceeding.
She had to walk carefully with the teapot and a cup in her hand. She squats down and pours the tea in the cup and hands it over to him.
But the king was still unconscious."You've got to be kidding me" she grumbles to no one.
She releases a long breath trying to motivate herself that she can do it. If she can carry a heavy crate for money; she can handle a king…right?
With a final resolve; she grips his shoulder raising him from the bench before sitting down, she makes his head rest on her chest before gripping the tea.
She gently gives the tea to the king who was gladly gulping it down. She pours him another cup.
After he was done. She wipes his mouth with a napkin before gently putting him down.
She gathers her stuff ready to leave when the king grabs her hand, stopping her.
His eyes were still closed when she turned around. "Don't leave" he grumbles.
Elara looks at her burned palm that she wanted to cure before sighing and dropping everything and sitting on the floor.
She absentmindedly started humming a tune while looking around. Then her eyes settle on his mask.
Why is the king always wearing a mask? Does he have a burn or is he ugly?
She shakes her head looking away. It's none of her business. She should respect his privacy and let him go.
But curiosity is a horrible bitch, she stalks to him on her knees before stopping.
She rubs her sweaty palms before carefully raising his mask. She covers her mouth to conceal her gasp.
He's handsome—no, beautiful. She reaches for his face but he grips her hand, his eyes bolting awake.
"What do you think you're doing" she just looks at him speechless. What could she possibly say?
That she just wanted to see his face? Yeah right. He releases her and looks at his hand that's neatly wrapped in her clothing.
He glances at the teapot on the floor. "What did you do to me?" He growls, giving her his utter attention.
"N-nothing, I only cured your cut. You were bleeding" she points to his hand with a frown. She saved his life and this is the gratitude she gets.
"Did you poison me?" He points to the teapot.
"Yes. Seeing as you're still alive and breathing" her eyes widened as she realised she said that out loud.
What is wrong with her these days with saying her thoughts out loud. "It's not poisoned. I made it myself. I even burned my hand in the process"
She shoved the burnt hand in his face but that angered him more. "Stop lying to me"
"I'm not lying to you, look—" her voice drops as she glances at her clean unburned palm.
"I really did burn my hand. You can ask the maidens in the lower halls" he sighs, touching his face only to feel it mask-less.
Elara shrinks as she bites her lips. Things are really not looking her way. The king stands up, putting his mask on before calling for the general.
"Take her to the council wing, instruct the councillors to be there before I arrive" he turns, pointing to Elara.
"She tried to poison your king" Elara's eyes widened, shaking her head vigorously.
The general glances between the king and the consort. He knows when a person is lying and the consort is not lying.
Alas. All he could do was bow and obey since he pledged his loyalty to the king.