<b>Chapter </b>634
Aurelius answered gravely, “From my examination just now, I’ve identified the cause. She is not ill<b>–</b><b>she </b><b>has </b>been poisoned.”
“Poisoned? Who would dare poison my wife?” Ignacio’s face darkened with fury.
“Look here at this incense. This ambergris has been burning regrly in the Princess Consort’s chamber. But this particr batch wasced with toxin. Prolonged exposure leads to poisoning. The symptoms are subtle, difficult to diagnose. If it continues, her appetite will vanish, her body will waste away, and in the end she will
die.”
Ignacio drew a sharp breath. “Guards! Remove all of it at once. Destroy every trace. Never let this incense burn here again.”
Servants hurried to obey.
Once the room was cleared, Aurelius continued, “Your Highness should think carefully about the source of this incense.”
Ignacio frowned. “It was a gift from my father. Surely it cannot be him.”
“I do not suggest His Majesty is involved. But I urge you–beware those closest to you. The threat may lie within the pce walls.”
Caitlin spoke gently, “It’s possible someone deliberately tampered with the king’s gift. Once discovered, suspicion would fall on the king. If you, in anger, used him, father and son would be set against each other. That is precisely what the poisoner may have intended.”
Alicia nodded. “Exactly. Someone may be trying to exploit Your Highness’s devotion to the Princess Consort in order to turn you against the throne.”
Ignacio absorbed their words, breathing hard, then slowly steadied. “Very well. Whoever is behind this, I will find them. For now, Aurelius, please–save my wife.”
“Of course.”
Fortunately Nevaeh’s poisoning was not yet advanced. Aurelius administered detoxification treatment and a pill of his own making. Soon her color improved, her breath steadied, and strength returned to her eyes.
Ignacio exhaled in relief. He thanked Aurelius profusely, even offered himvish reward, but the old healer declined.
The matter of uncovering the poisoner Ignacio would pursue himself. For now, the group was dismissed.
Atst they returned safely to their base. No time was wasted. Xero arranged a private jet, and by the early hours of the morning theynded on U.S. soil. Tyler had cars waiting.
It was toote in the night to go directly to James. Zeke escorted Aurelius to his estate for rest, while Caitlin
and Sebastian returned to Vanderbilt Manor,
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55 vouchers
The following morning, Faith arrived at the manor with the children. When they spotted Caitlining down the stairs, they squealed with joy.
“Mommy’s home!”
“Mommy!”
They barreled into her arms. Caitlin sat on the steps, holding them close.
“When did youe back? We didn’t even know,” little Patricia asked, tilting her face up.
“Last night. You were all asleep. I didn’t wake you,” Caitlin said, stroking her cheek. “Have you seen Grandma yet?”
“Faith said today she’ll take us. We haven’t gone yet,” Arthur chimed in.
“Mommy, why do we have two grandmas?” Patricia asked innocently.
“One is your grandma from Daddy’s side, and the other is my mother–also your grandma,” Caitlin exined.
Patricia blinked, then nodded solemnly. Caitlinughed and pulled them up. “After I finish some things today, I’ll take you to meet her.”
“Yay!”
Later that morning Caitlin and Sebastian went to Zeke’s estate to collect everyone.
Inside, they found Ximena and Aurelius chatting over tea. Ximena greeted them warmly. “Caitlin, Mr. Vanderbilt, wee.”
Then she teased with a smile, “Well, my son didn’t return alone this time, did he? He brought back a beautiful girl. Did you see?”
“I saw. Alicia. She seems lovely,” Ximena said, clearly pleased. She was delighted her son had found someone, and already approved.
Just then Zeke and Alicia descended the stairs together.
Alicia spotted Caitlin and waved excitedly. “Caitlin–ah!”
She missed a step, slipped, and tumbled forward–only to be caught firmly in Zeke’s arms. For a moment they froze in a perfect tableau on the spiral staircase, her waist cradled, their eyes locked. A scene straight from a romance drama.
004
“Honestly, are you two feeding us dog food on purpose?” Caitlin teased,ughing. <b>The </b>others <b>chuckled </b>too.
“It was an ident! Totally an ident!” Alicia stammered, crimson–cheeked as she wriggled free<b>. </b><b>Zeke </b><b>only </b>smiled, unable to hide his amusement.
There was no time to linger. Zeke, Alicia, and Aurelius joined them<b>, </b>and together they drove straight to <b>the </b>hospital.
Quincy was standing guard outside James’s ward. When he saw them, he stood at once. “Mr. Vanderbilt. Madam. You’ve returned.”
“Thank you, Quincy,” Caitlin said softly.
“It’s my duty.”
She nced at her brother inside, his face ashen, lips purpled, and her heart clenched.
“Aurelius, please,” she begged. “Please help him.”
The old healer said nothing, only entered the ward and bent over James. After a long, thorough examination and toxin analysis, his face grew grave.
“It is indeed Scentbane.”
Alicia assisted, asking quickly, “Master, how much can you purge?”
“I cannot promise. Only my utmost effort.”
He began at once. The method was brutal but necessary: piercing James’s fingertips with needles, drawing out dark, poisoned blood.
Everyone watched in silence, Caitlin gripping her hands tight, praying over and over.
The procedurested more than an hour. Atst Aurelius swayed with exhaustion.
“Master, sit here and rest,” Alicia urged, guiding him to a sofa. Then she turned to the others. “Caitlin, the poison has been purged–partially. Master estimates only eighty percent could be drawn out. The rest is too deeply lodged. Your brother’s life is safe, but he may never wake.”
A heavy hush fell.
Caitlin’s eyes filled. She stepped to the bedside. In the basin at her feety ck, viscous blood, drained from James. His face was less purple, the tension eased–but his lips remained pale, his body unresponsive.
Alive, but locked in silence. A vegetative state.
Caitlin stroked his hand, tears spilling.
“Aurelius,” she whispered, “you know Scentbane. Tell me–how can it be curedpletely?”