“Good sir, you can see my state. An immortal, weak and fragile, unable to leave her bed. How can I go to another city with my condition?” she questioned, a hint of humor and sarcasm in her voice.

“Amelia, this matter isn’t to be taken lightly,” he scolded. “Your situation is already a matter of life and death. If you agree to this treatment, I can go and get the materials needed so we can begin.”

“I’m already too ill for myself to handle. As much as I can, I add a little bit of humor in everything that I do to lighten up the mood around me,” Mother explained.

“With your condition, humor isn’t needed. Humor isn’t a priority,” the Medicine King continued to scold her. “You need to take this seriously and accept treatment. James already agreed to this treatment. Don’t you want to get better for your family?”

“Good sir, I think we’ve discussed enough for today. I would like to take my rest now,” Mother said after she let out a deep breath. “I don’t need to hear such words right now. I’m already weakened by this unknown disease. I don’t need another reason to feel sicker.”

“Always remember to take the herbs I’ve given you. I will come back tomorrow.” As the Medicine King bid his goodbye, I quickly stepped away from the door. As the door opened, he immediately noticed my presence. “Oh, young Robert. It’s good to see you,” he smiled, closing the door gently.

“A good day to you as well, Medicine King,” I bowed.

“Have you been waiting for a long time?” he asked, walking up to me.

“No, I just arrived,” I smiled. “I wanted to pay Mother a visit but I didn’t want to interrupt your conversation with her.”

“You could’ve just knocked, young prince. I would’ve given you time to speak with her,” he replied. “She’s about to take her rest. She must have a lot of it to strengthen herself.”

“I just want to sit beside her for a little while. Watch over her as she sleeps,” I answered. Should I tell him that I overheard what he told Mother? Because if Mother isn’t agreeing with him, she might agree if I ask her to.

“I’ll leave, then. I will see you soon, Robert,” he lightly tapped my shoulder before walking away.

I was about to open the door but I turned around and chased after him. “Sir?” I called out.

He was quick to turn around.

“Medicine King, I would like to ask you something,” I said, finally catching up with him.

“Yes, Your Highness?” he replied.

“Do you have any clear diagnosis on what kind of disease my mother has?” I started. “Also, I overheard you mentioning some kind of cure for her. Can you tell me more about it?”

He let out a deep sigh. “Your mother’s case is a complicated matter. Discussing it would take a long time and I need to get back to my office.”

“I’ll escort you to the entrance,” I quickly replied. “But as we walk, I would like to discuss Mother’s condition with you.”

“Are you sure? I thought you were going to visit Her Majesty?” he said, confused.

“I would like to know everything first, good sir,” I insisted. “She’s not only the queen and consort of James. She’s also a mother to my sister and me. And I would like to see her get well,” I continued to persuade him.

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We stared at each other for a brief moment before he finally surrendered. “There’s no need to escort me to the entrance, young prince.” He then pointed to the window, leading the way as we stepped to the side. As we reached the humongous window, the Medicine King began, “With all honesty, Your Highness, no one knows what’s happening to your mother. Her Majesty is in perfect health and for her to suddenly become ill and for this long has left me baffled indeed. I don’t know what to do anymore. I believe my medicinal herbs are helping her but it won’t last long.”

“And what of this treatment that you discussed with her?” I repeated my previous question. “Forgive me for listening to your conversation with her. But just like you and His Majesty, I would want to get to the bottom of this.”

“There’s no need to apologize, young prince. I understand where you’re coming from,” he nodded in assurance. “For unknown yet dangerous diseases such as this, there’s one treatment. One kind of cure that the ancient Medicine Families have been using. It’s proven to be very effective.”

“If that’s the case, why isn’t my mother agreeing to this cure?” I asked.

“Your mother strongly believes that she got ill because it’s her time to die, which is something I’m almost certain that all of us don’t agree with,” he answered. “She believes that if she’s to die, she should die without any struggle or effort.”

Mother is the strongest woman I know and she continues to be strong. But she’s acting foolishly in this situation, especially with her condition. I can’t believe she would think that it’s time for her to rest for eternity.

“I’ve suggested this treatment to James and he has agreed to it. I would proceed with it since I have the king’s blessing. However, I do need the consent of the patient before doing anything,” he added.

I asked, “Is the cure some sort of herb?”

“Yes, young prince,” he nodded.

“Can you tell me what it is?” I asked as I stepped closer, eager to find the cure.

“Young prince, even if I told you, the queen doesn’t want to take it. Getting the herb will be for nothing,” he said.

“I don’t care, good sir. I’ll persuade her as hard as I can. But I need to know the herb,” I replied, persistent.

He shook his head out of doubt but I’m not about to give up. I will not rest easy unless I know I’ve done something to help cure Mother.

“Please, Medicine King,” I begged once more.

He sighed. “The Medicine Families called it ledoras. It’s an ancient herb that the primordial deities used to cure any kind of illness, both from simple scratches to life-threatening situations. And since your mother’s case is currently a mystery to us, the ledoras is our only hope.”

“Do you know where it is?” I quickly asked.

“Its specific whereabouts are unknown but it’s said to be found in the Mountain of Heavenly Falls. That’s all I know about the ledoras herb,” he explained. The Mountain of Heavenly Falls is known as the place for those who pledged their lives in solitude, focusing on protecting everything holy and pure. If the ledoras herb is within the mountain, it must contain some kind of primordial power.

It could cure Mother in an instant!

“That’s all I know, young prince. But for now, I take my leave.” He was about to start walking before I stopped him once more.

“Are you sure that the ledoras herb still exists?” I asked.

“Its existence has been a mystery ever since the primordial deities left our realm,” he said. “There are only claims of the ledoras being seen.”

So, he suggested treatment with no definitive answer, no assurance of success? He offered my mother a treatment when he’s not even sure of the herb’s existence?! I wanted to scream at him so badly but I don’t want to waste my energy on it. I simply nodded and he bowed, walking away.

I took a deep breath in and proceeded to the master bedroom.

♔♔♔

I carefully sat beside Mother, looking at her as she slept. Even though she’s ill, her beauty never faded. Her cheeks may have sunken a little but her rosy skin still glows. The areas around her eyes have darkened but her long, beautiful lashes still gave her a look of everlasting beauty.

After looking at her for a few seconds, I turned around and began to think about the ledoras herb. Does it still exist? How do I find it? Where is it located in the Mountain of Heavenly Falls? What does it look like?

So many questions raced through my mind regarding the ledoras plant when a hand suddenly held onto my shoulder. My head quickly turned to see Mother open her eyes.

“Hello, son,” she smiled.

“Mother,” I immediately turned to her, holding her hand. “Did I disturb you?”

She chuckled. “No, you didn’t because I wasn’t even asleep, to begin with.”

“But you were asleep. The Medicine King told me you were taking a nap,” my brows furrowed.

“That was just an excuse to make him leave,” Mother smiled. “His words made me feel even worse than I already am.”

“How are you feeling, Mother?” I enquired.

“To be honest, I was feeling a bit better this morning. However, the Medicine King ruined everything for me,” she rolled her eyes as she mentioned the Medicine King.