164 AT HIS SIDE

"Your Highness!" At the speed of light, Zoe checked on his condition. His lips were pale and his skin was cold. 

"Help! Help! Anyone, please help us!" Zoe immediately screamed at the top of her voice. 

She had encountered perhaps a hundred patients in her entire life. Her hands have treated and operated on children, pregnant women, disabled and the elderly. But her eyes could not bear to see this man in this intolerable agony. Tears were gushing through her eyes.

Fortunately, Azra was nearby as he was waiting for the two to finish on whatever they're doing and come back.

He rushed to his side like lightning as he saw the horrendous state of the Crowned Prince. 

"Your Highness!"

Azra was about to pick him up when Raigon grabbed Zoe's hand and pressed it firmly. "P-promise me.. Y-you'll stay by my side."

Zoe nodded her head vigorously and clasped his hands. "I'm with you, your Highness. Azra!"

Azra nodded as he lifted Raigon on his back and carried him inside the area.

The Queen clearly commanded him to never let him set foot inside Xianghai, but he has no choice. It will take a while if he would bring him to the Infirmary. 

"Oh, my gosh, what happened?!" Erin blurted out as she saw Raigon's horrible condition. She immediately looked for an empty bed where he could lie on.

In a fraction of a second, she already found one that is large enough for him and private enough for others to not pry on.

There was already a commotion going on as some had seen him enter the room.

"I-is it the Crowned Prince?"

"Has he contracted the disease too?" 

Erin took care of them while Azra laid him down on the bed. 

Meanwhile, Zoe looked for things that she could improvise as an IV drip. Fortunately, she saw some empty glass jars in the kitchen. She has some rubber tubings and needles in her Hebao. 

In a flash she poured boiled water on it to sterilize it. Then afterwards she made an IV set with it.

She immediately set it up beside Raigon.

And as soon as she lifted the needle, Azra brought out his sword.

"What are you doing to His Highness?!"

Erin, who had just calmed the people down and shut the doors, intercepted in.

"Azra, you have seen how Lady Asha treated the patients here including Lord Adrian. Do you still think she has ill intentions to harm the Crown Prince?"

Azra was still not putting the sword down. "W-will you also open his head like you did with Lord Adrian? Why didn't you do that to the other patients here before."

Zoe put the needle down and tried to pacify Azra. "I understand your concern, Azra. Don't worry, this intervention is unlike Lord Adrian's as they have a different case. But His Highness is susceptible to acquire the illness with this condition, given that he just recovered from a traumatic injury. And this is perhaps a side effect of his medications too."

She lifted up the needle again and explained further on. "I just have to inject this so his body will quickly be replenished with fluid and recover easily."

"You could bring him now to his physician if you're uncomfortable with this method. But it will take a while. Things may happen along the road." She added on.

Azra paused for a few seconds before bringing back his sword to his sheath. 

"W-will that work one hundred percent?" Azra prodded on. 

Aside from he was worried about the invasive treatment on his master, he will be accountable whatever happens to him.

"I'm not 100% sure. I don't have pain medications with me. I don't know if your herbal medicine will be toxic if I include them. I will only increase his fluids, hoping it will stop the headaches…"

She glanced at Raigon who seemed to have passed out from tolerating his affliction.

Azra's attention was directed at the Crowned Prince too.

His eyebrows furrowed in anxiety at his condition. He nodded, agreeing with Zoe's immediate method to comfort the Crowned Prince.

Zoe bowed to him and looked at Raigon. This was her first time to use a DIY IV set. And it was a very special person to her heart. Still, she had to make a decision. Or his body could go into a seizure or migrainous infarction. As she didn't know what the cause of his headache was.

She didn't know if this would work. It could also cause complications to him, which could endanger her life, him being the Crowned Prince of the land. Still, she has to try.

"I don't know if you can hear me, your Highness. But this will sting just a little. Just hold on."

Raigon didn't flinch as the needle went inside his forearm. Zoe quickly set it up so the fluids can run through his blood and calm his stress hormones. 

They waited for his response but it seemed that he was still blacked out.

"Azra, could you help me for a minute? I have to transfer a patient to the other room. Most of the men were outside gathering extra sacks of salts for our patients."

Azra glanced at the Crowned Prince, and then at Zoe.

She just nodded and said in a sad tone. "I'm okay. I'll let you know if anything happens."

Erin whispered in her ear. "I'll let you two be alone. Hang in there, girl. He's a strong man."

Zoe gave her a tepid smile before she and Azra went outside to help the other patients.

She held his hand and massaged it as his body accepted the fluids that will renew his strength. 

It seemed that he was still unconscious as his extremities were limp and lifeless.

"You've been through a lot…" She caressed his hair while she gazed at him lovingly. 

She kissed his forehead tenderly, hoping the pain would all go away. "I'm sorry for everything."

*************************************

People may not always tell you how they feel about you

But surely, they will always show you.