Since I returned from my stroll, I was immediately hit by newly-made reports. Because of James’ absence, every single report that’s in his room was left to my responsibility. Mother already has her hands full with the lords and Elizabeth taken it upon herself to do Mother’s obligations. Whenever James was away, this was how royal responsibilities were passed around. We have to manage anything that we could within our capabilities. 
As I did my part, I enjoyed the ambience of a peaceful atmosphere, as well as the sound of me, stamping the royal seal on each report. 
I was in the middle of reviewing the trade of fish when a knock landed on my door. My page entered, “Your Highness, the Lady Elizabeth is here to see you.” 
“Let her in,” I replied, not lifting my gaze from the report. 
After a brief second, Elizabeth asked, “Am I interrupting anything, my brother?” 
I looked up to her with a smile. “Elizabeth, I told you many times before: you never interrupted anything that I do.” 
She smiled as she approached me. “I looked through every single matter that Mother would do on a daily basis and I got tired of the silence,” she continued as she sat in front of me. 
“That’s a bit odd, don’t you think?” I smirked. “You spend most of your time in the library and you complain about being alone?” 
She rolled her eyes, scoffing. “Reading a book is different from reading reports. Books are a source of entertainment, reports aren’t.” She added, “I don’t understand how you manage to contain yourself in such a lonely atmosphere.” 
I chuckled, returning to the report in hand. “Silence helps me make better decisions. It helps me think everything through. James’ reports are vastly different from Mother’s. I need all the space and time to think,” I explained. 
Suddenly, the door burst open as my page ran to me. “Your Highness, there’s an emergency in the stables!” 
“What do you mean?” I asked, standing up. 
“It’s Lady, Your Highness. The servants said she wasn’t breathing.” 
I ran to the stables, Elizabeth’s voice echoed behind me as he called for my attention. 
♔♔♔ 
When I arrived, Lady was on the floor, barely breathing. “Lady!” I pushed through the servants, immediately kneeling beside her. “Lady?! Lady, what’s happening to you?! Lady!” I screamed, not knowing what to do. 
“Robert? What’s the matter?!” Nana rushed in with the other servants. She immediately gasped at the horrific sight. 
“Call the Medicine King! Hurry!” I shouted. 
“You heard the young master! Do it now!” Nana yelled. One of the servants jumped onto the service horse and went on his way. 
“Lady, please,” tears started to fall as I pulled her to my chest. My hand gripped on her tightly as the fear of losing her took over. I cannot afford to lose Lady. I will not let that happen. 
“Robert!” I looked to the entrance and James ran towards us, Gonzalo right behind him. He then knelt and checked Lady’s condition. 
“James, you have to help me,” I cried. “I don’t know what’s going on. I don’t know what to do. I don’t want to lose her, please!” 
He then turned to the people who took care of the horses. “Was she given something to eat or drink before this happened?” 
“Yes, Your Majesty,” they replied. 
“Bring me her food and water, now.” 
The servants rushed to her part of the stables. 
My sobbing was unstoppable at this point. “Lady… please.” 
The servants returned and gave James a bucket of water and hay. James smelled each, the hay first and the water, second. “Lady has been poisoned.” 
“What?!” I exclaimed. “Who would do this?!” 
“Nana,” James turned to her, “Fetch me some hot water and salt. That can help slow down the poison within her system.” As Nana left with the servants, he then turned to me, “Robert, I need you to find some jewelweed in your mother’s herb garden. Bring it here as fast as possible.”
“But, Lady--” 
“Son, she will get through this,” he put his hand on my shoulder, looking directly at me. “But we need the jewelweed now. It can kill some of the poison in her body. We don’t have much time. You have to go now.” 
I nodded. James took my place in holding Lady as I stood. I ran to the herb garden, forcing every inch of strength within me to run faster. 
♔♔♔ 
Upon my return, the Medicine King was already taking a look on Lady. James, Nana and Gonzalo watched over him but gave him space. I ran over to James and gave him the herb. 
“Great work, son.” He handed it over to the Medicine King. 
The Medicine Man grabbed his mortar and pestle, squishing the herb quickly. He then added the hot water to it and extracted the juice from it. 
“Let us give the Medicine King some time with Lady,” James said. We all headed back to the kitchen. James’ grip on my shoulder as we left tightened as we went along. 
♔♔♔ 
After what it seemed like forever, the Medicine King invited James and I back to the stables. When we arrived, Lady was already on her knees, alive and well. 
“How is she?” I asked, not wanting to wait any longer. 
“She will be fine, young master,” the Medicine King smiled. “The jewelweed, combined with the salted water worked well with my medications. It was smart of you for doing that,” he continued. 
“Do you know what poisoned her?” James asked as he stood behind me. 
“I examined the food and water that was given to her. I’ve concluded that a poisonous herb was extracted onto the hay and water. I’m not sure, however, if it was done on purpose or out of negligence,” the Medicine King explained, giving me a look of suspicion. 
My eyes widened, horrified and confused. “Are you implying that I poisoned my own champion? Medicine King, killing Lady never entered my mind. And should that happen, I wouldn’t have called for you,” I protested.