Chapter 47

***

It’s morning. He felt great even before he opened his eyes.

For some unknown reason, Carmun didn’t want to open his eyes just yet, so he just tossed and turned around in bed even after the morning came.

…What is that?

He had never bumped into anything in his spacious bed, but something brushed against his arms when he tossed and turned around.

When Carmun opened his eyes, a random stranger suddenly appeared in his sight.

“…Why is she still here?”

It was Concubine Edith.

While she was sleeping, her chest was slightly visible in her disheveled clothing. What about her legs?

Carmun pulled and rolled the quilt in panic.

He covered his face with his hand, trying to reduce the blush tainted on it.

He hurriedly tried to observe his own demeanor. She remained unscathed even though he was attracted to her.

“I think nothing happened….”

Once realizing that nothing had happened, Carmun eventually let his body relax, and turned around to look at Concubine Edith, who was still asleep.

She was in a deep slumber and had a serene look on her face.

Now that he sees her, it seems like she was pretty much fast asleep.

He thought she looked like a harmless herbivore as she would have been very sensitive to anything, but he was surprised by the sight.

‘She had quite an insouciant face.’

People of different sexes shared the same bed at night, and nothing happened.

‘Am I the problem or you?’

Carmun looked down at Helen silently. Bound by the quilt, only her face was protruding out.

Carmun, who stared blankly at her, murmured with her chin propped up on his hand.

‘Why am I okay with you?’

It’s not like he despised people, but he didn’t have a kind of personality that could favor others unconditionally.

However, he has favored her since he saw her for the first time. It was his first time experiencing this, so he just kept looking at her.

‘It’s really mysterious and bizarre.’

His heart was throbbing pleasantly. He felt like his heart was pounding for unknown reasons and immediately withdrew his gaze.

It didn’t seem like he wasn’t feeling very well.

He found something strange in Concubine Edith while raking his hair in a seemingly irritated gesture.

Isn’t she too quiet while sleeping?

“Does she even breathe?”

When he put his hand under her nose, her breath was very weak.

“Edith, wake up now.”

Carmun was taken aback and shook Helen on the shoulder. The gesture was quite powerful, but Helen didn’t budge.

Carmun turned serious and quickly sprang to his feet.

“What did she do yesterday….”

Carmun frowned and went out into the hallway to call for the physician.

Before he started to take care of the political affairs, he had no choice but to call everyone directly because he prevented everyone from entering.

Just as he reached the end of the hallway, Viester and his servants rushed in to do their work. They seemed to be in a hurry.

“Your Majesty! We’ve got a big problem!”

“What is it?”

“Her Majesty has collapsed because of the poisonous candle!”

“….What?”

Josephine collapsed?

“It’s a rare poisonous herb, and we haven’t been able to completely figure it out yet, but it’s said she hasn’t woken up.”

It sounded exactly like Concubine Edith, who was also lying on the bed. Could it be that Concubine Edith was unable to get up, too?

Carmun peeked out from behind the door to take a look at his bed.

Then, he grabbed Viester by the shoulder.

“Viester. Don’t be surprised and listen to me.”

“Yes, please tell me.”

“I think Concubine Edith was poisoned, too.”

“…Pardon me?”

Viester asked, raising his eyebrow.

Carmun, who was too lazy to explain the whole situation, opened the door a bit to let him see the end of the bed beyond the slightly opened door.

When he saw the pair of small feet on the bed, Viester’s face hardened out of confusion.

“…Your Majesty!”

“I don’t know for sure. It happened at night.”

He spoke so confidently that Viester couldn’t even urge him.

It was a serious matter that the Empress had collapsed, so he had to go right away.

“Go ask Van.”

“…Yes.”

Van went to pick her up every day, so he probably knew something.

Carmen could not get rid of the strange discomfort. Carmun couldn’t shake off the strange feeling of discomfort settling in his chest.

“Your Majesty, we should go now.”

However… He felt it was difficult to move his feet somehow.

‘Seriously. Why am I like this?’

Carmun frowned and ran his hand over his face.

“We’re going to the Empress Palace.”

Deep wrinkles formed on the bridge of his nose as he moved forward.

What just happened? His mood has turned bad since this morning.

***

Josephine finally woke up in the late evening. During that time, Carmun handled the case and gathered evidence.

There were only a few pieces that have been gathered so far. However, it was so detailed that he was able to point out a few suspicious people.

Josephine was one of them.

“May I ask why you are here?”

Josephine flickered her eyes in surprise when she discovered Carmun in her room, beside the bed.

“…That’s because you collapsed.”

At Carmun’s words, Josephine’s eyes trembled.

“I didn’t expect you to come because of such a reason.”

Josephine’s voice cracked due to the long hours of sleeping.

Carmun handed her the cup without saying anything, and she accepted it.

“……… Did I collapse?”

Josephine got up with a sickly face.

“Yeah.”

At Carmun’s low mumble, Josephine slightly bit on her lower lips.

She was panting slightly after collapsing earlier, but Josephine’s gleaming eyes were sparkling.

“Who did it?”

“I haven’t found out yet.”

Carmun looked carefully at Josephine. He narrowed his eyes and had a slight frown on his face.

“It’s a poisonous herb. Someone must have attempted to kill you.”

To Concubine Edith as well.

Why the h*ll would they want to kill both of them at the same time?

Josephine stroked her chin slightly at Carmun’s words.

“Poisonous herb….”

Josephine’s hand trembled as she gripped the quilt slightly.

She tried to hide her hand under the quilt, but Carmun had already seen it.

Tsk.

