"You wanted to talk to me?" she finally prompted, her golden eyes studying him with quiet intensity.
Julian nodded and started to rise from his chair. "Yes, I needed to ask you—"
"…!"
A sharp pain lanced through Julian's side as he tried to stand.
His legs buckled beneath him, and he collapsed to the floor with a pained grunt, narrowly missing the corner of his desk.
"Julian!" Elenore's voice cut through the haze of pain as she rushed to his side, her usual composure giving way to genuine alarm. She knelt beside him, her golden eyes wide with concern. "You shouldn't be out of the infirmary. Let me help you."
She reached for his arm, but Julian shook his head, trying to wave her away despite the tremors running through his body.
"I'm fine," he insisted through gritted teeth, though the pallor of his face and the cold sweat breaking out across his forehead told a different story.
"Just... give me a moment."
