Chapter – 18
‘I really don’t need to go to such lengths…’
Judging by how seriously Yulion was carrying out our agreement, it almost seemed like he was secretly enjoying it.
With mixed feelings, I allowed Yulion to guide me to the table and sit down.
“Frek, bring what you’ve prepared.”
Yulion’s attendant carried a large basket and began setting sandwiches and various teas on the table. After the attendants and maids stepped back a bit, I picked up a sandwich and whispered,
“You really didn’t have to go this far, Yulion.”
“What do you mean?”
“Well… when both of us are busy, there might be days we can’t meet, right? That’s how most couples manage.”
“What are you saying?”
“I mean… well, I’m grateful, but don’t go to so much trouble. It makes me feel guilty.”
Yulion tilted his head slightly with a serious expression.
It was obvious he didn’t understand what I meant. Normally, he would grasp things without a word, so why was he being so frustrating this time?
I was about to explain further when Yulion spoke first.
“I, too, feel both apologies and gratitude toward you. You’ve gone through so much on account of my mother.”
“It’s fine. If there’s a patient who can be treated, of course I’ll do my best.”
“A patient… So, my mother is not an empress to you, but a patient.”
Watching Yulion quietly mull over my words, I wondered if I had misspoken. Did I dare call the empress a patient? I scanned his expression and thankfully, a faint smile appeared.
“Then, as the family of the patient, I offer my gratitude. Truly, thank you, Rohiriel.”
“No… I’m just glad I could treat Her Majesty the Empress.”
“Still, you must take care of your own health.”
“Yes, I will.”
I thought the conversation was wrapping up, but Yulion suddenly looked as if he had remembered something and asked,
“Then last night, did you dine in the Imperial Palace?”
“Last night…?”
Where had I eaten?
I racked my memory, but I had no recollection of dinner. I must have been too busy and lacking appetite to eat.
Unable to answer, I saw Yulion’s expression stiffen.
“Surely, you didn’t not eat?”
“No, I… I think I only had tea.”
“Tea?”
Yulion’s gaze shifted to the teacup on the table.
His sharp eyes showed disbelief, and I quickly looked away, taking a bite of my sandwich.
“Hmm… this is delicious. The chef of the Crown Prince’s Palace is a master of sandwiches, it seems.”
“Then what did you have for breakfast today?”
“Fruits and toast…”
“And lunch?”
“A little soup.”
Yulion’s expression went from stiff to downright severe.
I couldn’t understand why he had to interrogate me about every meal—it was annoying.
“I’ve been busy, so I couldn’t eat much. I didn’t have an appetite,” I said sulkily.
“But the weaker one feels, the more one must eat properly,” he insisted.
In fact, the worse my condition was, the more my digestive ability decreased, making it difficult to eat high-calorie meals. My stomach was weak from several days of intense work, and I couldn’t eat properly even if I wanted to. I couldn’t explain all this, so I just replied sullenly,
“Well, I can start eating now, right?”
With that, I stuffed a large bite of sandwich into my mouth.
I didn’t want to answer further questions, but there was something I had to tell Yulion. I quickly drank some tea and swallowed my sandwich.
“Take it slowly. There’s a lot.”
“Ah, yes. By the way, Yulion, does Tishrit Palace have a Selfinia tree?”
“A Selfinia tree?”
Yulion tilted his head, blinking. Then he replied slowly,
“I don’t think so. My mother isn’t particularly interested in landscaping… She wouldn’t plant troublesome trees.”
“Then is there somewhere with dense foliage? Like an unmanaged lawn?”
“You mean within Tishrit Palace?”
Yulion chuckled slightly, amused by the unusual question. I smiled awkwardly and withdrew it.
“Actually, in the Empress’s chamber earlier, it seemed that Blanche, the head maid, had Selfinia powder on her hair. There were green stains on the hem of her dress. It worries me.”
“That’s strange,” Yulion murmured.
