Chosen Mate of the Beastmen Empire by Lewis Reed

16:15 Mon, 17 Mar MOD

Chapter 415

Chapter 415

All the physicians took turns checking her pulse, and their conclusions matched the old director’s.

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The two males‘ eyes grew brighter, a flicker of hope igniting. Calming down to think it over, Banon’s words might not be true. He could’ve just pinpointed their weakness, tricked them, and laughed at their panic.

Realizing this, Aurelius’s aura softened. He ordered the physicians to prescribe cold medicine and dismissed them, then knelt halfway to grasp Nyx’s hand. “Nyx, when you went out today, did anything happen?”

Nyx blinked, thought hard, and nodded. “The heir of Marquis Anders mentioned to me that his father heard from a traveling merchant that lots of people in the south are getting sick–some even died.”

That was the most worrying thing she’d encountered today.

“Oh, and someone bumped into me. I wasn’t hurt–he probably didn’t mean it,” she added, recalling the beggar’s pitiful state. “He seemed sick, too poor to get treatment. The shadow guards took him for questioning, but they could call a doctor to check on him while they’re at it.”

The faint glimmer of luck they’d felt crumbled away. Aurelius barely held himself together, dragging heavy steps to summon the shadow guard leader.

“That beggar had a tattoo of Banon’s deathsworn,” the leader said, not daring to meet Aurelius’s gaze, bowing low. “He’s already dead

They hadn’t even started interrogating him. Right as they began, his face went pale, he gasped for air, his breathing visibly weakened, and he died right in front of them. High fever, drenched in sweat, shaking all over, just like Banon.

Everyone’s hearts sank to rock bottom. Except Nyx’s. She frowned as she listened, finally piecing together why her partners were acting so strange. So, Banon had schemed to make her sick.

“But I still feel like it’s just a cold,” she said, touching her forehead and cheeks. She was a bit warm, but not badly. “I was out in the wind today and soaked in cool water for hours. I just caught a chill.

Her symptoms were clearly different from that guy’s. Plus, the symptoms the shadow guard described sounded kinda familiar.

“What Banon had sounds like malaria, Nyx mused, digging through her mental knowledge bank. “If it’s malaria, hìm touching me like that wouldn’t spread it.”

“It doesn’t spread?” Erik’s ears perked up. “Really?”

He trusted Nyx’s words unconditionally, but this time was different–he worried she might be comforting him on purpose.

Nyx shook her head honestly. “It’s not that it doesn’t spread–it just doesn’t spread that way.”

Malaria wasn’t like the flu; mosquito bites were its main way of spreading. Poor old director got dragged back that same night, summoned again to discuss some mosquito–borne disease with Nyx.

Tve heard of something like this before, but I’ve never seen this, mal–aria myself, the old director said, racking his brain. He vaguely recalled a medical text mentioning it, though not by that name. He couldn’t remember the cure–just something about mosquito bites.

“Alright, go check your books again,” Nyx said, sighing when he offered no real help. She decided not to cling to false hope. “I still think it’s just a cold, but starting today, I’ll isolate. No contact with outsiders until I’m better.”

If she’d misjudged and it wasn’t malaria–and she’d caught something–she could limit the spread by isolating. The shadow guards who’d dealt with Banon and the beggar deathsworn had to isolate too.

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Everyone else cleared out of the bedchamber, leaving the two males lingering by Nyx’s side, one on her left, one on her right, refusing to budge.

Nyx squinted, pinching their ears. “You’re really staying?”

mouth even when they thought she had some terrifying contagious disease. They didn’t say it outright, but their actions screamed they’d follow her to the grave rather than live without

a general guarding the nation. She rubbed their heads helplessly, her heart a mess of

gone, another takes his place,” Aurelius said, hugging

muffled.

a shortage. But Nyx was one and

words. He couldn’t say anything fancy. He just nodded quietly beside her, then suddenly started unbuttoning her clothes. He’d dressed her in them himself, so stripping them off was quick and easy for him.

emotions vanished in a flash. Startled, she yanked the blanket over herself. “Tm still

sick!”

guy into a beast?‘

at being misunderstood. He looked serious. “Checking if you got bitten by mosquitoes.”

away. The bedchamber fell quiet, only the faint rustle

speak. Even with her eyes closed, she could tell they were inspecting her carefully, terrified

red marks stand out. But on closer look, they realized those weren’t mosquito bites–they were their own handiwork.

let out a collective

back, changing the subject to ease the

not. It sounded like wind, or

but now that things had settled, she remembered to bring it up. She’d never

loud?” Aurelius frowned, getting up to head outside.

directly, but Nyx suddenly guessed it,

staff serving in the bedchamber?‘ she thought.

anymore. She leaped up with a carp–like flip, only to be scooped back into Erik’s arms

notice you fell asleep in the water and caught a chill. They deserve punishment,”

into the bedchamber, he’d seen Nyx curled up silently in the tub, her face deathly pale. Holding back his temper and not ordering the on–duty staff beaten

extreme restraint.

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he said, kneeling on one knee, brushing Nyx’s hair softly. “If

of that kind of thing. Still, her little face paled, and she squirmed uncomfortably. “I fell asleep in the

adult–she didn’t really need someone hovering over her. Catching a cold

her so uneasy, Aurelius gave in right away. He called Aron over and told him to pass the word.

injuries. You don’t need to serve these days,” Aron announced. The palace staff bowed in thanks, grateful she’d saved them from

him for years and never seen him as furious as today. He’d been like a tiger cornered with nowhere to run–whoever crossed him would’ve been torn to shreds. Just thinking of those wild, reddened eyes made

was now a soft little kitty, curling up in Nyx’s arms, nuzzling into her chest. Nyx rubbed his tail tip, smoothing his fur, feeling a bit wistful. “You’re isolating

court for a few days won’t hurt,” he said. Between state affairs

the entire court. Concerned memorials about his health poured into the palace by the cartload. Aurelius glanced at

a certain Pale Wolf from sticking to her all day and going wild, she found things to do–tinkering with gauze mosquito nets one moment,

stripped them bald. She had more artemisia sent over and spent days with the old director and others from the imperial hospital, managing to whip up a few bottles of malaria medicine

myself,” the old director declared boldly, staring at

There were perfect lab rats

went to the next hall to find Aurelius. His desk was buried in memorials, and her male stared at

him, glancing down. She caught words like “epidemic,”

report.

she asked,

a stack of memorials from his side. “Zeniton, Lorderin, Fargo, Tymen–all hit with plague.”

worse it got, but being so far from Hilltop City, reports didn’t come in fast.

people to check the north too. Some are sick there, but

the disease and mosquitoes. A few doctors had even figured out on

about

hospital just made some new medicine,” Nyx said, pulling out the bottle. “Let’s find someone to test it quick. If it’s fine, we can start relief

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Chapter 425