Swiftly, Elvira withdrew her hands from Wivior's back and descended from his lap. He appeared revolted by the sight of his tunic covered in a thick and disgusting liquid that flooded out of her mouth. "Forgive me, please. I didn't mean to do that. My vision blurred when I felt this shooting pain in my stomach. I feel like a terrible person for vomiting on you."
"It's okay," said Wivior, standing up from the bed. "Don't worry about it. I don't think that vomiting on someone can make you an awful person. You were shivering so violently, like a possessed person. Are you okay?"
"That's not right!" spoke Dr. Goldberg from the other side of the room. Drowning in embarrassment, she failed to notice his presence in the room.
"I feel okay now. But what do you mean by that, Doctor Goldberg?" Elvira asked, fisting the sheets.
The doctor's eyes were bulging, and beads of sweat had formed on his forehead. "Your body has rejected the cure. It forced it out of your system. The moment your body started convulsing, not even the prince could hold you down. What came up your throat was the potion itself. The curse inside you is more powerful than I have dealt with."
Even though Elvira knew that escaping that curse would not be easy, how the doctor phrased it made her less optimistic.
Jasper walked into that room, looking confused by the grim energy in the room. "My prince, why are you covered all in vomit? Do you need my assistance in cleaning up? I know what to do when people vomit, spit, or throw mud at you. You can say that I am an expert."
"I can clean it myself, Jasper," Wivior spoke with a clenched jaw. "Go and find Cornelius. I need to talk to him. And this is an order, so don't try to insist on cleaning me again."
Jasper left hastily after bowing slightly toward the prince.
"What do you suggest now, doctor?" Wivior said to the doctor. Elvira's gaze fell upon his tunic. A dreadful-looking mud-colored thick vomit was all over it. He seemed more concerned about her health than the filth on him.
"You should first clean yourself up, Prince Wivior. The ingredients I used in the potion will leave bad stains and an awful stench on you if you don't get it cleaned fast. We can talk about what to do next later. She is out of danger for now," the doctor suggested.
"I'll be back," said Wivior, walking towards the door.
Elvira's focus shifted to the doctor after Wivior was gone. Her options weren't good, but she was dying to learn the truth.
"Can you tell me? Even if my fate is death, please tell me. I can take it. I have seen worse in life."
The doctor exhaled loudly. "Perhaps there might be a cure for your curse, but I can't treat you anymore. I practice by using the knowledge I already have. Your curse seems to be one of a kind. The intention behind the curse, I am sorry to say, was either to torture you to a miserable death or something else." He didn't meet her eye once while he spoke.
Elvira gulped in fear. She thought she could take it, but it still hurt. "Who can save me then?" Her voice was proudly brave.
"There is one way." Goldberg's voice was wavering like he wasn't even sure if it was a good idea. "There is one experimental doctor who might be able to help you. He is talented, but the problem is that he is an outcast and lives in a dangerously remote territory. He is widely known as the eccentric gypsy healer."
"Just tell me where he lives, and I'll go see him," she declared. The doctor had no idea how desperate she was.
"In this condition, you won't be able to travel alone. It's too far, and the path is too dangerous for a healthy human, let alone a sick one," he answered.
Who could accompany Elvira? Everyone she knew was either a warlock, witch, or spirit. Not even an outcast doctor would like to deal with them.
"The path is dangerous. It would be best to take a wizard with you because it would be quicker and safer, but I doubt you would find anyone willing," said Doctor Goldberg.
Her thoughts flew straight to Wivior. She quickly pushed that thought away because no matter how kind he was to her, he wouldn't waste his time on a long journey.
"I get your warning. But please leave details about that experimental doctor and his whereabouts before leaving," Elvira humbly requested.
"Of course. I'll send Jasper in to pack my things. In the meantime, I'll have a conversation with the prince. I'll leave the details and location of the person you want to see with someone else. Take a rest for now. Your body and will to improve are stronger than any human I have ever met. May you succeed in your journey towards healing." The doctor left after saying that.
Elvira went underneath the blanket and covered her face with it. She knew it was time to leave the castle. She could find a familiar witch or spirit in some town where they provided witchcraft services to deliver a message to her uncle.
The plan seemed solid until she recalled that Agror's men could still be searching for her. If she got surrounded by his minions, how would she ever be able to protect herself? As a last request, she could ask Wivior to escort her to a town.
Elvira got out of bed and observed the room. It was smaller than Wivior's bed chambers and only had some furniture. She lowered her legs to the floor and found her shoes hidden underneath the bed. Once she put them on, Jasper walked into that room.
"Jasper, do you know where Wivior is?" she asked.
"Yes. You should be in bed. The prince told you to rest," Jasper reminded her.
"I am okay now, and I need to talk to him. Please take me to him."
"He might be in his bed-chamber."
"Can you tell me where that is from here? I have never been in this room before," said Elvira.
"This room is in the same corridor as his room. Just go outside. His room is the last one in this row," Jasper instructed her.
Elvira bolted for the door after thanking him for his help.
"Wait. If you see Prince Wivior, tell him that Doctor Goldberg is in a rush because he has other patients to examine back home. He wishes to leave as soon as possible," Jasper shouted from behind.
