Lately, my schedule has been incredibly busy.
I woke up in the morning, reviewed the events of the previous night, and had breakfast.
Then, I checked on Hemion Martin’s condition before sitting down in my office to review the affairs of Garnet Palace.
I then went to the golden garden under the pretense of taking a walk, to pluck and consume an Apherium leaf or two. Sometimes, I would secretly stash a few leaves and hide them in my makeshift pharmacy next to my office, contemplating if I could create a more potent medicine with Apherium.
After lunch, I would spend time researching medicines made from Apherium, and eventually, evening would come, and Julion would visit.
With him, we would go through a charade of acting like lovers in love, sharing dinner, and that would mark the end of my day’s schedule.
And now, it was time to make the medicine before Julion arrived.
I stretched out on the sofa in my office, beneath the long rays of sunlight streaming in through the window.
As I sat on the sofa, the warmth of the sun stretched under the window, enveloping me in a cozy embrace. The rustling sound of leaves in the gentle breeze outside provided a soothing background melody that added to the peaceful ambiance. The plushness of the sofa beneath me felt comfortable, and the lazy sunlight that filtered through the window cast a serene glow over the room.
I made no effort to open my eyelids, which were about to close.
“Your Highness, it’s said that the Empress is going into seclusion.”
I snapped my eyes open at the faint sound of Zenid’s voice.
“Seclusion?”
I had been waiting for news, but the content was even more impactful than I had anticipated.
“Yes. Word has it that it was Lady Blanche who brought up the subject first.”
There was an odd stiffness in Zenid’s expression.
There was undoubtedly a problem with Blanche gaining power over Tishrit Palace.
“It’s as if she was waiting for this moment to suggest seclusion.”
“What?”
“It’s suspicious. If she truly cared about the Empress, she wouldn’t bring up the idea of seclusion so readily. How is the investigation into the Count of Camer going?”
“Count Camer’s stronghold is quite impenetrable… I’ll try to hustle a bit more.”
“Good. But don’t bring uncertain information. You understand?”
“Yes, your Highness.”
“By the way, when is she planning to go into seclusion?”
“I heard she’d go in as soon as everything was ready. She might even go in as early as tomorrow.”
“What……!”
That’s too quick!
No matter how decisive and respected the Empress is, seclusion is not a matter that can be decided so easily and quickly.”
“She’s in quite a hurry, really.”
I sighed and got up from my lounging position.
I had hoped to enjoy a bit of leisure, but the circumstances around me weren’t allowing that.
“Let’s go. We can’t delay any longer.”
Julion was probably just as surprised by the news and would be feeling flustered as well.
Perhaps we might even run into each other at Tishrit Palace.
‘If that happens, it’ll be even more interesting.’
I was truly curious about how the chief physician would handle this.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
“Mother, please don’t do this, just receive treatment!”
“I told you, don’t come near me, Julion.”
“It’s not contagious, Mother. Please don’t worry.”
“You never know. You can’t make yourself like this either. Go away!”
As expected, Julion was already with the Empress. I could tell from the few words they exchanged what the discussion was about.
Entering the Empress’ chamber, I spoke up.
“Your Majesty, I came as soon as I heard the news.”
“Rohiriel.”
Julion looked at me with a mix of surprise and relief.
I smiled softly and approached the Empress.
“There is no need to come. Stay back, for the princess is in danger.”
“That’s not true. Her Majesty’s eye disease is not contagious.”
“That’s something no one can be sure of, in fact, even the chief physician…”
“I have seen a child with the same disease as Your Majesty.”
I immediately got to the point.
Now was the perfect time to offer to treat the Empress.
“You’ve seen someone? Wait, did you say a child?”
“Yes, Your Majesty, A child, precisely seven years old.”
To my surprise, the Empress showed interest in my words with a subtle change in her expression.
I continued to speak.
“And that child was treated by my mother. Now, they are living under the sun with healthy eyes.”
The Empress’ golden eyes seemed to shake as if an earthquake had struck.
My mother’s medical skills were known to the Empress to some extent, so this must have been quite confusing for her.
After all, my words were completely contrary to what she had believed in and relied on.
With a quivering voice, the Empress spoke.
“But the chief physician said it was not a curable disease…”
“When I reviewed Your Majesty’s medical records, my first question was about that. Why did he prescribe a drug that would poison her majesty instead of curing her?”
“What do you mean by that?”
“It is a medicine that would be poisonous if used for Her Majesty’s eye disease. That medicine.”
I pointed to the brown vial on the side near the Empress.
With an expression of disbelief, the Empress’ eyes widened and then, as if hit by a wave of pain, she grimaced and groaned.
“But why would the chief physician give me a wrong prescription?”
“Wouldn’t it be a good idea to test it?”
The Empress instinctively reached for the brown vial to put it into her eyes, but then she stopped abruptly.
Perhaps my words about the medicine being a poison troubled her. She shivered and bit her lower lip.
“What do you mean? Should I take it?”
“The chief physician is afflicted with the same disease. So, wouldn’t it be a good idea to check if the chief physician is using the same medicine that Your Majesty is using?”
