ATMM 27

Chapter – 27

“Blanche is no longer a member of the Kemer family. Whatever punishment is carried out shall bear no relation to House Kemer.”

Yulion reread the crumpled document in his hand.

The letter had arrived from Count Kemer’s household the day after Blanche’s crimes were confirmed.

“To cut her off so cleanly…”

When he first received it, he had been dumbfounded.

Blanche was the current Count Kemer’s younger sister, the legitimate daughter of the former count. The title had been passed down early, and the former count and countess were still alive and well.

He had expected them to at least try to save her life.

Her crime was grave, yes—but if House Kemer pleaded properly, she could have avoided execution.

Any parent would fight for their child’s life. And Yulion had intended to take advantage of that position.

He had even begun planning to uncover everyone connected to Blanche’s crime.

But Kemer had made a bold move.

They expelled Blanche Kemer from the family—erasing her name from the family registry entirely.

“Ha…”

The letter crumpled further in his grip. Yulion tore it apart without another glance.

“Frec.”

The man who had been quietly standing by the door approached and bowed.

“Strengthen the prison security,” Yulion ordered.

“Yes, Your Highness.”

“And…”

He hesitated, debating whether to ask. Then he spoke.

“How is the Crown Princess?”

Last night, he had lost his temper at someone who had barely just regained consciousness.

She had done nothing wrong.

Why had he done that?

He should have expressed gratitude—she had acted decisively for the Empress.

Instead, he had stormed out, leaving the atmosphere strained. They hadn’t even had dinner together.

Regret only came after he returned to the palace—but by then, it was too late.

“I heard she went out for a walk this morning,” Frec replied.

“A walk? She’s only just woken up…”

She should still be recovering, yet she was already moving about. Truly an active person.

Had she been feeling stifled?

“Or perhaps…”

A thought flashed through his mind.

“Do you know where she went?”

“I did not hear the exact location. However, Her Highness has been visiting the Geumjeong almost daily. It is possible she went there again today.”

“Geumjeong?”

Almost daily? That was news to him.

True, it hadn’t been long since Rohiriel entered the palace. Still, to have visited every day in such a short time was surprising.

‘Wasn’t there a flower Mother liked there?’

He vaguely remembered yellow and blue blossoms.

And Rohiriel’s white hair cascading among them… her red lips…

Yulion abruptly shook his head.

“Is something wrong, Your Highness? If you intend to visit Her Highness, shall I send word?”

“No. That won’t be necessary.”

He wanted to go.

But it was still midday, and he had mountains of work awaiting him—work he had neglected while Rohiriel was unconscious.

“Bring paper and a pen. I will send a reply to House Kemer.”

No matter how quickly they expelled Blanche, she had still borne the Kemer name when she committed the crime.

He would not let this opportunity slip.

With a hardened expression, Yulion began writing. At times, he paused and sighed.

‘Unbelievable…’

Rohiriel’s pale smile kept appearing between the lines of text.

Once this was finished, he would go to her. Apologize, if necessary.

He made that quiet promise to himself.

“Phew…”

I stretched and looked up at the sky.

It was a perfectly clear day, not a cloud in sight.

Just like the bright blue sky, my body felt much better.

“If only I could pluck a lot of these and store them in my palace…”

Coming to Geumjeong every day was inconvenient. I had so many other things to do, yet I had to make time for this.

If only the petals didn’t wither and lose their medicinal properties within a few hours of being picked.

Still, the sight of the blooming Aperium flowers filled me with satisfaction.

I had already taken today’s dose, so I would only pick a few fully opened petals to bring back.

“If only there were a way to preserve them longer…”

I carefully selected several healthy petals and tucked them into my pocket.

Precious materials for my research.

A few steps away, I noticed a rare flower I had only seen in botanical records.

A massive red blossom stood tall—reaching nearly to my waist.

“This is… absurd.”

But I was astonished for a different reason.

Its name was Sepheritubs.

A rare plant famed as a treasure of the Northern Continent, known to grow taller than a person. The harsher the cold it endured, the stronger and larger it became.

