Page 49 of The Princess and Her Grand King

Her eyes shot to the grand king just in time to see his eyelids flutter… more flutters… Then his eyes opened.

He was awake.

King Daemonikai was awake?

Emeriel rushed to him. But before she could reach his side, the chamber door swung open with a loud crash, and Lord Ottai hurried in. "I heard noises—he's awake!"

"Shhh," Emeriel hushed in a low tone. "Too loud, Lord Ottai."

"Right, right,” he whispered, though his eyes sparkled with unbridled joy. “We mustn't overwhelm him. True, true."

Lord Ottai looked like he wanted to shout the news from the rooftops.

Until his gaze dropped to the floor, where the dead assassin lay. All traces of elation vanished. "What is this?"

"He posed as the herbalist, gained entrance, and tried to kill King Daemonikai."

Lord Ottai bent down to inspect the body. Picking up the bloodied dagger, he sniffed it, and his face paled.

"Poison." He looked at Emeriel. "Deadly poison. Aimed at the heart, it would have been fatal.”

Emeriel gripped her clothes so tightly her hands turned white.

“Guards!” Lord Ottai bellowed.

Two soldiers entered. "Fetch Wegai. Now!"

They returned with the head soldier in tow. Wegai's eyes darted to the dead assassin, flared sharply, before landing on the grand lord. "Your Highness."

"An attempt was made on your master's life tonight. He would have died under your watch." The grand lord flung the dagger toward Wegai, and he caught it mid-air.

Wegai brought the blade to his nose, his face draining of color.

"What were you doing neglecting your duty? You were supposed to protect him!" Lord Ottai shouted.

Jaw locked taut, the head soldier held the dagger in a death grip. "I was at the training fields with the new recruits, My Lord. I left Zan and Ham in charge. They are competent and have been reliable for months."

"Yet an assassin slipped past them. Disguised as a healer, no less, and came to murder the king underyourwatch,” Lord Ottai barked. “Investigate this matter thoroughly. I want to know who this man was—his family, his friends, everyone he’s come into contact with in the last forty-eight hours. No one is to be spared from questioning."

Wegai gave a solemn nod. "As you command, Your Highness."

"Leave no stone unturned. Take your men and raid his dwelling. We must find evidence of who sent him," Lord Ottai ordered, dismissing him with a curt nod.

After Wegai departed, Emeriel stepped closer to Lord Ottai. "Do you truly believe the assassin wasn’t acting alone? The humans here aren’t exactly known for their fondness and loyalty to the monarchy."

"If there's a mastermind behind this, they want us to think it was a lone act. We’ll rule it as such only when there’s no evidence to the contrary. And we’ll make it clear to the court—the investigation will be thorough, and no one is above suspicion."

They turned their attention back to the grand king. His eyes remained open but… distant. Unseeing.

He hadn’t moved, nor had he blinked.

“What’s going on?” Emeriel asked.

“Those eyes are vacant. He is not awake, Emeriel.”

Her hope waned. “But—”

“But it’s progress, perhaps.” Lord Ottai glanced at her. "You saved his life. Thank you."

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