The Reborn Witch Princess

Fever

"Doctor Fred...?" Queen Lustia's voice wavered as she approached Prince Xavier's palace. She had been taking a leisurely stroll around the castle when she noticed Doctor Fred and Assistant Panda hurrying towards the palace with urgent strides. A sense of foreboding gripped her heart. Was her son injured?

Without delay, Queen Lustia quickened her pace, her maid and servant trailing behind her. Her thoughts raced with dark possibilities. The notion of Prince Xavier being hurt filled her with dread. What if he had encountered some of the kingdom's more dangerous elements? The very idea was unbearable.

Upon reaching Prince Xavier's door, she saw Assistant Bear standing there, holding a folded piece of paper. His demeanor was tense, his face pale.

Assistant Bear immediately bowed deeply upon noticing her. "Your Highness."

"Assistant Bear, what happened to Prince Xavier? How did he get injured?" Queen Lustia's voice trembled with concern. Her maternal instincts were in overdrive, and she could barely contain her anxiety.

Assistant Bear's knees shook under the weight of her gaze. He knew the gravity of the situation but struggled to find the right words. "Your Highness, please come in," he finally managed, leading her towards Prince Xavier's quarters with hurried steps before he hurriedly exited.

The butler stationed at the door bowed low and knocked firmly. "Your Excellency, Her Highness is here!"

Moments later, the door swung open, and Prince Xavier emerged, his face an unreadable mask of complexity. Queen Lustia's eyes scanned him anxiously from head to toe, searching for any signs of injury.

"Xavier, I heard you were injured!" Queen Lustia said, her voice laced with worry. She reached out to examine him, her hands moving to lift his shirt to check for wounds, her eyes darting over his body.

Prince Xavier looked visibly uncomfortable as he attempted to soothe his mother's concerns. He glanced at the surrounding maids and servants, their heads bowed in respectful silence. The entire situation was intensely embarrassing for him. "Mom, I'm fine!" he grumbled, guiding her back into the room and slamming the door behind them with a decisive thud, a clear message for the others to keep their concerns to themselves.

Inside the room, Dr. Fred and his assistants were busy attending to the unconscious figure on Prince Xavier's bed. Queen Lustia's eyes widened as she took in the sight. Who could it be that dared to lie in her son's bed?

Dr. Fred, having just completed his examination of Rara, stood to address her. "Your Highness," he said, stepping aside and bowing respectfully. His face was drawn and tense.

Queen Lustia's gaze fell upon the pale, unconscious figure of Rara. "Hara? Hara!" she cried out, rushing to the bed and clasping Rara's hand in a panic. Her eyes searched Rara's face, her heart aching with worry.

Prince Xavier's frustration was palpable as he watched his mother's sudden shift of focus from him to Rara. It was clear she was more concerned about Hara than about him.

"Xavier, what happened to her? Why is she in your room? Did you hurt her?" Queen Lustia's tone was sharp, her eyes blazing with accusation.

Prince Xavier's expression contorted with a mix of irritation and helplessness. "How would I know? She just appeared here out of nowhere!"

He averted his gaze, feeling the weight of his mother's scrutinizing stare. It was evident she did not believe him, and the frustration was evident on his face.

"Dr. Fred, how is she?" Queen Lustia demanded, her voice trembling with fear.

Dr. Fred, snapping out of his daze, responded quickly. "Your Highness, she has a fever and..." He hesitated, glancing nervously at Prince Xavier before continuing, "...and internal injuries."

Queen Lustia's face darkened with concern as she shifted her gaze back to her son. "Xavier Magdon! Explain yourself!"

Prince Xavier, feeling cornered, exchanged a troubled look with Dr. Fred. The healer, understanding the unspoken cue, motioned to his assistants to prepare for departure. "Your Highness, I've provided the necessary herbs and instructions to Assistant Bear. If there's nothing else, we'll be taking our leave."

Without waiting for a response, Dr. Fred and his assistants hurriedly gathered their belongings and exited the room with a sense of urgency, their footsteps echoing down the hallway.

Prince Xavier sank into a chair beside the bed, exhaling heavily. Queen Lustia took a seat beside him, her expression a mixture of worry and impatience.

He began to recount the events in Loton, detailing the discovery of Rara's powers and her sudden collapse. "I'm not entirely sure about her internal injuries," he said. "I suspect it's due to overuse of her magic."

Queen Lustia frowned deeply. "Hara wouldn't be injured merely from overusing her magic. She's a seasoned witch with over twenty years of experience. Unless..." Her eyes narrowed in realization. (She didn't know Hara was not a witch before Rara was reborn)

"Unless she had an old injury," Prince Xavier finished, his gaze fixed on Rara's pale face.

Queen Lustia sighed heavily. "Internal injuries are manageable if they're from a physical source. But if they're caused by magic..." Her voice trailed off, filled with apprehension.

"Mom, what are you trying to say?" Prince Xavier asked, his concern growing.

Queen Lustia looked up, her face weary. "If she's been harmed by magic... there's little we can do with conventional remedies. Magic injuries often require magical healing."

A flicker of realization crossed Prince Xavier's face. "Then we should find a witch to heal her!"

Queen Lustia's eyes widened at his suggestion, and her face turned pale with worry. She glanced anxiously at the closed door. "Be careful with your words! You know your father would never approve of such actions!"

Prince Xavier shook his head, a hint of defiance in his eyes. "Mom, you're underestimating how important Hara is to Father."

Queen Lustia's unease grew as she noticed the determined look on her son's face. "What are you planning? Don't act recklessly!"

Prince Xavier's smirk widened, and he stood up, mischief glinting in his eyes. "Oh, Mom, just wait and see." With that, he exited the room, leaving his mother to grapple with her fears and the weight of the uncertain future.