Louise de la Vallière Chapter 18 - The Physician

In which the king, presiding over a tense assembly, learns from his physician that the grievous wounds of Monsieur de Guiche are the result not of a hunting accident but of a secret duel, much to the chagrin and shifting allegiances of those present. This revelation stirs a delicate negotiation of honour, friendship, and discretion, wherein loyalty to both a lady and the king's commands shapes the fate of those caught in the shadow of forbidden combat.