ATMM 03

Chapter – 03

“Everyone, step back!”

People stared at me, completely bewildered, unsure of what was happening.

Hemyon’s body, now completely out of control, sagged lifelessly.

The crowd noticed at a glance that Hemyon was in bad shape and began murmuring, trying to get closer to see what was happening.

I didn’t have time to explain or convince each person individually, so I pointed toward a nearby guard and commanded:

“Guard! Clear everyone out immediately!”

The guard, flustered, pushed back the crowd as ordered.

I quickly took out the antidote.

It wasn’t a cure for that specific poison, but it could at least neutralize most toxins slightly. I needed to buy time to create the proper antidote.

I poured the clear liquid onto Hemyon’s wound. The bulging veins, which looked ready to explode at any moment, seemed to calm slightly.

But if left like this, it would flare up again quickly.

Moreover, the veins spreading across the rest of the body remained unchanged.

I picked up a thick needle next—a hollow, tube-shaped needle.

At that moment, Hemyon started having a seizure.

The partial neutralization had caused a backlash.

“I can’t—stitch it like this…”

Holding the needle in one hand and trying to restrain Hemyon with the other proved nearly impossible.

Jenid tried to calm Hemyon beside me but was clearly struggling.

I lifted my head, intending to call for help.

“What’s happening?”

Yulion had appeared right in front of me.

“Hemyon’s been poisoned. If we don’t act immediately, the surrounding people could be affected.”

Yulion looked at Hemyon on the floor and me holding the needle, astonished.

“I’ll call a physician. What can you possibly do…”

“It’s too late to call a physician. I can handle it.”

I cut him off, my words urgent.

“So please… help me.”

I gave him a desperate look, asking him to hold Hemyon.

Yulion hesitated for a moment, frowning seriously, then sat down in front of me and reached out.

“Are you sure you can do this?”

Yulion pressed his hand gently on Hemyon’s shoulder.

I answered without hesitation:

“Of course. I’ve done this hundreds of times.”

With Hemyon restrained by Yulion, I inserted the needle into the clotted poison points.

First, just below the collarbone.

Dark, dead blood flowed from the deep insertion.

My pure white dress was stained a dark crimson, but I didn’t have time to care.

“Jenid, the neutralizer.”

Jenid, who was waiting, placed a clear vial into my hand.

I poured the neutralizer into the needle.

Next, below the navel.

Above both hips, beside the knees.

After infusing all the critical points, the veins rising on Hemyon’s skin slowly began to calm.

“Phew…”

That bought us some time.

Now I had to prepare the proper antidote.

I grabbed a pen and scribbled the names of medicinal ingredients on paper.

I handed the list to Jenid, who packed it up efficiently and slipped through the crowd.

Yulion, watching Hemyon’s limp form, asked:

“Is it over?”

“The immediate danger is gone. But without the antidote, it’ll flare up again soon.”

“I’ve heard that the antidote for this poison is hard to obtain.”

Worry crossed Yulion’s face.

Hemyon’s suffering reflected in his golden eyes.

After a moment of seeing his compassionate, sorrowful gaze, I smiled and said:

“It’s fine. I can make it.”

Yulion’s eyes widened slightly. He seemed to have many things to say but forced himself to speak about the most pressing matter.

“Understood. We’ll talk details later. For now… what about our wedding?”

His gaze shifted to my crimson-stained dress.

Hm, proceeding with the ceremony in this state would be impossible. The sun was already high in the sky.

I smiled awkwardly and said:

“Wouldn’t it be romantic to have the wedding at sunset instead?”

Jenid could prepare the antidote with the ingredients she brought, and we could get a new dress ready—by the time we finished, the sun would be setting.

Yulion immediately understood and nodded, resigned.

“Very well. I’ll take care of the rest.”

While the new dress was being prepared, I stayed in the crown prince’s residence, making the antidote.

Fortunately, after giving Hemyon the antidote, his complexion gradually returned to normal.

He still needed some time to fully wake, but the dangerous peak had passed.

“Miss, the new dress has arrived. It’s a bit plain, though…”

The dress Jenid brought was simpler than the original.

“It’s fine. And Your Highness?”

“Attending to the nobles.”

Many nobles had gathered in the central palace garden to witness the ceremony.

The wedding had been delayed by half a day, and some haughty nobles openly expressed their discontent.

Still, it seemed Yulion was handling them well.

With Jenid’s help, I quickly changed into the new dress.

Just as I was finishing my hair and accessories, there was a knock.

“It’s me.”

It was Yulion.

Jenid opened the door, and Yulion carefully entered, inspecting Hemyon and my attire.

