The doctor promised that if the emperor and empress were conscious, he would allow me to meet with the empress as I requested. So I reported to the doctor where my mother was. The original plan was to tell the empress, but I thought it was okay to tell him. Since he helped me, I will pay him back a little.
After that, I spent my time in a daze in this cold prison. Crouching against the cold wall, I felt miserable.
Ian wouldn’t have done anything else. If he did, I would be really angry because I really did my best for him. I hoped that he would forget this place and go very far away.
* * *
It was that night that I got out of jail. I hadn’t heard that the empress had woken up, but one of the guards unlocked the cell and let me out. Then he took me to an empty room with a bed and sofa.
“Do you see any improvement already? If not…”
The hospitality was too luxurious for nothing to happen. I sat on one side of the sofa, waiting for me to be called without moving.
I began to think now. If I saw my mother for the last time like this, it seemed like everything would really end now. Nothing worked my way, but it seemed like it would come to an end.
“I hope I won’t meet Valery until the end.”
There was no God. He won’t even grant me this simple request. It was so mean, which made me insult God, and then I dozed off again.
* * *
The letter was crumpled in Valery’s hand. His face was more miserable than the crumpled letter.
“What did Duke Rudbihi… say?” Joanne, who was watching from the side, felt the unusual energy and asked.
As soon as he arrived at the Imperial Palace, Valery heard the news of Bella. Everything from her stepping into the Imperial Palace herself, telling how to make the antidote for the poison, until being imprisoned.
Valery pretended not to care but felt like he was about to collapse. His heart felt like being scratched by a pitchfork. But he couldn’t go see her. It was because of Duke Rudbihi’s letter, which he received before her news upon arrival.
Valery thought it was something about his warning. He shouldn’t have looked at the contents of the letter. Then, after all, the truth was already in his eyes. All of this happened because he was still alive. It was because of how many times she saved him.
He couldn’t believe this nonsense. But what Duke Rudbihi said matched what he heard from the former chancellor and Duke Ragham a long time ago.
“…”
“…Your Highness?”
“How about Bella?”
“As you said, she is currently taking a rest in the VIP room. I think the antidote she said really works.”
“…I see,” muttered Valery. It was as if he absolutely believed that she would do no harm.
Joanne added quickly. “There was no poison in the antidote that was being made. After taking it for the second time, the emperor and empress, who had constantly been sweating a little while ago, became more at ease. If it stays like this, their breathing will be better. I’m really glad. It seems they have crossed the major hurdle.”
“Joanne.”
“Yes?”
“Put the news in Duke Ragham. I need to see him.”
“Yes? Duke Ragham? Ah, yes! I understand!”
Joanne went out quickly.
“It wasn’t just… a simple bad relationship.”
The day he took Bella to the villa, he wondered if Bella already knew about it. Or maybe she found out after that? If he had known what kind of mind Bella had when he said that. If only he had known it earlier…
“I would have acted right away.”
Valery felt like he was going to hiccup at any moment. If all of this were really true, even if he lost any hope, he would have to think a little differently.
Right, let’s protect her. Let’s just set her free the way she wants. That’s what I should do.
* * *
I opened my eyes. Leaning on my back for a while, it seemed that I had fallen asleep as I lost my energy. I might die soon, but how could I stupidly sleep in the middle of this situation. I guess I really thought it was the end, so I shook off my fear. However, I lowered my head involuntarily at the strange warmth and comfortable scent.
“…When?”
When did he enter? I reached out and grabbed the coat that was covering my body. A familiar scent, it must be Valery’s. What was he thinking when he saw me here after saying such harsh things?
“It’s really absurd.”
I unfolded the coat nicely and put it down on one side of the sofa. Then, I sat as far as possible, fearing that scent would weaken me.
Half a day passed just like that. In other words, a day had already passed since I came to the Imperial Palace. I haven’t been able to hear anything about the emperor and empress yet. I guess they weren’t in a dangerous state since I hadn’t been decapitated by guillotine yet.
Time passed again like that. After sitting in that position for nearly two days, I felt my whole body stiffen. This was like a punishment. Someone could get in here, but I couldn’t get out, so I didn’t even know if my mother successfully ran away or was caught.
“I just want to know how it turned out…”
Time passed again. After four days, I was finally able to hear the news. In the meantime, some people came to check on me every hour, and there were people who took care of my meal. Fortunately, I didn’t have to face Valery. The person who came to deliver the news was the doctor who had saved me.
“The emperor and empress have finally come to consciousness. As you said, we are preparing willow sap and continuously giving it to them.”
I pressed down my chest and sighed with relief. It felt like something that had been clogged, and hardened was melting gently. There were no pointless sacrifices.
“I’m really, really glad…”
“I have conveyed your request to Her Majesty. However, her condition hasn’t improved significantly, so you will need to wait two more days.”
“Yes, thank you. That… excuse me.”
I hesitated to begin.
“They’re in jail.”
I didn’t even ask the question, but the doctor spoke about it briefly.
I shook my head. My messy hair flowed down because it hadn’t been properly styled.
“…Thank you for your help.”
“Do you have anything else you want to ask for?”
“Yes?”
When I looked up, he was staring down at me again like last time.
“I think I can do at least one thing for you.”
“…”
He said that as if he had read my thoughts. He looked a bit old, but I don’t think he had lived so many days, but why did he know it so well?
“…After I’m gone, can you tell His Highness that I-I’m sorry? Um, um, after a long time. By the time he had made up his mind.”
“Yes, I will do that.”
He readily granted my request. Although I didn’t know him well, I was very grateful to him.
“Thank you.” I bowed down to him.
It was two days later that I met the empress alone. Fortunately, the emperor and empress recovered quickly, to the point where they could sit on the bed. I heard that the emperor even recovered faster. The empress, whom I had only met after a few days, looked terribly weak.
“I see Your Majesty the Empress.”
“…Lady Carbella, I heard you saved me.”
“No, I didn’t save you.”
Then the empress just raised the corners of her mouth a little.
“I wanted to apologize for not being able to fulfill Her Majesty’s request. That’s why I waited… until you woke up.”
“…I see. I also felt uncomfortable because I seemed to have asked too much of Lady Carbella. That’s not going to work out that way.”
The empress sighed low. Perhaps because she hadn’t fully recovered yet, I could hear a small sound every time she breathed, unlike my previous meeting with her.
“So, is there anything else you want to say? It remains unchanged that Lady Carbella is Lucellai’s daughter. That’s an immutable fact. However, I know Lady Carbella’s heart. So, I will grant Lady Carbella a favor. Tell me anything.”
“…Let me meet my mother. For the last time.”
