Dead-End Villainess Who Makes Medicine

 

 

The room was filled with various fabrics, so colorful that it hurt my eyes.

 

The Empress picked up a few of them and asked,

 

“I think this one, this one, and this one are the best, but what do you think?”

 

For a moment, I didn’t know what she was asking, so I blinked in confusion.

 

When I didn’t respond immediately, the Empress burst into laughter and said again,

 

“The spring banquet is coming up soon, isn’t it? I was choosing fabrics to decorate the banquet hall. Now that we have a Crown Princess, it would be nice for you to join in.”

 

“Ah……!”

 

It finally dawned on me what was happening.

 

With so many things going on and the Emperor’s illness taking precedence in my mind, I had completely forgotten about the spring banquet.

 

“Well, take a look. Since it’s spring, I think these bright colors would be nice, but I’m also considering some shades of green.”

 

The Empress was torn between pink, yellow, and green hues.

 

In my opinion, all three colors were lovely and suitable for the spring banquet, but the Empress continued to ponder with a serious expression.

 

“You can also suggest a different color if you’d like. Now that you’re a part of the royal family, feel free to share your opinions.”

 

Since each color seemed too beautiful to discard, I hesitated as well.

 

I carefully examined the textures and atmosphere of each fabric and spoke cautiously.

 

“Do I have to choose just one?”

 

“It’s not necessary, but we’ve usually gone with one in the past.”

 

“In that case, how about something like this? This one and this one…”

 

As we continued to decide how to decorate the spring banquet, time passed quickly.

 

As the sun had risen to its zenith, the Empress casually said,

 

“It’s almost time for lunch. Would you like to join me?”

 

It sounded like a casual greeting, but her expression suggested otherwise.

 

In the end, I found myself having lunch with the Empress, an unexpected addition to my schedule.

 

‘It seems like there’s something she wants to talk about.’

 

While the preparations for the spring banquet were part of the reason she had summoned me, I had a feeling that the real reason lay elsewhere.

 

“The weather is so nice today; it’s uplifting.”

 

However, the Empress continued with mundane topics.

 

As the servants began serving, fresh Caprese salad and steaming corn soup were placed before us.

 

“I heard you like salads, so I had one prepared.”

 

It meant that she had been planning to have lunch with me since morning.

 

There was definitely something more to it.

 

“Thank you for your thoughtfulness, Your Majesty.”

 

Course after course followed, including roasted turkey, buttered mushrooms, and creamy bacon.

 

By the time the peach sherbet dessert arrived, I felt like I might burst from all the food.

 

“It’s been a while since I’ve eaten so much.”

 

The Empress chuckled with satisfaction.

 

Her smile reminded me of the one I saw on Julion’s face last night.

 

There were many subtle similarities between them that intrigued me, and just when I least expected it, the Empress asked a question.

 

“Do you visit the Golden Garden often?”

 

I wondered if she was trying to find fault in me, but the Empress was actually smiling gently.

 

I carefully chose my words and replied

 

“Yes, Your Majesty. It’s a place with beautiful plants, and I enjoy looking at them.”

 

“Indeed. I used to visit it often as well. Do you have a favorite flower in particular?”

 

It didn’t seem like she was asking with any hidden agenda.

 

After a brief moment of thought, I answered honestly.

 

“I often see a flower called Apherium.”

 

“Apherium…”

 

The Empress squinted her eyes as if trying to remember.

 

“It’s a beautiful flower with a harmony of yellow and blue. It was my mother’s… favorite flower.”

 

Upon my additional explanation, the Empress momentarily seemed puzzled, but then she let out a small sigh of realization.

 

“I have heard of it. They imported the flowers from Yalon’s Kingdom to the Golden Garden.”

 

“That’s correct, Your Majesty.”

 

“I see. So, in the golden garden…”

 

The Empress’ gaze turned wistful as she looked at me intently.

 

Unable to reveal that I was going there to eat Apherium, I simply nodded with a somewhat embarrassed expression.

 

“After getting married, I find myself thinking of my mother more often. Perhaps that’s why my feet unconsciously lead me there.”

 

“Of course, it’s only natural. Don’t feel guilty.”

 

The Empress seemed to have something in mind as she gathered her thoughts and then smiled mischievously.

 

“Come on, Let’s go for a walk together. I’d like to see Apherium too.”

 

“The apherium ……?”

 

“I’d appreciate it if you could show it to me. It’s the flower your mother loved, after all.”

 

The Empress, who had risen from her seat first, seemed eager to head to the Golden Garden immediately.

 

I had a feeling why the conversation had taken this turn.

