Feeling deeply sorry for Julion, who had dug himself into a hole of misunderstandings, I eventually had to explain about Aperium.
“So… you accidentally discovered a cure for your illness while researching the plants in the Golden Garden?”
“Yeah, that’s right. We briefly talked about it last time, didn’t we?”
“But you collapsed again yesterday. If you were cured, then why…?”
Julion’s eyes were filled with confusion as he listened to my explanation.
I didn’t mention that Aperium has been my target since the beginning, because I thought Julion would feel even more betrayed by me.
‘If he looks at me with cold eyes… I think it would be too heartbreaking.’
He must have felt like he was stabbed in the back when I gave him a sleeping potion in the first place. I thought that by ending things with Julion, my ties to the palace would also be severed.
Yet Julion came looking for me like this.
Of course, I had no intention of returning to the palace, but losing his warm gaze would be incredibly painful.
“I told you I collapsed because of the sleep-delaying potion. And Zenid… didn’t she also fall… asleep?”
I quickly glanced around, but there was no sign of Zenid in the room.
Julion noticed my confusion and nodded faintly.
“Zenid is indeed sleeping in the adjacent room.”
“See? I’m completely fine now, right?”
“You were someone who claimed to be cured even while vomiting blood.”
Julion’s golden gaze was unwavering.
It was certainly understandable why he would be suspicious, but I had nothing more to say. I already explained it as a process of expelling toxins.
“I’ve explained everything I can. But if you still can’t believe me, there’s nothing I can do. I’ll just pretend I’m sick then.”
“I think it would be good to get a check-up.”
“You mean a blood test?”
“Yes. The one you and Dr. Barmid did before.”
“There’s no one else in here who can do it besides me. If I say I’m fine after doing it, will you believe me then?”
Wrinkles formed on Julion’s forehead.
He looked troubled, and after a moment, his mouth opened.
“What if you got a test from Dr. Barmid?”
“Mormic will likely be in lockdown soon. Are you suggesting we summon him here?”
“The lockdown is probably already in place. So, after it’s lifted, you can return to the palace for the test…”
Julion trailed off, lowering his gaze slightly.
I thought it was kind of cute how he was subtly suggesting that I go back to the palace, and how he was looking at me.
But I had no intention of returning, nor would I be in a position to do so easily.
Because a lady of Cassian couldn’t become the empress.
‘I don’t want to become his concubine.’
I shook my head and spoke firmly.
“I have no intention of going back. It’s not possible.”
“…Because of Cassian?”
“You know it well. So, return as soon as the lockdown is lifted.”
Julion glanced back at me, his clear golden eyes appearing to have darkened.
“In that case, I’ll stay here too.”
“What do you mean? You’re not going back.”
“Just as I said, I’ll stay wherever you stay.”
I frowned and glared at Julion. His tightly pressed lips indicated seriousness.
“The crown prince shouldn’t be gone for long. Return immediately when the lockdown is lifted.”
“That shouldn’t be a problem. I’m not the crown prince anymore.”
“No, what……. Wait a minute.”
Understanding Julion’s words has become difficult since earlier. It wasn’t that he was speaking in riddles, but his words were hard to grasp immediately.
Seeing my puzzled expression, Julion added an explanation.
“I’ve informed and received permission from His Majesty the Emperor as well. You’re no longer a crown princess, but a princess consort.”
“We… We agreed to divorce after the task was done. Our contract is over.”
“The contract period was clearly one year.”
“Specifically, until Cassian falls. It was a maximum of one year.”
“I want to maintain the contract until that maximum period.”
“But everything is already…”
“Ending a contract without mutual agreement is impossible; it’s the basics.”
Who would have thought that Julion would refuse to end the contract?
Until I proposed the contract marriage to him, I had been the one clinging, and for Julion, it was a deal he had nothing to lose.
Unable to respond due to confusion, Julion spoke with a direct gaze.
“So please, Rohiriel, let me stay by your side until the year is up, at least.”
“When the epidemic subsides, I’ll go to another country.”
“I’ll follow you. Anywhere.”
I sighed at Julion’s unwavering determination. Though not apparent, Julion had a subtle stubbornness about him.
