Chapter 14 – Part 4

The Emperor could not hide his troubled expression. The royal physician standing before him was bowing incessantly, sweat streaming down his neck in fear of the Emperor’s wrath.

“How serious is it?”

“Well… the condition of the royal fetus is precarious. Even a small amount of poison can be dangerous to the unborn child.”

“This is infuriating.”

The Emperor rubbed his chin with the back of his hand, deep in thought. Then he placed a hand on the royal physician’s shoulder and asked,

“So, how can we detoxify the poison?”

“…Without knowing the exact poison used, we can only treat the symptoms. However, it seemed the Prince of Vails knew the type of poison.”

The Emperor’s expression grew darker.

There was something peculiar about the situation.

Despite Anne Vanessa’s low birth, she had shown enough sense to diligently serve in the military.

Moreover, if Anne were to hate anyone, it would be the Emperor himself, Javier, not the Empress.

Additionally, the news of the Empress’s pregnancy had been announced nationwide a week before the banquet.

If such a large quantity of poison had been procured in that short time, there would have been traces.

Most importantly, poisoning all the attendees’ drinks to exact revenge on the Emperor?

Only someone well-acquainted with the inner workings of the royal family could have orchestrated such an act.

Like the Empress or other high-ranking nobles.

“Your Majesty?”

The Emperor, deep in thought, continued rubbing his chin.

Laviela had become Empress purely because of the Emperor’s whim.

Without any powerful backing to threaten the royal authority, and with her endearing flattery, he had placed her in the position.

The Terossan royal family had always struggled with having heirs. The Empress’s pregnancy had made her more precious, but now, hearing that the condition of the fetus was not good…

Whether physically or mentally, weakness was a significant liability. It was a disgrace to the royal family. He needed to ensure a healthy heir was born, free of any scandal.

However, in the worst-case scenario of a miscarriage, a contingency plan was essential.

Javier recalled another of his bloodlines, nearly forgotten.

“You should attend to Laviela.”

“…Yes, Your Majesty. Please do not worry. I will do my utmost to treat her.”

The Emperor dismissed the royal physician with a wave of his hand.

Once outside the study, the royal physician sighed deeply in relief. His back was soaked with sweat.

He was in a precarious position, his life hanging by a thread, and he was acutely aware of it.

In such times, choosing the right allegiance would determine his future.

The Empress was undoubtedly a rotten lifeline. The Emperor’s demeanor showed he did not fully trust the Empress’s words.

However, trusting the Emperor was equally dangerous. Many courtiers had lost their lives due to his whims.

Therefore, there was only one option left.

The royal physician’s eyes glinted with determination.

***

After the royal physician had left, Javier also stood up.

Accompanied by attendants, he arrived at a small palace tucked away in a corner of the royal grounds.

He addressed the guard at the palace entrance.

“Announce my arrival.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

The guard bowed deeply and opened the door as if he were a servant.

The interior of the small palace was dark, with curtains drawn over the windows. Sunlight streaming through the cracks illuminated floating dust particles in the air.

The neglected state of the palace, where royal family members had been confined in the past, was evident.

“Ailon?”

Standing cautiously in front of a bedroom on the second floor, Javier called his son’s name.

“…”

Receiving no response, the Emperor had the chief attendant open the door.

Dust swirled in the air as the door opened, revealing an old bed covered with a white blanket and a couch. Ailon lay flat on the bed.

For a moment, Javier thought his son was dead. He slowly approached the bed.

“Pull yourself together. What are you doing? Call the royal physician immediately!”

“Yes, Your Majesty! I will.”

Javier grasped Ailon’s head. His eyes were unfocused, staring at nothing, and his body was limp—perhaps even gaunter than before.

“Ailon, get up. It’s your father! Open your eyes properly.”

“…A-Aaron? Aaron, is that you? The name I gave you when I couldn’t reveal your real one. Why don’t you remember it?”

“Your Majesty… since the Prince has been confined, his health has deteriorated.”

Ailon’s pupils were completely dilated.

Javier felt his hand tremble as he held Ailon’s shoulder. His frail son had finally lost his mind.

“Ailon… Why are you just standing there? Bring the royal physician immediately!”

