Knock, knock!
Duke Richard stood in front of the door, knocking. There was no sound from inside.
The Duke sighed briefly and said,
“I’m coming in.”
As he opened the door and entered, he saw a boy curled up on the bed.
“Your Highness.”
Despite Duke Richard’s call, Zion did not lift his head.
“Why aren’t you attending your education?”
Knowing the reason, the Duke asked deliberately. He needed to have a conversation with the boy who had firmly closed his heart.
However, when there was no answer, the Duke approached the bed and sat down.
“Lift your head.”
Only then did Zion slowly lift his head. There was no emotion on the boy’s face.
“If you continue not to participate in education, you will fall behind.”
“You know why I don’t go to education.”
The boy spat out stiff words.
At the sight of the boy, who was hardly like a child, the Duke suppressed a rising sigh.
“Did you have another fight?”
“Fight?”
Zion asked back, hardening his face coldly.
“A fight should be equal. How can it be a fight when everyone except me is on the same side?”
Gulp.
At the sharp words of the young boy, Duke Richard’s head throbbed.
As Zion said, almost everyone in the palace was his enemy.
Another tragedy began when Empress Meriden fled to another country.
Duke Neizumi, the father of Empress Meriden who led the escape, was executed, and his family was exterminated.
He made that decision for Empress Meriden and Zion, even though he knew the outcome.
Naturally, all of his supporters were incorporated elsewhere, except for himself.
Moreover, Emperor Perion remarried and had a son shortly after Empress Meriden disappeared.
In other words, Zion, who returned when there was already a crown prince, was an unwelcome existence to everyone.
‘But fortunately.’
Perion felt a deep sense of guilt for misunderstanding Empress Meriden and driving her out. As a result, Perion, who had a bit of conscience left, also nominated Zion as a candidate for the crown prince.
Through a cabinet meeting, the crown prince will be determined next week.
That’s why this time was even more important. Zion, who should not create anything to be hated, could hardly adapt to the palace.
“Phew. From tomorrow, I will take charge of your education.”
Even at the words of Duke Richard, Zion had no reaction. He was a really difficult child to deal with.
It wasn’t like this when he first found Zion.
He barely found evidence to prove the innocence of Empress Meriden and went to pick up Empress Meriden who was taking refuge in another country.
The young boy, who did not fit in the brothel, was excited to hear that he came to find his mother and took her hand to the room.
[Mom, wake up. The Duke has come to pick us up!]
But Empress Meriden was already a cold corpse. He could not forget the expression Zion had seen then.
Since that incident, Zion has reduced his words and lost his expression.
“Then I will start the class from tomorrow.”
Duke Richard got up from the bed, leaving Zion without an answer.
The moment he grabbed the doorknob, Zion’s voice came from behind.
“Why did you bring me?”
“…This is where you should be.”
“Yesterday, Garion said, ‘With a vulgar lineage, you can never be a crown prince’.”
Garion was the son of the current empress and a candidate for the crown prince along with Zion.
“Empress Meriden was a dignified person. She was a beautiful person with a gentle smile and a personality that warmly embraced everyone.”
At Duke Richard’s calm words, Zion shut his mouth again.
“Don’t fall for their shallow tricks. Don’t you know Empress Meriden better than anyone?”
“…”
“I believe in Empress Meriden and the Crown Prince.”
“Why… there’s no one on our side.”
A dissatisfied voice burst out from Zion.
At the sight of a childlike appearance for the first time, Duke Richard gave a faint smile.
“We’ll see about that.”
Duke Richard opened the door and bid farewell again.
“See you tomorrow.”
Duke Richard, who came out, looked at the shabby outbuilding and thought of Zion.
He was a special child. He was quick to judge the situation, knew how to overcome emotions, and according to what he heard, he had a talent for magic.
As Zion said, even if no one was on his side, there was a chance.
No, it had to be that way.
****
“Good day, Your Highness.”
As promised, Duke Richard visited Zion’s bedroom again the next day. It was because he decided to take charge of the education himself.
“Your Highness…?”
But Zion’s condition seemed a bit strange. The boy’s face looked somewhat pale for some reason.
“Are you not feeling well?”
Zion shook his head weakly.
“I’m fine. So, let’s start.”
Despite Zion’s resolute words, Duke Richard began the education.
Since he had not received any education while growing up in the brothel, he had to move quickly to catch up with the other crown prince candidate, Garion.
Despite looking like he could collapse at any moment, Zion listened to the lesson intently.
