09:55 Thu, May 7
Fate Binds Me to Lord Clarke
Chapter 24 A Desperate Cure
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Daniel’s entire body stiffened.
Vincent was enraged when he heard those words. Who did Daniel’s family represent? The Emperor himself -the royal bloodline.
“Brielle, what foolish talk is this!” he shouted. “To curse the Crown and show such disrespect to the royal house-do you realize the severity of this crime? Do you intend to bring ruin upon the Whitmore family?”
Brielle let out a cold, broken laugh, tears mingling with the blood that streaked her face.
She was dying-why should she care about the fate of the Whitmore family now? What did it matter to her whether they thrived or fell? If her own father had not subjected her to the household punishment, would she have collapsed and been poisoned with such lethal venom?
With a grave expression, Bruce spoke up. “Lord Daniel, have administered medicine for her injuries, but the wounds are too severe. A sudden fever has taken hold-I fear she has only a few hours left.”
Daniel frowned at the news, his gaze falling upon Brielle’s bloodied form. For a moment, he even felt a pang of pity.
A fatal fever, on top of grave injuries? Brielle tried to protest, but a sharp, twisting pain in her abdomen stole her voice.
What Bruce had given her was clearly poison. Daniel was cunning indeed. He had not struck her down at Clarke Manor-instead, he waited until her return home, when she was already weakened from the beating, to have her poisoned right here in Whitmore Manor.
Her death could then be blamed on Vincent’s harsh discipline, leaving Lord Daniel’s hands clean.
His reputation would remain untarnished. The Whitmore family would bear the guilt. He would be rid of Brielle, free to marry Donna with a clear conscience.
What a calculated move. How ruthlessly brilliant.
No wonder Lord Daniel of Veridia was spoken of with such dread.
Her fingers clenched tightly around the fabric of her sleeve, resentment burning within her. She would not die like this.
Daniel looked at her with what seemed like sympathy, though to Brielle it appeared utterly hollow.
“Dr. Gordon, is there truly nothing more to be done?” Daniel pressed once more.
Regretfully, Bruce shook his head.
Brielle sneered inwardly. Hypocrite. He was the one who had summoned Bruce to poison her-to kill her.
Vincent sighed heavily. “It would seem this is her destined end…
“Lord Daniel, your kindness is noted. But if she cannot be saved, there is no need to trouble yourself further. Please,” Vincent said, gesturing toward the door
Daniel gave a slight nod and turned to leave.
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Just then, Donna hurried into the doorway, her face a mask of shock and distress. “I heard my sister is
coughing blood? What has happened? Is she all right? Let me see her!”
In a flurry of panic, she rushed into the chamber. At the sight of Brielle’s state, she gasped and sank to her knees beside the bed. “Brielle! Brielle, how have you come to this? Father, please-send for a physician!”
Vincent moved to calm her. “The healer brought by Lord Daniel says there is no hope. Donna, let your sister pass her final hours in peace.”
He stepped forward to guide Donna away.
Donna broke into sobs. “How can that be? Brielle has always been so strong. How can there be no hope? Father, I beg you-summon a royal physician.”
Brielle watched Donna’s performance through narrowed eyes, fury swelling until the veins stood out on her forehead. Her hands curled into tight fists, knuckles whitening.
The pain in her belly twisted deeper. Weakness seeped through her limbs, leaving her unable to utter a word.
Daniel also approached, taking Donna gently by the arm. “Do not weep so. Take care, or you will make yourself ill. Come,” he murmured, guiding her from the room.
Take care not to make herself ill?
Here Brielle lay, clinging to life, and not one of them had tried to save her. They all wished her dead.
Well, she refused. She would live.
“Lady Brielle, how can they act this way? You still breathe-why will they not even try?” Violet cried helplessly. She dabbed Brielle’s mouth and face with a handkerchief, her own tears falling freely.
Everyone had gone. Only Juliet remained in the courtyard, murmuring to herself as she slowly approached the chamber, wiping her eyes with a sorrow that tugged at the heart.
Brielle grasped Violet’s hand. With great effort, she parted her lips, her face contorted with pain, and forced out the words, “Serpent… serpent-vine…”
“Serpent-vine? Brielle, do you mean serpent-vine? What is that?” Violet leaned in, urgency sharpening her
tone.
Brielle’s mouth moved again, weaker now. “Courtyard… he griffin statue… behind the stone lamp…”
Quick to understand, Violet steadied herself. “Behind the stone lamp near the griffin statue in the courtyard?
“I’ll go at once!”
Though uncertain what exactly Brielle needed, Violet recalled the unusual griffin-shaped stone lamp she had noticed upon their arrival. She hurried to the grassy patch behind it, gathering handfuls of various plants and blooms of different colors, then rushed back to the Luminary Chamber with a large bundle.
She held them out to Brielle. “Brielle, is the serpent-ving you need here? If not, I will search again!”
She sensed this was something that could save Brielle’s fe.
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Chapter 24 A Desperate Cure
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With trembling hands, Brielle sifted desperately through the pile of greenery. After a moment, she finally found what she sought-a plant with long, coiled leaves resembling a serpent’s body. It was a rare antidote herb, grown only from seed and slow to sprout.
When she had first entered the estate, she had noticed the griffin-shaped stone lamp-and had also glimpsed this serpent-vine. At the time, it seemed ordinary, hardly worth a second glance. Never had she imagined she would one day depend on it to survive.
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Fate Binds Me to Lord Clarke
