The Mad Princess and the Dying Prince novel Chapter 103

Eleonora felt as though her body was weighed down by heavy stones.

Over the past few days, she had drifted in and out of consciousness, haunted by the sound of her mother weeping. Desperate to wake, she finally managed to pry her eyes open today.

Lady Forrester was the first to notice the flutter of her eyelashes.

Her heart leapt into her throat as she rushed to the bedside. "Eleonora?"

Eleonora fully opened her eyes, though her vision was a blurry haze at first.

"My love, she's awake!" Tears streamed down Lady Forrester's face as she gripped her daughter's hand. "Eleonora, it's me. It's your mother. Can you hear me?"

"Mother..." Eleonora rasped, her voice as weak as a newborn kitten's.

Even that faint sound was enough to make Lady Forrester and Roderick sob with relief.

Lord Forrester, a proud and stoic nobleman, furiously wiped at his damp eyes.

"Eleonora, I am here. It is your father..."

"Father..." Eleonora whispered.

The blurriness in her vision finally began to clear, allowing her to make out the shapes of the people hovering over her.

"Physician Finch, does her waking mean the worst has passed?" Roderick asked eagerly.

The old physician peered closely at the young woman's face.

It was then that Lady Forrester noticed, and she had to stifle a horrified scream.

Eleonora's eyes were still a terrifying, blood-red color!

"Mother, why have you drawn crimson veils around my bed?" Eleonora murmured weakly. As she tried to focus, a thick, blood-colored mist obscured her sight.

She assumed heavy red drapery surrounded her.

Lady Forrester paled.

Roderick quickly stepped closer and saw the chilling crimson tint in his daughter's eyes.

"Physician Finch, what is the meaning of this?"

Fresh tears spilled down Lady Forrester's cheeks. There were no red veils. Her daughter's eyes...

"Lady Eleonora, can you recall where you went half a month ago, or if you touched anything unusual?" the physician asked.

"Physician Finch, she was with us the entire journey," Lady Forrester interjected. "We did not visit any strange places, nor did she touch anything forbidden."

Eleonora tried to lift her hand to wipe her mother's tears. "Mother, do not weep..."

But as she raised her arm, her gaze fell upon her own hand. Even through the red haze, she could see it clearly: the flesh was shriveled to the bone, the skin blackened and withered like a corpse's.

Eleonora's eyes widened in sheer horror. "My hand! Father, Mother, what happened to my hand? Ah!"

She unleashed a bloodcurdling scream.

As her eyes bulged in terror, her parents watched the crimson hue in her pupils deepen into an unnatural, demonic red. It was a terrifying sight.

Lady Forrester clung to the girl's withered hand and broke down into agonizing sobs.

"Eleonora, my sweet girl, it is alright. You will heal... you will heal..."