Just as the medicine was nearing completion, Zenid turned to me quietly.
“Your Highness.”
“What’s going on?”
“Your clothes are disheveled.”
After a moment’s puzzlement at the uncharacteristic remark, Zenid stepped closer and adjusted my collar.
“It’s getting a little tattered around here. Why don’t you change your clothes when you’re done?”
“……That would be nice.”
I felt something hard inside my collar.
A small rustling sound made me guess that it was paper.
Zenid continued to talk about clothes, and I went along with the story.
“Well, then, your highness, I’ll leave you to it, but if you need anything, please don’t hesitate to ask.”
“Yes, thank you.”
Standing somewhat awkwardly, I put down all the medicine equipment.
I slipped my hand inside my collar and pulled out a small folded piece of paper.
It was a method we used when I received confidential reports from Zenid while living in the Cassian Duchy, where we lived under constant surveillance.
‘Eyes and ears can be anywhere, even here.’
I unfolded the paper pretending to inspect the medicinal herbs.
It contained information about the Count of Camer, specifically Blanche Camer.
‘She profited quite a bit.’
Blanche was embezzling the Tishrit Palace’s budget.
And since the budget that was supposed to go to the Emperor was controlled by the Tishrit Palace, she was actually in control of a huge amount of money.
Most of them are being diverted somewhere.
The embezzlement itself was expected, but the scale was larger than expected.
“This is…….”
And there was one more strange circumstance.
Periodic meetings with the chief physician. Not just any meetings, but a certain amount of the embezzled funds from the palace were consistently going into the chief physician’s pocket.
There must be some sort of collusion between them.
‘This is not enough. Accusing them of a conspiracy based on fabricated evidence will take too long.’
I needed something else, something to bring this to the surface.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Fortunately, the Empress’ medicine was completed on schedule.
I was just about to leave the palace with the finished potion.
Julion was walking briskly toward me from a distance.
“Rohiriel.”
He must have heard that I had finished the potion.
With the Empress still in pain, it was understandable that Julion would be out of sorts.
“I’m glad you’re here. You’ve heard the news and wanted to come with me, right?”
“News from ……?”
“That Her Majesty’s medicine was completed. I told you that I couldn’t have dinner with you again today because I had to go to Her Majesty quickly, did you not hear?”
I showed Julion, who seemed confused, the light purple medicine bottle in my hand.
Julion, who blinked his eyes at the bottle for a moment, nodded his head hesitantly.
“Yes, well. I came here after hearing the news…….”
Julion’s expression was puzzling.
I expected him to be happy, but I don’t know why he reacted like that.
I put the vial back in my pocket and tugged at his arm.
“Let’s go then, we don’t have much time.”
Julion stiffened.
Looking up at him in wonder, his eyes seemed to have something to say to me.
“Oh, do you have something to say about the chief physician? We can talk about it on the way.”
“……Yes, let’s go.”
Julion seems to be in a very strange state today.
I resisted the urge to inquire further and briskly walked ahead.
At the moment, the most important thing is the Empress’s treatment.
‘That way I can rest and I need to rest soon.’
For my own sake, I had to get a good night’s sleep tonight.
As I mentally organized my plans for later, I asked Julion.
“How are the reports? Did the chief physician say anything unusual?”
“Nothing particularly noteworthy, but earlier, he said something like this. If I ensure his safety, he will tell me who instigated it.”
“His safety?”
“Yes. He keeps asking me to make the prison more secure, saying it’s dangerous.”
Julion’s voice was filled with genuine frustration and disgust.
If he felt the need for safety even in prison, there had to be something more to it.
If the chief physician’s backer was the Cassians, and they intended to get rid of him…
‘Even the prison would be dangerous.’
Cassian could easily kill at least one prisoner in Imperial Prison.
Of course, my family was not involved in this incident.
If they had been, I would have received some sort of order from my father long ago.
But so far, I have received no word.
I had assumed that Cassian was innocent in the chief physician’s case.
‘I have my suspicions.’
Blanche Camer.
It was clear to me that she was involved.
However, there was no evidence.
Even if the chief physician did confess, a single witness would not be enough to punish Blanche, a high ranking noblewoman.
Perhaps he knew that, and that’s why he couldn’t talk easily.
While I pondered, we arrived at Tishrit Palace.
“We greet Your Highnesses.”
Greeted by a group of exhausted maids, I followed Julion into the Empress’ bedroom.
Blanche was still at the Empress’ side, attending to her with the utmost diligence.
“Your Majesty, the medicine is complete.”
The Empress, lying in bed, lifted her eyelids just enough to look at me and Julion.
“The medicine…… It’s done.”
“Yes, Your Majesty. Thanks to your endurance, your optic nerves are slowly recovering. If you take this medicine regularly, you should get better.”
