[Celia's POV]
During the entire carriage ride, she had been suppressing the knot of anxiety that had formed in her stomach, but now as she stood dumbfounded in front of the main entrance of the palace, the ball of anxiety threatened to consume her.
Celia wanted to harm Doctor Enzo so badly. How could he? She should have never accepted his offer. Look where it got her.
She flashed a thin smile at Artemis before saying, "Where shall I find him?"
The butler did not seem taken aback, but she could see a slight shift in his gaze as if he was expecting her to leave after handing him the vial, but Celia was stubborn. This was her first task, so of course she would complete it.
"Please follow me," Artemis replied in a rather cold tone. Celia not only found it strange but also annoying. It was not her fault that Enzo refused to come here and disappeared from the house without meeting this man.
Celia shivered as they entered the main hall. She couldn't help but notice how dark the palace was. Her eyes went to the chandelier that hung broodingly from the ceiling. Even though it wasn't in use, Celia squinted to see that it was clean and gleaming.
'Crystals,' she mused as they walked further. Artemis did not turn back to check if she was following. Well, he didn't have to because the place was silent and even their footsteps echoed.
Celia couldn't help but feel the gloom in the atmosphere. She felt that if someone were to live here for the rest of their lives, they would either become insane or wither away.
The stone walls made the hallway a tad bit colder. Celia drew her cloak closer around her body as she kept up with Artemis' pace. She also tried to make sure she didn't trip. Strangely, there were no lights in the hallway either. Moreover, until now she had only seen maybe two maids so far in this humongous castle and neither of them seemed to take any notice of her. She wasn't complaining about it though, it just felt weird to her.
"We are here," Artemis announced when they stopped in front of a closed door.
Even though it was much darker and colder here, Celia could still see the gold work on the door due to the shafts of light streaming in from somewhere.
Artemis cleared his throat before he knocked on the door and said, "Master, the doctor's apprentice is here."
There was no sound from inside the room, and then―
"Come in," a gravelly voice replied.
Artemis opened the door and Celia sucked in her breath at the majestic view that unraveled in front of her. She remembered that she was supposed to go in. She hurriedly did that, feeling slightly embarrassed.
The chamber was lavishly made from top to bottom. From rich purple curtains to beautiful white tapestries, from polished furniture to the extremely large bed on the other side of the chamber, everything was befitting of the duke.
Thankfully the chamber was fairly well-lit.
Celia saw that the bed had curtains draped around it.
Was the duke badly hurt? Celia felt a nick of worry at the thought.
"This way," Artemis murmured and began walking further inside.
"Good morning, Your Highness. I am the apprentice of Doctor O'Neil. My name is―" Celia began but a low growl made her stop. She clamped her mouth shut, her grip tightening around the satchel.
"Why did the doctor not come?" The duke asked his butler. But before the man could answer, Celia felt obligated to defend her employer.
"He wanted to, but he also had another call from an elderly patient who needed his urgent attention," she replied.
The duke scoffed.
"Master, for now, please accept her assistance," Artemis murmured politely but firmly.
Celia shot a startled glance at Artemis. "Assistance?"
"I beg your pardon?" She added with a slight stutter.
Artemis gave her an assessing look before saying in a tone with which he might have spoken to a child, "Did Doctor O'Neil not say that you have to assist and put the medicine for the duke first, and later on, I shall do so."
Celia looked flabbergasted. She wanted to say 'Why don't you do it the first time as well' Touching the duke?
The duke grunted impatiently, and Artemis said, "I will not delay you any longer."
He nodded at Celia before leaving.
Celia looked at him in bewilderment, but the man did not look back at her even once as he left the chamber. She didn't know if she should run after him or stay here, alone with the duke.
Another grunt made her jump.
"Do you need an invitation?" The Duke groused.
"Uh… no…I…I'll be right at it," Celia spluttered as she nervously took out the vial from the satchel and took out the paper.
"Will you have it with something or apply this elixir?" Celia asked after glancing at the paper.
"Apply it," came the prompt reply. Celia looked around for something and then found a small plate-like thing on the table in front of the settee.
She put in the required drops and then hesitantly walked towards the bed.
"I will be moving the veil, Your Highness," she said shakily.
"Do whatever is required. Don't behave like I am a new bride," came his gruff reply.
Celia did not find it funny. She looked at the bed, at the figure lying on his back. She squinted and noted the scars. Her heart stuttered at the sight of the gashes and the drying wounds.
"I will begin to apply the elixir now," she said as she dipped her fingers into the elixir. Thankfully there was no reaction. She took a deep breath, praying to the Almighty, before applying the elixir to the most prominent gash.
As soon as her fingers came in touch with his wound, his muscles rippled. The red gashes of what looked like whip marks stood out starkly against the pale skin. Why would he get whipped?
"Has anyone told you that you need to be gentle when treating patients?" The Duke grumbled.
Celia gritted her teeth and said nothing. Her touch was featherlight. How much more gentler did the Duke want her to be?
"I apologize. I will be careful," she murmured as she resumed applying the medicine.
"This is Heart's Bane, you know? The elixir I told you about," the Duke suddenly said. Celia's hand stilled. He… remembered her?
"Ah…I know," she lied.
"Good."
A silence settled as Celia tried to finish the rest of the back without any hitch. For some reason the moment, she was touching his skin, she felt a shiver run down her spine.
"Done, Your Highness," she said once she was finished.
The duke turned his head then, and yet again Celia felt herself being mesmerized by those beautiful eyes. His lips curved into a smile.
"Thank you, Miss Wilson." The use of her given surname startled her.
Celia blushed, suddenly realizing that the duke was half naked, and even though his lower half was covered by a sheet who knew what was…
She halted her train of thought.
"Not a problem," Celia replied with a curt bow.
"I will leave the instruction to administer this medicine with Artemis," she added as she stepped outside and once again the thin veil separated her from him.
She was prepared to hear his dismissal or agreement, but what he said made her regret her decision to accept this position once again.
"No need. You will visit again tomorrow and assist with this. I will let Artemis know."