The grand hall of the royal palace fell into a stunned silence as Dominic's body slumped to the floor. The Emperor's piercing gaze narrowed, his expression shifting from cold authority to an unusual flicker of concern.
Nicholas, normally composed and confident, was momentarily taken aback before reverting to his old self. His eyes widened in shock as he saw his brother's crumpled form on the cold marble floor. For a brief moment, the weight of the situation pressed heavily on his shoulders.
"Jelly Bean!" Daphne's cry pierced through the silence, her voice quivering with alarm. She rushed her heart still pounding as she knelt beside him. Her usual elegance was overshadowed by her sheer panic. "Someone help him! Where are the Royal Physicians?!
The palace physicians, who had been standing at the edge of the room, sprang into action. They hurried over, their faces set with professional urgency. As they worked to stabilize Dominic, Daphne's anxiety only grew. She clutched Dominic's hand, her golden eyes filled with fear and helplessness.
The Emperor, observing the commotion with a measured detachment, finally addressed the situation with a wave of his hand. "Take him to the medical chamber. This trial is postponed until further notice," he declared, his voice resonating with authoritative finality.
Nicholas, still grappling with the shock of Dominic's collapse, found his resolve hardening. "I'll see to it personally," he said, his voice steady as he followed the physicians out of the room. Behind his calm facade, his mind raced with thoughts of how to handle the fallout from this unexpected turn of events.
As Dominic was carefully transported to the palace's medical chamber, the Royal Advisor, ever the opportunist, seized the moment to voice his dissatisfaction. "This is a disgrace!" he muttered under his breath, glancing around at the gathered courtiers. "How are we to maintain order if the trial cannot proceed?"
The Emperor's icy gaze landed on the advisor, silencing him instantly. "Enough," he said tersely. "The situation is under control. We will reconvene once we have more information."
In the wake of the disruption, the palace buzzed with gossip. Servants and courtiers whispered in hushed tones about the collapse of the second prince and the potential implications for the royal family. The atmosphere in the palace was thick with speculation and unease.
Back in the medical chamber, Daphne remained at Dominic's side, her anxiety palpable. She watched as the physicians worked, their expressions a mix of concentration and concern. "He looked so confused before he collapsed," she murmured to Nicholas, who stood nearby, his face a mask of determination. "Do you think something more is wrong with him?"
Nicholas, while maintaining a facade of calm, couldn't ignore the knot of worry in his stomach. "I'm not sure," he admitted. "But we need to find out. I'll start by investigating what might have caused this. We need to be prepared for any eventuality."
Nicholas thinks to himself
"I hope this won't ruin my plan" and then hisses silently
Daphne hears her brother's hiss but ignores it out of worry for her younger brother but still bothered, she thinks to herself
"I hope he isn't planning anything too bad at least" before sighing
Daphne nodded in reply to Nicholas' earlier statement, her resolve strengthening.
"I'm with you. We'll get to the bottom of this, Nicholas. I can't stand the thought of him suffering because of something we don't even understand.
As Dominic slowly regained consciousness in the medical chamber, he found himself surrounded by the concerned faces of his siblings. Daphne's relief was palpable as she gently squeezed his hand. "Jelly Bean, you're awake," she said softly, her voice trembling with emotion. "We were so worried."
Dominic's eyes fluttered open, and for a moment, he looked at Daphne with a mixture of confusion and recognition. "Daphne?" he whispered, his voice weak. "Nicholas? What happened?"