142. How Could I Not Know?

“Hand it over right now!”

Larael shook the Empress Dowager like a madwoman. No one could fathom how such strength could come from her slender frame, yet the Empress Dowager’s body swayed back and forth like a flower battered by a fierce wind. She twisted desperately, trying to keep the vial from being taken.

But in the end, Larael pried open the Empress Dowager’s clenched hand and seized the vial. In the struggle, a small scratch appeared on Larael’s face, but she paid it no mind.

The Empress Dowager lunged again to snatch back the vial, but Larael’s guards blocked her path with their bodies. Seeing this standoff, the Empress Dowager’s guards drew their swords. Larael’s guards, unable to remain idle, also drew their blades, and the two groups faced each other.

“Everyone, put away your swords.”

At Larael’s command, her guards sheathed their weapons, though they did not lower their guard. The Empress Dowager’s guards, however, stood their ground.

“Marquis Argen, seize the poisoner who attempted to assassinate His Majesty, and confine her within the palace at once.”

Larael shouted, eyes wide and teeth clenched.

“In respect for the years she raised His Majesty, I will see her confined within the palace instead of the underground prison until trial.”

Her words—calling the Empress Dowager a poisoner—left everyone dumbstruck. They could only stare blankly between the two women.

“Empress Consort! What are you saying? A poisoner?!”

The Empress Dowager spoke with all the authority she could muster, but her voice quivered slightly. Larael raised the vial she had wrested from her and turned toward the Empress Dowager’s guards.

“Did you not all witness her attempt to poison His Majesty? If you do not put away your swords now, I will take it as proof that you share this woman’s treachery.”

At her words, the Empress Dowager’s guards exchanged uneasy glances. One by one, they slowly lowered their weapons and stepped aside.

“What do you mean, attempt to poison? You all saw it—I did nothing, I stood still! Raise your swords and protect me at once!”

Marquis Argen, regaining his composure, rushed to the Empress Dowager’s side. He gestured to Larael’s guards, and Joy and Handelson came forward, seizing the Empress Dowager’s arms on either side.

Edward’s guards also entered, surrounding the Empress Dowager’s knights and ladies-in-waiting at Marquis Argen’s order.

“Marquis Argen, dispatch the Imperial Knight to the Empress Dowager’s palace. Have them investigate all servants there, including her ladies-in-waiting.”

“Yes, Your Highness.”

“Larael, my dear, you are mistaken. That vial is…”

Her arms restrained, the Empress Dowager suddenly softened her tone, speaking as though to soothe Larael.

“I know very well what this vial is.”

‘How could I not know?’

Larael bit her lip hard.

“No, you’re mistaken. It is nothing. No, I never gave it to Edward. Summon a physician—once he is examined, you will see the truth.”

“Take her away.”

Larael’s cold eyes fixed upon her.

“Let me go!!”

The Empress Dowager tore free from the guards and lunged, grabbing Larael’s arm. Larael glared at her from the corner of her eye. Part of her wanted to order the woman’s head struck off immediately, but she restrained herself, forcing reason over rage. Yet if the Empress Dowager continued to spout such outrageous denials, Larael’s suppressed fury might erupt like a breaking dam.

“Take her away. I don’t want her before my eyes.”

Larael shouted as she pushed her aside. Joy and Handelson tightened their grip and dragged the Empress Dowager back. Berser, watching grimly, furrowed his brow at the scene.

“Larael, I told you it’s a misunderstanding! Larael!! If you do this, you will regret it soon enough!”

The Empress Dowager shrieked in desperation. Larael, lips pressed tight, turned to the bedside where Edward lay. He appeared utterly calm, as if nothing had happened—and that very serenity broke her heart. Tears welled in her eyes.

“Are you going to just lie there forever?”

The bitter words slipped from her lips against her will. She regretted them at once and gently stroked Edward’s face. Behind her, the sound of the raging Empress Dowager being dragged out of the chamber faded away, but Larael never looked back.

Like the silence after a violent storm, the chamber grew still as the Empress Dowager’s presence receded. Trix knelt on the floor beside Larael.

“Your Highness, it is my fault. I failed to restrain the Empress Dowager…”

“Trix, that is not what matters now. Summon a physician and a high priest at once. We must confirm His Majesty’s condition.”

