Lord Richard was the first to reach in Alexander’s room. He kicked the door open in anticipation and the sight that welcomed him nearly made his heart to stop. Alexander was laying still on his bed, unmoving. His usually calm face now had a pained expression and his face had lost color, turning paler. This sight of him, he didn’t even know or imagine would exist.

The king, being in a critical condition, and now his son! Oh no! What had Valoria done to deserve such a cruel treatment? Lord Richard ran across the room, brushing the train of thoughts aside. He towered over Alexander as he assessed his current condition.

Isadora came in at the same time, panting. Another person, dressed in a blue robe trailing behind her. It was the chief physician. He looked at Alexander and his eyes widened in surprise and fear. When he was coming here, he had come to break some other news to Alexander but seeing his current condition, his worry intensified uncontrollably. That could wait for another time.

Lord Richard spotted the chief physician and looked at him in anticipation. Maybe the guy might know what is wrong with Alexander.

"What is wrong with him?" He asked. Isadora thought she was the one being asked and she tried to mumble some words before a figure brushed past her. She paused for a moment as she studied this man. He was tall, almost as Alexander and he had an air of officialdom that carried around him. His black hair was perfectly combed and rested calmly on his shoulders. One look and she could tell that he was someone learned, maybe a doctor or philosophist.

The chief physician studied Alexander for a moment. Lord Richard and Isadora just stared at him in anticipation and Isa knew that he was a doctor. A royal doctor! The chief physician lifted Alexander’s hand tracing a heartbeat. He then checked his eyes and tongue and poked his nails. And then turning to Lord Richard, he said, "The Prince has taken some poison. And the venom is quickly spreading across his body. If we don’t do something, it might be too late," he said with a worried face.

"You know better than me. What kind of poison has he taken?" Lord Richard asked. It would be easier to find a cure if they knew the type of poison they were dealing with. The physician examined Alexander again and his he frowned with every passing minute making Lord Richard’s worry to intensify. And after what seemed like eternity, he faced them with a pitiful look.

"Ever since I started my career as a doctor, I have never heard or encountered such a poison before. I am sorry I don’t know the type yet." He said with a solemn look on his face.

Lord Richard clenched his fists tightly. Who dared to poison the prince? He turned around and looked at Isadora, making her to stiffen. Yes. This woman was always the one closest to Alexander. So if he had been poisoned, it would only be her, no one else. Besides, she was the only one who brought food to him. He was sure the kitchen staff would never do such a stupid thing, unless they did now ant their heads intact.

"You," he said pointing her and crossing the distance between them. "You were the one who poisoned the prince. Tell me what kind of poison you used," he demanded raising his voice now.

"I didn’t poison him," Isadora said, shaking her head vigorously while taking a few steps back. She couldn’t just keep quiet and watch while someone accused her falsely. But a part of her told her that she would be held responsible no matter what she said or did.

Another knock sounded on the door interrupting their little fight. The two looked at the door startled. The knock came again but no one was willing to answer, or rather, they were too afraid to open the door. After a few seconds, the door creaked open and a smiling queen Victoria stepped in.

"Alexander? I want..." Her voice trailed at the sight that caught her. Her earlier bright and smiling face switched to one of fear and concern as she watched the chief physician trying to give some first aid to an unconscious Alexander. Her legs instinctively carried her forward and she found herself all over Alexander’s unmoving body.

"Alexander?" She called but no response came. She cupped his face with her hands as she looked at the chief physician questioningly.

"What happened to him?" She asked, her voice etched in worry and curiosity.

"He either consumed or got injected with poison my Lady," the physician answered. The queen gasped in surprise. Who the hell dared to poison the crown prince? Was there a spy from one of their enemies kingdom in the palace?

"Then do something to save him." She said looking at the physician in some hope. But the reaction from the physician made her swallow. The chief physician just shook his head.

"I can’t provide treatment for a poison that I am not conversant with." He said, his gaze still fixated on Alexander’s face.

"Tsk.. You are the chief physician. The greatest doctor and healer in Valoria. How then can you not know this kind of poison?" Queen Victoria sked, anger evident in her voice. 𝑓𝓇𝘦ℯ𝘸𝘦𝑏𝓃𝑜𝘷ℯ𝑙.𝑐𝑜𝓂

"Throughout my career, I have never seen nor experienced such a case before. This is the first of this kind. And I am afraid we’ll ran out of time if we don’t do something soon." He said making queen Victoria to worry even more.

"So what do you want me to do? I am no physician. Just do everything you can. All I want is to see my son, alive and kicking," she said with finalization. The chief physician just nodded before he began to work on Alexander’s still body.

"And who dared to poison my son? The crown prince of Valoria. That in itself is treason." She said turning to face Lord Richard.

"I think she has the answer to that." He said pointing towards Isadora. Queen Victoria’s gaze narrowed at her before she shot a questioning look at her.

"You better speak before I lose my patience!" Queen Victoria demanded.