Chapter 12

12. Don’t do this.

 
She feels like she’s floating in the depths of the ocean.
 
At times, it was as hot as being thrown into a fire, and at other times, it was as cold as being trapped in ice.
 
She woke up and let go of the pain that was ripping through her body. Indistinct words pierced her hazy consciousness.
 
Someone was angry, and someone burst into tears. Occasionally, it seemed like someone was calling her name, but she couldn’t answer.
 
After a while, the floating consciousness came to the surface.
 
Adelaide blinks slowly. A familiar face stepped into her blurry vision.
 
‘……Why is Callion here? ’
 
Before she could resolve the first question, a second came.
 
“……The Duchess has opened her eyes; fetch the doctor.”
 
‘Why does he look so angry? ’
 
She wanted to ask what had happened while she was lying there, but her voice was locked, and the words wouldn’t come out.
 
As she tried to speak, Callion handed a damp towel soaked in water to her mouth.
 
“Take it slowly.”
 
Her lips felt bitter. The taste of blood rose in her throat.
 
It wasn’t enough to quench her thirst, but it was difficult to swallow, so she had to moisten the towel.
 
“Your Grace, I… ah.”
 
As Adelaide tried to sit up, she groaned. It felt like someone had stirred her insides while she was asleep.
 
“Don’t move; just lie still.”
 
Callion lightly pressed her shoulders to prevent her from getting up. Buried in the damp blanket, she rolled her eyes. Her mind flashed back to the moments before she’d lost consciousness.
 
‘…I’m alive.’
 
It had been a reckless gamble, but she was alive, so it had worked.
 
She glanced at Callion, relieved at the realization.
 
Seeing his face, it seemed like quite some time had passed. How long has this been going on?
 
“Your Grace, I’ll go in.”
 
Just as she was about to ask questions, a stranger entered with a medical bag.
 
“Excuse me, Your Grace.”
 
The doctor deftly took her temperature and checked her pulse.
 
She gripped the hem of the blanket tighter, uncomfortable with the familiarity of his touch and the way he watched her.
 
“How is she?”
 
“Thankfully, she has passed the critical moment.”
 
“So, is she going to be okay now?”
 
“Yes, since her internal organs are injured, please be especially careful with food for a while.”
 
“I see.”
 
A look of relief crossed Callion’s face.
 
Adelaide, who had been listening to the conversation, lowered her gaze. She couldn’t lift her head, feeling like she had made things difficult for many people because of herself.
 
The doctor spoke up as he gathered up his medical bag.
 
“Nerium leaves are a weed with no medicinal properties, so why did you take them for so long?”
 
“……I didn’t know.”
 
“You almost got into big trouble. Even a small amount of poison could have cost the life of someone as weak as you.”
 
“I’ll be careful.”
 
“I’ll make up some medicine for you; don’t skip it.”
 
The doctor repeated it in a stern tone. Callion answered for him.
 
“I understand; you may leave now.”
 
“Rest.”
 
The doctor left, leaving them alone again. He pulled up a chair by the bed and sat down.
 
His breath was long and heavy with exhaustion.
 
Unable to see herself in the mirror, she couldn’t confirm how much of a mess she was, but he didn’t look too good either.
 
Rolling her eyes, Adelaide asked in a small voice.
 
“Your Grace, how long has it been…?”
 
“Four days.”
 
Four days? She had been lying in bed for four days? So how did he handle things?
 
Adelaide forced herself to sit up.
 
“How about the employees…?”
 
“After you collapsed, I ordered a search of the castle, and anyone suspicious has been apprehended.”
 
“Ah…….”
 
“Once the interrogation is complete, those guilty will be punished, and the rest will be banished from the estate.”
 
Swift actions eased her mind.
 
I was worried that her plan would have gone awry because she collapsed without being able to speak, but it seemed like Carlion had handled it well.
 
“A maid named Elaine has disappeared.”
 
“Elaine?”
 
“She fled, leaving all her belongings behind. Is she the one who gave you the potion?”
 
Adelaide nodded.
 
Being a sharp child, she probably sensed something was wrong and left promptly.
 
She’d gotten the expensive gold bracelet, so she didn’t need to pack.
 
It was a good thing. Elaine’s sins are not great enough to warrant taking her life.
 
It’s cleaner to leave her in the hands of the Sycamore than to keep her alive in obscurity.
 
“And the grocer who delivered the wine-“
 
“It has nothing to do with him.”
 
‘Ouch’. The vigorous movement was quickly followed by pain. She clutched her stomach, and Callion propped my back up with a pillow.
 
“Did you do anything to him…….”
 
“I didn’t do anything. He left Tiflis before you collapsed.”
 
‘Thank God.’ Callion, seeing her face brightening noticeably, asked with his eyes full of doubt.
 
“Aren’t you being too protective of that grocer? ”
 
“What?”
 
