Samantha's P. O. V

How is the Regent doing?" Elder Jerome was the first to speak up.

Despite the exhaustion on Melissa's face, she still managed to compose herself in the midst of the interrogation.

"His condition is stable for now," she explained, "but given the amount of poison he swallowed and the blood loss he suffered during the purification treatment, that could change at any time. All we can do now is wait and observe. If he makes it through the next twenty-four hours without any complications, then he'll be fully out of danger."

It felt as if a dark aura suddenly settled on the manor at that very...