either.


    The poison worms hadn''t been taken away. They remained in the incense burner, drawn to the bloodied scent of the medicine. They would stay there and feed off the aroma until they died. However, the poisonous worms that had been expelled wouldn''t live much longer "They''re in the incense burner," Sebastian replied. "You can take it to Her Highness."


    Though small, the poisonous worms were disturbing. Javier hesitated before reaching out, his hand hovering in the air.


    He finally asked, "Can these worms... enter the human body again?"


    Seeing his reluctance, Winona stepped forward. She lifted the incense burner, carefully removed the lid, and presented it to Lisandra.


    At the sight of the worms, Lisandra''s stomach turned. She fought the urge to vomit as a wave of nausea surged through her. The sight alone was enough to make her feel faint. Her body flushed with heat and her blood surged with anger. She closed her eyes, forcing herself to regainposure. The effort took much longer than she would like to admit.


    Sebastian made no move to offer further assistance. He simply said, "Within an hour, the poisonous worms will die. Once they''ve been expelled, they won''t be able to re-enter the body."


    "Thank you," Lisandra said quietly.


    Carissa gave a subtle nod, then left with the others.


    Leroy''s temper red as he demanded, "So, who''s responsible for the poisoning?"


    His gaze swept over everyone in the room, each person under his scrutiny. "Will you confess, or should I begin my investigation?"


    Lisandra ced a hand on her chest, her breath shallow. With a resigned sigh, she motioned for him to leave. "Uncle Leroy, please go outside with everyone for now. Penny, Yuna, and Yasmine-stay."


    "Lisandra, don''t be foolish," Leroy protested. "We''ll find out who did this. Whoever dared to harm your life must be out of their mind!"


    "Please just go for now. I need to speak with them privately," Lisandra said, raising her hand. "Aria, see them out."


    Aria stepped forward, guiding the group out of the room. Leroy''s gaze lingered on Aria''s face, then shifted to Penny. His suspicion of her was palpable. She was, after all, the closest to Lisandra. Her proximity made her the most likely suspect. "Ask what you need. If you don''t get answers, I''ll handle the questioning myself," Leroy said before exiting the room with the others.


    Once they were alone, Lisandra instructed Aria to light two morenterns. The flickering mes cast a dim glow on her increasingly pale face. The color that had returned earlier now faded, reced by a weariness that deepened the shadows under her eyes.


    Lisandra fought to keep her


    Aria slipped a pillow behind her back


    and she exhaled slowly, trying to steady her breath. She suppressed the dizziness and headache that threatened to overwhelm her, forcing herself not to think about the poisonous worms, lest the disgust resurface.


    Her gaze was as sharp as a de as she fixed it on Penny''s face. "Penny, why did you do it?"


    Yuna and Yasmine exchanged a look. While they had considered the possibility of Penny''s involvement, it still seemed impossible. After all, Penny''s loyalty to Lisandra had never been in question. Why would she do this?


    Yasmine had a fiery temper, and she was furious to discover that Penny had betrayed Lisandra.


    "Ms. Durham, what are you up to? Her Highness has treated you so well! Why would you want to kill her?!" she yelled.


    Penny''s face went ashen and she fell to her knees. Tears streamed down her face as she wept.


    "Your Highness, I am guilty, but I


    never once intended to kill you! I am willing to die, but I beg you to grant me one thing. No matter what happens during the negotiations, please ensure that Starhaven agrees to the 3,000,000 bushels of grain and lets us take Dominic with us." Property ? of N?velDrama.Org.


    Lisandra looked at her coldly. "Take Dominic with us? Didn''t I tell you that he is only part of our negotiating strategy? I never intended to take him. I only meant to bring Aurora with us."


    "No, you can''t do that!" Penny lifted her head, her face streaked with tears. She crawled forward, begging, "Your Highness, you must take Dominic back to Westhaven. You must!"


    Upon hearing this, Lisandra felt a cold certainty settle in her chest. Edmund must have begun deploying troops to the border after her departure.


    A surge of anger and frustration rose in her chest, her blood boiling as the tightness in her throat increased. She felt the sharp, bitter taste of blood in her mouth and couldn''t hold it back any longer. A ssh of fresh blood sprayed from her lips. "Your Highness!"


    Yuna and Yasmine rushed forward to steady Lisandra. Aria quickly fetched a handkerchief to wipe away the blood. The sight of the red-stained cloth only deepened the worry and anxiety in their eyes.


    "You fool!" Ya?mine spun around


    and pped Penny hard across the face, sending thetter sprawling to the side. Her Highness came here struggling with her illness, to prevent war. If you push for war, it will bring internal strife! Will you only be satisfied after you''ve reduced the world to ruins?!"