"I will," said Elvira, walking out of the room.
She stood outside Wivior's door and knocked on it several times. No answer came. Maybe Wivior wasn't even inside. After hesitating, she opened the door, and a half-naked Wivior standing close to the bed came into sight. He only had a towel wrapped around his bottom, barely covering only his intimate parts.
She averted her gaze immediately after shamelessly gawking at him for a minute. She could feel the heat in her cheeks.
"I didn't mean to run into you like this. I should leave." She turned around in haste.
"Wait!" he exclaimed before Elvira could take one step. "Stay, I didn't mind. It's not like I am completely naked."
Elvira raised her gaze and saw a playful grin on Wivior's face. He didn't seem to mind. Was he enjoying that? His body was indeed a good view. He wasn't too muscular and had a naturally appealing shape. A broad chest, wide shoulders, and a slim waist with a flat stomach defined his physique.
She remembered the closeness between their bodies when Elvira had vomited on him. She was sitting on his lap with her arms wrapped around his back. His firm body had provided her comfort in that difficult moment.
"Uh, I came here." Elvira's eyes were glued to the floor, as she couldn't decide a direction to look in anymore. It was not like she was shy to look at his bare skin. Instead, it felt like a sin to look at his body.
Wivior let out an audible laugh. "I'll put on a robe so we can talk properly. You would be too distracted to say even a word if I stayed like this." He was strangely proud of himself. She had almost forgotten about his pride in his looks and abilities.
He put on a loose white robe on himself, and Elvira was guilty of watching him do that through her peripheral vision. The thought of her motives was the last thing on her mind.
"Are you feeling okay now?" he asked.
"Yes, I feel fine. Doctor Goldberg told me he wouldn't be able to save me. He said that my curse is too powerful."
"Let me talk to him. There has to be a way." Wivior sounded determined.
"There is. He said that maybe an outcast experimental wizard doctor could be able to..."
"He must be talking about Doctor Oliver," Wivior jumped in. "I have heard about him many times. But I am yet to meet him in person."
"He said that the path would be long and arduous. You must allow me to leave so that I can go there. I'll perhaps take a friend. The one that I met in Berkton or someone else," said Elvira.
"You plan to go there on your own?" Wivior looked at her skeptically. "Shouldn't you ask for help before opting for that?"
"I am not your responsibility. It has become a lot more than what I had requested initially. I know you and the other wizards have plenty of stuff to do here, so is there even a point in asking? It's time I take my responsibility," Elvira cried.
Wivior walked towards her and took her hand in his. Elvira felt uncomfortable upon his touch, but she didn't retract it because she wanted to see what he would do next. "You said that you were raised in a castle, but were you?"
Elvira looked at him, befuddled. What did he mean?
"When I first met you, I thought you would be a spoiled brat who didn't know how to do anything. I know all this because I used to be a spoiled prince once. You're too independent, brave, non-trusting, and tough for someone who was loved and guarded by her family since birth."
Elvira looked away. He wasn't wrong. Her actions and words were nothing like that of a spoiled and protected lord's daughter. In hopes of not getting sent to prison, she hoped he would let her go.
"I think I know why that is," Wivior began. "I think you were a prisoner in your own home. You left for many reasons other than being married against your will. You don't look like a person who has been loved, right? I think you have struggled to make your position in a brutal home. Tell me, is that true? Do your parents love you?"
How could he be so right? Even though he was talking about a different situation, his words grazed her heart like a knife. She had always struggled with her mother's coldness and lack of empathy for her children. Her uncle was also a slave himself to their brutal system. Was the hurt and struggle in her eyes so apparent that even a wizard could see it? No one had ever asked if she was satisfied with her life.
The warmth in his eyes made it feel like he was there to listen, but Elvira wasn't used to expressing her sorrow. She was so used to hiding her emotions that tears seldom filled her eyes. Showing sadness in her coven was a weakness. From a young age, she was taught to conceal her weakness and never question the people in charge.
"How do you know all this?" she asked, freeing her hand from his grip.
"Well, your parents don't seem to care about your safety. They were marrying you off to someone against your will. And you just asked me to let you leave alone right after two horrific experiences. You know they wouldn't hesitate to kill you when they have a chance. The place where he lives is dangerous for a human, and the path to his home is not void of dangers."
"Then what should I do?" Elvira threw her arms at her sides in emotion. "I can't let him succeed. I'll do anything to make things right, Wivior."
"Ask me, Elvira. Ask me to take you there," Wivior said out of nowhere.
"I have already asked enough from you. You should let me go now."
In her heart, Elvira meant that. Even though witches enjoyed fooling people for their benefit, she didn't want to use him anymore.
Wivior inched closer. "I admire you. I know it's too soon to say that, but I have already grown fond of you. For the first time, I feel this way about a human woman. You're different from your kind. I don't know how my growing feelings for you would change things between us, but as a last favor, I would like to take you there under my protection. I want to make sure you're cured of the curse upon you."
Wivior's words left Elvira speechless. Did he admit to having romantic feelings for her? Would he take her there?
During the past two days, her heart had already turned soft for him.