It was in that very moment that the root cause behind Cassian's uncharacteristic behavior finally struck Hermi: while he had been tending to her during the fever, she had definitely spilled something catastrophic while unconscious.
In one of her fevered dreams, she remembered hearing Lucian calling her name. Naturally, she had replied. Now, it became clear as day that she had not replied in a dream at all.
Without answering her husband, Hermi turned toward the row of servants. The poor men and women had been waiting in a state of suspended animation, as if their King had deemed them non-existent.
"Leave all the food on the table," she commanded. "Then leave the room. Your duty here is done."
The servants lifted their gazes from the display, casting confused looks at one another. They all ended up looking to their King for the slightest hint of instruction, mumbling, "Your Majesty, this..."
