Chapter – 30
I couldn’t answer right away and instead took a small sip of tea.
I had long wished to speak with someone about my mother. Yet now that someone who truly knew her had appeared before me, the words refused to come easily.
There had been no one in Cassian with whom I could open my heart. And whenever my mother was mentioned, Jenid would burst into tears, so I had been the one to avoid the topic.
I couldn’t keep delaying forever. Carefully choosing my words, I set down my teacup.
“You knew my mother, didn’t you?”
Of course he did—that was why he had said I resembled her.
The moment the foolish words left my mouth, I regretted them. But Councilor Bamide smiled gently as he replied.
“Of course. Lady Shahadna was the finest student I ever taught.”
“Student? Then… you were my mother’s teacher?”
“Yes. Though I am ashamed to say I was a teacher inferior to my own pupil. Still, it was an honor to teach Lady Shahadna, even if only for a short time.”
“Then you must have been a professor at the Yalon Medical Academy.”
“Indeed. Hoho, it seems you didn’t only inherit Lady Shahadna’s looks, but her keen perception as well.”
It was a strange feeling.
Speaking about my late mother with a stranger was difficult—yet comforting at the same time.
“But more than anything, what you resemble most is her medical skill.”
“…Is that so?”
I took another sip of tea. For some reason, my throat felt dry.
After a moment, Bamide continued.
“Yes. I had believed that after Lady Shahadna entered the House of Cassian, she had completely set aside her medical practice. And yet, to see you so accomplished…”
He trailed off and chuckled awkwardly.
“My apologies, Your Highness. I fear my joy made me forget myself.”
“No, it’s quite all right.”
“Please, you needn’t speak so formally to someone beneath you. For the Crown Princess of the Empire to address me with such courtesy…”
He waved his hands in embarrassment, only now seeming to realize I had been using polite speech.
But I doubted my mother would ever have spoken down to him either. Perhaps in formal settings—but in private, she would certainly have shown him proper respect as her elder.
“You were my mother’s teacher. I would appreciate it if you treated me comfortably as well.”
“Ah… Lady Shahadna said the same to me once. You truly resemble her in so many ways.”
With a helpless smile, he took another sip of tea.
“What was my mother like as a student?”
“She was bright and cheerful. Her eyes always shone as she bombarded me with questions.”
“What subject did she like most?”
“Pharmacology. Her compounding skills surpassed even those of the academy’s professors.”
His eyes grew distant, lost in memory.
I, too, remembered when I was little—back when Mother was still healthy. She would prepare any medicine in an instant. I had once stayed up beside her, rubbing my sleepy eyes, too fascinated to go to bed.
“Did she… have close friends?”
“Of course. Lady Shahadna was beloved by all—a true princess among students.”
“Then my mother…”
We spoke at length.
Until the moon rose high into the night. Until Jenid brought in the third pot of tea.
Only when I could no longer keep Bamide any longer did I stop asking questions.
“Your Highness, I shall take my leave. You, of all people, understand that illness requires ample rest.”
“Of course. Thank you.”
“You are taking your medicine properly, I hope?”
At that moment, I understood why he had come.
Yes, he wanted to speak of my mother—but he also wished to confirm whether a true cure for my illness existed.
If he had been a professor at the Yalon Medical Academy, he would know very well that my illness had no known cure.
Yet I had claimed to manufacture and take my own medicine. That must have surprised him.
Rather than question me directly and risk making me more guarded, he had first opened my heart with stories of my mother.
As expected of someone so experienced.
Had I been lying, I might have faltered at that casual inquiry.
But unfortunately for him, I was indeed taking the genuine cure—Aperium—so I answered without hesitation.
“Of course. I took it today as well, and I feel almost completely better.”
“…I see.”
“Thank you for your concern.”
“It is nothing. Then I wish you a restful night, Your Highness.”
That night, for the first time in a long while, I dreamed of my mother.
In the dream, we were friends attending the medical academy together. I was even her senior, guiding her through her studies.
I was so happy I never wanted to wake.
For some time, a public power struggle continued between the imperial family and the orthodox nobles.
More precisely, it was the pro-Kemer faction among the orthodox nobles, led by the House of Count Kemer.
They loudly insisted that there was no direct connection between Blanche and the Kemer household, and that holding Kemer accountable was unjust.
But everyone knew it was a flimsy excuse.
The majority of the nobility—led by the House of Cassian and the House of Marquis Viante—demanded that Kemer be punished.
Ten days after Blanche’s interrogation, the official ruling was announced.
<A fine of ten million gold, partial forfeiture of their territory to the imperial family, and full cooperation in the thorough investigation of the criminal Blanche’s activities.>
Ten million gold was nothing to a house like Kemer.
The real issue lay in the next clause.
Partial forfeiture of territory.
And a thorough investigation of Blanche’s actions.
In other words, the imperial family would dispatch officials to Kemer’s lands.
And since they were ordered to cooperate fully, they would be obligated to comply with whatever the imperial investigators demanded.
For the foreseeable future, Yulion’s people would reside in Kemer territory, keeping watch.
“Yulion is going to be quite busy from now on.”
The Empress pressed her temple, her voice heavy.
I pushed the plunger down fully and carefully withdrew the syringe.
“It’s done. How is the pain?”
“It’s almost gone. I sleep comfortably now… and I think I can see properly again.”
There was a barely concealed eagerness in her tone.
I suppressed a smile.
“Then let’s check.”
It had been exactly one week since I prescribed the special eye drops and wrapped her eyes in bandages.
It was time.
Carefully, I removed the bandages.
“Please try opening your eyes.”
Thick red lashes fluttered. Slowly, her eyelids lifted.
Golden eyes—so like Yulion’s—squinted at the sudden light before gradually adjusting.
“It truly… doesn’t hurt.”
She blinked several times, touching the corners of her eyes as if in disbelief.
“It’s a bit bright…”
Her gaze drifted toward the window.
I quickly blocked her line of sight.
“Looking directly at sunlight is still dangerous. How does your vision feel?”
“Much clearer.”
“Please tilt your head up.”
After guiding her to face the ceiling, I applied another drop of medicine.
“Fortunately, the treatment is working. We’ll remove the bandages completely tomorrow.”
“Can’t we remove them now?”
“Are they that uncomfortable?”
“Even that little taste of light makes returning to darkness unbearably suffocating.”
Beneath her irritation lay anxiety.
For over a year she had lived in darkness—because of her illness, and because of the physician’s medicine.
It was natural that she would crave the light once she had tasted it.
“Please endure just one more day, Your Majesty.”
“…Very well.”
I wrapped the bandages back over her eyes.
She said nothing further, but her slumped shoulders betrayed her disappointment.
The next morning—
After breakfast, I went straight to Tishurit Palace.
But the Empress’s bedchamber was empty.
“Your Majesty!”
The head maid stood frozen at the doorway, scanning the room in horror.
A patient whose eyes were still bandaged—gone without passing through the door?
“Why were you not attending her at all times?”
“She said she wished to be alone…”
Ignoring the flustered explanation, I stepped further inside.
It would be extremely difficult for harm to befall the Empress in the deepest chambers of the imperial palace.
The light was intense today.
Though the curtains were not fully drawn, harsh sunlight streamed through the gaps.
And the curtains… fluttered.
Beyond them, I glimpsed lush greenery—
“Your Majesty?”
Flowing, flame-red hair.
The Empress stood beneath the sunlight.
