XXVIII. A Fever?
. . . . .
"Eek!—"
"Boss Dakari!! We're sorry! Please have mercy!" Aiden screamed dramatically, dodging the darts I had thrown in his direction.
I couldn't help but smirk at his over-the-top reaction. He was always the first to jump into a panic, and it was almost entertaining to see him flail around like that.
"My dearest Lucrezia overheard you guys talking. You spilt my plan and now she might have ideas in her head."
"But she was sleeping boss!!" Aiden rebutted as he ran around the room, his voice rising in desperation.
I raised an eyebrow, crossing my arms. "Sleeping or not, you should have been more careful. Secrets aren't meant to be shared so casually."
They talked about it infront of her unconscious form as well. That is not enough excuse. And the fact she was actually listening subconsciously did not help at all.
That's quite new. It's unusual for someone to be aware of their surroundings and remember details vividly while they're unconscious.
Lucrezia is something else, I must admit. Her perseverance is frightening. She's also quite stubborn.
Hmm?
Aiden skidded to a halt, his expression shifting from panic to sheepishness. "We didn't think she'd—"
"Exactly," I cut him off. "You didn't think. And now here we are, with my goddess knowing things she shouldn't."
Aiden threw his hands up in surrender. "I get it! I'll be more careful next time! Just don't throw any more darts! Besides why aren't you threatening Lev, Mikhail, and Laxei? This is so unfaiirrrrr!" He pouted.
The other three across the room exchanged glances but remained silent, clearly indifferent to Aiden's theatrics. They could care less about this ginger's complaints.
"I heard from them that your voice was the one who might've. . . woke. . . Lucrezia up. Isn't this fair treatment?" I taunted, a mischievous grin spreading across my face.
It was a lie, I just want to mess with my assistant.
"I might've been loud but they're loud as well!—" He pointed at the three across the room. "Eek!—" Before he could finish his sentence, I launched another dart in his direction. He ducked just in time, narrowly avoiding its sharp tip.
"Boss, if you want to practice your dart skills why don't you go and practice on the dummies or the people responsible for the attempt to kidnap Ms. Viviana!" Aiden exclaimed, his voice tinged with a mix of panic and sarcasm.
I paused for a moment, considering his suggestion. The fading light of the setting sun filtered through the grimy windows, casting long, angular shadows that danced across the walls.
"Tsk. Tsk. Stay still, Aiden." I ordered coldly. Yet he continued to dart around the room like a startled rabbit, his movements frantic and erratic.
"Seriously! You're going to hit someone!" he squeaked, his eyes wide with fear as he ducked behind a stack of crates for cover.
The other three— Lev, Mikhail, and Laxei— remained silent observers, their expressions a mix of amusement and indifference.
"Come out Aiden. . ." I muttered darkly, my voice low and filled with an unsettling calm as I waited for him to emerge from his hiding place behind the crates.
Knock knock.
Our heads snapped toward the door, the sudden sound echoing in the tense silence. The rhythmic knocking seemed to punctuate the air, drawing our attention away from Aiden's antics.
Knock knock.
"Aiden, get out of there and open the door." I ordered him.
With a reluctant sigh, Aiden finally peeked out from behind the crates. "Yeah yeah. . . It's always me. . ." He grumbled, rolling his eyes. "Always the sacrifice tsk tsk. . . The sacrificial lamb. . . I deserve a raise."
He shuffled to the door, muttering under his breath about being the designated scapegoat in our little group.
Too bad, he's my assistant, he can't do anything about it but just comply.
Standing in the doorway was Mira Loma, the doctor assigned in this villa. Her silhouette framed by the dim light outside of the halls. Her presence was commanding yet calm. "I've got news for you, Mr. Dimitri." She stated, her tone serious as she stepped inside my office.
Aiden only grinned at her and moved out of her way with an acknowledging nod.
"I presume this is about Lucrezia?" I asked.
"Yes. She's having a fever, and I'm afraid your flight for Russia tomorrow will have to be postponed for her recovery." Mira replied, her expression serious as she stepped further into the room.
I felt a knot tighten in my stomach at her words. "A fever? How severe is it?" I asked, concern creeping into my voice.
I've been in her room a few hours ago and she seemed fine enough to even shoot back a retort to my words.
Lucrezia also slept for days and seem to have rested well during her slumber. 'Then how come did she suddenly have a fever if she did nothing but sleep throughout the previous days?. . . Not enough sustenance perhaps. . .'
I better make sure she eats more and only consume healthy food during her recovery.
Hmm. . .
Mira's brow furrowed slightly. "It's significant. She's been experiencing chills and fatigue along with the fever. We need to be cautious before making any decisions about travel. She's currently vulnerable."
