"And someone please bring water."
Mira hurried off with another maid who had been shaking the lady when she fainted. Diane assumed they came together.
All eyes were on Diane once again, watching. This time their looks were more of curiosity than disdain, even a bit of respect.
The lady who everyone called Lady Merida stirred before the water arrived. She gave a look of disorientation, obviously wondering what happened.
When Mira returned with water, Diane guided Lady Merida's hand.
"Sip, not gulp; it will help."
She nodded shakily as she took sips of the water.
More people whispered now. Diane could hear some questioning if she wasn't the Lyselle's daughter that had weak healing power.
What changed? They asked in hushes.
The duchess's expression tightened. She hated not being the main object of attention. And today, Diane had taken the attention that was hers.
The only reason why the Lyselle House had agreed when the crown proposed marriage between the two houses was because Athea didn't possess healing powers. And so it has been an easy decision for them to make.
The duchess would have been vehemently against the idea of Dravon getting married into the Lyselle's house. But when she heard whom exactly the family was willing to give, she was secretly overjoyed.
Over the years, she had watched Dravon's influence grow both in court and in wealth. Even the king recently would only make certain decisions after consulting Dravon, especially in matters of war. If he suddenly marries a healer, his status in the country and beyond would be unmatchable.
Watching her children be lackluster while he gets all the praise infuriated her.
She watched Athea as she expertly handled Lady Mirada and wondered if she had been wrong all along. Had she hidden her powers up until now to spite her, or was she just displaying some tricks she had learned from watching Lady Moon and her cousin?
The duchess could not decide which it was.
She knew this would make the news all week long. In Valerune, nothing traveled faster than stories. Just the thought of it worsened her infuriation.
"We could have called for a physician instead. What if you worsened her condition, Athea?"
She said with a slight frown as she walked back to her seat.
"She only fainted, probably from exhaustion, your Grace," Diane replied, as she raised the now conscious woman. "She should consult her physician after here, though," she added, now looking directly at the woman who held onto her for support.
"The physician will be here soon," the duchess said with a tone of finality as she stared blankly at Diane.
Everyone around exchanged glances. They heard about the powerless healer; they never heard about how bold she is or how she is not a worthless healer either.
Now that the commotion finally died out as Diane helped the woman back on her seat. She would have to monitor her all through today. For the first time since she reincarnated, she missed the hospital. She thought about how nice it would have been to run some tests in case there was an underlying issue that had caused her to faint. Here, she can't even check for her blood pressure or sugar level, she sighed.
She must have sighed a little too loudly because when she sat back down, every eye rested on her. She smiled, as if to offer some apology.
By now the physician, who is a very old man, was standing beside Lady Miranda, checking her pulse with a deep concentration. He looked at the duchess and nodded his approval.
Just then, a hefty man stepped inside and bowed sharply.
"His grace, Duke Kail Ravenforth, has arrived!" He almost shouted.
Immediately a tall man flanked on the side by equally hefty men entered the hall. At his presence, everyone stood up, even the sickly woman. Diane worried she would faint again.
He wore a regalia that suggested he was just back from battle as he scanned the hall. He motioned to one of his men and whispered something. The hefty man went back from where they had come, and he finally made his way to the long round table with confident strides.
He sat at that far end of the table, and every other person finally sat.
Diane gave Mira a side look, obviously trying to get an affirmation on who the man was.
"Dravon's Father!" Mira mouthed silently.
And then it all finally made sense to Diane. The aura around him felt so strong and intimidating, almost in an oppressive manner. Even the domineering duchess had nothing on this man, who stood tall even after he had sat.
He looked at the physician, who by now was packing up his equipment, in a questioning manner. His right-hand man bent and whispered to him as he nodded.
He looked at the pale Lady Miranda, who by extension was his sister. And then to the physician.
"How is she? Is the situation bad?" He asked, looking concerned, which to Diane looked absurd. Concern did not look like it belonged in his face, a face that screamed "intimidation."
"Your Grace!" he said as he bowed quickly. "Thanks to immediate intervention, she will be alright. If a second had been wasted, it would have been dangerous.The man beside Duke Kail whispered to him again, and he looked round the hall till his eyes met Diane.
"It was most likely nothing serious," the duchess said quickly. "Lady Miranda probably skipped breakfast and had a fainting spell; the physician would have managed," she said while giving him a tight smile.
Diane smiled knowingly. It was a familiar sight to her; professors at the hospital would most time not give credit to resident doctors.
"You acted quickly; that was quite bold of you, Athea Lyselle," he said, staring directly into her eyes for a split second. Diane stood and gave a slight bow with a smile while wondering if that was even the right gesture.
"Have her escorted to the guest room; she should rest."
A guard and a few servants scrambled as they helped with moving the woman towards the hallway that led to the left wing of the mansion.
The not so fine Lord Rhyven started walking towards his father and leaned in as he said things only the two could hear. His father nodded, and he walked back and took his seat beside Kaelion Kail.
"Dravon should have been here to welcome you all, for he is the chief celebrant. Unfortunately, he was summoned to the northern frontline this morning."
A ripple of whispers spread throughout the hall.
"Another war?"