He set down his sandwich and fell into thought. So I wasn’t the only one feeling something was off.
“There is a Selfinia tree in the palace. Coincidentally, it’s located in a lawn with dense foliage.”
Everything fit perfectly.
Blanche must have left Tishrit Palace shortly before I went to see the Empress. I double-checked.
“Where exactly?”
“It’s near the palace walls, where few people pass.”
“Then there’s nothing around it.”
“And there’s no reason for the head maid to go there, leaving the Empress ill.”
After that, without speaking further, we both stood up abruptly.
Blanche was moving stealthily at the worst possible time. Perhaps the Empress’s life was in real danger. Anxiety flashed in Yulion’s sharp eyes.
“May I come with you?”
“Of course.”
Though we didn’t mention it, we headed straight to the prison where the head maid was confined.
The stench of blood and rot hit us as we approached the entrance, making us wrinkle our noses. Deep inside, we saw the head maid sitting quietly behind the bars.
“Head maid.”
I called to her, but she didn’t move. She sat facing the window, stiff as if her body had frozen.
“…Head maid?”
“Head maid, what are you doing?”
Even Yulion’s cold voice demanded an answer, but only silence returned.
A bad premonition gnawed at me, and I looked at Yulion. He shared my concern, his face hard and tense as he opened the prison door.
“Head maid!”
Yulion went inside and shook her shoulders. Immediately, her body slumped limply.
Her face was deathly pale, and her wide brown eyes were unfocused.
I checked her pulse and breathing, but as feared, there were no signs of life.
“This is unfortunate. We’re late.”
Yulion spoke with regret. When did this happen? How?
“My intuition seems correct. Now… what should we do…”
At that moment, a strange smell came from her. I brought my nose close to her face.
“Why, Rohiriel?”
I checked her neck, wrists, and ankles.
“Rohiriel?”
Ignoring Yulion’s puzzled look, I exposed her chest.
Yulion appeared flustered, but my heart began to race.
“Medicinal herbs. I need herbs: Horongchi, Raphal, Tanetdu, Yabileim, Todnet…”
“Wait, Rohiriel, what do you mean?”
“I mean… I can save her!”
“What…? But she’s already dead!”
“She was attacked not long ago. The poison dart stops breathing and heart first, spreading poison through the body, eventually causing real death. This is still the early stage… I’ll explain later. For now, I need the herbs and my tools. Jenid!”
Jenid, waiting at a distance, rushed over at my command.
“Here, Your Excellency.”
I hesitated, about to hand over a note listing the needed herbs.
“There’s not enough time. If we wait for the herbs, her body won’t hold.”
“The Imperial Palace is close. I can run quickly and bring them, Your Excellency.”
I shook my head. Even if he ran as fast as possible, it wasn’t enough. Judging by her condition, it seemed she had been poisoned only about a minute ago. Whoever attacked must have fled just before we arrived. We had less than five minutes. Any longer, and even if she regained breathing, the chance of survival would be slim, and if she did wake, her condition might not be normal.
“I also need time to prepare the medicine. He must bring the herbs within two minutes… impossible.”
“I think I can do it,” Yulion suddenly interjected.
He snatched the paper from my hand and leapt toward the tall window.
“Yulion?”
“I forgot that while I am Crown Prince, I am also a knight.”
He smiled confidently and jumped out the window.
Hearing his footsteps fade, I swallowed hard.
‘I forgot for a moment.’
The youngest to ever defeat the Commander of the Imperial Knights at age thirteen. The man who needed few guards at the Crown Prince’s Palace. That’s why I was able to meet him in secret and make a deal.
‘Still… can he make it in time?’
Everything was so urgent. But I couldn’t give up when there was even the slightest hope. If the head maid died, capturing Blanche would become nearly impossible. I had to save her.
“Your Excellency, instruct us.”
Jenid took his place. I exposed the head maid’s chest completely and picked up a thin, long needle in the shape of a cylinder.