“That’s it for today.”
Duke Richard said, closing the book.
Zion was a really smart boy. If you taught him one thing, he knew two. Having a son of the same age, Zion’s uniqueness was more noticeable.
“I have a son of your age. His name is Royden, a boy who likes to swing a sword. I’ll introduce you next time.”
Duke Richard brought up his son’s story, thinking that there was still a wall between him and Zion, and hoping to get a little closer personally.
“…Okay.”
Fortunately, a non-sullen answer flowed out. The Duke got up from the chair with a proud face.
“You seem to be unwell, so rest well, and I’ll see you tomorrow.”
Zion nodded his head.
He seemed to be under a lot of stress from the unfamiliar palace life. He was still only about 12 years old, so it couldn’t be helped.
‘He’ll recover soon.’
Until then, Duke Richard thought lightly of Zion’s symptoms.
However, not long after, he realized that his thoughts were wrong.
****
“Today, it seems difficult to educate His Highness because his condition is not good.”
As soon as he arrived at the outbuilding, Zion’s maid stopped the Duke.
“How bad is it?”
“Yes… The doctor came yesterday, but he said we have to wait until he gets better from stress-induced sickness.”
It didn’t make sense. Zion was not able to adapt to palace life at first, but now it was not.
According to what he observed for three days, the way he was passionate about the class showed enough will to overcome the environment.
“I’ll see for myself.”
When Duke Richard spoke in a stern voice, the maid stepped aside.
When he entered the bedroom, Zion, who looked bloodless, was lying down, sweating profusely.
“Your Highness.”
At the sound of Duke Richard’s voice, Zion opened his eyes with difficulty.
“What’s wrong?”
Zion’s pupils scanned the room. Then he moved his lips as if to convey something.
[Send the maid…out.]
Understanding what Zion wanted to say, the Duke turned around and said,
“I have something to say to His Highness alone, everyone get out.”
At the Duke’s command, the maids looked at each other and left the room.
“What’s wrong?”
“They… put something in my food.”
The faint voice that barely spat out was filled with anger. Duke Richard couldn’t hide his surprise for a moment.
“What do you mean!”
Zion struggled to get up from the bed. Duke Richard quickly supported Zion.
“Where are you trying to go?”
“Outside…to the garden…help me…”
At the difficult request, Duke Richard lifted Zion and went out to the garden.
“Where should I go?”
“There… there in the corner…”
Zion pointed weakly down the wall. The Duke, holding Zion, approached there.
“There’s nothing there?”
“Look… down…”
Following Zion’s words, the Duke looked down. There were a lot of dead ants under the wall.
“What the heck…”
“I asked for sugar during the day… I secretly sprinkled sugar on the food that came out today under this wall… because bugs will be attracted if they smell sweetness…”
Duke Richard realized the situation with an exclamation.
As Zion said, there was something in the food. Zion first suspected the food because his body condition was getting worse.
The wise child quickly found the answer.
“They’re trying to kill me…They can’t kill me all at once…because they’ll be suspected…very slowly…like a plant withering…that’s how…they’re going to kill me. So that no one can suspect…”
The boy analyzed the situation with a calm expression, killing the surging emotions.
“That’s ridiculous! I will immediately inform Emperor Perion of this fact!”
Duke Richard, angry, spoke in an agitated voice. But Zion spoke calmly.
“No… nothing will change like that… because if you cut off the tail, that’s it…”
Duke Richard bit his lip.
It was frustrating, but it was as Zion said. There were many people suspected of being behind the scenes, but they could not be pursued because there was no exact evidence.
If they were pointed out, they would definitely pretend not to know and pull out.
Duke Richard, who was lost in thought, remembered Zion’s physical condition and said.
“Let’s go back inside for now.”
Duke Richard, who laid Zion back on the bed, stared at the boy who was only half his size.
“What are you thinking of doing?”
“First… bring me food secretly from tomorrow… But, I’m going to keep pretending to eat.”
When Duke Richard made a curious face, Zion continued his words.
“They have to show that it’s going as they want. And the body condition… if I don’t eat food from today, it will return to normal…”
Duke Richard nodded his head.
As Zion said, it wasn’t a strong drug. The principle of the drug that slowly withers the body was continuity. If the drug does not accumulate in the body, it will detoxify quickly.
But the important thing was next.
“We need to find a way to counter them.”
“No.”
Zion spat out in a firm voice.
“I’ve already found a way.”
