Dead-End Villainess Who Makes Medicine

 

“I’m about to block the blood vessels to the heart. I need you to hold on to the chief physician’s posture. I don’t want to make the slightest mistake.”

 

“Understood.”

 

Zenid, with a doubtful expression, held the chief physician’s shoulders with a serious expression.

 

Blocking the blood vessels near the heart was essential to stop the poison from spreading throughout the body.

 

Normally, it’s not possible to pinpoint the location of blood vessels because they vary from person to person.

 

But with this poison, fortunately or unfortunately, the path of its travel was visible.

 

You could tell where the poison had spread because the skin would turn black.

 

“It’s now moving towards the entrance of the blood vessels.”

 

The heart was already black.

 

The four veins connected to the heart were gradually turning black.

 

I jabbed the needle upward, toward the blackened mark first.

 

The sensation of piercing the skin, followed by the dermis, fat, and muscles, was transmitted to my fingertips one by one.

 

And at a certain moment, I felt the sensation of piercing the blood vessel.

 

“Got it!”

 

I let out the breath I’d been holding and immediately held out my hand to Zenid.

 

“Herben.”

 

One of the basic drugs I always carried in my medical bag, it would rapidly coagulate upon contact with blood and dissolve again after the procedure was completed.

 

I slowly injected the herben I received into the vein.

 

The herben would now act as a barricade, preventing the spread of the poison from the heart.

 

“Whoa… Next.”

 

I left the needle in and took out another identical needle.

 

Then I did the same to the second black mark, then the third, then the fourth.

 

“Rohiriel.”

 

Julion returned.

 

He swept a hand through his disheveled black hair, his breathing faintly ragged.

 

“I see you’re not late.”

 

He wiped a bead of sweat from his forehead and held out the herbs for me.

 

The time was…….

 

“You really came in two minutes. Thank you, Julion. I’ll brew the medicine then.”

 

I immediately spread a cloth on the floor and placed the ingredients on it.

 

Perhaps because they were in the imperial palace, they were well prepared for immediate use.

 

Currently, the chief physician’s heart has poison.

 

As time passed, the poison would dissolve and be expelled.

 

The problem is that after half a day, not a trace of it will be left, and the black marks where the poison passed through will completely disappear, making it look like a heart attack was the cause of death.

 

“First, we need to make a medicine that dissolves and detoxifies the poison in the heart.”

 

After that, I would inject the antidote directly into the heart.

 

After melting the poison like that, I have to pierce the four blood vessels blocked by Herben again.

 

I had about two minutes left.

 

I began to brew the potion at the best speed I could muster.

 

‘Please don’t be late…….’

 

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

 

“What do you mean? The chief physician is dead!”

 

The empress stood up abruptly, but she staggered as if experiencing dizziness. She quickly regained her composure and asked again.

 

“Explain in detail. What exactly happened?”

 

“I’m sorry, Your Majesty, but by the time we got to the chief physician, his heart had already stopped.”

 

“Why would the chief physician, who was healthy, be……!”

 

The Empress, feverish as she spoke, sank back into her seat.

 

Watching the couch lurch wildly, I spoke in a somber tone.

 

“It’s poison. I tried to revive him somehow, and for a moment, their breath returned, but it was too late. The chief physician left only one last word…”

 

“Last word?”

 

“Yes, Your Majesty. He left a mysterious word, but I don’t know what it means.”

 

“What is it?”

 

I cleared my throat instead of answering right away.

 

Blanche stood silent in the midst of all this noise, like the epitome of a head maid.

 

She was like an emotionless wax figure that gave me the creeps.

 

Breathing in and out again, I conveyed the chief physician’s last words.

 

“36. The chief physician said so and died.”

 

“36. Did he utter a number in his final moments?”

 

“He wanted to say something more, but that was it.”

 

“Sigh…….”

 

The Empress ran a hand through her hair and let out a long breath.

 

“What is Julion doing?”

 

“He’s tending to his body.”

 

“I need to see for myself. I must see with my own eyes what has happened.”

 

The empress rose unsteadily and went out of the bedroom. Blanche, the head maid, followed, and I too walked alongside.

 

In front of the prison were several soldiers and courtiers, including Julion.

 

They had come to dispose of the chief physician’s body.

