"Why is the Empress not breathing?" Sarakiel unintentionally blurted out the nagging fear at the back of his head.
"Do not fret, Lord Helian. As long as that orb is shining, Her Highness is still alive. Nonetheless, that sphere's lustre is being misted by time, so does its size. Currently, it's reduced to a tenth of its original volume." Tara articulated a comprehensive reply to refrain from extinguishing the aspirations of the Duke to fully heal her master.
Now that they've started talking apropos the problem, Sarakiel wanted to probe the maids of the information he needed to ponder on prior to engaging in action.
"I see, so it's a soul sphere. Did you conjure it with the help of an artefact?"
"No, your grace. It is not a soul sphere, but a device that monitors the life force of the individual bounded to it. And yes, it was conjured with an artefact native to the Karche Kingdom, Her Highness' fatherland." This time, Sura supplied the reply for his inquiry.
"Well, that would make sense since a human soul can survive in nature without a physical body for a maximum of a mensith. Monitoring the Empress' life force is adequate in this situation. Were there any notable incidents on the dier that Her Highness succumbed to this condition?"
"Aside from the occasional visit of Countess Lauviah Lukan, there were none."
"What was Lady Lukan's business with Her Highness?" Sarakiel wondered about the rationale behind Lauviah's behaviour. As far as he knew, the Countess always openly demonstrated abhorrence towards the uninvolved Empress.
"Countess Lukan took it upon herself to regularly deliver the documents that the Empress is required to work on. That dier was one as such. Worry not, for Her Highness never met the noble lady in person."
"I see."
Harking his tone, it was clear that Duke Helian was skeptical of the real motive behind Lauviah's deportment.
Mikhail noticed that his comrade was bothered by the news because he had a similar premonition. They were all familiar with the noble lady's inclination to use underhanded methods, so it was not surprising for them to have doubts.
'Why did the Emperor approve of this arrangement? Is he not perturbed of what that delirious woman can do to the Empress? There is no way that His Majesty isn't receptive of the Countess' impetus. Why did he even let Lauviah run around freely? At any rate, I'll hinder her as best as I could.' Percival's suspicions grew as he ruminated on the arguments. Withal, it's not like the issue with respect to the Countess could be solved then and there.
"Sarakiel, concern yourself only with the welfare of Her Highness and leave the rest of the matters to me and Zelel."
In the intervening time, Mikhail importuned the completion of their main objective to his subordinate.
Duke Helian readily accepted the obligation with a pertinacious will. He then faced the twins to ask for permission one more time.
"Can I have physical contact with the Empress? A mere glance won't be enough for me to diagnose."
"Your request is gladly received, My Lord."
"Please do so."
Of course, the maids replied favourably for the reason that there would be no harm in consenting. Sarakiel gave them a relieved nod as he treaded the short distance to the bedstead.
Once he's an inch apart from the edge of the mattress, he folded the silken quilt, that was blanketing the Empress, down to her soles. Subsequently, he laid his hand over her right palm, hoping to study the mana movement in her system. Although, upon touching her skin, consternation registered in his countenance.
"What? What is this? Why is the age of her blood so young?" Sarakiel suffocatingly cried out, perturbed of his discovery.
"No, that's inaccurate. It's not just her blood, but her body itself isn't that of a proper adult. As theorized, an individual's maturation will cease the moment they become immortal. Then..."
Sarakiel's eyes narrowed upon considering a thought that he had a deep-rooted repugnance to.
"Did the Empress suffer the consequences of gaining immortality at an obscenely tender age?" He muttered his abasement with a blistering mixture of despondency and fury.
Roughly two aethras ago, the Duke had witnessed the quest of the Revesta Tribe, a kin of demi-humans known for their transitory lifespan averaging 36 aethras, in their attempt to obtain eternal prosperity for the current generation. Unsurprisingly, their failure was stamped the moment they aspired for it.
He could still hear the harrowing screams of the tribe people, gradually drowned by the repulsive sound of flesh melting and bones crumbling; smell the amalgamation of bodily liquids that pooled the dirt, transforming the ground into a muddy disaster; see the magic circle ingurgitate what little life and mana it could from the wreckage. The experience left a perpetual bitter taste in his mouth. It was totally unsavoury that disremembering it would be the last deed he can do.
Wherefore, with that image in mind, he was aggravated by the thought that the Empress underwent an ordeal as such. What's more, it was when she ought to be learning how to read and write.
Although he was talking under his breath, to his comrades, Sarakiel's statements were as apparent as his trembling hands. Mikhail and Zelel had a slew of questions to ask, yet they opted to remain quiet for it was the more appropriate action to take.
All of a sudden, Duke Helian snapped his head towards Tara and Sura with a prying, nearly pontifical, glare. If not for the man's role, the twins would've considered his gesture to be misplaced vulgarity.
"Explain.", Sarakiel commanded without removing the demand's ambiguity.
Fortunately, the maids were amply clever to capably grasp the meaning behind the knight's message. Tara enlisted to respond, sighing an air of resignation before she did so.
"Let's be honest. There are many nations that research the quintessence of immortality, Karche Kingdom is no exception. Accordingly, as the heirs of a ducal household, we have seen the numerous experimentations of the Kingdom with our own eyes. We are perfectly aware of how gruesome it is for the people who are directly involved. I don't know if this answer will comfort your aching conscience, My Lord. However, that was not the case for the Empress."
She paused, contemplating on whether to open the labyrinth of a novel regarding her master's life.
"The contexture for Her Highness's acquirement is sort of complicated. That is--", Tara, with interlocked hands, shifted her gaze from the impatient man to the sleeping Empress. She is worried about the repercussions of entertaining the Duke's questions loquaciously.
Sarakiel noticed the uncertainty in her body language, ergo, he spoke up to keep the conversation going.
"Complicated? Is it something that the Empress forbid you to tell us?" - Sarakiel, with a hint of restlessness, questioned the maid. The suspense in the woman's hesitation to speak added to his annoyance.