Chapter 92: Elara is sick

"Huh?!"

Kai jolted awake as an inexplicable tightness gripped his chest. Even in his sleep, he had sensed that something was wrong, an unsettling feeling that had stirred him from his rest as though someone were desperately calling for him.

Now that he was awake, he realized the sensation had not been a mere dream.

Elara was troubled.

He could feel it.

Jean had asked him to sleep with them again last night which he supposed should have been a little difficult for both of them but while chatting they had fallen asleep.

Before going to sleep though, Kai had done something he was about to do now as well; check on Elara.

Elara lay nestled beneath her blanket, but something was unmistakably wrong.

Her chest rose and fell faster than usual, each breath coming with a faint but noticeable effort. Kai leaned closer, watching her for a moment before a weak cough escaped her lips.

"Khuff... khuff..."

She coughed twice in her sleep.

His brows drew together as he reached down and gently pressed the back of his hand against her forehead.

She has a fever.

His concern deepened when he noticed the slight pulling beneath her ribs as she breathed. Her breathing was becoming labored, and the combination of symptoms was enough to set off every alarm in his mind.

The signs were unmistakable, and his Medical Monarch skill quickly confirmed his suspicion.

Pneumonia.

"Jean."

Kai carefully lifted the baby girl from her crib, cradling her against his chest.

The little thing was so exhausted and feverish that being picked up barely stirred her. She only managed to open her eyes halfway before weakly clutching his shirt with her tiny fingers, seeking comfort without even fully waking.

The sight made his chest tighten further.

He held her close and approached Jean’s bed, unwilling to waste another moment.

"Jean. Wake up."

Jean groaned softly, shifting beneath the covers before slowly lifting her head.

"Jean, Elli isn’t feeling well."

Those words proved more effective than any alarm could have been.

She sat upright almost immediately, the remnants of sleep vanishing from her face as she looked at the baby in his arms.

"What happened to her?" she asked, her voice still hoarse with sleep.

"Possibly pneumonia. Can you tell me if she ate properly last night?"

Kai had been occupied chatting with Mark earlier and had not paid much attention to Elara’s condition when they were at the dinning table. He needed to know whether she had shown any signs of discomfort that he might have overlooked.

Jean frowned and slowly shook her head.

"But I thought she was just tired."

Kai adjusted Elara in his arms before checking her diaper.

"Did you change it at any point during the night?"

Jean shook her head again.

They both knew Elara had a habit of wetting her diaper in the middle of the night. Under normal circumstances, it would have been something they expected to deal with by morning.

But today, something was clearly different.

"I’ll warm some water," Jean said, already moving to get out of bed. She glanced anxiously at Elara before asking, "Should we call a doctor to come here?"

Kai shook his head.

"No. That would take longer. We’ll drive her to the hospital ourselves." He kept his voice measured as he adjusted the baby against his chest. "Don’t worry. Her breathing is only slightly labored for now. I’ll keep her upright to make breathing easier while we get there."

Jean felt a measure of relief at his composed response, though surprise lingered beneath it.

Even in a situation like this, Kai seemed capable of keeping his head clear and concentrating on what needed to be done. Considering how deeply he adored Elara, however, Jean suspected that his calm demeanor concealed far more anxiety than he was letting on.

She looked at the little girl again, her heart growing heavy at the sight of her flushed cheeks and drooping eyelids.

Without another word, she and Kai hurried out of the room.

While Jean went to prepare the water, Kai securely cradled Elara in one arm and searched for the nearest pediatrician. Fortunately, he found one close to their community.

The hospital within Blue Mountain did not have a specialized pediatric department, but that was hardly a concern at the moment. The nearest hospital was only about four hundred meters away, close enough that driving there would take very little time.

Every minute mattered, and he had no intention of wasting any.

"Here, can you feed her? I’ll go get changed," Jean said, handing him the bottle.

Kai accepted it with a nod.

"Get the keys as well."

Jean hurried back inside to change while Kai continued pacing slowly, keeping Elara nestled against him as he tried to soothe her discomfort.

"Mm..."

When he brought the bottle toward her mouth, Elara turned her head away with a faint, unhappy groan.

"Not even a little, Elli?" he whispered.

He tried once more, carefully offering her a small amount, but she refused to drink.

His expression tightened.

Refusing fluids while feverish was concerning, especially for such a young child. If she continued drinking so little, dehydration could become another problem they would have to contend with.

For a moment, worry threatened to overwhelm him. He pushed it aside, reminding himself that losing his composure would accomplish nothing. Elara needed medical attention and his composed head was very much required as well.

He could be anxious later.

Soon, Jean returned, dressed and ready to leave.

"Let me hold her."

Kai carefully passed Elara into her arms, making sure to show her how he had been supporting the little girl’s body. Jean followed his lead, holding Elara upright against her chest and supporting her head while keeping her as comfortable as possible.

Click.

Kai closed the main gate before opening the car door for Jean.

She settled into the back seat with Elara held securely in her arms, keeping the little girl upright as Kai had shown her.

Once he had ensured they were both settled, Kai climbed into the driver’s seat, started the engine, and prepared to drive straight to the hospital.

But then...something changed.

An immense foreboding sensation settled into his chest and before Kai could realise what was happening...the whole scenery before him shifted.