Something was wrong, the young Usher could feel it clearly. His discomfort was palpable, like a lump in his chest that even the moonlit night could not soothe as usual. The atmosphere was unsettling, and even the gentle breeze seemed to sting, adding to his unease.
Taking a deep breath, the young Usher scanned his surroundings with unease. He tried to look for clues to the unusual feeling that had plagued him for the past few days, but all he found was confusion.
Everything seemed to be spinning, making Usher’s head feel full. Various events that had occurred kept replaying in his mind, bringing up different thoughts than before. Two similar yet meaningful questions continued to weigh on his mind.
“Why? Why are you so good to me? Why do you always take care of me? Why, Usher?”
“Why are you so attentive to Vione? She’s nobody. She’s just the adopted daughter of some forest rangers. Besides, she seems weak. You could say she’s a troublesome she-wolf. So why do you care about her?”
At first, young Usher did not pay much attention to these questions, but everything changed when he saw young Vione chatting with Lewis that afternoon. They seemed close, and that’s when the uneasiness began to permeate his feelings.
Young Usher tried to calm himself, but unfortunately, he lost control. He could not shake the uneasiness from his mind, and he was anxious for days. He could not concentrate on his studies or enjoy his meals. Worse, even his sleep was disturbed.
The distress was pressing. This time, the young Usher was cornered by similar questions, ironically posed by himself. He tried to evade them, but his condition was truly miserable.
“Is something wrong, Usher? I’ve noticed you haven’t been looking well lately.”
Jemma commented, snatching his consciousness back from a brief moment of reverie. So, the young Usher cleared his throat and replied, reluctantly starting his unfinished breakfast. “No, Mom. Everything’s fine.”
“Really?” Jemma stared at the young Usher intently. Her forehead furrowed, indicating her doubt about Usher’s answer. “It doesn’t look like it.”
Young Usher racked his brain. Finally, he came up with the most plausible excuse he could give Jemma. “Maybe I’m just a little stressed about preparing for the General Conference.”
This time Jemma could not say anything more. The young usher’s reason sounded logical. Besides, she knew how focused he had been lately. Young Usher wanted to prepare as best he could, and it was not surprising that he might feel some stress at some point.
Jemma took a short breath. “You should rest for a few days. I’m sure your preparation is sound. Now it’s important for you to take care of your health. All your preparations will be for nothing if you get sick.”
“All right, Ma.” The young Usher nodded as he rose from his seat. He walked over to Jemma and gave her a warm hug. “I’m going to the library for a while, then I’m going to rest.”
Young Usher could see the concern in Jemma’s eyes. So, he reassured her one last time not to worry too much about him. Then he left the dining room and headed for the library.
There was one small matter that young Usher had to take care of before he could rest as promised to Jemma. He was going to find a book and…
Young Usher’s footsteps stopped abruptly when he saw young Vione passing by in a panic. He noticed that young Vione was cradling a weak and motionless puppy.
“Vione.”
Vione turned. “U-Usher.”
“What’s wrong?” Young Usher asked as he approached Vione. His gaze was fixed on the pup. “What happened to him?”
Vione shook her head. “I don’t know. He was fine just now, Usher. I just stepped away for a moment, and when I came back, I saw him like this. I’m afraid something bad has happened to him.”
Vione’s concern was understandable. The young Usher could see that the puppy’s condition was very worrisome. So, he said, “Don’t worry, I’ll call the vet. You don’t have to worry. He’s going to be fine.”
Young Usher immediately instructed Walter Mendoza, the watcher, to call a veterinarian to the palace, and his intention to go to the library was put aside. He decided to accompany young Vione during the pup’s examination.
Alma Alexander arrived shortly thereafter. She immediately took the puppy and began the treatment. With the help of an assistant, she carefully examined the puppy’s condition.
The puppy was weak and agitated. He was shaking with labored breathing. His eyes were not as bright as usual; they seemed dull and listless. There were traces of frothy saliva around his mouth, indicating a toxic reaction in his body. Alma quickly checked his pulse, then observed the color of his gums and mucous membranes, which were pale.
“How is he, Alma?”
Alma turned with a worried expression. “It looks like he’s got food poisoning.”
“Food poisoning?” Young Vione asked reflexively. Alma and the young Usher looked at her. “What do you mean? I fed him as usual, and he’s never been poisoned before. He’s fine. He-”
Vione’s words suddenly stopped. Something crossed her mind, and her tongue instantly froze. She was stunned.
A cold sensation washed over Vione’s body and quickly spread throughout her. She tried to refute a possibility that had successfully created fear.
“Vione,” the young usher called as he reflexively reached for Vione’s hand. Their eyes met and he asked, “What is it? Why are you silent?”
Vione blinked with blank eyes, looking confused. “U-Usher,” she whispered, her voice shaking. “I-I remember something. It seems he ate my bread.”
Young Usher narrowed his eyes. “Bread?”
“Yes, my breakfast bread,” Vione replied, swallowing her saliva. The panic on her face quickly turned to guilt. “I hadn’t had breakfast because I was called away to prepare garden tools, and when I returned, the bread was gone. Could he have been poisoned by the bread? Was the bread expired?”
*