Before heading to inform the Empress, I had a light breakfast. Afterward, I received news from Julion that Ares had woken up.
“Are there any other unusual symptoms?”
“He seems fine. Would you like to go see him?”
“Of course, we should. But let’s inform the Empress first.”
Although I wanted to check on Ares’ condition immediately, Julion had brought me this news, so it was likely that the chief physician, responsible for managing the palace infirmary, was already informed.
I couldn’t predict how the anxious chief physician might react.
‘He was extremely reluctant to allow me to see the Empress’s medical records.’
That meant he likely knew something was wrong with the prescription he was giving her.
I got up from my seat promptly.
“I’ll make preparations; can you wait outside for a moment?”
“Of course.”
After confirming that Julion had left completely, I headed to the makeshift pharmacy I had set up in the adjacent room.
It’s always best to be prepared for the worst and act accordingly to minimize the chances of failure.
‘I hope I won’t have to use this.’
The vial of pale blue liquid I retrieved from a drawer was something I had hastily prepared in the morning, just in case.
A medicine that would be better left unused.
If the empress believes in me and entrusts me with the treatment, there would be no need to use it.
I held the vial in my hand for a moment, briefly imagining the conversation with the Empress, and then carefully placed it in my pocket.
After making sure I had everything I needed, I stepped outside.
Under the sunlight, Julion stood with an indifferent expression on his face.
He was talking to the servant behind him, and when he saw me, he smiled brightly.
“You look very beautiful today as well, Rohiriel.”
Whether I looked at him from the front or from behind, he was the embodiment of a love-struck prince.
It was almost unbelievable that he was the same person I had met when I infiltrated the prince’s palace.
I gently lifted the corner of my mouth and took his outstretched hand.
“Thank you.”
Although the gazes of the attendants, maids, and knights around us made me feel a bit uneasy, I faced Julion with a determined smile, as if to show our unity.
“Do you know what happened at the office today?”
“Was there anything interesting?”
“Yes, I opened the window and a bird flew in…”
As we headed toward the Tishrit Palace, we chatted like affectionate lovers, sharing trivial stories about our daily lives.
It was mostly mundane conversations.
Responding and engaging in these exchanges, I found myself naturally strolling into the gardens of the Tishrit Palace.
My gaze shifted toward the entrance of the palace, and I spotted a familiar face.
“Chief physician?”
Julion addressed the chief physician with an air of surprise.
The chief physician, too, seemed taken aback by the unexpected encounter. He quickly regained his composure, bowing respectfully.
“Greetings, Your Highnesses.”
“We’re meeting here again, chief physician.”
The chief physician looked up, his face regaining his composure.
“Yes, Your Highness. I am on my way after examining the Empress.”
“…You must have worked hard.”
“No, since the Empress trusts me wholeheartedly, I am more than willing to dedicate myself.”
Unlike yesterday, his expression and tone were notably polite.
However, as soon as our eyes met those snake-like brown eyes, I had a gut feeling.
‘He must have played some tricks on the Empress.’
Julion, who also gave a quick look at the chief physician, appeared to be thinking along the same lines as me, as his expression turned serious.
“Well, I shall take my leave.”
The chief physician gave a smile that didn’t quite reach his eyes, bowed once more, and then left the garden.
As I watched the departing figure of the chief physician, now marked by suspicion, I let out a small sigh.
“I guess today we should just exchange greetings.”
“I should have come a little sooner.”
“There’s nothing we can do about it now.”
Perhaps the Empress heard unfavorable stories about me.
Still, as a woman who had once dominated the social scene, she wouldn’t sweep it under the rug and believe everything the chief physician said. However, she was currently in a very tired state of mind and body.
In such a situation, if she had to choose between someone who spoke pleasant words and treated her or someone who suddenly became her daughter-in-law, she would naturally choose the former.
Holding hands with Julion, we walked together, putting strength into our steps.
“We’ll have to wait for another time; Her Majesty’s illness won’t deteriorate much in a day or two.”
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
As expected, the Empress’ response was cold.
She leaned against the backrest of her seat, exuding an air of annoyance and resentment with her gaze.
“You don’t need to greet me every time from now on.”
“Mother.”
“I’m tired too. I have the Emperor to take care of, the palace to manage. The princess will be busy, too. So, morning greetings once a week should suffice.”
The Empress’ icy gaze moved past Julion and landed on me, standing beside him.
The chilling aura reminded me of my first impression of Julion.
‘The resemblance between the two is quite striking.’
Since Julion remained silent in response to the Empress’s reaction, I spoke up instead.
“I appreciate your thoughtfulness, Your Majesty. Nevertheless, if you find yourself in need of someone to confide in, please feel free to reach out to me without any hesitation.”
Bringing up the Empress’ eye ailment at this moment would be untimely..
I wasn’t sure if the chief physician had used persuasion on the Empress, but one thing was now clear:
The chief physician knew that the prescription for the Empress’s illness was incorrect.
“You don’t need to worry; there are plenty of people here for me to talk to. I’d like to rest for now, so please leave.”
“……Yes, then.”
“Rest well, Your Majesty.”