I had no choice but to let him tire himself out and return.
‘After all, he’s lived his whole life as a prince. He wouldn’t be able to endure a commoner’s life.’
Resignedly, I nodded.
“Do as you wish. But I don’t want my status revealed here.”
“I’m with you on that. You needn’t worry.”
I swallowed dryly at Julion’s pleased smile. Even amidst this, why did he have to be so attractive, unsettling my heart?
‘…this is not the time for this.’
Clearing my mind of distractions, I rose from the bed.
After visiting the village across the river, I had a suspicion about the cause of the epidemic.
Not just this village, but many others had severe cases, so why were there so many patients with early symptoms in that particular village?
It felt like the epidemic had just started.
That meant there was a distinguishing factor in that village.
As I got up, Julion grabbed my wrist.
“Rohiriel, you should still rest…”
“There’s so much to do. Where are Dr. Chavel and Marvin?”
“…They went to check on patients with early symptoms in another village. I think they should be back soon, but I’m not sure.”
It seemed they were diligently obeying my orders to check on patients showing early symptoms in nearby areas.
Ignoring Julion’s worried gaze, I opened the door.
“First, I need to check on Zenid, and then we’ll go down to the river.”
I also needed to check on my mother.
Lately, she seemed to be slipping into sleep as if dead, with barely a couple of hours awake.
She probably woke up once while I was asleep and then went back to sleep.
“I’ll come with you.”
As I moved to leave, Julion followed behind, his expression stern. I couldn’t help but chuckle at the feeling of having a giant beast trailing after me.
‘It’s reassuring in a way. Not so bad.’
At least I don’t have to worry about being harmed by people who have turned vicious because of the illness.
ੈ✩‧₊˚༺☆༻*ੈ✩‧₊˚
Mormic’s territory was bounded by the Cavalt Mountains.
In one of its most rugged and deserted areas, someone was moving discreetly.
A middle-aged man with silver hair gleamed coldly in the moonlight, his eyes the same color.
It was Duke Cassian.
“Master, do you really need to go in person?”
One of his servants, trailing behind him, cautiously inquired. The Duke glanced indifferently at his servant before replying coldly.
“I said I must handle it myself.”
“But, Master, we can’t even pinpoint the exact location.”
“Even if I don’t know where that child is right now, I know where they will be coming.”
The Duke’s lips curled slightly upward.
It was Rohiriel who betrayed him and brought Cassian to such ruin.
Although he wanted to use her talent as his successor, she had now crossed the line.
‘If that child suddenly creates a cure, it will be troublesome.’
He needed to deal with her before that happened. By now, she might be close to finding the answer.
So he just needed to be at the place where Rohiriel would appear with the solution.
“…Understood, Master. Please be careful.”
“Don’t worry unnecessarily. You stay and prepare to receive envoys from other countries.”
With those words, the servant disappeared from sight.
Confirming the departure of his servant, the Duke quickened his pace even more.
The imperial army had surrounded Mormic and blocked it off, but in such a vast territory, there were always gaps.
And since this path was too treacherous for people to travel, there were no knights blocking it.
As a result, the Duke chose this route to enter Mormic.
Of course, he had to scale the mountain like a skilled climber, but it was worth it.
‘Now, the goal is finally within reach.’
In the distance, a path leading down to the village appeared.
Not much time remained before not just Mormic, but the entire empire plunged into chaos.
‘The more chaotic, and the more people die, the better.’
After all, in the most tumultuous and difficult times, a new ruler is born.
For that moment, he had Yeffa, a Northern Princess.
One by one, he brought in royalty and imperial blood from other neighboring countries to bear his children.
It was to use them as hostages or bargaining chips if they dared to interfere when he took over the empire.
Yeffa’s foolish behavior had caused some complications, but it was better this way.
The North would enjoy watching Sertizan, who had imprisoned their bloodline and made them suffer, collapse.
‘This is the end of Sertizan.’
The plague and pressure from other countries have left the empire in turmoil.
Amidst all that, if he could develop a cure for the plague and eradicate the disease,
Everyone would worship and follow him.
For that to happen, Rohiriel had to disappear.
