Silence filled the bedroom. Julion’s face showed a hint of exhaustion. His downcast eyes were slightly bloodshot, indicating that he hadn’t slept well.
‘Just how much does he know?’
Breaking the abrupt silence, Dr. Barmid huffed with an embarrassed expression.
Finally, Julion cleared his throat.
“How far has it progressed?”
“What do you mean?”
I deliberately answered bluntly, and Julion’s voice dropped even lower.
He lifted his gaze, looked me straight in the eye, and cut to the chase in a clear voice.
“I’m asking how much of your senses have disappeared.”
“…….”
“Your hearing should still be intact since we’re having a conversation. What about your sense of taste? You haven’t been eating well, have you?”
“Julion, I’m fine.”
At the mention of hearing, I remembered that I had lost my hearing just before I collapsed.
I was so grateful to have it back.
Of course, if I hadn’t recovered, I could have taken Apherium and it would come back, but then it would have been obvious that I was sick and that the cure was Apherium.
‘I can’t disclose the fact that I’m using the Emperor’s precious flower without his permission.’
Even though we currently had a good relationship based on common goals, Julion had no authority over the Emperor’s cherished flowers as he pleased.
It would be a different matter if the Emperor allowed it.
But right now, the Emperor was unconscious, and Julion had no authority to make decisions on his behalf.
Even if it was a matter of life and death, it was a grave offense to use the Emperor’s things.
Moreover, I had never mentioned anything about Apherium when I proposed the contract marriage to Julion. Revealing that my main motive was to consume Apherium would likely make Julion feel betrayed when I clearly told him it was to avenge my mother.
‘I want to keep this a secret until I die.’
The issue was whether Dr. Barmid knew about Apherium. I glanced discreetly at him, standing slightly behind him.
The furrows on his forehead appeared deep enough to plant rice in.
‘It seems like he doesn’t know…?’
If he did, he would have told Julion, and Julion would have looked at me with bewilderment, not concern.
“Please stop making vague remarks. Dr. Barmid has already completed the blood test.”
It seems that the phrase “blood test” I overheard during my drowsiness was not a hallucination.
When I didn’t respond, Julion continued.
“He said your body is filled with poison. As a noble lady, why do you have so many poisons inside you?”
Julion’s question was natural.
However, it seemed that he had overlooked the fact that I was not an ordinary noble lady but a Cassian noble lady.
“Everyone has their reasons. If you had read the documents I gave you on the first day, you would know.”
In truth, my illness was self-inflicted.
I had always studied poisonous herbs, both to develop my mother’s cure and to create poisonous drugs at my family’s request.
Even though I didn’t consume poison directly, during the research process, my body accumulated thousands of types of poison.
If I had quit everything earlier, it wouldn’t have come to this point. However, there was no need to explain it in detail to Julion.
Above all, because Dr. Barmid was listening nearby, I responded with a vague answer that Julion could understand.
Fortunately, he didn’t ask any more questions.
Instead, he sighed and his face stiffened.
“It’s said that losing your senses eventually leads to death. How far has it progressed?”
I felt self-conscious for no reason and lowered my head, staring only at my fingertips.
Julion seemed to have naturally followed my gaze to my hands, and he made an accurate observation.
“Numbness, I see.”
He must have thought of the burn I got from touching the candle with my bare hand. I must have remembered that.
“I finally understand now. When you said it didn’t hurt, you meant it, didn’t you?”
Julion muttered to himself with a touch of sarcasm.
Then he let out another deep sigh.
“Dr. Barmid said it’s difficult to treat. Is that true?”
“Of course not, I can treat it.”
The efficiency is a little low because it cannot be made into a medicine right away, but I will get better over time.
Julion’s eyes widened, surprised to hear that it could be cured.
“Then you have a cure?”
“Yes, I do. I’ve been too busy lately, so I haven’t been able to take it consistently, so my condition has worsened a bit, but…”
Having said that, I stopped talking.
