Chapter 184 - 180: Duke's Birthday

The Physician came back with three vials and a bowl. Each of those vials contained the pills of different colors.

He placed the bowl on a table and put one pill from each vial into the bowl.

He started crushing each of those pills into the powder inside the bowl.

He again walked back to another room and came back with a glass of water and a spoon.

He spilled the water inside the bowl and started mixing the water and the three colored powder with a spoon.

The colors started mixing, and the water started changing color. In the end, the water became a grey colored liquid.

"Your Highness, this is the medicine for sleep and to relieve pain. It will end his pain, but it would also put him to sleep. He would sleep while his body counters the side effect of lack of life force. He would wake up after a few days after his body heals," The Physician said.

"Is there no way to do it other than putting him to sleep?" Ryder asked the physician. He knew that Rale might not agree to it.

"There is no other way," The Physician answered, shaking his head.

"Alright. Let me give it to him then," Ryder muttered as he stepped forth and picked up the glass.

He walked back to Rale.

"Here, drink this," Ryder muttered as he gave Rale the glass.

"What is that?" Rale asked as he took the glass from his hand.

"It is medicine. It will ease your pain and help you rest in comfort," Ryder replied to Rale.

He conveniently hid the information that it would put him to sleep for a few days as he knew Rale. 

Rale would never take things that would make him incapable of saving Ryder when the situation arrives, and if he had to sleep for a few days, he definitely wouldn't do it since he would be concerned for his safety in case of the unlikely scenario where this place was attacked by the enemy.

Ryder knew that Rale was too serious and considered far unlikely things, but Ryder also knew that this place was safe. No enemy would just appear out of the palace and start attacking it without them getting any information.

Rale looked at the glass and smelled it.

"It smells like someone placed the sleeping pill in it along with other ingredients," Rale said to Ryder.

Ryder was quite surprised by Rale's sense of smell and knowledge. He didn't expect that Rale would immediately recognize it. He had no choice now but to tell the truth.

"Yeah. This medicine also has some ingredients like the sleeping powder. It just won't work without it. You would sleep for some time, but it would be fine. You will wake up soon, and when you wake up, all the pain will be over," Ryder said with a calming smile on his face.

"I can't drink it. It is my responsibility to protect you and this palace. I can't sleep just because I suffer from measly pain. I am fine," Rale replied.

He was about to stand up and put the glass down, but Ryder stopped him, placing his hand on Rale's shoulders.

"I don't want to order you to do anything, but you need to drink it. I will be perfectly safe while you sleep. I won't even leave the Palace. Don't worry about anything and just sleep," Ryder said to Rale.

"If you don't listen to my request, then I would be forced to order you to drink. Just drink it," he added.

Rale looked unwilling, but he still raised the glass and drank it in one sip.

He could feel his eyes turning heavy. He was starting to feel sleepy.

Ryder held his shoulders and helped him lie down on the bed.

"You can't leave the Palace," Rale said to Ryder before he fell asleep.

"Sigh, I won't leave it. Just rest and wake up soon," Ryder said to Rale, who had fallen asleep.

The Physician walked forth and placed his hand over Rale's chest.

"It's working," The Physician told Ryder.

"Good. Keep an eye on him and make sure that he isn't in pain. I'll send some servants and some men to guard this place."

Ryder knew that Rale needed to be near the Physician in this condition.

He walked out of the room and went to find his personal maid, Miku.

Ryder was walking in the long corridor towards the hall when he found Miku there.

"Miku."

"Your Highness, You are back," Miku exclaimed in surprise.

"Yeah, I just came back today. Anyway, I need you to arrange some maids in the room of our Royal Physician. Also, assign the best men from our royal army before that room. Rale is slightly sick. He is sleeping there. I don't want anything to go wrong," Ryder told Miku.

"Master Rale is sick?" Miku inquired with a concerned look on her face.

"He was given medicine. He's just sleeping now. He will be fine after he wakes up, but I still want you to place our best maids and guards there," Ryder said.

"I will get it done," Miku responded before she started walking away.

Ryder continued walking towards the hall.

He reached the hall and sat on the throne.

"I did promise him that I won't leave the palace, but now that I think about it, I do need to go out to hunt. I can't waste my time in Divinity," Ryder muttered as he placed his hand on his chin.

"Should I go with other guards?" he muttered in confusion as he struggled to come to a decision.

"Oh, fuck. I just remembered that High Duke Oris' birthday celebration is tomorrow," Ryder let out with a stunned look on his face. "What excuse will I give him for Rale not being able to come?"

Ryder had utterly forgotten about the birthday invitation of High Duke Oris, but he suddenly remembered it and started getting worried about it.

He couldn't let anyone find out that he left the Demon Realm with Rale, and he needed to hide what actually happened and why Rale was missing from High Dukes. He needed to come up with a good excuse. He couldn't tell them that Rale was sick or that he was injured while fighting. All the High Dukes knew Rale's true strength. They wouldn't believe it.

****

While Ryder was worrying about the Birthday Celebration, there was someone else who was worrying at the moment.

Far away from the Demon Realm, Vampire General Viden's daughter was sitting in her palace, worrying about her father. It had been so long, but her father hadn't returned. She was starting to feel like something was wrong.

"Should I go to his Majesty about this?" She muttered as she looked towards the gate.