Chapter 16
Chapter 16
As Margaery wheeled Dashnell out in silence, she noticed a carriage waiting at the door.
Adam Elkins, Dashnell’s guard, stepped forward and made a fist–to–heart salute.
“Your Highness, please get in.” While speaking, he couldn’t help but glance at Margaery several times.
Though he had been with Dashnell for so many years, this was the first time Dashnell allowed a woman to get close and even push his wheelchair.
Margaery felt something odd about his gaze but couldn’t pinpoint what exactly it was. of the wheelchair
che just loo and moved aside.
Adam helped Dashnell into the carriage and folded up the wheelchair.
“If you don’t mind, Lady Margaery, would you like to share the ride?” Dashnell’s voice came from inside the carriage, ending with a “please,” which caused instant red flags in Margaery’s eyes.
After all, it was rare to see such polite behavior from a royal brat.
“Lady Margaery, please,” Dashnell added.
Adam had intended to help Margaery in as well.
But then he thought that since Dashnell used such respectful language, it’d be best not to overstep.
Luckily, Margaery could manage on her own; she might not beat anyone in a fight, but getting into a carriage shouldn’t be
an issue.
“Thank you, Your Highness.” After thanking him, she was about to enter.
But unexpectedly, a hand reached out from inside the carriage.
Margaery tilted her head up at the window. There sat Dashnell: throne posture, icy beauty. His calm eyes hooked her like invisible puppet strings, step by step, drawing her closer. No escape.
Her gaze fell on his robust wrist; she rarely blushed, but now her cheeks were burning as she placed her hand in his palm. “Thank you,”
Before she finished, his fingers tightened around hers.
By the time she realized what had happened, she was already seated beside him securely.
The carriage started moving, though snow was blocked out by its walls, Margaery felt dizzy as if drugged.
She lifted one corner of the curtain slightly to look outside but couldn’t stop her heart racing, no matter how hard she
tried.
Dashnell didn’t say much more than asking, “Did you wear the warming gemstone i gave you yesterday?”
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Chapter 16
“Yeah.” Margaery nodded; that warming gemstone hung right around her neck, making her feel cozy all over.
“But Your Highness, that gift is too precious for me to repay.”
Dashnell made no response.
Margaery had no idea what to say, so she stayed silent, too.
She felt that Dashnell was probably watching her, but she didn’t dare to turn around.
Just like that, they soon arrived at the entrance of the Royal Medical Hall.
Finally, Margaery couldn’t help asking, “Why does Your Highness think I wasn’t the queen bee at my home but was just the punching bag?”
Yesterday, when they first met, he personally helped her up without showing any disgust or avoidance as others did. The second time they met, he gave her a gemstone.
Today, when they met again, he said she should have come to Craig earlier rather than being bullied by her family at home.
It seemed as if he had been hiding and had seen everything that happened there.
Despite his leg disability and rarely leaving home, he knew all about what went on in her family.
Margaery started to wonder about him. “Was he really as others described?‘
Dashnell didn’t elaborate much, saying simply, “You don’t look like someone who bullies others.”
Though it was a simple statement, it made Margaery’s eyes well up with tears. She turned to look at the distant snowstorm and replied softly, “Your words mean more to me than anything else.”
So, there were still people in this world who believed she wasn’t a bad person.
Even her own father, brother, and fiancé didn’t believe her. But here was someone who had only seen her twice and yet stood by her side.
“Let’s go,” said Dashnell, turning around and wheeling himself forward. “If nothing goes wrong, Avery’s hitting the Royal Medical Hall today.”
Margaery followed closely behind him.
This time, he didn’t ask her to push him; she didn’t overstep either, since even Adam only followed from behind.
This wasn’t Margaery’s first visit to the Royal Medical Hall.
In her previous life, she came here several times for emergencies.
It was ironic how Avery treated her back then–despite how he treated her, she still rushed over with medicine whenever
needed.
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The first time, she helped him cure the Queen, earning him praise from the King: and then, she cured the King, leading him to become head of the Royal Medical Hall.
Yet ironically enough, it ended with Avery poisoning her and causing unbearable suffering through eczema outbreaks.
Standing here now in this familiar place brought back those lingering pains within her chest once again.
Dashnell looked deeply at her. “Have you been here before?”
“No,” answered Margaery, turning back towards him. “I just feel like I might have dreamt about this place before, which is why I got lost in thought.”
“Dreamt?”
Dashnell gave a strange look and chuckled, “Since you’ve dreamed about it, you should know which room your brother Avery is in. Go find him first. If you can find him in one go, I’ll give you a chance to ask me for help.
“Really?” Margaery was delighted and turned to look at him.
“Sure.” Dashnell’s face bore a gentle smile.
The smile had a healing power that could brighten one’s mood. Margaery smiled and replied, “For that chance, I will definitely find him,”
Dashnell’s smile deepened, like a bloom so fatal it sucked the color from the world.
Margaery said goodbye and went straight to the third row of rooms behind. She pushed open the door and walked in.
Over ten physicians were talking inside. Some were writing prescriptions, some checking records, others gathering medicine, all busy.
Avery hunched by Doctor Nolan Fischer–70 years deep–bargaining with his soul. “Doc… not for me, but my dad? Just one look at Tessa. That’s all I’m begging-”
“Avery,” Margaery interrupted.
Avery thought he had heard wrong
He paused before looking towards the door. When he saw Margaery, he frowned in surprise. “Margaery? Why are you here?”
Remembering what Margaery said last night, he quickly pulled her out. “Don’t be silly! We’ll talk outside.”
“No need. Let’s do this here since it involves the Royal Medical Hall.” Margaery dodged his hand and stepped into the room, facing Nolan.
“Doctor Fischer, here’s what happened. My brother took a prescription I borrowed from someone else and put it in the Royal Medical Hall’s storage.
Now they want their prescription back, Please return it to me.”
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Chapter 16
“What did you say?” Nolan was stunned and turned to Avery. “Avery! What’s going on?”
He had been leading the Royal Medical Hall for over forty years since the late King’s reign, but never faced such a situation where someone blocked them in their pharmacy, demanding answers.
Nolan looked grim. Meanwhile, Avery felt dizzy, thinking everything was ruined.
“It’s not like that. Margaery is just throwing a tantrum…” Forcing several dry laughs, he tried hard to defend himself, but couldn’t think of anything to say.
Seeing his state, Margaery interrupted, “Avery, I’m not throwing a tantrum.
“Those black and blue souvenirs on your face? Payment for snatching people’s medical scripts last night, isn’t it? Now they want every damn formula back, or beat me to pulp. Your move.”
Stepping forward, she asked sincerely, “Avery, don’t tell me you want me dead?”
B