I felt like I’d added something unnecessary.
Julion raised an eyebrow and said in a sharp voice.
“Haven’t I told you to take care of your health even if you’re busy? Why did…!”
It seemed like he was about to start nagging.
I smiled awkwardly and quickly interrupted Julion.
“I understand. I’ll take better care of myself from now on. So, please don’t worry too much. I’ll do well.”
Julion, who had pledged to welcome a princess capable of benefiting the people, probably didn’t want a fragile princess unable to provide that stability.
A crown princess with a weak body would not be able to provide stability, so it would be difficult for me to be sick like this.
But Julion wrinkled his brow as if he did not understand my words.
“What do you mean by ‘do well’?”
“I’m just saying that I will fulfill the duties of a crown princess, so don’t worry. Anyway…….”
In a year, I’ll be out of the palace anyway.
But I didn’t add that part. Because Dr. Barmid was listening to our conversation from behind.
Still, I hoped that Julion would understand the unspoken words through my gaze.
It was the moment.
“I see.”
Julion’s response was unexpectedly icy, and his expression turned chillingly cold.
I hadn’t anticipated such a reaction and blinked in confusion.
“Julion, why are you suddenly…….”
Did I really say something wrong? Or did he misunderstand my words?
I opened my mouth to ask more, but Julion rose to his feet with a harsh demeanor.
“Understood. You can rest now. If you want to know more about Blanche, you can ask Zenid.”
“What? No, wait, Julion!”
I tried to hold on to him, but Julion strode out of the bedroom without looking back.
“I’ll take my leave as well. Please rest more and I’ll come see you again later.”
Dr. Barmid, too, followed Julion with a stern expression.
I’ve been staring at the closed door for minutes now, wondering what this was all about.
Zenid, who must have gotten word of my awakening, bursts through the door, panting.
“Your Highness!”
Her disheveled appearance made it clear how urgently she had come.
In an instant, Zenid rushed to my bedside and sat down, holding my hand.
“Do you know how worried I’ve been? I really thought you were going to die…….”
Seeing Zenid’s tearful eyes, I felt guilty.
I hadn’t told her about my illness on purpose because I didn’t want her to worry unnecessarily.
‘I just made her worry more.’
I’ll have to be more diligent about taking Apherium.
I’d been lulled into complacency by the idea that the cure was always within reach. Julion was right, I should have made time somehow, even if I was busy.
“I’m sorry, Zenid. I’m fine now.”
“What’s wrong? How are you feeling? Dr. Barmid even conducted a blood test. His Highness the Crown Prince looks very concerned…”
Zenid’s eyes, as she cautiously inquired, were filled with anxiety.
She was already deeply worried, and I could only imagine how chaotic things would become once she learned about my illness.
‘It’s a disease that will get better anyway.’
If I take the apherium well and be careful in the future, she will not have anything to worry about.
I answered with a lively smile.
“It’s really nothing. I was just temporarily exhausted. I’ll be fine with some rest.”
“Temporarily……?”
“Yes. So don’t worry.”
Zenid blinked rapidly in confusion, then nodded.
“Okay. I’m so glad to hear that.”
But for some reason, she looked very sad. I don’t think she believes me. But I didn’t want to dwell on it, so I changed the subject.
“More to the point, what happened to Blanche?”
With all the evidence and witnesses, it would be difficult for the noble families who are in line with the Count of Camer to easily take sides.
“Blanche couldn’t have done this on her own; she must have been in league with Count Camer.”
That’s why we wanted to convict Blanche without going to a noble trial.
If the case went to trial, Count Camer would have tried to mitigate and cover up Blanche’s crimes.
But now that Blanche’s guilt was confirmed, it was impossible for the Count to deny it.
Moreover, Cassian, who was on bad terms with Camer, would not waste this opportunity.
They probably had a heated debate during the noble meeting while I was unconscious.
“That’s right. Count Camer…”
And the story that came from Zenid’s mouth was somewhat shocking.
