Mister Nolan who had heard Mirabelle call out to him earlier, rushed to her side. "I'm here" he said and Mirabelle relaxed. Being blind came with other things like being and feeling vulnerable almost all the time.
Nolan was still trying to accept the physician's words that Mirabelle was fine now because of how much she was screaming the evening before but the calm look from the physician made him worry less.
"Papa..I'm parched" she said.
"Ohh my sweetheart, can you wait a little till we get home?" Nolan was concerned about taking anything from the castle's kitchen once again.
"Okay. Papa, we are going home today right?" Mirabelle asked.
"Yes my princess. In few minutes I hope" Nolan assured, stroking his daughter's head. Mirabelle heaved a sigh after hearing the reassurance from her father.
They both heard a knock on the door and Nolan left Mirabelle's side to open it.
"Milord" Nolan greeted the king as he entered the room.
"How is she?" The king asked walking towards Mirabelle.
Hearing the king's voice, Mirabelle stiffened.
"She's better now" her father replied.
"The person who caused it has been dealt with so you can rest assured lady Mirabelle" the king said to the girl.
"Oh thank you milord" she tried sitting up from the bed but was held down by her father.
"You should rest lady Mirabelle" the physician who was still at the corner of the room said.
Sebastian's eyes darted between the father and daughter as many things were running through his mind.
Marcellus who was still standing, said to the king "Milord, I would like to have a word with you".
Sebastian looked up at young man before walking out of the room and Marcellus followed behind.
Mirabelle on the other hand wondered what happened to her. It started few minutes after she ate what was brought by the servant meaning she was probably poisoned. But who would want to poison her? She asked herself. She hadn't wronged anyone in the palace so why?.
She sighed and tried not to dwell on it. She was fine now, that's what mattered.
Her father was still by her side, coaxing her and making sure she was comfortable.
In the throne room...
"Milord, the servants told me the symptoms she showed earlier and it seems those symptoms she exhibited were akin to symptoms a vampire would exhibit if he takes the witches brew. Some scream like her and experience a burning like experience before turning to ash." He paused to adjust the specs on his face.
"But the young lady isn't a vampire. Humans wouldn't be affected by the witches brew, meaning the lady is something else. I can't decipher her kind but from studies I hope it isn't what I think it is". Marcellus explained.
The king's face held a serious expression as it seemed he understood what Marcellus meant by his last statement.
"Interesting". Sebastian said, not showing any emotion on his face.
"What other way can we know if she's truly what you think she is?" The king questioned.
Marcellus was deep in thought for some seconds before saying "Only time will tell milord. She'd show other symptoms".
"You may leave" Sebastian said and Marcellus bowed before taking his leave.
What the physician said stayed on the king's mind for an uncomfortable amount of time.
First, he didn't understand the connection and sudden likeness he felt the moment he saw Mirabelle for the first time. Then another strange thing occured, he heard her scream from a long distance. But not just with his ears but with something deep in his chest. It was all strange to him.
What was it about this human girl?
If truly the human girl was what Marcellus thought she was, then he had to keep an eye on her and that couldn't be done from her village Cornswell.
Nolan stood before the king, wondering what was so important that the king ordered they spoke about it in the throne room with no guards nearby. He had earlier called on Nolan and now, they were seated alone in the throne room.
Something lingered in the air that made Nolan feel uncomfortable and his heart rate increased as the king stared at him. For the first time.
"Nolan, I wanted to have this conversation privately with no one around because this is a very delicate matter. It's about your daughter..." The king explained.
The conversation went for some minutes and finally, Nolan exited the throne room with a sour expression. What the king relayed to him left him confused and at crossroads.
"How will I tell Elizabeth about this? Do we really have a choice?" Nolan questioned himself as he walked back to the guest room where Mirabelle was. The worry so evident on his face.
Reaching the guest room, his presence quickly alerted Mirabelle who was still wide awake. "Father?" She had a way of knowing if her father was close through the sound of his footsteps, how he closed the doors, his scent.
She had to train her other senses to be sharp enough given her condition.
Nolan face slammed, not knowing how to inform his daughter of what the king just told him. He stood silent for some seconds and tried not to let the tears that quickly filled his eyes fall.
"Papa?" Mirabelle called out once again.
"I'm here child" he said with his voice sounding husky.
"What's wrong?" She asked feeling genuinely worried.
She had hoped he'd come back to tell her the king wanted to see them then after their conversation and she tells him her other dream, they'd be off. But now, her father was strangely quiet.
"Mirabelle, I just had a conversation with the king and he thinks we should stay in the palace for some days" he finally explained as he walked closer to the bed she was lying on.
"What?!" Mirabelle was shocked.