Chapter 231: Chapter 231

I stood in Damon’s chamber, the heavy air filled with the sharp smell of herbs and the doctor’s strange powders. My eyes were fixed on Damon, lying pale and weak on the bed. His chest rose and fell slowly, as though every breath was a battle. Sweat dripped down his temples. My hands trembled, but I forced myself to stay steady.

The doctor’s hands moved quickly as he mixed the antidote, muttering under his breath. I watched every detail, but my mind kept drifting back, back to my room, earlier today.

"Lady Belinda..." Rose, Lisa’s maid, had entered quietly, her eyes darting around nervously. She held her apron close to her chest, as if protecting herself from her own words.

I had been brushing my hair when she came in. I turned slowly, arching an eyebrow. "What is it, Rose? "

She swallowed hard, then whispered, "I did it. I swapped Alpha Damon’s herbs. And I... I also placed some in Lady Lisa’s chamber, like you told me."

For a moment, I let silence linger, just watching her. The girl was shaking so hard I thought her knees would give way. "And?" I asked finally.

She licked her lips. "And now I need more money, my lady. Please. This matter will soon explode, and I don’t want to be here when it does. I want to leave the palace."

I tilted my head, smiling faintly. "Leave? And where will you go, Rose? Do you think you can simply walk away after touching something so delicate?"

Her eyes widened. "But... but I did everything you asked! I risked my life! If anyone finds out..."

I stood and walked slowly toward her. She flinched back, but I only reached out and touched her cheek softly. "Rose, your work is not yet done. Do you hear me? Not yet."

Tears welled in her eyes. "But I... I can’t stay, my lady. They will find out. They will question me...."

I cut her off sharply. "You will stay. You will testify against Lisa. That is the most important part. Without you, everything falls apart."

She gasped, shaking her head. "No... I..."

"You will do it," I said firmly, lowering my voice to a dangerous whisper. "And if you are loyal, Rose, I will make sure you are rewarded beyond your dreams. If you betray me..." My eyes narrowed. "You already know what will happen." Tʜe sourcᴇ of thɪs content ɪs 𝗻𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗹~𝓯𝓲𝓻𝓮~𝚗𝚎𝚝

Her lips trembled, then she nodded quickly. "I will do it. I will testify. I swear."

"Good girl," I said, patting her cheek. "Now go. And keep your mouth shut until it is time."

As she left, clutching her apron, I let out a slow breath. The game was moving perfectly.

Now, standing by Damon’s bed, I almost laughed at how easy it had been. But then the sight of him, so pale, so weak, made my chest tighten. I had not wanted it to go this far. I had only wanted Lisa out of the way. Yet here he was, fighting death itself.

My eyes stung, and before I knew it, hot tears slid down my cheeks. I pressed a hand against my stomach and whispered, "You cannot leave me, Damon. Not now. Not when our child needs you."

Kael’s voice thundered across the chamber. "Doctor! Do something! Save him, or you will not see another sunrise!"

The doctor bowed his head, trembling. "My lord... the poison is strong. The amount he took... it is too much. I am not certain he will survive."

Rowan slammed his fist against the table, making the bottles shake. "You will not speak such nonsense! Save him, do you hear me? Or you will die before he does!"

I stepped closer, my voice breaking. "Doctor, please... you must do everything in your power. You cannot let him die. I cannot lose him."

The doctor hesitated, then nodded quickly and bent over Damon again.

Both Kael and Rowan turned to me, their eyes burning with desperation. I wiped my tears but did not hide my trembling. For a moment, silence filled the room, broken only by Damon’s ragged breathing. Then I whispered, "I am carrying your child."

Their eyes widened instantly. "What?" Rowan asked, his voice sharp.

I gave a broken smile, tears falling freely now. "I... I didn’t plan to say it this way. I wanted to tell him first, in a happy moment. But now..." My hand pressed gently against my belly. "Now it feels like a curse. I am carrying your child, My Alphas, and I don’t even know if Damon will live to see his son or daughter."

Kael rushed to me, his face softening for the first time that night. He gripped my shoulders. "Belinda... this is good news. Damon will be fine. He has to be fine. He cannot leave you, or the child."

Rowan stepped closer too, his eyes shining with hope.

I forced a weak smile, though my heart raced. "Thank you. I only pray he wakes soon. I cannot bear this."

Kael turned suddenly to Rose, who was standing silently near the door, her head lowered. His voice snapped like a whip. "You. Maid. Why did you not raise an alarm when you saw Lisa tampering with Damon’s herbs?"

Rose jumped, bowing quickly. "M-my lord, I was scared. I didn’t know what to do. I..."

"Silence!" Kael shouted. "You were scared? Scared while one of your Alpha lay dying? You dare give me such a foolish excuse?"

Rowan’s face darkened. "Guards! Take her. She will be punished."

The guards stepped forward at once. Rose’s eyes went wide with terror. She dropped to her knees, crying out, "Lady Belinda! Lady Belinda, please help me!"

I smirked faintly as Rose was dragged out of the chamber, her cries echoing against the stone walls. My lips curved, though I quickly pressed a hand to my mouth, hiding it from Rowan and Kael, who were busy hovering over Damon’s weakened form. Their eyes didn’t notice, but my heart raced with a wicked thrill.

Adrik had already received my instructions. "Finish the girl off," I had told him quietly before the chaos began. "And make sure Unccle Fridolf hears about the situation. He knows what to do."

I glanced at Damon lying there, pale and sweating, the doctor moving carefully, trying to undo the poison’s work. I let a sigh escape, soft, almost mournful, but laced with calculation. No one could know the thoughts behind it, not Kael, not Rowan. They were too wrapped up in their brother’s life to even notice my small victories.

I lowered my head, eyes glistening with fake tears. "I won’t. I... I just can’t imagine losing him."