“Are you ready? We can’t delay any longer.”

“Almost. What about the nobles?”

“As expected. They’re too busy gossiping about this unprecedented situation to focus.”

Yulion extended his hand to me.

“There are many things I wish to ask you… but first, let’s go to the venue, Rohiriel.”

I glanced at Hemyon before taking his hand.

If I left her unattended and another attack occurred, all our efforts would be wasted.

Yulion, sensing my worry, smiled lightly:

“I’ll have my subordinates guard this place thoroughly.”

Good. Surely, no one would attempt anything major at the crown prince’s residence, especially on a day like today.

I carefully placed my hand over Yulion’s.

Once we left, all eyes would follow us.

Since rumors had already declared this the romance of the century, we might as well see it through.

Yulion seemed to share the same thought, treating me differently than when we first met.

“Shall we go, Yulion?”

May our wedding, full of incidents from the start, bring us good fortune.

The wedding was conducted as briefly as possible.

Since the sun was setting, Yulion removed all unnecessary elements, leaving only the essentials.

I had no strong attachment to the ceremony itself, so I had no complaints.

If the emperor hadn’t been nearly out of his mind, and the empress hadn’t been preoccupied caring for him, this would have been impossible.

“Your Highness, all is ready.”

My reflection showed me in an evening dress.

Jenid had finished my hair and added decorations.

The aquamarine pieces in my white hair stood out vividly.

A gem my mother loved, matching my original hair and eye color, even though my hair was now fully white.

“Has His Highness gone ahead?”

“Yes. He has another stop to make.”

“I see.”

Still, it would have been nicer to go together.

Lost in these thoughts, I hurried toward the reception hall.

The bride and groom usually entered through a separate door.

With no assigned maid yet, Jenid and I walked along the back corridor toward the hall.

“Roti.”

A familiar yet chilling voice caught my ankle.

I flinched instinctively.

Silver eyes, resembling my father’s, stared down at me.

“My little sister… you look especially pretty today.”

It was as if darkness had fallen wherever he stood.

Though his words were gentle, they felt more like a threat than kindness.

Gripping my dress, I forced out his name:

“Roxis.”

The eldest son of the Duke of Kashiyan and likely next in line, involved deeply in my mother’s death.

And—

“You should call me brother, Roti.”

Damn my half-brother.

I snapped sharply at his sly tone:

“I don’t have time for you. Step aside.”

Yet he smiled silently, silver eyes gleaming.

“No, Roti. You owe me some time.”

He stepped closer.

I wanted to retreat, but I held my ground and glared at him.

“Roxis, have you forgotten where this is? This is the palace, and from today, I am the crown princess.”

“Oh? Such a cute little rebellion while I was away.”

His smile deepened.

He had been gone on orders from our father, so I hadn’t seen him for a long time.

I could smell the strong scent of blood on him from whatever he had done.

I didn’t hide my frown.

“Watch your mouth. If you don’t want to be executed for insulting royalty…”

Right after I spoke, Roxis grabbed my shoulder and slammed me against the wall.

“…!”

The shock hit my body, but fortunately—or unfortunately—I hadn’t taken my stimulant today.

So I barely felt pain.

Jenid tried to intervene, but…

“Maiden, you’d better stop if you don’t want to die.”

Roxis blocked her.

My white face was reflected in his silver eyes.

A tense standoff.

Roxis leaned in close, brushing my hair aside with his free hand.

“Let’s not make each other blush on such a fine day.”

“Are you the one blushing?”

“Roti, you know what I want. That damn Hemyon Martin, that girl.”

When he mentioned Hemyon, everything became clear.

Roxis had been the one to deal with the Martin family.

He had chased Hemyon, and I had rescued her—prompting this insane behavior.

Hiding in the empty corridor, waiting for this moment…

“You’re a Kashiyan too. Act like one, cooperate. This is Father’s order.”

The situation was dire, but I couldn’t help laughing.

Since when had he treated me as a Kashiyan?

“You only know one side. In front of the people, the Kashiyan child was treated well. Father would probably have publicly praised the day I cured her.”

“You…!”

Unable to deny my words, Roxis tightened his grip.

The pressure on my shoulder was excruciating.

Even though my pain sense was dulled, this still hurt.

I grinned instead.

“So Roxis, I cleaned up the mess you left behind. Shouldn’t you be thanking me?”

Gnash. The sound of teeth grinding.

At the same time, before his other hand could grab my neck, a familiar, melodic voice pierced the corridor.

“Sir Roxis Kashiyan. What are you doing to my lady right now?”