 

“I see the Empress.”

 

“Mother.”

 

Julion greeted us with a worried face.

 

The chief physician’s body was already cold. His bloodless white face was almost frightening.

 

“What is going on? Who did this?”

 

Staring down at the chief physician, the empress suddenly turned and looked at someone behind her.

 

“Blanche.”

 

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

 

“Do you have anything to say to me?”

 

“I do not know what you are referring to.”

 

Blanche shook her head and replied in a monotone voice.

 

The Empress stared at her, then asked again.

 

“Do you know anything about the death of the chief physician?”

 

“Are you suspecting me?”

 

“The chief physician begged you to spare his life until the very end. I just don’t understand. You said it was because you were looking out for the chief physician’s well-being, but people’s actions often reveal a lot when they’re desperate.”

 

“Your Majesty.”

 

“But the chief physician is dead. Whoever paid for him must have had a hand in it. It’s not easy for anyone from outside the palace to send someone to the palace prison in just a few days. It’s not easy if it’s not someone from the palace.”

 

In reality, even if Blanche were the actual culprit, asking her directly like this wouldn’t yield a proper answer.

 

However, perhaps due to her accumulated frustration, the empress was directly questioning Blanche.

 

She hoped that if she was, she would confess somehow.

 

“If that is the case, I will ask your Majesty.”

 

Blanche stepped in front of the Empress with a wounded look on her face and knelt down.

 

“Where have I been all day and what have I been doing?”

 

“…… attending to my business.”

 

“Have I ever been away from Your Majesty’s side, even for a moment?”

 

Blanche’s voice was eager.

 

The Empress stared at Blanche with golden eyes that resembled Julion’s, and answered.

 

“No, but who knows what might have happened while I was asleep?”

 

“The other maids will testify to my innocence; I swear I never left your Majesty’s side.”

 

“Blanche…….”

 

“I would rather die. To me, this disgrace is a punishment worse than death!”

 

Blanche pleaded with a trembling voice and bowed deeply, so much that her forehead touched the ground.

 

Finally, the Empress closed her confused eyes and clicked her tongue.

 

“All right, get up. We’ll know the truth after the investigation. I want to trust you, but for the time being, it’s best for you to reflect on yourself.”

 

“Your Majesty!”

 

“Allow us to completely dispel any suspicion towards you. Stay in seclusion at the Tishrit Palace until the matter is resolved.”

 

“……I accept your order.”

 

Blanche slowly pushed herself to her feet.

 

In the moonlight, her face was very much like that of a loyal subject abandoned by her master. 

 

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

 

At dawn, a figure moved stealthily through the darkness of the palace.

 

All breathing was regular.

 

Only one, however, was breathing heavily and seemed to be searching for something.

 

Pacing back and forth in front of a bookshelf, the black silhouette stopped when she found what she was looking for and let out a faint laugh.

 

“How foolish.”

 

The voice that accompanied the laughter belonged to a woman.

 

With a leisurely motion, she pulled out the books one by one and flipped them open.

 

Then, she tilted her head with a sly smile, and this time, she started flipping through the pages from the back, slowly and methodically.

 

Her breathing began to quicken again.

 

Her relaxed hand movements became frenetic as she flipped through the pages, starting at the front.

 

Still unable to find what she was looking for, she nervously closed the book and pulled out another.

 

It was at that moment.

 

Out of the darkness, where there should have been nothing, a low voice echoed.

 

“Blanche Camer.”

 

The woman dropped the book she was holding in a panic.

 

At the same time, the candles on the table lit up, revealing her face.

 

“What is Her Majesty’s maid, who has been ordered to reflect, doing in the chief physician’s office in the palace infirmary?”

 

“Your Highness……!”

 

Blanche seemed genuinely startled, forgetting even to offer a proper greeting as her eyelids trembled.

 

I took one step closer to Blanche and raised my left hand, showing her something.

 

“Are you looking for this, by any chance?”

 

I waved the wad of paper in my hand.

 

Blanche’s eyes followed the bundle of paper as it moved to the side and then fixed back on me.

 

“This is amazing. To come looking for it yourself.”

 

I sneer and tuck the wad of papers inside my coat.

 

I’d been lurking here, thinking that someone would surely come tonight.

 

But I hadn’t expected it to be like this.