 

‘She must have wanted to go to the Golden Garden from the beginning.’

 

A place where she could talk to me alone.

 

A location inaccessible to maids, guards, and other palace inhabitants.

 

If we had suddenly arranged to meet in the Golden Garden, people might find it strange. So, she had skillfully guided the conversation in that direction.

 

I admired the Empress’ cleverness as I quietly followed her.

 

Sure enough, as soon as we entered the Golden Garden, the Empress’ demeanor changed.

 

The relaxed smile she had worn before disappeared, replaced by a shadow.

 

“Your Majesty, this flower is called Apherium. Its colors are truly beautiful.”

 

So, I purposely used a brighter tone as I pointed to the Apherium.

 

The Empress, after gazing at the flower in silence for a moment, slowly spoke.

 

“It’s beautiful. It reminds me of Shahadna.”

 

I froze momentarily when she mentioned that name.

 

She addressed my mother as if she were speaking to an acquaintance.

 

“Your Majesty, if it’s not too intrusive, may I ask what your relationship was with my mother?”

 

I asked sincerely, but the Empress responded with a light laugh.

 

“It wasn’t much of a relationship. If anything, we wanted to become friends.”

 

Her response was somewhat vague.

 

I wanted to inquire further, but it seemed the Empress had no intention of elaborating.

 

Instead, she brought up a different topic.

 

“You may have noticed, but I needed a place where we could talk privately.”

 

“Indeed, Your Majesty.”

 

“I honestly don’t believe Dian will wake up.”

 

Cailodian de Sertizan.

 

That was the name of the emperor who had been asleep for years.

 

With no one around, the Empress spoke comfortably, using her husband’s nickname.

 

“I’ve given up on him, you know. In my mind, he had been long gone. Even in my heart, for the most part.”

 

Why was she telling me this? And why here, in such a remote place? I couldn’t help but wonder.

 

As if to answer my questions, the Empress continued.

 

“Yesterday, when you were examining Dian, I could tell by your expression.”

 

What was my expression like? I don’t remember it clearly.

 

I only recall a sudden drop in my heart, thinking that he might have the same disease as my mother’s.

 

“It seems there’s no way out. I held on to Dian until the very end, but now his body is nearing its limit.”

 

“But we still don’t have the test results, Your Majesty.”

 

“Will having them change anything?”

 

“That’s….”

 

I don’t know.

 

I’m not even sure myself.

 

But if we didn’t start, we would never see the end.

 

“I heard that you worked late into the night yesterday.”

 

“No, Your Majesty. I’m fine.”

 

It wasn’t an exaggeration; I had slept incredibly well.

 

But I couldn’t admit that I had slept for a long time.

 

“You always say you’re fine as a habit. Yesterday, I gave permission for a medical examination on a whim, but don’t push yourself too hard on someone with no hope. You’ve already done me a great favor by treating me.”

 

Her gaze flickered like a candle in the wind, and her words seemed to have hurt her in some way.

 

I realized why the Empress wanted to see me alone.

 

‘She can’t allow rumors to spread that she, the Empress, advised against making efforts for someone with no chance.’ 

 

The Empress stared into the empty space as if lost in thought.

 

How many wounds must have been etched into her heart to be able to say that she had given up.

 

I felt the same emotions when I had to let go of my mother.

 

“Your Majesty, I haven’t given up yet. We haven’t even started, so it’s too early to use the word ‘give up.'”

 

“Princess.”

 

“So, let’s start by conducting a thorough examination and then assessing the results. After that, we can consider trying something.”

 

“You’re quite stubborn. I’m sure you’ll be disappointed.”

 

“Your Majesty has given me permission to do this, so please allow me to proceed.”

 

“It’s complicated, really.”

 

The Empress laughed, looking like she was about to cry.

 

It was a look I had never seen before, the look of a man’s wife.

 

××××××××××××××××××××××

 

I was incredibly busy for a while.

 

The days were so hectic that words alone couldn’t express the overwhelming busyness.

 

I prepared for the spring banquet, crafted the reagents for the precise examination of the Emperor’s blood in the palace infirmary, conducted examinations as soon as the reagents were ready, recorded the results, and repeatedly discussed them with Doctor Barmid.

 

And then exactly one week had passed since we started.

 

A messenger urgently arrived from the Tishrit Palace.

 

“Your Highness, something terrible has happened!”

 

The maid, panting heavily and sweating, rushed in and delivered the news.

 

“His Majesty the Emperor right now is……!”

 

 

 

 

𝑺𝒖𝒑𝒑𝒐𝒓𝒕 𝒎𝒆 𝒐𝒏 𝑲𝒐-𝒇𝒊