ATMM 06

Chapter – 06

“Your Majesty, it’s winter, so the air is dry. Your eyes may feel a bit strained or uncomfortable. I would like to recommend some tea that’s good for eye health—would that be alright?”

“That’s fine. It’s not like my eyes got this way overnight. It’s been over a year. A little tea isn’t going to make them better.”

The symptoms had been present for over a year.

I wanted to ask what exactly the symptoms were, but I held back. Judging from the ingredients in the medicine, I could probably guess.

‘I should stop by the Imperial Medical Hall on the way back.’

I furrowed my brows with concern and continued speaking.

“Over a year… With Your Majesty’s health being managed constantly, and the Empress not in good health either, I’m very concerned.”

“That’s alright.”

The Empress seemed to be getting slightly annoyed. Before she issued an order for me to leave, I decided to take a slightly bolder approach.

“What did the physician say? If Your Majesty’s illness hasn’t improved in over a year, shouldn’t a serious punishment be considered?”

“No. Thanks to the medicine that the chief physician made, I can alleviate the pain. According to him, it’s simply old age.”

“Old age…?”

So that’s why she kept referring to herself as aging and frail—it was the physician’s reasoning.

‘That’s ridiculous.’

If the Empress, not even forty, was suffering from old-age ailments, ordinary commoners—who didn’t have proper welfare—would have long been sick and dying before their hair turned gray.

“Anyway, I hope I never give you a reason to dislike me.”

I was considering what to say next when the Empress issued the dismissal order. Her unfocused gaze shifted away from me.

“…Yes, Your Majesty. I will do my best.”

It seemed impossible to extract any more information.

As I finished my farewell, the curtains were drawn again.

As I left the bedroom, I gestured to the Empress’s head lady-in-waiting to signal that I had something to say. She followed, looking rather inconvenienced.

“What is it? The Empress cannot summon me and leave me alone for long.”

Her dark blue hair was styled up neatly, her manners proper yet sharp.

‘She looks like she’s going to be quite uncooperative.’

I briefly wondered whether I should just give up and head straight to the Imperial Medical Hall. But since I had already called her, I decided to at least ask.

“Has the Empress ever complained of any other symptoms?”

The head lady-in-waiting looked me over carefully and replied in a flat tone.

“The Empress’s ailments are not my concern.”

“But as her personal attendant, you would know better than any physician what symptoms she usually complains about.”

“The Empress’s personal life is private. You must know that it is forbidden to disclose such matters, Your Highness.”

It was almost like talking to a wall.

‘She must be more cautious because I’m from the Kashian family.’

If she were from another family aligned with the Empress, she might have responded more favorably.

I tried one last time.

“I only ask because I might be able to help improve her condition. I would appreciate it even a little if you could tell me something.”

Her deep blue eyes slowly scanned me from top to bottom and back again. As if inspecting me, she finally spoke.

“Your Highness, I must speak frankly. This is the Imperial Palace. Etiquette, procedure, and rules are above all else here. No matter how you conducted yourself at your natal home, you are now in the palace, and must follow its rules.”

She finished and bowed with perfect posture. Her tone was polite and impeccable, but the content mocked the Kashian family as a household without etiquette, procedure, or discipline.

Of course, the Kashians had earned a dukedom a few generations ago due to merits in war and expanded their influence through wealth.

‘No wonder my father wanted to hide any connections to the underworld.’

After all, the Kashian family’s origins were from the underworld. Even as one of the most prominent noble families in the Empire, they continued to secretly engage in various business ventures with underworld ties. Everyone who needed to know, knew. Evidence might not have been visible, but people kept quiet.

From the head lady-in-waiting’s perspective, it made sense to be cautious of me, a Kashian. But her behavior had crossed a line.

I looked at her and spoke.

“Lady-in-waiting.”

“Yes, Your Highness.”

“I would like to know your name.”

She answered with an expressionless face.

“Blanche Kemer.”

I had heard that the Kemer family’s brother held a position in the palace. I hadn’t expected his sister to become the Empress’s closest attendant.

‘No wonder she’s so confident.’

The Kemer family was long-established, existing since the founding of the Empire, and their influence was enormous. That made them a family the Kashians could not easily confront.

I smiled faintly.

“Very well. Thank you for your advice.”

“Thank you, Your Highness.”

Leaving the bowing lady-in-waiting behind, I turned away. She looked as if daring anyone to challenge her.

Outside Tishrit Palace, Jenid quietly whispered,

“Your Highness, where shall I take you?”

Apparently, he had already guessed I wouldn’t return directly to Garnet Palace.

Stepping into the garden, the sunlight made me squint. I raised my hand to shield my eyes and answered,

“To the Imperial Medical Hall.”

