Silence once again filled Daniel's chamber, but Lina rushed to break it, her voice urgent:
"This won't happen again. I promise. Now answer me honestly—are you capable of poisoning people?"
It was a direct blow. Lina knew there was no use in circling around the truth, especially not with someone like Daniel—and certainly not when her daughter's life hung in the balance. There was no room for hesitation in this deteriorating situation.
But Daniel responded with a question of his own:
"And what will you do if I don't answer?"
Lina's expression shifted in an instant. He hadn't denied it—that alone was confirmation enough. Rage flared across her features as she barked:
"Daniel, answer me! Elena's life is at stake. Did you poison her?"
Daniel exhaled sharply. He understood that dragging things out would only make them worse. Finally, he replied:
"What will you offer me in return if I heal her?"
Lina's heart sank. Her worst fears were now a certainty. Her fists clenched with the urge to strike him, to shatter his smug mouth, to break his bones—or even kill him. But time was slipping through her fingers, and her daughter's life—and perhaps her own—depended on her swallowing her pride.
She let out a long breath, as though shedding a mountain of weight from her shoulders. Her mind cleared: the cause is known, and that's half the cure.
She asked quietly:
"Fine. What do you want in return?"
Daniel's lips curled into a wide smile that reached his eyes. The proud queen—who once bowed to no man—now stood before him, submitting to his terms. He had waited long for this moment. But surprisingly, it wasn't as satisfying as he imagined. He had expected her pride to resist. Now that she didn't, it simply wasn't fun anymore.
So, he chose not to make things harder for her.
He said in a teasing tone:
"Just unlock these chains. They're really uncomfortable."
Lina's jaw dropped in disbelief. She had expected demands for freedom, for servitude, even for her life. But this? Just… unshackling?
A strange thought crept into her mind: He's mad. He doesn't even know how to seize an opportunity.
Before he could change his mind, she answered quickly:
"Alright. Agreed. I'll remove your chains. Now tell me—how do I heal Elena?"
Daniel responded with a glint of satisfaction:
"Simple. Let her sleep with me once a week. The pain will end. There is no antidote to this poison... except my body."
Lina froze.
Her mind struggled to process his words. When the meaning finally clicked, her voice exploded in outrage:
"I don't have time for your games, Daniel! Tell me the real antidote—now!"
Daniel didn't speak. He merely smiled, provoking her further. She wanted to scream, to curse him into ashes. But then he murmured:
"Insulting me won't help your daughter."
She replied coldly:
"Who's insulting her savior? Certainly not me..."
Disdain marked her every word. Their eyes locked, tension thick in the air. Each of them waited for the other to slip, to reveal a weakness, an opening. But nothing came—only an unbearable silence.
Finally, Daniel broke it with a smirk:
"So... will you stare at me all day? I know I'm handsome, but at least unlock the chains and bring me some clothes. I don't mind being admired—you 've already seen everything, anyway."
His words struck like venom. Lina's cheeks burned with shame as memories from the night before rushed back. Without a word, she turned and stormed out, unwilling to hear another word of his insolence.
Left alone, Daniel relaxed once more, laying back into a calm slumber. Soon, chaos would knock again—but for now, he would rest.
Out in the corridor, Lina found Lara waiting. She passed by her swiftly, her tone sharp and cold as frost:
"Lara, unlock Daniel's chains and bring him some clothes from his room. Don't treat him as a prisoner anymore. And as for you—your punishment is coming. Be ready."
Lara bowed her head, submissive:
"As you command, my lady."
Lina shot her one last glare. There would be time for discipline later. For now, her daughter's life was slipping away. She would obey Daniel's demands—for now—until the royal physician could conduct more tests, perhaps using her own body as a control. She also intended to acquire a sample of Daniel's blood. If the poison was in his blood, they would find out.
Lina didn't believe for a second that his body was the only cure. She would play along… and buy herself time.
In Elena's chamber, the maid had changed her clothes and cleaned the room, but the girl was burning with fever, her breathing shallow and labored. The maid was frantic, unsure of what to do.
Lina entered abruptly, her voice tight:
"Is she alright?"
The maid bowed quickly:
"Her condition is worsening, my lady. The fever is rising. She's struggling to breathe."
Lina clicked her tongue in frustration and asked:
"What about the physician? Did he give her any treatment—any antidote?"
The maid shook her head solemnly:
"He gave her everything—every medicine and antidote we have. Nothing worked."
Grinding her teeth, Lina dismissed her:
"Leave us. I need to speak to my daughter alone."
The maid bowed again and quietly exited.
Now, only mother and daughter remained. Lina sat beside her, watching her daughter suffer, her skin flushed with heat and each breath a struggle. She leaned close and whispered:
"Elena… can you hear me? It's your mother. I have something important to tell you."
Elena opened her eyes slightly, staring up at her with pain and fear. She whispered hoarsely:
"I hear you… Did you find out what's happening to me?"
Lina nodded, kissed her warm cheek, and replied gently, with motherly tenderness:
"Yes, my love. And I promise—you're going to be okay. Just trust me. Don't be afraid."