I took out the medicine I had prepared.
Ignoring Blanche’s attempt to take the medicine, I unscrewed the cap myself and put the vial in the Empress’ hand.
“Drink it all at once, Your Majesty.”
Out of the corner of my eye, I thought I saw Blanche glance at me.
The Empress nodded as she raised the medicine to her lips. However, Blanche suddenly spoke up.
“May I dare to make a suggestion in the midst of your conversation, Your Highnesses?”
“……What is it?”
I was already suspicious of Blanche, but her behavior made me even more so.
Blanche continued in a calm voice.
“Her Majesty the Empress is currently in a state of great physical and mental exhaustion. Why don’t you have a professional doctor confirm the safety of the medicine before you take it?”
In other words, he was suggesting that the Empress should not take the medicine because its safety could not be guaranteed.
I was about to say something in response, but the Empress was faster.
“Since even the Imperial physician is unable to cure my illness and he harbors ill intentions, how can I get confirmation from a physician right away?”
“Yes, Your Majesty. When it comes to medicine, it has to be done with care and caution…”
“I can’t hold out until then. Furthermore, the Princess’ skills have already been proven in several cases. Do not make me say more.”
“……I apologize, Your Majesty. I have been presumptuous.”
Blanche bowed her head in quick resignation.
I noticed a light blue powder on the lower part of her head.
‘Selphinia dust?’
The selphinia tree is in full bloom at this time of year, releasing light blue pollen.
If you stood just a little bit under the tree, you would be covered in dust, and the dust on Blanche’s head looked exactly like that.
‘Why would someone who was only in the palace…….’
My gaze reflexively went to the hem of Blanche’s skirt.
The hem was dotted with green stains.
Blanche was someone who was always neat and tidy.
She wasn’t the kind of person who would wear her clothes with dirt on the hem.
Moreover, those green stains were unlikely to appear unless one had wandered through a lush field of grass.
While observing Blanche, the Empress gulped down her medicine.
“……It’s bitter.”
“Of course. Perhaps you’ll feel a little better by the time the sun rises tomorrow.”
Accepting the empty vial again, I pushed the questions about Blanche to the back of my mind.
“I hope so.”
The Empress smiled weakly.
I checked the Empress’ condition, gave her another painkiller, and left the Tishrit palace.
I wanted to go to the Golden Garden, eat an apherium, and go back to the Garnet Palace.
But somehow, Julion kept walking beside me and had no intention of going back.
I stopped walking and asked.
“Come to think of it, Julion, didn’t you come because you had something to tell Her Majesty?”
“You mean me?”
“Yes, but I don’t think you said a word.”
“Well, I saw her take the medicine properly, so that’s fine.”
They say men don’t really talk much, but is it okay to just check her face and see that she took her medicine?
At least ask her how she’s doing and cheer her on……..
For a moment, I tried to picture Julion cheering the Empress in my head, but I quickly dismissed the thought.
‘It doesn’t suit him.’
Shaking my head to clear my imagination, I turned back to Julion.
“Where are you going now?”
Probably at the Crown Prince’s Palace.
Then I could tell him I was going for a walk and we could part ways.
But Julion turned the question right back on me.
“Where are you going to go? Are you going back to the palace?”
“Uh…… No, I’m going for a walk.”
“Then I will join you.”
“What?”
I almost said no to that for a moment.
When I was surprised, Julion stared at me as if asking if there was a problem.
“Why are you surprised? We didn’t see each other yesterday, and I thought it would be nice to take a walk together.”
Only then did I realize why Julion was doing this.
There were many other ears around, from other servants and maids.
He wanted us to appear as a loving couple to others.
I smiled and played along to his tune.
“It’s just that I was worried you might be busy, and I’m so sorry I didn’t see you yesterday. Then shall we go?”
I spoke a little louder on purpose, clinging to Julion’s arm.
“……Yes.”
Julion pauses, avoiding my gaze, obviously embarrassed.
‘Apherium will have to wait for another day.’
At this point, I should probably just end the walk quickly and go back to my palace to sleep.
I was about to take the short walking path, but Julion led me to the central garden.
“We were supposed to have dinner together.”
“Yes?”
Suddenly, the story of dinner popped up and I asked again without realizing it.
Julion glances at me, then shifts his gaze forward again.
“I know you’re busy, so I brought you a sandwich to eat.”
“Yes ……?”
I really want to continue the conversation in a normal way.
But I keep hearing things that are so unexpected that I end up being the person who asks questions without meaning to.
“Let’s eat there.”
Julion pointed to a portable table at one end of the garden.
So right now, you’re saying you’ve packed sandwiches to eat outdoors with me.
