Chapter 105

Word that I had fainted and the physician had been called reached Joachim, who came to my bedside late that night.

He looked at Friedrich—who was sitting with me—with something distinctly unfriendly in his eyes.

"What exactly were you doing with Her Highness that she collapsed?"

"Stop it, Duke Rommel. It wasn't anyone's fault."

I cut in immediately to shield Friedrich, my brow furrowing.

Friedrich, for his part, sat quietly through the accusation without objecting. It wasn't your doing at all—why are you just taking it?

"Anyone watching would think you'd actually knocked me down. I told you—it was the medicine from the Mage Tower."

"Medicine?"

Joachim asked, puzzled.

"What did you take?"

"Just something."

For the record, Joachim didn't know about the sleepwalking. He had been working late every night it had happened.

"Either way, it wasn't Friedrich's fault—so don't take it out on him, and don't worry about…