The Emperor’s body shuddered and convulsed. His vacant eyes bulged as if they were about to burst.
“What in the world is happening? Why is His Majesty…”
The empress, equally shocked, couldn’t compose herself and paced nervously beside me.
I had to draw blood somehow, but it was difficult with the emperor’s body moving so violently.
“There’s a resistance happening. The medicines I prescribed and Mordheim poison are clashing.”
Harkiel’s treatment record revealed a similar pattern: brief improvement followed by a rapid relapse. Repeated cycles led to irreversible deterioration, draining Harkiel of any will to seek treatment.
It was the same now.
Despite continuous medication designed to eliminate Mordheim, the emperor’s awakening seemed temporary.
However, sudden seizures occurred, resisting attempts to forcibly counter the effects of Mordheim poison.
“Princess, we have to do something. Why is His Majesty behaving like this?”
“Your Majesty!”
Amidst the empress’s desperate voice, familiar voices were heard.
“His Majesty has opened his eyes…”
The assistant chief physician and Dr. Barmid, rushing in upon hearing the news, breathed a sigh of relief.
They entered with bright faces but turned contemplative upon seeing the emperor’s condition.
“W-what on earth happened here?”
“We came upon hearing the news that His Majesty had awakened…!”
Their voices were filled with panic.
As I searched for medicine in my bag, I quickly explained,
“It’s because the Mordheim poison in His Majesty’s body is resisting the medicine I’ve been prescribing.”
“Resisting? Then shouldn’t we suppress it with stronger medicine, then?”
“I’ll assist, Your Highness.”
The assistant chief physician and Dr. Barmid rolled up their sleeves, ready to help. However, the medicine I was about to administer wasn’t strong.
“No, using a stronger medicine is not the solution.”
“What? What do you mean, no? Then what kind of medicine…”
It was a good thing I had made the medicine a few days earlier, just in case. I took out a bottle containing a yellow liquid.
“We need to make the poison move more freely. It will scatter the ingredients of the medicine I’ve been prescribing.”
“S, scatter…….”
The assistant chief physician blinked, trying to comprehend my words. Dr. Barmid closed his mouth with a small gasp.
‘Does Dr. Barmid also not know about this prescription?’
Well, the illness afflicting the emperor is artificially induced. It deviates from natural diseases, making it understandable that even a skilled practitioner like Dr. Barmid might be unaware of this prescription.
I, too, realized this not long ago.
“Please hold the emperor. It’s difficult to administer the injection in this state.”
Taking my position for the injection, I addressed the two physicians. However, they hesitated to act.
Questioningly looking at them, the assistant chief physician sighed and spoke.
“I’m not sure about. You’re saying we need to intensify the poison, Your Highness. I’ve never heard of such a thing.”
The assistant chief physician’s gaze shifted to the standing Dr. Barmid.
Seeking agreement in his subtle glance, Dr. Barmid did not deny and cautiously spoke up.
“I… I haven’t heard of it either. I apologize, Your Highness.”
With Dr. Barmid admitting his lack of knowledge, the assistant chief physician sighed in relief and cleared his throat.
As time passed, veins protruded more intensely from the emperor’s body.
“We don’t have time. I’ll explain later. Dr. Barmid, do you really not trust me?”
Even if the emperor wasn’t convulsing, I would have administered the injection even without their cooperation. However, in this state of intense struggle, I couldn’t do anything.
Dr. Barmid, with a hesitant expression, furrowed his brow as if in deep thought.
“I trust you, Your Highness. But if we completely eliminate the effectiveness of the medicine, and by any chance, if something goes wrong with the emperor…”
“That’s right, we’re not sure we can handle the aftermath. Please understand our position as mere physicians.”
The assistant chief physician bowed deeply. He was worried about the consequences if the emperor suffered due to my treatment.
The crime of wrongly treating the emperor’s body wouldn’t end with a simple execution.
‘In the end, they don’t fully trust me.’
It was unavoidable.
Not knowing what to do, I looked at the empress, who had been listening to our conversation.
I needed her support, even if it was just her influence.
“Your Majesty, if you trust me, I can help you with…”
That’s when the curtain was lifted, revealing a familiar face.