“Y-Your Majesty, I’ve sent word. He will arrive shortly.”

The Emperor cradled Ailon’s head, his expression twisted with pain.

No matter how much Javier despised his son, Ailon was still of Terossan blood. His mere existence could suppress the collateral relatives.

Moreover, Ailon was supposed to be the shield for the new prince yet to be born. It was natural for the newborn to face several threats until he grew up.

Then, when the prince was sufficiently grown, and Ailon had outlived his usefulness, he planned to dispose of him. But now, Ailon was already broken.

Javier was infuriated. How could the mothers of his children raise them to be so weak?

He gripped Ailon’s shoulder tightly again. The face of a man with many wrinkles reflected in Ailon’s vacant eyes. Javier glared at Ailon with fiery intensity.

If things continued this way, Ailon might be the only child left. In such a case, Javier would be forced to place this fool on the throne. Producing heirs to secure the throne was a duty he could not ignore.

Therefore, for now, Ailon had to come to his senses.

“Bring Anne Vanessa here!”

“Your Majesty, I must humbly report that Lady Anne Vanessa is currently under the favor of Prince Howard of Vails and Duke Davis.”

“And what of it?”

Javier answered irritably to Chamberlain’s words.

The chamberlain bowed deeply and continued his explanation.

Regardless of her past, Anne Vanessa was now the beloved daughter of a noble family and the lover of Duke Davis. She had even entered the banquet hall with Prince Howard.

If she were forcefully brought here, it could cause trouble with either the Davis family or the kingdom of Vails.

Javier spoke through gritted teeth.

“Then convey my request. Tell her the crown prince is ill and needs her treatment. Emphasize that we seek her help because of her renown in the field hospitals.”

“Yes, Your Majesty. I will.”

***

Evan’s deep eyes curved into crescent moons.

In his relentless embrace, Anne had eventually burst into tears and was now sleeping soundly in his arms.

Seeing her furrowed her brows in her dreams, then suddenly smile, drove Evan mad with affection.

He gently swept her bangs aside and left a brief kiss on her forehead.

He wished her nothing but sweet dreams.

Evan carefully covered Anne with a blanket and slowly got up from the bed.

In the dim light, only a burning candle flickered red. Then, an unexpected knock echoed.

Knock, knock.

Evan’s blue eyes glinted in the faint darkness.

“Who is it?”

“…A knight from the royal family. Please, open the door.”

Evan slightly opened the door and scrutinized the knight from head to toe.

Although directed to Anne Vanessa’s room, the knight was taken aback to find the shirtless commander instead, hastily bowing his head.

Evan leaned against the wall, arms crossed, his eyes narrowed, and his expression cold. The knight couldn’t muster the courage to raise his head again.

Yet, returning empty-handed was not an option; the Emperor would surely be furious. The knight forced himself to speak.

“Your Grace… I need to see Lady Anne Vanessa.”

Evan raised an eyebrow and asked the fumbling knight.

“Don’t you have eyes?”

“Pardon?”

“You should see she can’t come out now. How dare you.”

The knight, face paling, frantically shook his head.

He knew all too well the rumors spreading among the nobility and could guess the situation inside the room.

The scratch on the duke’s shoulder, made by fingernails, clearly indicated what had happened.

“I know! I know very well.”

Evan’s expression softened slightly at this admission.

However, he was still annoyed by the royal knight’s determination to summon Anne despite everything.

“Why are you looking for Anne?”

“His Majesty has ordered her to be brought.”

“Why?”

“Prince Ailon is very ill. His Majesty only wishes for her to treat him….”

The knight couldn’t finish his sentence. Evan’s menacing expression had frozen him in place.

Stories about him being called a murderer on the battlefield seemed entirely plausible now.

“Tell them it’s not an official order, and we refuse. Don’t come back again.”

“…Pardon?”

The knight grabbed the door just as Evan was about to close it, his face almost in tears.

“Prince Ailon is very ill. If she doesn’t come now….”

“Anne is also unwell. So we refuse.”

Evan firmly removed the knight’s hand and shut the door.

He wanted nothing more to do with the royal family. Evan sighed and rubbed his face wearily.

Then, a hoarse voice spoke from behind him.

“If there’s a patient, I’ll go.”

“Anne!”