Chapter 106: The Acrid Smell of Oil

Edelweiss leaned against the headboard of the bed, trying to steady her breath. Outside the window, white snow was falling.

Snowflakes that had settled on the tree branches scattered quietly in the breeze.

Though the fireplace kept the bedroom warm, a chilly tension seemed to linger in the air, as if the cold from outside had seeped in.

It was probably because of Damian, who was glaring sharply at the royal physician.

“No, how could you recover this quickly… This is a miracle, Your Highness!”

The royal physician, who had been examining Edelweiss, sounded astonished with disbelief.

Crackle, crackle—

The sound of burning firewood filled the room. Her heartbeat had returned to its normal pace.

Just days ago, Edelweiss had struggled even to walk.

But after consuming the coral, her body was recovering as if it had all been a lie.

The royal physician removed his stethoscope and carefully spoke.

“Heartbeat, breathing, temperature—all are normal. Your Highness. If His Majesty hears of this, he will be pleased—”

He didn’t finish that sentence.

It was because Damian had slightly turned his head to look at him.

“Tell His Majesty this: unless he’s thinking of remarrying, he should refrain from sending any more noble ladies here.”

“……”

“I worry he may look senile and disgraceful.”

Startled by the sharp, cutting tone, the royal physician quickly bowed his head and left.

“What if that really reaches His Majesty’s ears?”

“It’s not me who should be worried—it’s the Emperor. There’s nothing more humiliating than going back on his declaration of naming me crown prince. What else can he do, besides throwing things alone in frustration?”

Damian lifted Gloria, who had been sleeping in the cradle.

Startled by the movement, Gloria began to pout as if about to cry.

“Aaang—!”

Unable to bear the sorrow, Gloria clenched her little fists and swatted at Damian.

“Such a temper for such a little thing. Who did she get that from?”

“…I think she got it from you, Your Highness.”

At Edelweiss’s remark, Damian bit his lip and couldn’t argue.

It seemed he had at least a shred of conscience.

“Your Highness, did you say the investiture ceremony is in two months?”

“Why? Do you want me to delay it?”

“…Even if you delay it, it’s only a matter of time.”

Once the crown prince investiture was held, they would have to move out of the Ruer villa and into the imperial palace permanently.

If that happened, Gloria would be given her own quarters and could no longer be raised this closely.

Edelweiss reached toward Damian. He slowly approached and handed Gloria over.

“My baby.”

As soon as Gloria left Damian’s arms and was in Edelweiss’s embrace, she settled down instantly, as if she hadn’t just been fussing.

“…Your Highness?”

A cautious voice called from outside the door. Edelweiss listened carefully and recognized it as Anemone’s voice.

“Anemone, come in.”

Soon the door opened, and Anemone peeked her face through the crack.

She must have been playing outside—her cheeks were frozen, and unmelted snowflakes still clung to her scarf.

“Hello, Your Highness. G-good day to you too, D-Duke, Your Highness…”

Damian stared straight at her.

Perhaps scared, Anemone lowered her gaze. She had barely stuttered lately, so it pained Edelweiss to see it wasn’t fully gone yet.

“Come here, Anemone.”

Edelweiss beckoned her over and took Anemone’s hands to warm them.

“Your Highness. Please smile.”

“…Why should I?”

“Anemone’s scared of you. Go on.”

Damian sighed lightly and forced the corners of his lips up.

But the smile was so awkward and unfamiliar that—

“…Hic!”

Anemone ended up hiccupping.

Edelweiss squinted at Damian, then changed the subject.

“Gloria, look at this. Your aunt brought snow! Anemone, thank you. Thanks to you, Gloria got to see snow for the first time.”

That praise seemed to brighten Anemone’s face noticeably.

“So I… I’m Her Highness’s aunt?”

“You’ll soon be my sister, won’t you? That makes you Gloria’s aunt. So feel free to just call her Gloria.”

“Hello, Gloria…”

“Kyaa!”

“She says hi too, Anemone.”

After hesitating a moment, Anemone took something out from inside her sleeve.

It was a violet-colored glass bottle, faintly shimmering with an iridescent sheen.

The cap was tightly sealed, and a viscous liquid filled about half of it.

“What’s that, Anemone?”

“Lady Ivana gave it to me. She told me to put it in the fireplace in your room. Then it’ll make pretty, colorful flames.”

“Ivana Celine?”

That sounded suspicious.

Edelweiss frowned slightly, and Anemone slowly admitted,

“Y-yes. Lady Ivana said not to tell anyone and just put it in… but I thought you m-might not like it, so I wanted to s-show you first.”

In that moment, Damian lunged forward and snatched the bottle.

Anemone flinched hard and began trembling.

Edelweiss set Gloria down and wrapped her arms around Anemone, patting her back.

“It’s okay, Anemone. His Highness just took it quickly to check if it was dangerous.

He didn’t want you to get hurt, that’s all.”

When Damian twisted the cap open, a strong, acrid oil smell wafted out.

Edelweiss, caught off guard, inhaled and winced.

Damian’s face darkened with fury.

“She told to pour oil into the fireplace? And to Anemone, of all people?”

If Anemone hadn’t told them in advance—

If she’d given in to Ivana Celine’s pressure and actually poured it in—

‘She could’ve died.’

A chill shot up Edelweiss’s spine, making her go rigid.

She forced her expression calm and turned her gaze to Anemone.

“Anemone. When exactly did she tell you to pour it in?”

“Miss Ivana said… to do it while Your Highness was asleep…”

Ivana Celine had truly tried to kill her.

And what infuriated her most was that she’d tried to do it using Anemone’s hands.

“Your Highness… did I do something wrong…?”

“No, Anemone. Thank you for telling me.”

Edelweiss gently soothed the anxious girl and pulled the summoning cord.

“You called, Your Highness?” Anna entered soon after.

Edelweiss gave her a look.

“Anna. Take Anemone and give her some snacks.”

“Gasp—Lord Cesare said I shouldn’t have any more today or I’ll get sick… Can I still eat?”

“Yes. If you tell him I said it’s fine, he’ll understand. If not, I’ll take the scolding for you. Go ahead and eat.”

“Okaaay…!”

Anemone, her face much brighter now, took Anna’s hand and walked out.

Once the door shut, Edelweiss let out a long sigh.

First, she’d have to summon Ivana—

At that moment, Damian tucked the purple glass bottle, now sealed again, into his coat.

“Don’t worry about it.”

“…What?”

Edelweiss blinked and tilted her head slightly.

His face was unreadably calm, impossible to guess what he was thinking.

***

That night.

The fireplace was still spitting flames. Edelweiss paced by the window. The tension from earlier lingered as deep fatigue.

Damian had left just after sunset, saying he had something to do, but hadn’t returned yet.

What on earth is he planning…?

The bottle Anemone had carried, the acrid smell of oil the moment it was opened—

All of it stacked layer upon layer in her mind. She closed her eyes and rubbed her forehead. The more she thought, the more her stomach turned and cold dread rose.

Then—

Clack.

She looked up at the sound of the door. Anna stood there, panting heavily. She bowed belatedly.

“…Anna, what’s wrong?”

Anna swallowed hard. Her lips trembled before she finally spoke.

“Ivana Celine… has been found drowned near the Whisden Port.”