“Rohiriel!”
It was Julion.
He had rushed in, out of breath, and like the two physicians before him, his expression hardened upon seeing the emperor.
“What happened?”
If it was Julion, Then maybe he would believe me and take action.
“You’re just in time, Julion.”
I grabbed Julion’s hand and pulled him to stand beside me.
“Hold onto the emperor tightly. I need to administer the medicine.”
Upon hearing this, the assistant chief physician beside me exclaimed in horror.
“No, you can’t do that! Unproven treatments are dangerous. Please try another method…”
As Julion moved to hold the emperor as I instructed, the assistant chief physician, looking horrified, interrupted and looked at me again.
“What is the Assistant Chief Physician talking about?”
“Well, it’s… It’s complicated to explain.”
“Is it a dangerous treatment?”
“It might be risky. But it will work, I’m sure.”
Julion’s golden eyes silently focused on me. I, too, met his gaze with a steady look. He spoke up without hesitation.
“I alone can’t fully control the emperor’s body.”
“That’s okay. Even if it’s just one arm, if you can minimize movement for a moment, that would be great.”
“……I understand, if that’s all you need.”
Julion seemed to comply with my request without further questions. I breathed a sigh of relief and filled the syringe with the medicine.
“That, that……!”
A pitiful voice came from the assistant chief physician, but Julion, without a hint of hesitation, reached out towards the emperor.
With one hand on the emperor’s shoulder and the other firmly gripping his wrist, Julion pressed down.
‘First, we need to calm him down.’
The medicine I was about to administer counteracted the ones the emperor had been taking. In other words, the medicine that was suppressing the Mordheim poison would be completely dispersed.
“Phew…”
The emperor’s veins were already visible, and there was no need to search for them.
I placed my index finger on the easiest spot to puncture. Feeling the intense pulse, I closed and opened my eyes slowly.
And at that moment, the emperor’s movements momentarily slowed.
I swiftly plunged the needle I had prepared.
As the emperor instinctively sensed the intrusion, his body convulsed even more. Julion’s grip on him tightened.
Beside the emperor’s peculiar veins, Julion’s normal veins contrasted starkly.
“Just a little more.”
Slowly pushing the piston to administer the medication, I observed the emperor’s complexion.
Julion, at first glance, seemed deeply furrowed in thought.
‘It must be difficult for him to witness his father’s painful state.’
While I harbored no affection for my father, Duke Cassian, Julion might feel differently. The emperor was known to be affectionate and warm towards the Empress and Julion when he was healthy.
“…It’s done.”
Confirming that all the medication had been injected, I immediately withdrew the needle.
Then, I cleaned the injection site with a cotton swab soaked in disinfectant and pressed a clean cloth firmly.
“Can you hold onto this spot? Until the bleeding stops.”
“How many minutes?”
“Five minutes…… No, ten.”
Usually, five minutes would suffice, but the emperor’s blood was quite diluted, so it seemed more time would be required.
Julion held the cloth as I asked.
“Now… is it done?”
The empress, who had been silently watching, asked cautiously. I put the used syringe back into my bag and took out a new one.
“Yes, Your Majesty. He should calm down soon. After that, I’ll draw blood.”
Still watching the emperor convulsing, I swallowed dryly. I was confident he would calm down, but I couldn’t be certain about the exact time it would take. But no matter what, it wouldn’t exceed thirty minutes.
‘All the medicines were created by me.’
The medications I had prescribed for the Emperor so far and the one I had just administered. Everything is the result of my research and development.
I knew the efficacy and usage better than anyone, and I was confident.
‘Moreover, I understand Mordheim poison better than anyone else.’
The poison that took my mother away.
I had dedicated years of my life to the study of Mordheim poison. Hence, despite the opposition from the two physicians, I proceeded forcefully.
Because I was certain.
“Now, I will remove my hand.”
After what seemed like ten minutes, Julion quietly spoke and released his grip on the emperor.
The emperor still continued to convulse.
Tension filled the room for about fifteen minutes.
“Gasp…!”
Simultaneously, with the assistant chief physician inhaling sharply, a change occurred in the emperor’s body.