“You nearly died because of the wine he sent you, and you dismiss it as irrelevant.”
 
“I don’t want to make him feel guilty for my carelessness.”
 
“Isn’t it because it was your order?”
 
He noticed…….
 
Since he noticed, he took care of things on his own without her having to say anything.
 
When she didn’t answer, Callion spoke again.
 
“How much more do you want to make a fool out of me before you’re satisfied?”
 
“…….”
 
“Don’t give me the excuse that you did it for me, because I don’t appreciate you acting this way without telling me.”
 
“…… It was the quickest way to do it.”
 
“You could have died.”
 
“I didn’t realize it would be this severe. I thought it would hurt for a few days and then subside… But in the end, everything turned out fine…”
 
“Adelaide!”
 
Callion shouted, unable to contain himself. His already pale complexion turned even paler. A look of horror on her face brought him back to his senses.
 
‘What am I doing in front of a sick person? ’
 
Callion sighed, calming his agitation.
 
“If your plans are going to be like this in the future, I won’t cooperate.”
 
“Your Grace.”
 
“Is it my role to be a puppet on your board, and then one day pick up the crown you drop in front of me and wear it?”
 
“It’s not like that, Your Grace.”
 
Her temples throbbed. Every time she opened her mouth, she tasted blood in her throat.
 
What could she say to make him understand?
 
She looked at Callion with confused eyes.
 
Elkius had stolen the throne through treason, but he didn’t shed much blood.
 
It was Elkius’s father, Duke Roxus, who led the rebellion, and Elkius saw through the plan and, at a crucial moment, murdered both Roxus and the Emperor at once, ascending to the throne.
 
Upon becoming Emperor, Elkius blamed Roxus for all the chaos that had occurred, thus absolving himself of the crime of killing his father.
 
Even after becoming Emperor, Elkius committed countless atrocities, but since they didn’t surface, there wasn’t much criticism.
 
In reality, only a few nobles were angry at the fact that he usurped the throne. The common people didn’t care who the Emperor was as long as they stabilized the Empire.
 
If Callion were to confront Elkius and bring him down, people would criticize Callion instead.
 
That’s why Callion couldn’t directly spill blood himself.
 
If he was to expose Elkius’s evil deeds and present himself as someone worthy of the throne, he had to be flawless.
 
“This was the most certain way to deceive Elkius. I couldn’t tell you in advance because I thought you would oppose it, Your Grace.”
 
“Are you that afraid of the emperor?”
 
Adelaide’s fingertips tensed at the hem of the quilt.
 
Scared of Elkius?
 
Yes. She was afraid. The hypocrisy of whispering love to someone who didn’t exist in his heart and the cruelty of killing his own flesh and blood without hesitation.
 
“Elkius… Your Grace, he’s someone who does unimaginable things without hesitation. He’s left Tiflise alone because you haven’t given him a handle.”
 
“…….”
 
“I thought it wise not to give him any leverage until we were ready to confront him.”
 
Callion chuckled at Adelaide’s answer.
 
“And what kind of person do you think I am?”
 
“Your Grace.”
 
“I was born as the heir to the throne. At the age of nine, I officially became the Crown Prince, and I learned imperial studies from excellent teachers.”
 
“…….”
 
“The crown prince’s lessons were, well, harsh. Learning how to rule an empire shouldn’t be easy, but when they told me I needed to develop tolerance, I wanted to drop everything and run away.”
 
“…….”
 
“After fifteen years as heir to the throne, do you think I don’t know his tricks?”
 
Callion was honest and upright, but not naive.
 
He lost his mother shortly after birth, and his father at the age of eight.
 
Growing up, he faced countless assassination threats and was betrayed by those he trusted.
 
He saw his uncle usurp the throne, and vassals who had sworn allegiance to him turn against him overnight.
 
“If there’s one Emperor in the history of the Empire who hasn’t shed blood, it’s none. Previous Emperors killed their parents and siblings to seize the throne, and then shed blood to protect that throne.”
 
“…….”
 
“I am prepared to do the same. I don’t have the foolish notion of becoming an exalted emperor by getting my hands dirty.”
 
“…….”
 
“If you really want to make me emperor, don’t do this again.”
 
Adelaide reluctantly nodded her head.
 
Callion’s hand went to her face. It felt cool against her heated cheeks.
 
“Most of all, how ridiculous it would be if a man who couldn’t even protect his wife claimed to be emperor.”
 
“……I’m sorry.”
 
Her voice was husky and wet. Callion smiled faintly, pretending not to notice the redness at the corners of her eyes.
 
“I bothered a sick person too much. Go lie down, you still need to rest.”
 
She laid down obediently, sleep pouring over her again as her head touched his.
 
Callion dampened a towel and placed it on her forehead.
 
“Don’t think about anything, just sleep.”
 
Adelaide slept like a lie.