Then Russia will have to wait for a few more days then? My goddess needs her rest and I have no problem with letting her be for a while.
She can sulk and attempt to kill me whenever she want, just like she always had tried to. It's just that. . . she needs to take care of herself to be able to take my life from me.
Right.
Lucrezia needs to be in great shape before we set foot to Russia as well. Make sure her immune system will be able to withstand the weather there.
Mikhail stepped behind Mira, his brow furrowed in concern. "Ms. Mira, can't it be that Ms. Viviana is so stressed that she caught a fever?" he asked, his voice laced with a hint of hope.
Mira turned to him, considering his words. "It's possible," she admitted. "Stress can indeed manifest physically and lead to what's known as a psychogenic fever. Emotional strain can trigger a rise in body temperature, sometimes reaching significant levels without any underlying infection."
"So you're saying her fever might not be due to an illness but rather a reaction to stress?" I asked, intrigued.
"Yes," Mira confirmed, her gaze steady. "Chronic stress can cause symptoms like chills, fatigue, and elevated body temperature. It's essential to assess her mental state along with her physical condition."
Aiden chimed in, visibly relieved. "So if we help her manage her stress, she might feel better without needing extensive medical intervention?"
"Exactly," Mira confirmed, her tone steady. "While medical intervention is still advised, given that I am a doctor, I can assist her throughout her recovery. I also believe that addressing the stressors could significantly aid her."
Mikhail leaned forward, his brow furrowed in thought. "But how can we be sure it's just stress? What if it's something more serious?"
Mira nodded thoughtfully. "That's why we need to monitor her closely. Stress-induced fever, also known as psychogenic fever, can cause symptoms similar to an infection, including elevated body temperature and fatigue. However, it's crucial to rule out any underlying medical issues first."
"If stress is the root cause, creating a peaceful atmosphere might help stabilize her condition." I suggested.
Peace.
That's what she needs.
"Right," Aiden added, his earlier sarcasm replaced with earnestness. "We can also encourage her to talk about what's bothering her. Sometimes just expressing those feelings can relieve some of the pressure."
"Aiden, it's obvious what's the root cause of Ms. Viviana's stress, it's literally because of our boss." Lev stated as he looked at me all knowingly.
Oh well. . . Guess it's my fault.
It's always Lev that says things in a straightforward manner. He just dislikes beating around the bush. He honestly could care less about what others think. He just speaks his mind.
Aiden shrugged and didn't say anything at Lev's comment.
Laxei, however, made snide remarks. "Boss, you really should've just let Lucrezia Viviana go. I still don't understand why you're so obsessed with her."
I remained silent.
"Bold of you to question the boss's obsession for the Viviana heiress when you're just as obsessed with your woman who ran away." Aiden said nonchalantly, a smirk playing on his lips. "You almost went crazy the day you found out she escaped."
Laxei's expression shifted, caught off guard by Aiden's jab. "That's different," he retorted defensively, crossing his arms. "At least I have a reason to care."
"Do you?" Aiden shot back, his tone teasing. "You're the one who let her slip away in the first place. Maybe you should focus on your own issues before critiquing the boss."
"Ooooohhh~" Mikhail scoffed, clearly enjoying the exchange. He then chuckled softly, adding fuel to the fire. "It's always entertaining when you two go at it. But seriously, Laxei, maybe it's time to put your own house in order before throwing stones."
Laxei glared at the both of them making them shut their mouths. Their earlier laughter replaced by a nervous tension as they exchanged glances and whistled innocently, as if they hadn't just provoked him.
I stepped in before things could escalate further. "Enough," I said firmly, directing my gaze at Laxei. "We all have our issues to deal with. Let's not lose sight of what's important right now."
And my goddess is the most important matter right now. She's ill and is currently weak.
She needs to get her health back on track.
They all immediately turned to look at me, their expressions shifting to stoic seriousness.
Mikhail's playful demeanor vanished as he nodded in understanding. "You're right. Ms. Viviana's health comes first."
Laxei crossed his arms, the tension in his posture easing slightly as he acknowledged my words. "We need to focus on getting her the emotional support she needs."
"Mira, you take lead on her medical care. Aiden and Mikhail, prepare her room to ensure it's calm and comfortable. Laxei, gather any resources we might need. Lev, guard her. Make sure that she's unable to escape."
Mira then looked at me. "Aren't you going to visit her, Mr. Dimitri?"
I thought about it for a second. Looking at everyone in the room as they all did the same.
I know that being near her right now is not really favorable. My goddess still dislikes me and I know that I'm the last person she'll ever want to see in her current situation.
The last thing I want to do to her is add to her ailments. Making her suffer more than she already does.
I made things hard for her after all.
So with a firm voice, I replied, "No."