Chapter 22
Forcing my voice level, I asked, “Why wasn’t I previously informed that Elva was suffering from a
terminal illness?”
The pitying one pushed his sses up his nose with his index finger. “Perhaps we were optimistic
before. But she has since taken a turn for the worst. We aren’t fortellers, ma’am.”
That wasn’t what I wanted to hear. “So you won’t treat her? At all?”
The pitying one shrugged. “What’s the point?” He ced his hand on my shoulder, and it took
everything within me not to shove him away. “Giving up now is for the best. You’ll see that soon
enough.”
“I will never agree with that,” I said. “Elva is worth saving. At least try. Please. I’m begging you.
The doctor with the pitying look shook his head. He called to his colleague. “We’re done here.” a
“No…” My legs went weak.
As one doctor walked straight out the door, the other, the one with the nk expression stopped at my
side.
In a whisper that no one else could hear, she told me, “Perhaps leaving the pce would be better for
her.”
I looked at her in confusion, but she offered no further exnation. She left the room without ncing
back
Was she insinuating that someone here might have done something to Elva? Or was she saying that
no one here would help her because of who she was?
I copsed. I would have likely banged my knees on the floor if my maid hadn’t caught me and helped.
me down.
What was I going to do? I couldn’t let Elva die! Even if she was sick enough… even if it was fated…
didn’t
she deserve some treatment?
The poor girl was in pain!
Miss Piper said the second maid from Elva’s bedside,
Aluson I pushed myself back to my feet and scrambled to Elva’s side: Her little hand was reaching out
in both of mine
“It’s okay, honey. Mommy’s here now. It’s going to be okay.”
She seemed soothed by my presence, enough to fall asleep.
I nced at the second maid, who was diligent in holding thatpress and watching Elva. Confident
she would alert me if something else urred, I stepped back from the bed to consult with the doctors.
As I came toward them, they stopped their hushed words to each other and looked at me. One wore a
nk expression. The other had a pitying look.
“Why does Elva have a fever?” I asked. “What’s her new treatment n?”
The doctors nced at each other, then back at me.
“There is no treatment n,” the nk one said.
I must have misheard. “Excuse me?”
The pitying doctor also had a tiny condescending smile. I hated him more than anyone else in the world
at that moment.
“Her condition is severe,” he said. “We hope you will see reason, and give up on wanting to treat the
girl.”
“See reason?” My temper red hot. “You are talking about a person – a child – not some wounded
animal that needs put down.”
“We should save our resources for those with hope of survival,” the doctor with the nk look said. I
viciously hated her as well.
I didn’t understand. Were their resources so scarce they would refuse to help a child? Why hadn’t that
been mentioned earlier? Julian had made it seem like they would take care of Elva, since she was a
guest.
But now, here they were, saying she didn’t deserve a chance to live?
Why didn’t you tell me this before?” I asked. My voice was rising with my panic. “Elva has been
valuated already, and no one said a thing about her having a terminal illness!”
Ma’am. There’s no need to shout,” said the pitying one. “We can hear just fine.”
nk expression crossed her arms.
attempted a deep breath, but it came out shaking. I wanted to scream at them, but I had dealt with
before shouting wouldn’t work. For Elva’s sake, I had to submit to whatever they asked
I
Chapter 0022
Forcing my voice level, I asked, “Why wasn’t I previously informed that Elva was suffering from a
terminal illness?”
20 The pitying one pushed his sses up his nose with his index finger. “Perhaps we were optimistic
before. But she has since taken a turn for the worst. We aren’t fortellers, ma’am.”
That wasn’t what I wanted to hear. “So you won’t treat her? At all?”
The pitying one shrugged. “What’s the point?” He ced his hand on my shoulder, and it took
everything
within me not to shove him away. “Giving up now is for the best. You’ll see that soon enough.”
“I will never agree with that,” I said. “Elva is worth saving. At least try. Please. I’m begging you.”
The doctor with the pitying look shook his head. He called to his colleague. “We’re done here.”
“No…” My legs went weak.
As one doctor walked straight out the door, the other, the one with the nk expression stopped at my
side.
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In a whisper that no one else could hear, she told me, “Perhaps leaving the pce would be better for
her.”
I looked at her in confusion, but she offered no further exnation. She left the room without ncing
back
Was she insinuating that someone here might have done something to Elva? Or was she saying that
no
one here would help her because of who she was?
I copsed. I would have likely banged my knees on the floor if my maid hadn’t caught me and helped
me down.
What was I going to do? I couldn’t let Elva die! Even if she was sick enough… even if it was fated…
didn’t
she deserve some treatment?
The poor girl was in pain!
“Miss Piper,” said the second maid from Elva’s bedside,
I myself back to my feet and scrambled to Elva’s side. Her little hand was reaching out
“It hurts…”
“I know, honey. I’m sorry. But it will be okay soon.” It was a lie, but how could I let her believe that none
of these monsters would actually help her?
“Promise?” She peeked at me through hershes. Her eyes were damp with tears.
Had she heard me yelling? My heart sunk in agony.
This poor child. My poor baby.
I had to something. There had to be someone in this huge pce who would help Elva. If I had to force
someone to help her, I would.
“I promise,” I said, determined now.
My misery could wait for if I failed. I was a mom with a mission now.
I kissed her small hand and ced it back on the bed. When her eyes closed, I stepped back from her
bedside.
I asked both maids to stay with her. “Guard her like she’s your own.”
They both agreed.
Then I ran from the room. I spotted a few guards in the hallway.
“Please!” I said, approaching them. “We need more doctors. Different ones.”
The guards frowned. They shifted ufortably. “We’re sorry, miss. But the royal doctors have already
seen your daughter. We’ve been instructed to honor their judgement.”
“But they’re wrong! Can’t you see that?”
The guards looked away from me. “We’re sorry.”
No help here, I realized. I pressed on, asking every guard and servant I came across, but each reply
was
e same, with varying levels of sympathy.
Nd one would stand against the doctor’s decision.
Wildly, I thought of turning to Susie, or even to. Nichs, He’d shown kindness to Elva before. Surely
he
wouldn’t turn her away so cruelly now.
Perhaps leaving the pce would be better for her.
Maybe no one here was safe.
I had to get back to Elval
I swiveled on my heel, and returned to my hallway. Just as I rounded the corner, I saw a figure
disappear around another one, further down the hall.
Was that Lena?
It didn’t matter. Elva was the most important person in the world to me right now.
I pushed through the doors to my bedroom. “Elva!”
But the bed was empty.
Elva was gone.