Chapter – 33
The emperor’s blood was thinner than expected.
Its color was close to normal, and at a glance there seemed to be nothing particularly wrong with it. After confirming that the bleeding had properly stopped, I straightened up.
“It’s finished, Your Majesty.”
“I see. And when will the results of this examination be ready?”
“Since I intend to conduct the most thorough tests possible, it will likely take about ten days.”
“Very well. I shall wait.”
The empress looked down at the emperor with a calm expression.
His body was so thin it would not be an exaggeration to say only skin and bones remained. He was likely nearing his limit.
The empress must be preparing herself as well.
“Then I will take my leave.”
“Yes. Do not overexert yourself.”
She consciously brightened her expression as she saw me off.
I, too, left Tishurit Palace with a troubled heart. The sun was sinking toward the horizon, staining the sky red.
“Your Highness, where will you go?”
“I should stop by the medical palace first.”
I needed to meet Physician Bamid to hear more details about the emperor’s condition and to conduct the blood test.
Fortunately, I had stopped by Geumjeong that morning and taken Apherium.
‘Otherwise, I might have missed today’s dose again.’
Though I tried not to take on too much, my days remained overwhelmingly busy.
I entered this place to survive, yet I could barely tend to my own illness while saving everyone else instead.
A faint laugh escaped me at the absurdity.
Still, I could not ignore someone suffering before my eyes.
It was the teaching my mother left me.
“We greet Your Highness.”
Upon arriving at the medical palace, the physicians drying medicinal herbs in the garden bowed in unison.
Seeing the piles of herbs—most effective in spring—reminded me once again that this was the imperial palace.
As I scanned them and headed inside, I felt the physicians’ gazes linger on me.
‘They’re quite curious.’
It was only natural. I was not even an official physician, yet I was treating the empress.
Suppressing a small smile, I entered and asked for Physician Bamid. However, the answer I received was unexpected.
“Ah, Physician Bamid has gone to see His Highness the Crown Prince.”
“Yulion?”
“Yes. The Vice Director went with him.”
The Vice Director, Physician Bamid, and Yulion.
They must have had something to discuss regarding the medical palace, but the combination was so mismatched that I almost laughed.
“When will he return?”
“I’m afraid I do not know.”
I hesitated.
My original plan had been to meet Bamid, discuss the emperor’s illness together, and conduct the blood test.
But since there was no telling when he would return, I could not simply stand around holding the collected blood.
“I’ll be in the dispensary. Inform him that I’m looking for him once he returns.”
“Yes, Your Highness.”
I had been given a personal dispensary within the medical palace while preparing the empress’s medicine.
I decided to begin the examination myself.
As I headed toward it, a bright voice suddenly called out from behind me.
“Your Highness, aren’t you working a bit too hard?”
It was Ares—who usually guarded me from inconspicuous places—occasionally appearing like this to startle me.
“It’s work that must be done. Much like how you must continue guarding me, even when you’re bored, Sir Ares.”
“Ah… how did you know I was bored?”
“You keep startling me.”
He scratched the bridge of his nose awkwardly.
“My apologies. But I’m enjoying my duty!”
Seeing him grin so brightly made me think that if I had a younger brother, he might feel like this.
“In any case, I have work to do. Please keep quiet.”
“Yes, ma’am!”
With that energetic reply, Ares vanished once more, and I began preparing for the blood test.
“Then we will dispatch Senior Councilor Marvin and Senior Councilor Cheibel for now. If further requests come in, we shall send additional personnel.”
“Yes, we will proceed as such.”
At last, the discussion ended.
The Vice Director and Physician Bamid had insisted on differing opinions, prolonging the meeting.
Pressing his aching temple, Yulion stood first.
“Let us conclude here. I have other matters to attend to.”
Without waiting for a response, he left the office. His retreating figure seemed oddly hurried.
The Vice Director and Bamid exchanged glances and shrugged.
“Ahem. Then we shall take our leave as well.”
“Yes. Good work.”
After leaving the now-empty office, they halted in front of the Crown Prince’s palace.
Yulion—who they had assumed left for other urgent matters—was just passing through the palace gates, his expression tense.
“Your Highness?”
“Ah, Vice Director. Physician Bamid. We meet again. Are you returning to the medical palace?”
“Yes. And Your Highness…?”
“I have business there as well. Let us go.”
“Ah… yes.”
The two physicians exchanged uncertain looks, glancing at Frek standing behind him, who appeared exhausted.
At last, Bamid cautiously asked, “For what reason do you visit the medical palace, Your Highness?”
“Rohiriel is there.”
“Pardon?”
“The Crown Princess. We are to dine together, but she is still working there. I am going to bring her back.”
“I see…”
Only then did Bamid understand Yulion’s earlier urgency.
“Your Highness must truly love Her Highness.”
With the genial smile of a kindly old man, Bamid spoke.
Yulion paused, his expression turning subtle.
“Does it truly appear so?”
“Ah, yes… It is widely said that you never fail to dine together.”
“…Is that so.”
Hoping to lighten the mood by mentioning Rohiriel, Bamid instead found Yulion’s aura growing sharper.
“Do I truly appear to love Rohiriel so much?”
Unsure of his intent, Bamid merely laughed awkwardly.
But the Vice Director, who had been silent until now, suddenly chimed in.
“Of course. Your expression alone is that of a man in love. Her Highness must be fortunate indeed.”
Bamid hurriedly tried to silence him with a look, but the Vice Director was hopelessly oblivious.
“And when Her Highness collapsed before, Your Highness looked deeply troubled.”
“My expression… you say.”
Yulion’s face darkened further.
Only then did the Vice Director sense something amiss and close his mouth.
By the time they reached the medical palace, the atmosphere had grown stiff and awkward.
They quickly dispersed to their respective rooms.
As Yulion made his way to the dispensary where Rohiriel was, he replayed the conversation in his mind.
‘Perhaps I’ve simply grown accustomed to it.’
Pretending to be a loving husband may have simply blended into his daily life.
Besides, Rohiriel had a talent for making others worry.
It was only natural to be concerned when she was ill.
“Your Highness!”
Ares greeted him lightly at the dispensary door.
“Is she still working?”
“Not anymore. She worked nonstop for a long while and fell asleep just recently.”
“Asleep?”
In the dispensary?
Suppressing further words, Yulion quietly opened the door.
The room was dim, lit by a single candle.
As he stepped inside, a sheet of paper rustled beneath his foot.
Papers filled with unfamiliar terminology lay scattered across the floor.
“What is this…”
What a mess.
He picked up a nearby sheet, only for another to drift down from above.
‘The window is open.’
Though it was spring, the night air was still chilly.
Rohiriel had fallen asleep at the desk by the window.
Pen still in hand, head resting against the window frame.
Yulion approached as quietly as possible.
Was it the soft moonlight?
Her white hair seemed to shimmer.
Her long lashes rested gently beneath closed eyes, and below them, her red lips.
Without realizing it, Yulion reached out.
Just as his hand was about to touch her cheek—
A breeze swept through, her pale hair brushing against his fingers.
And in that instant, Yulion felt something.
Fear.
A kind of emotion he had never once felt before.
Something unfamiliar.
