Startled, Kayden rushed to the window and looked down. However, instead of seeing their lifeless body, he saw them safely landing on something like a cloud of black dust.
Whoosh! At that moment, Yuro leaped over the window behind Kayden. The black wolf landed on the ground and sped off into the forest with them on its back.
It was only then that Elfand, freed from the threads that had bound it, growled and approached Kayden from behind.
<I’m going after them!>
Elfand jumped over the windowsill. Kayden, gritting his teeth, placed one foot on the sill.
“Ugh…”
But a small groan from behind made him stop instinctively.
“Brother?”
Kayden turned his head quickly in surprise. Elliot was groaning, his brow furrowed in pain. Seeing the cold sweat beading on his brother’s forehead, it was clear he was suffering. The sight made Kayden’s excitement dissipate instantly. And then, the words he had heard earlier suddenly echoed in his mind.
“Investigate the ring.”
“The ring…?”
It was unsettling to dismiss it as nonsense. With a frown, Kayden approached Elliot. Reaching out, he checked Elliot’s wedding ring, and as soon as he touched it, his shoulders stiffened.
…Magic?
There was a faint but undeniable magic emanating from the ring on Elliot’s hand. Kayden’s face hardened as he removed the ring from Elliot’s finger to inspect it. He noticed that the inside of the ring, especially the part behind the gemstone, was stained a dark purple.
“Damn it…!” Kayden gritted his teeth.
Elliot had never removed his wedding ring since the marriage, except when washing. Given that, it was clear that even the imperial doctor hadn’t dared to think of removing the ring from Elliot’s hand.
“Elfand, come back. Guards!”
Chasing after the culprit was not the priority now. The first task was to investigate this poison and save Elliot as quickly as possible. Kayden gave a quiet order to Elfand and shouted towards the door. Soldiers stationed around the palace came running in, startled.
“Who’s there?!”
“…T-Third Prince?”
“What brings you here, Your Highness…?” The guards who burst into the room with weapons ready looked confused.
Kayden glared at them and shouted, “Fetch the imperial doctor immediately! I’ve discovered the cause of the first prince’s poisoning!”
“What?”
“Y-Yes, Your Highness!”
The guards were momentarily taken aback by Kayden’s words, but knowing how much he cared for the first prince, they quickly ran off without question.
Soon, lights began to illuminate the darkened first prince’s palace one by one. Kayden, just in case, wrapped the ring in a handkerchief and looked out at the open window.
“…”
Given various circumstances, it was highly likely that someone close to him was D. Obscure. And then…
“…It’s impossible. Diana isn’t an elementalist.”
Just a moment ago, someone who was definitely strong and bore a resemblance to D. Obscure, yet whose identity remained unknown.
Kayden’s grip on the ring tightened. At that moment, the imperial doctor, looking disheveled as if just waking up, hurried into the room.
“Prince Kayden! What on earth has happened here?!”
Only then did Kayden turn away from the window and face the people around him. A chill settled in his chest.
* * *
Rustle—White fingers gently stroked hair that was the color of sweet milk caramel. In a dim room, Millard, who was kneeling on the floor beside the sofa with his head resting on Rebecca’s lap, let out a soft, blissful sigh.
“First Princess…” He looked up at Rebecca with a languid voice. His hazy blue-violet eyes stared at her as if craving something.
Rebecca, who had been stroking his hair, chuckled and leaned down. Their lips met, and the sound of them mingling echoed softly.
“Ha…”
Millard’s breath grew heavier, and he reached out to wrap his hand around Rebecca’s neck. But just before his hand touched her skin, Rebecca pulled away, straightened her posture, and wiped her lips with her thumb, tilting her head slightly.
“So…”
Millard regained some composure at the sound of her voice and lowered his hand. Rebecca smiled approvingly and gently caressed his earlobe.
“I heard that Viscount Sudsfield’s health isn’t doing well these days?”
“Yes. It seems to be due to his age, so there’s not much that can be done. He can hardly get out of bed these days.”
“That’s unfortunate. It would be difficult to delay the wedding any longer…”
At those words, Millard’s face, which had been enjoying Rebecca’s touch with a languid expression, suddenly hardened. He rose from Rebecca’s lap, looking pale.
“Your Highness? W-What do you mean by that…?”
“You know, don’t you? According to imperial law, both family heads must attend the wedding to acknowledge it. Otherwise, the marriage is not officially recognized.”
“I’m aware, but…”
“If the current head of the Sudsfield family, the viscount, is unwell, he won’t be able to attend the wedding for some time. I have no intention of having an unofficial wedding.”
“Yo-Your Highness!”
Rebecca stood up with a cold expression, and Millard frantically grabbed the hem of her skirt. She stopped and looked down at him. Her light blue eyes glared at him with a coldness that sent shivers down his spine. Then, suddenly, Rebecca smiled.
“…Oh dear. You seem really frightened. It was just a joke, so don’t worry.” She lowered herself and caressed Millard’s cheek, whispering softly. “Of course, it would be better if we could ease our worries. For instance… if you became the head of the family, then no other approval would be needed.”
“…”
Millard’s eyes darkened slightly at her words. Seeing this, Rebecca smiled inwardly and shrugged. Her voice, now gentle and light, flowed from her lips.
“Well, it’s probably just unnecessary worry. The viscount will recover soon. We must believe that.”
“…Yes. I, too, hope so.” Millard’s reply was subdued. In his mind, the image of Viscount Sudsfield, who had always doted on the Third Prince Kayden and the illegitimate child, Diana, while neglecting his firstborn, tangled chaotically.
How long must I remain a child who follows my father’s will? That thought planted a seed of darkness in Millard’s heart.
Rebecca, not wanting him to notice this, smiled brightly as she helped him up. “I need to pick a recovery gift for the viscount. Will you help me?”
* * *
Third Prince Kayden discovered the cause of First Prince Elliot’s poisoning. This news spread like wildfire throughout the entire palace.
“This is something I’ve never seen before, but… it is definitely a poison. The poison was mixed with magic, so even a mid-level light spirit mage couldn’t completely neutralize it.”
The imperial doctor announced the results of the investigation into the mysterious poison found inside the first prince’s ring. His solution was to soak a cloth in a potion infused with mid-level light spirit magic and gradually absorb the poison from the area where the ring had been worn.
Fortunately, once the ring was removed, the magic that had been wreaking havoc on Elliot’s body quickly dissipated, allowing him to absorb the spirit energy without issue. Elliot recovered shortly after. Fleur and the empress wept until their eyes were swollen that day. Although the first prince didn’t hold much political power, his upright character was well-known throughout the empire.
Most people were overjoyed that the first prince had survived. However, Kayden, who was being praised for saving Elliot, felt uneasy.
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