"What happened?" Caio frantically asked as he scooted beside Alessandro, who was slumped on the floor beside 20's unmoving body. By then the music had stopped and everything was silent, making his voice resound clearly in the hall. Many of the guests had also gotten wind that something was off, and they had formed a circle around the emperor, keeping a respectful distance but with their eyes glued on the scene, curious to see what was going on – and more importantly, if the girl would die. Death was always a hot gossip in the empire, whether it was through murder, execution, or suicide.
"Caio," Alessandro said as he slowly turned to Caio. "She won't wake up." He was holding 20's hand with both of his, but his eyes were hazy and had lost their focus, and his voice was dull. There were too many emotions in him fighting for dominance. He didn't know which was the strongest, and couldn't decide exactly how he felt.
Seeing her collapse like that was a hundred times more terrifying than being struck with a sword to his chest during the last war. He thought he was the most powerful man in Luxentfort because his every command was followed by his subjects, without delay and without question. But he couldn't even make her open her eyes, no matter how much he begged. What would he do now?
"Get a grip on yourself," Caio instructed, taking Alessandro by the shoulders and shaking some sense into him. "Are you just going to sit there and watch her die in front of you?"
"20 will not die," Alessandro replied, his voice slowly gaining back its force. He lifted her in his arms and stood up. "I won't let that happen."
"Good," Caio nodded. "Neither will I." It was no use standing in the center of the ballroom hall like a pair of dimwits. Caio knew they needed a plan – and quickly. But since Alessandro was too emotional at the moment to even begin to formulate a course of action, it would be up to him to do so. "Take her to your room. I'll bring the imperial doctor and meet you there."
Alessandro nodded his assent and headed for the door, the guests automatically parting to make a way for him. Caio watched them leave and tried to push back the worry and fear that was threatening to overwhelm him. He didn't have the luxury of time to indulge in emotions at the moment. He needed to think.
He motioned with his hand and six soldiers who were nearby immediately hurried over to him. "Mobilize all the soldiers in the palace right now," he ordered. "Make sure no one leaves, and search the premises for anything – or anyone – suspicious."
"Even the royals and nobilities are not allowed to leave, General?" a solder asked hesitantly. Everyone knew just how fickle and touchy some of the upper classes were, and they wouldn't take kindly to being held at the palace grounds against their will.
"Everyone," Caio clarified. "I don't care who they are."
"Yes, sir." The soldiers saluted him and scattered about the room, relaying his orders to their comrades on hand.
Caio broke into a run, taking the shortest possible route to get to the imperial doctor's quarters – which was at the opposite end of the palace. He mentally cursed the distance, and it took all of his self-control not to simply shout for the physician while he was running along the empty hallway.
When he finally made it to the doctor's office, he tried the door but it was locked. So instead of knocking and waiting for him to answer – which would waste precious minutes – Caio simply kicked the door open. "Get all of your equipment and follow me," he said to the doctor, who was so startled by the loud entrance he almost fell out of his seat. "You need to treat someone immediately."
*****
"His Majesty is waiting, Your Grace," Rocco motioned for the archduke to go inside, opening the door even before Caio had finished his first knock. When the emperor had barged back into his room carrying an unresponsive Concubine Number 20 in his arms, Rocco knew right away that time would be of critical essence. So as soon as he received the orders from the emperor, he hastily prepared the bed, got hot water and warm towels, had a few maids on standby outside the room, and waited for the archduke to arrive.
Caio followed Alessandro's butler to the bedroom with the doctor trailing behind him. When they got there, Alessandro was sitting by the bedside, holding 20's hand. He didn't promptly acknowledge their presence, choosing to kiss her hand first before turning to them.
"She's been unconscious for almost half an hour," he said as he stood up. His eyes had resumed their sharp gaze, and his voice was once again confident and authoritative. 20 needed him, perhaps even more so now than she did during the assault, and he won't let her down. "Save her," he addressed the doctor directly.
"I-I'll do my best, Your Majesty," the doctor replied, quite rattled by the archduke and the emperor's obvious show of devotion to the lowest ranked concubine in the imperial palace. He took the chair beside the bed, trying to ignore the ominous presence of the two most powerful men in the empire hovering behind him.
The girl was in a very bad condition – that much was clear to see even if he wasn't a medical professional. She had broken in a cold sweat, and her skin was so hot it was almost scorching. He checked her breath and measured her pulse a few times, hoping he was wrong, but the conclusion he drew remained the same. "I'm not sure if I can save the girl," he said at last, his tone apologetic.
"What happened to her?" Caio asked, his heart in his throat. He would have done anything to trade places with 20 at the moment. He'd gladly suffer whatever ailment she had, as long as he could ensure that she would get well.
"She's been poisoned, Your Grace," the doctor answered Caio. Unfortunately, his medical training didn't cover a lot about poisons. And he knew that was the same for just about every doctor in the empire. Poisons were considered taboo in Luxentfort, and anyone using such substances were often accused of witchcraft and sorcery – which got them sent straight to the gallows. That's why it was difficult to acquire poisons in Luxentfort and, in turn, their antidotes.
"If you can't save her life," Alessandro said quietly, "you will lose yours."