Larael looked down at the vial clenched tightly in her hand as she spoke.

“Yes, Your Highness.”

Trix gave orders to another attendant to fetch the physician and high priest, then returned to Larael’s side. She glanced at him briefly.

“Do not think of kneeling again. I want to be alone with His Majesty. Take everyone else out until the physician and high priest arrive.”

Trix bowed and left with the attendants inside the chamber.

When only the two of them remained, the last thread of reason holding Larael together snapped. The thought that she could have lost Edward today was unbearable. From the depths of her chest, emotions surged upward, and she poured them out in sobs, over and over.

By the time her cries began to subside, a knock sounded from outside the chamber, and the door slowly creaked open. Since Marquis Argen had earlier broken the doorknob, the knock was meaningless.

Trix entered with physicians and a high priest. Among them was Hobbs. After exchanging greetings with Larael along with the others, Hobbs gave her a discreet nod of recognition.

“We came as soon as we received the urgent summons. Is His Majesty unwell?”

It was the elder physician who spoke. His name was Ronel, and he had served as court physician for both the late Emperor and Edward himself. Larael frowned slightly upon seeing him. He was also connected to the Empress Dowager—and she knew all too well what role he had played before her regression. He had helped disguise Edward’s poisoning as a natural death.

“Wait. Have Mr. Hobbs conduct the examination.”

Ronel, who had been approaching Edward’s bed, halted and raised his small eyes at Larael, his brow twitching.

“The matter is grave and serious. I will entrust it only to someone I can trust.”

Larael continued firmly. Ronel gave a bitter laugh and looked to Trix, incredulous. From the late Emperor to the present one, he had been the attending physician, and no one had ever treated him so. Humiliation burned in him.

“There was an attempt to poison His Majesty. Do you have anything more to say?”

Larael met his gaze directly as she spoke.

Shock filled the eyes of Ronel, Hobbs, and the high priest alike.

“No… I…”

Ronel faltered and retreated, words lost. As he stepped back, he shoved Hobbs forward. Dazed and uncertain from the shock, Hobbs stumbled ahead, pushed into place.

With a flustered expression, Hobbs looked at Larael. When she gave him a nod filled with trust, he finally collected himself and retrieved instruments from his medical bag.

He examined Edward’s condition thoroughly and then spoke.

“Fortunately, His Majesty is unharmed. There are no signs of poisoning.”

Only then did Larael release a long breath of relief.

“And here, take this vial.”

She handed Hobbs the vial she had seized from the Empress Dowager. All eyes turned toward it. It was obvious that this was connected to the “attempted poisoning” Larael had spoken of.

“Investigate the contents of this vial.”

“Yes, Your Highness.”

Hobbs carefully accepted it.

Ronel stared at the vial blankly until he noticed Larael’s eyes upon him. Then he quickly lowered his head. Unease stirred in Larael’s chest at the sight.

“Your Highness, Marquis Argen has arrived. Shall I admit him?”

An attendant approached to ask. Larael nodded, and the chamber doors opened. Marquis Argen entered at a brisk pace with a group of people behind him.

“There may be those who would attempt to steal the vial or tamper with its contents. Until the investigation is complete, I will assign guards to Mr. Hobbs. Marquis Argen, you have come at just the right time. I have entrusted Mr. Hobbs with analyzing the liquid inside this seized vial. Ensure he is guarded until the investigation concludes, and forbid entry to anyone except those he himself designates.”

“Ah… yes, understood. I will see to it immediately.”

Marquis Argen swiftly grasped her instructions, nodded, and turned to issue orders. After conveying them, he glanced at Hobbs before hurrying out of the chamber.

“The Imperial Knight has been stationed at the Empress Dowager’s palace, and your commands have been carried out.”

Marquis Argen reported to Larael. She gave a small nod but said nothing.

As he realized how everyone held their breath, waiting for her next command, Marquis Argen gave a faint, bitter smile. He could not deny it—had it not been for Larael’s terrifying intuition, Edward’s life might truly have been lost. The poison hidden in that vial could have found its way to Edward’s lips.

He looked at Larael’s swollen, reddened eyes. He could imagine, even without seeing it, how much she had wept in anguish.

When she finally spoke again, her eyes shone with an unusually vivid brilliance, filled with unwavering resolve.

“Convene the council of nobles… I will assume the regency.”