[it's clear that Dohalim does find himself in the same spot time and again as he comes up with some sort of excuse to explain his absence. the guards fret a little more this time, worried because he's sick and that he shouldn't be out so long in case something had happened]

Worry not, I had Zhongli with me. It was only a short walk around the hamlet outside of the city. I haven't had a chance to visit lately.

[this seems to placate the guards as they accept this as an answer, but not before (politely) urging Dohalim to get some rest. while he does look better, it seems, the worry the people have for their lord is still present within the palace.

for all that he does feel better than before, as soon as they reach his bedroom, and the door is closed behind them, Dohalim's shoulders sag a little as he sits down unceremoniously on the edge of his bed. he can feel exhaustion creep up on him; perhaps he isn't fully one hundred percent yet. he has to wonder why Rukkhadevata hadn't completely taken his sickness away yet; was it because she couldn't? or did she not so not to raise suspicion as to why he suddenly looks and feels better? she's a strange goddess, for sure, but for some reason, Dohalim thinks she has her own reasons for her actions]