Page 66 of Crown of Hearts
I straightened when a servant approached us with a tray of wine. This time, it wasn’t George himself. Feeling bad for having stolen Cai’s glass, I took one off the tray and handed it to him.
“You know, I think Lady Meredette will be deadly disappointed if you don’t ask her for a dance tonight.” I tried to find her in the sea of people. “She’s probably been the person most excited for this ball.” I could no longer spot her or her escort in the crowd.
But Cai didn’t reply. I jolted as glass shattered on the floor next to me.
“Cai?”
He remained expressionless, his face deathly pale.
“Cai?” I said again, with more panic, and then he dropped to the ground.
I must have screamed something, but I was kneeling next to him when the servants and the guards rushed over in a sudden frenzy.
I was pushed out of the way as his attendants tried to help him. Someone shouted that the king had been poisoned.
* * *
I sat next to Cai’s bed while the physician examined him.
“It’s definitely poison.”
My foot tapped on the carpeted floor and I clenched a fist.
“Can you determine what kind?”
Cai’s mother had been in the room when the physician arrived but was now pacing in the hall outside, talking with servants to try to track down the perpetrator. I could hardly sit still myself, but I didn’t dare take my eyes off him.
“Based on its immediate effect, it narrows it down to a possible few, but as I cannot be certain, it will be difficult to give him the correct antidote.” It wasn’t what I wanted to hear.
“Can’t you do anything in the meantime?”
The physician nodded. “I can try, Your Majesty. But unfortunately, I cannot promise any results.”
He hurried out of the room — I presumed to the infirmary.
Cai looked like he was sleeping peacefully, but with every minute, his breathing became shallower and the pounding in my heart increased to the point where I could feel it thumping in my ears.
The doorknob turned and I looked up.
“How is he doing, Your Majesty?” Jack asked, and I shook my head.
He walked over, his expression of distress showing through the mask of calm he tried to keep up.
“It’s my fault. If I hadn’t taken his glass, he wouldn’t have—” I trailed off, my eyes watering.
Jack placed a hand on my shoulder. It wasn’t protocol, but it was as if we both knew I needed the comfort. “If anyone is to blame, it’s me. I don’t even know how the assassin got in the palace in the first place.”
He looked at Cai. “I failed him.”
“No, Jack, you can’t think like that,” I said, though I knew my words wouldn’t change his mind. Wouldn’t change my own mind from feeling like I’d failed Cai.
I sniffed and Jack handed me a handkerchief. “I’m afraid,” I admitted. “What are we going to do?” I asked because I genuinely had no idea. Because I desperately needed an answer.
“Hope for a miracle.” Jack stood back, regaining his soldier’s posture. “I hate to leave but there are matters that need my attention now. That man needs to be tracked down. I have to go and do my duty and you have to do yours.”
“Which is?”
He looked at me sincerely. “Taking care of Cai, Your Majesty. You’re the only one who can.” I knew he didn’t mean the words literally, but I appreciated his faith in me. I nodded and Jack departed, leaving me and Cai alone.
