“Does Your Highness truly believe you can do better than this without my help?”
Rebecca pressed her lips tightly together at Duke Findlay’s words. She wasn’t sure how creating mutated monsters was supposed to help her, but the duke’s words deftly touched on the recent feelings of self-doubt she had been experiencing. Even though his response sidestepped her question, it struck a nerve. Feelings of inadequacy and inferiority often worked that way.
It was around this time that Diana discovered the two of them.
“…It seems I’ve spoken too harshly. I apologize.”
When Rebecca remained silent, a faint smile appeared on Duke Findlay’s lips. He approached Rebecca and gently patted her shoulder, speaking in a low voice.
“You have nothing to worry about, Your Highness. Just focus on ascending to the throne.”
“…”
“I will make sure you become the empress.”
Become the empress. On the surface, those words seemed to express boundless affection and support. However, Rebecca keenly sensed that his words carried a different meaning.
Rebecca quietly clenched her teeth. “…What exactly are you up to now?”
Even without Duke Findlay saying anything more, Rebecca was already determined to attack Kayden again and do everything in her power to undermine his support base. But the sudden appearance of a wildcard like Duke Findlay, someone she might not be able to control, filled her with deep anxiety.
“Who knows?”
But Duke Findlay only chuckled softly, as if oblivious to Rebecca’s concerns. He turned his head toward the edge of the forest, his gaze tinged with a strange light. A small murmur escaped his lips, just loud enough for Diana to catch.
“Just taking care of something a bit ahead of schedule.”
Unconsciously, Diana followed the duke’s gaze. But in that movement, the ends of her hair brushed against a nearby bush, making a rustling sound.
“…Who’s there!” Rebecca, quick to notice the disturbance, whipped her head around.
As Rebecca started striding toward where Diana was standing, Diana held her breath and stepped back a few paces.
“…”
Rebecca narrowed her eyes and stared intently at the bush where Diana’s hair had gotten caught. After a tense moment, she suddenly reached out and touched a nearby tree.
Huff. This action brought their faces within just a hand’s width of each other. Diana held her breath with all her might. Luckily, after staring suspiciously at the air for a while, Rebecca eventually stepped back and returned to Duke Findlay.
Taking advantage of Rebecca’s movement and the noise she made, Diana quickly retreated from the area.
“Ha…”
Diana finally stopped running when she was far enough away that she could no longer see Duke Findlay or Rebecca, and she took a moment to catch her breath. Her mind raced as she reviewed everything she had seen and heard.
“…What exactly are you up to now?”
The words Rebecca had directed at the duke. They sounded as if the duke was acting independently of Rebecca’s intentions, pursuing his own agenda.
…Is there an internal strife? Diana furrowed her brow, deep in thought. If there was indeed a conflict between Rebecca and one of her strongest supporters, Duke Findlay, it could be advantageous for Kayden. However, Rebecca’s expression had been troubling. It was a feeling that was more instinctual than reasoned.
After pondering the situation for a while, Diana shook her head to clear her thoughts. If there’s really an issue, it will reveal itself in time.
For now, her priority was to check on Kayden, Fleur, and Elliot. She quickly headed toward the edge of the forest.
When Diana finally emerged from the forest,
“…iot! Please, wake up…!”
The first thing she saw was Fleur sobbing over Elliot, who was lying unconscious.
* * *
The hunting competition came to a chaotic end, marked by the sudden attack of mutated monsters and the collapse of First Prince Elliot. The imperial family hurried back to the capital to closely monitor Elliot’s condition, and the nobles who had gathered for the event also returned to their respective estates.
According to reports, First Prince Elliot had been enjoying a leisurely tea time with others under a tent when he suddenly experienced breathing difficulties and collapsed. However, it was hard to believe it was due to poison since the other nobles who had shared the same teapot were completely unharmed. In fact, even after a thorough investigation of the tea party area, no poison was detected.
Upon their return to the palace, the empress, Fleur, Diana, and Kayden immediately brought Elliot to the palace doctor.
Diana bit her lip as she observed Elliot’s condition, which seemed even more severe than what she had heard before her regression. Back then, they said it would take a long time for him to heal, but he would eventually return to his normal life after the treatment.
However, Elliot, who lay unconscious on the bed, struggling to breathe, was covered in dark purple bruises around his neck. Having never heard of such symptoms, Diana couldn’t hide her anxiety.
The palace doctor’s expression mirrored her concern. After a long examination and treatment, he finally spoke in a heavy tone. “You should prepare yourselves… for the worst.”
“Ah…”
“Your Majesty!”
Upon hearing the doctor’s words, the empress clutched her forehead and swayed unsteadily. Fleur screamed and rushed to support her.
Kayden gripped the bed sheet Elliot lay on as if resisting the urge to lash out at the doctor. His voice was strained with desperation. “…Is there really nothing that can be done? Couldn’t you at least determine the cause?”
“…I’m sorry, Your Highness. But no poison was found in the first prince’s body, and his condition shows no significant difference from before he collapsed.”
“How can that be…!”
“Please… enough, Your Highness.” As Kayden’s voice began to rise in frustration, Fleur, pale-faced, intervened to calm him. Holding onto the empress, she wept and muttered again.
“I’m sorry.”
“…”
“Please… leave us alone, just for a while.”
Fleur, who usually went out of her way to take care of Kayden and Diana, even in the absence of anything special, was now sending them away. Understanding the gravity of the situation, Kayden and Diana returned to the Third Prince’s Palace without a word.
In the same manner, Fleur dismissed everyone except the palace doctor and a few essential attendants. After that, she spent all her time by Elliot’s side, except when caring for the empress with the doctor’s help. She ate and drank only enough to stay alive, her attention solely focused on Elliot’s condition, and day by day, she became more emaciated.
During this time, Duke Wibur, Fleur’s biological father, visited the Empress’s Palace. Despite hearing that the first princess consort had barred anyone from entering, he forced his way in out of concern for his daughter. He flinched when he saw his son-in-law lying like a corpse on the bed and his daughter, who sat beside him, clutching his hand as if in prayer, motionless.
“…Fleur.”
Duke Wibur called out to her in a sorrowful voice. But even upon hearing her father’s voice, Fleur kept her gaze fixed on Elliot.
Seeing this, the duke approached her, his heart heavy, and gently placed his hand on her shoulder, turning her to face him. Her shoulder, which fit in his hand, had withered so much in just a few weeks that it was shocking.
“My daughter.”
Fleur finally turned her vacant eyes to her father. The duke, realizing that his daughter’s eyes had lost their focus, let out a despairing sigh.
Hi, now you can purchase 5 advance chapters in here.
