Chapter 45: Ch 45. Completing Treatment

"Selena..."

Selena, who wanted to listen to the battle again, couldn’t continue because she heard John’s moans calling out to her.

She turned her head quickly and saw that the fiery glow that had surrounded the man was gone, leaving only John, who looked as weak as if he’d just risen from the dead.

Selena moved quickly to approach him, letting John’s head rest in her lap while she checked his circulation and felt his pulse.

It was quite weak but not life-threatening. That was because his body had just battled the fire that had been burning him constantly, which was why he seemed to have lost all his energy.

"How are you feeling? Does anything still hurt around your heart?" she asked as she examined his chest.

Jhon took a weak breath. "No, it’s just that my body was constantly churning earlier—my blood felt like it was boiling. But I didn’t feel much pain—just restless, as if I were standing on the edge of a chasm filled with hot lava," he said weakly, taking occasional slow breaths.

Selena nodded gently. "Come on, let’s get up. I’ll help you onto the bed so you can lie down more comfortably," Selena said, then stood up first and helped him up.

Jhon struggled to lift his sturdy frame, walked slowly toward the bed, and let Selena help him lie down. Even though Selena’s body had felt so fragrant and soft when they’d been in such close contact earlier, Jhon was simply too weak to enjoy it.

Besides being weak, he’d also started shivering, so he immediately hugged the blanket Selena had just pulled up over him.

"Vee, scoop some water from that pot and pour three spoonfuls into the bowl. Bring it over here," Selena ordered as she checked Jhon’s forehead, which was furrowed from the cold.

Jhon was no longer aware of what was happening; he closed his eyes, his lips trembling, while Selena calmly stirred the Ember Root decoction in the bowl.

"Your Majesty, King Phoenix looks very distressed. Is he all right?" Vee asked, a little anxious.

She was worried that if this treatment failed, Selena could be in trouble. Not to mention, the sounds of Sovel’s fight with someone out there were still going on and sounded quite serious.

Vee wasn’t sure how this night would end either.

"He’s feeling cold even though it’s not winter—that’s not a big deal. His body has gotten used to being a bit warm because of the fire near his chest; now that the fire has weakened, his body feels a sense of loss and is having trouble adapting to the actual environment. All of this will improve once his body adjusts to the weather and the surrounding temperature," Selena replied, then looked at Vee.

"In that case, does that mean your treatment worked, Your Majesty?"

"The effects will only become apparent after he drinks this Ember Root decoction," Selena replied with a relaxed smile. "Help him sit down; I’ll make him drink this now."

Vee nodded, moved to Selena’s left, and asked Jhon for a moment’s permission before helping him sit down. Meanwhile, Selena held the man’s jaw, prying his mouth open slightly and forcing the decoction down Jhon’s throat as he lay half-unconscious.

Jhon swallowed as much of the liquid as he could, then closed his eyes even tighter as his body was laid back down on the bed.

"Selena..." John mumbled, causing Selena to raise an eyebrow as she handed the empty bowl to Vee. "Selena... I’m sorry... I promise I’ll be better from now on... Whatever you ask, I’ll do it..."

Selena clicked her tongue softly, then walked away until John’s hand could no longer reach her.

"Your Majesty, is it over?" Vee asked as Selena approached her.

"Hmm, he’ll sleep for a few hours to let his body recover. Move this pot of boiled water over—take the pot off the stove so it cools down. After this, have the Phoenix guards stand watch; we’ll go back to my room," Selena said, then stretched wearily.

After tonight, she hoped Jhon’s problems would be over—at least for the foreseeable future. If this treatment worked, he’d be fine, and his life would no longer be in danger.

Although Selena knew this wasn’t the end of the treatment Jhn needed. His body was the purest medicine; they really did have to make love to him at least once. But for now, Selena wasn’t ready to do that—not until they truly had no other choice.

"I have to go back to researching and seeing if there are other options. I really have no intention of spending the night with them. Even though I’ve forgiven them, that doesn’t mean I’m going to be a woman who gets passed around by five husbands. That’s too horrifying—even if it’s just in my imagination!" Selena muttered, shivering at the thought.

Although it could be said that Selena couldn’t avoid it 100% either, since her very survival here depended on having sex with one of them.

But that was still a long way off, and Selena was sure she’d find a way to do it without feeling ashamed.

Trapping one of the dumbest among them with sleeping pills, for example? She’d worry about that later; Selena had plenty of other plans to preserve her dignity, because as long as they didn’t know about this, they wouldn’t be able to force her.

"Your Majesty, I’ve done everything. Is it okay if we leave King Phoenix now?" Vee asked anxiously.

Selena gave a small smile. "Don’t worry, Sovel will be back soon. Just leave a message with the guard on duty out front—everything will be fine."

Vee nodded, then followed Selena after packing up and carrying some of their belongings.

"Ah, just take me to my room and then come back here. Ask Sovel to watch over the King when he returns, and also ask him to continue cutting the Ember Root. Once he’s finished, he must hand it over to me tomorrow; I need to make medicine with that ingredient as soon as possible," said Selena, causing Vee to nod.

"Yes, Your Majesty."

They left John’s private room, which did indeed have a small bed for resting. Selena casually walked past the servants, while Vee gave them a few messages and told them she would return after escorting Selena.

Selena walked down the main corridor that passed by several other palace buildings. As she passed the Wolf King’s palace, she paused for a moment to look at the full moon high in the sky; for the first time, its light was a bright red.

"What a shame... this beautiful moon can’t actually be enjoyed by everyone," she muttered, then glanced at the Wolf’s palace, which looked the darkest of all.

Stoner had strictly obeyed her orders, locking himself in his room and staying away from any form of light from the full moon. It was quite sad, but Selena just sighed and felt sorry for herself.

"There’s still so much I need to treat; tomorrow looks like it’s going to be a long day, too. I have to get a good night’s sleep tonight so that getting up early and getting back to work tomorrow won’t be a waste."