#Chapter 14: Elva’s Treatment Plan

After receiving Susie’s news, I needed a moment to catch my breath. I didn’t understand. The royal doctor had already examined Elva, as recently as the day before. How could she have a fever again? Wouldn’t the doctor have detected any anomalies before they fully formed? Those questions would have to wait. For now, all I knew was my daughter was sick and I had to get to her. I pushed away my soup bowl, and apologized to those around me. “I’m sorry. There’s an emergency. I have to go.” Susie squeezed my arm, then returned to her chair. As I hurried toward the exit, I glanced back at the table. A bold girl had already slid herself into my abandoned seat. She must have said a joke, because the people around her laughed. Even Nicholas looked at her and gave a relaxed smile. My heart jumped in my chest. He’d been so tense when I had been sitting there. But now, in my absence, he felt comfortable enough to enjoy himself? A bitter kind of sadness wormed its way inside of me, bu