As we walked, I added,

“And investigate thoroughly.”

I didn’t specify who or what needed investigating, but Jenid understood immediately and nodded.

The Kemer family. The older the family, the more dust it accumulates. Being nobles since the founding of the Empire, I wondered just how many layers of grime they had gathered.

When Rohiriel entered the Imperial Medical Hall, someone was quietly suffering.

‘Why today of all days!’

Ares followed silently behind Rohiriel.

He crossed his legs and panted, his gait affected by signals from his lower abdomen. The pain had begun that morning, and he had already made five trips to the restroom.

‘Wicked Your Highness…! Aren’t you overworking me?’

Perhaps it was because he hadn’t rested properly after staying up all night. He had been sent to investigate the Hemion Martin matter, then immediately sent here without rest.

On the morning when he had waited for the Crown Princess to leave Garnet Palace, he had already had three such signals. He had barely managed to follow the Crown Princess’s outing after another bathroom trip.

And here he was in the Imperial Medical Hall. Surrounded by bustling physicians, as a personal royal guard, he could not go in and out of the restroom while crossing his legs—it would be humiliating.

‘Why did we even come here!’

Ares fretted tens of times, his face a grimace.

Should he preserve his dignity? Or run to the restroom?

‘Just a little longer, hold on!’

He braced himself and gritted his teeth, holding onto hope that once they returned to Garnet Palace after completing their business here, he could finally take care of it.

A commotion erupted in the Imperial Medical Hall.

The sudden appearance of the Crown Princess caused it.

“I apologize for causing such disorder. I had no prior notice…”

The chief physician smiled kindly outwardly, but there was a subtly disturbing aura about him.

“Have you come just to observe? Where would you like to start?”

“Observe?”

Apparently, he mistook my visit as a tour. I shook my head.

“I came to speak with you. I hope you can spare a moment.”

“To speak with me…?”

The chief physician blinked in confusion.

I walked further inside and said,

“Let’s go inside and talk. Perhaps a cup of tea as well.”

“Ah… yes, please come this way.”

As I was guided to the reception room, I asked about the chief physician.

He had been a physician for over twenty years and had become the palace’s chief physician three years ago. Surprisingly, he had not risen through the ranks inside the palace, but came from outside due to his remarkable skill.

“You may ask anything, Your Highness. I will answer sincerely if I can.”

Unlike Lady Blanche, he was quite cooperative.

I wasted no time and asked,

“I would like to know about the Empress’s illness and the medicines she takes.”

The moment I finished speaking, the kind, gentle gaze of the chief physician changed subtly.

“The Empress, Your Highness?”

He cleared his throat several times.

“May I ask why you are interested in the Empress?”

He even tried to stall by diverting the conversation.

‘This is suspicious.’

I lifted my teacup and answered,

“I studied medicine and pharmacology before my marriage.”

“You have studied medicine…?”

“I am particularly confident in pharmacology. I thought I might be able to help the Empress in some way.”

“Ah… so that poison incident. I heard about Your Highness’s exploits.”

The chief physician’s eyes lit up, recalling the events just before the wedding. Yet behind those dark brown eyes, there was surprise, disbelief, and a hint of condescension.

‘He underestimates me.’

I sighed slightly inwardly and spoke again.

“Anyway, I would like to know about her illness and prescriptions.”

The chief physician stroked his beard slowly and blinked, clearly weighing his decision. Finally, he spoke carefully,

“I’m sorry, Your Highness. Since this concerns the Empress herself, I cannot disclose it easily.”

I expected that. I replied in a slightly sharper tone.

“Even though I could help her? As Crown Princess, I have the right to access medical records of fellow royals.”

“I apologize. It is remarkable that Your Highness has studied medicine, but this matter is for me and the Imperial Medical Hall physicians to handle.”

At that moment, the reception room door burst open, and an apprentice physician dashed in.

“Chief! You must come out immediately!”

“What’s the commotion?”

The apprentice, looking both hesitant and desperate, had a panicked expression.

“I’m sorry, but this is extremely urgent…!”

“Tsk, what could be so urgent it reaches my level? I was speaking with Your Highness!”

The chief physician glared, then glanced at me.

“It’s alright. Go see to it. If it’s urgent, then go.”

“…Then please excuse me for a moment.”

The chief physician left, and I followed behind.

I was curious what could be so urgent that required the chief physician. If it finished quickly, I planned to return to the Empress’s illness.

“Chief!”

In the corridor, the physicians had gathered outside the restroom, whispering.

As the chief physician and I approached, they parted to make a path.

In the middle of the group lay a striking blond man, sprawled on the floor.