But the Empire was generally warm.

Yes, winters were cold—but nothing compared to the brutal chill of the north.

There was no way Sepheritubs could grow properly here.

There were many other plants in Geumjeong suffering from unsuitable climates.

The Emperor had likely gathered rare species simply for their novelty.

‘I should talk to Yulion. Ask if I can manage this place.’

It would be such a waste to let them wither.

With plans for revitalizing Geumjeong forming in my mind, I stepped outside, where Jenid approached me.

“Your Highness, are you feeling alright?”

I laughed lightly.

“Jenid, that’s the tenth time you’ve asked today.”

“Ah, I’m sorry. But you were inside for so long…”

“I was just thinking. It’s the only place I can truly be alone.”

“Even so, please don’t overexert yourself.”

“Alright. I won’t.”

“Then we’re returning to the palace now?”

“No, let’s go to the medical palace. I need to prepare Her Majesty’s medicine.”

“What? Goodness…”

After soothing Jenid’s worries, we headed toward the medical palace.

I had told her not to worry—but there was too much work waiting.

The medicine I made for the Empress was the first course. She had to take it for three days—and the time was just right.

I had already prepared the second course, but it was stored in the medical palace. I needed to check its condition and explain the dosage to the Empress.

“I feel like you’re working even more since becoming Crown Princess,” Jenid muttered.

I couldn’t disagree.

I had planned to quietly recuperate for a year and then leave.

But why were there so many sick people in the imperial palace?

‘Come to think of it… what exactly is wrong with His Majesty the Emperor?’

Once the Empress’s treatment was complete, I wanted to examine him as well.

Of course, I would need her permission—but if I successfully cured her eye condition, she would likely agree.

‘I’m just creating more work for myself.’

Still, I couldn’t ignore the suffering I saw.

If Mother were here, she would surely tell me to do everything I could.

“Your Highness, please slow down!”

Jenid’s anxious voice sounded from behind me.

I deliberately slowed my pace.

We had just reached the medical palace when—

“Your Highness, Crown Princess!”

A small figure staggered toward me like a gust of dust and stopped in front of me.

Shimmering golden hair reflected the light, making me squint.

“Sir Ares?”

“Are you feeling well?!”

“Yes, I’m fine…”

His eyes shimmered as he examined me from head to toe.

Then he grabbed my shoulders, looking deeply moved.

“I was terribly worried when I heard! You are my lifesaver, and yet you collapsed somewhere I couldn’t even protect you!”

I had always thought he was rather lighthearted for a knight—but it seemed his time in the medical palace had made him even more excitable.

Gently removing his hands, I asked,

“Did the rumor spread that widely? I doubt Yulion would have allowed that.”

“Oh, I heard directly from His Highness. As he said, the rumor has not spread—so rest assured.”

“Ah… that’s good.”

We weren’t especially close—but something felt slightly off.

‘Aftereffects of the poison?’

If so, I would need to prepare another antidote.

Lost in such thoughts, I was about to enter when I paused.

“Sir Ares, if you’re fully recovered, why are you still in the medical palace?”

“You ask that only now? That’s too cruel, Your Highness!”

“Why again…?”

“You told me to continue taking the medicine and rest properly.”

“Yes, I did. And didn’t I say you could return to duty once you recovered?”

Apparently, I hadn’t.

Ares’s crimson eyes filled with dejection.

“His Highness strictly ordered that I was not to leave the medical palace without your permission. So I’ve been trapped here despite feeling perfectly fine!”

Now I understood.

He’d been suffocating from boredom.

Smiling apologetically, I listened to his complaints.

Yulion probably wouldn’t indulge his subordinates like this—so someone had to.

“Ah… I see. I’m sorry. You may resume your duties now. Though—shall I conduct one last check?”

After confirming there were no lingering aftereffects of the poison, I collected the Empress’s medicine.

It had been two days since I collapsed. If she hadn’t missed any doses, she should be significantly improved.

With equal parts hope and concern, I headed toward Tishurit Palace.