Carmun clicked his tongue inside her mouth. Josephine looked so miserable.

Carmun frowned and rubbed his forehead with her fingers.

Josephine didn’t have any particular reaction except for gripping the quilt, despite the fact that she almost died. 

Her action was very docile compared to usual.

“Didn’t you sense something strange?”

“…I heard Your Majesty is about to spend….”

“There’s no way I would want to spend my time here.”

“What….”

As expected. She’s being too docile.

Did the near-death experience change her?

Or was she hiding something that was tried to be revealed?

She didn’t feel so great about anything.

“Concubine Edith has been poisoned as well, just like you.”

“…Concubine Edith, too?”

At the mention of Concubine Edith, Josephine’s straight eyebrows immediately crumpled.

She couldn’t figure out what he was thinking as she dropped her gaze and wiggled her hands beyond the quilt.

“Do you know anything about this?”

“No.”

Even if she knew something, she didn’t intend to tell him.

There was no way she would believe that he sent those. At least she attempted to confirm because she was wondering about it.

He had never sent or presented any gifts to her before.

Josephine, who was suspicious, could not easily accept them.

“If so, I have to look for the maid.”

“Yes. Please do.”

Strangely, Carmun didn’t feel uncomfortable at Josephine’s reply.

Just like the ‘mal’ put on top of a woven board.

[t/n: A small object used in yunnori, a traditional Korean game, janggi, Korean chess, chess, etc., by carrying and moving it over the board to indicate the position according to the rules. Cr: Naver Dictionary]

“Sure. Get well soon.”

Carmun rose from his seat without hesitation. Now that Josephine has woken up, he has no reason to be there anymore.

Josephine’s eyes trembled greatly at the sight of Carmun who was about to take his leave without an ounce of hesitation.

She was not shaken even at the fact that she almost died.

“Don’t, don’t leave.”

Tugging the hem of his clothes on impulse, Josephine exclaimed desperately.

“Don’t leave. You came all the way here to see me. A-at least stay until dinner….”

She was hastily attempting to get out of the bed, but ended up staggering and stumbling on the long blanket.

Carmun let out a brief sigh as he supported Josephine.

“Josephine.”

It’s been a long time since he has called her by name without animosity.

Josephine’s heart skipped a beat at the short call of her name.

Her golden eyes were filled with anticipations when she lifted her head, only for the light to crumble when she was met with the nonchalant expression on Carmun’s face.

Bite.

The sound of Josephine biting on her lower lip gave him goosebumps.

“You should remain in bed since you just woken up.”

Carmun gently pushed Josephine by her shoulder to settle back on the bed.

Josephine’s pride was offended by the obvious refusal.

However, he was the man who wouldn’t have shown this much consideration unless she was sick.

Josephine couldn’t miss this opportunity, so she didn’t let go of his hem which she took a hold of earlier.

“As I always say, I don’t hold any grudges toward you. Except the fact that you are the daughter of Duke Torre.”

She thought she had persuaded him by saying good things, and when he saw Josephine’s expression, who kept silent as if her pride was hurt, he secretly rubbed his eyebrows.

This was the reason he thought she was troublesome in many ways.

The relationship that he didn’t want to happen.

“You also know it’s hard for us to have a proper relationship.”

Carmun firmly drew the boundary between them, but Josephine kept insisting.

As if it were her last chance, she threw himself toward him and put her arms around Carmun’s waist.

“Josephine.”

Carmun called Josephine, who was clinging desperately on his waist.

If Josephine’s arms hadn’t been trembling, he would have yanked them off right away.

Why did he think about that woman at that moment?

“I’m… I’m sorry.”

Over Josephine’s figure, who said sorry to him, clashed with the figure of Concubine Edith, whom he had met in the forest.

Edith apologized, thinking that he was the night guy.

That was probably why he couldn’t act cold like usual toward her.

After noticing that Carmun had hesitated for a moment, Josephine recited in an impetuous and high-pitched voice.

“…Your Majesty…. It’s too much. If it’s hard to go ahead of this relationship, I’ll cling onto your pants to make you feel pity toward me.”

“….”

“I mean you should look at me with pity in your eyes.”

Eventually, Josephine couldn’t hold back her tears anymore. She turned her head to the right, not wanting him to see the straight stream of tears flowing down through her cheeks.

There was not even a bit of weeping sound escaped because she would never give up on her pride, but she failed to hide her slightly trembling shoulders.

“….”

Carmun eventually shoved Josephine away by the shoulder. Accepting her carelessly meant he would hurt many people.

But he didn’t realize that fact until he made a mistake.

It’s because he was dense. He swore not to make such a mistake again.

As Carmun shoved her away, Josephine widened her eyes and lifted her head with a screwed-up face.

Her eyes, filled with rebuke, were glaring at Carmun as if saying how could he do that to her.

“I’m leaving now.”

“Your Majesty!”

Carmun did not halt.

When could he put this evil destiny to an end?

He thought this was enough because Josephine usually had an extremely strong self-esteem in herself.

She wouldn’t be chasing him anymore.

However, perhaps Josephine was determined today, she led her trembling body and chased Carmun, holding onto him.

“Carmun!”

She eventually called him by name, which was unlike how she usually addressed him.

Carmun, whose name was being called, was stunned for a moment and stopped in his tracks as if his feet were glued on the floor.

His name, which came out of Josephine, made him recall a bad memory.

The memory was about his brother, Onderon.

“Stop.”

Carmun spread his hands all over his face, stiffened dangerously beyond his exhausted face.

Whenever he was with Josephine, he inevitably thought about Onderon.

That was the more reason why he had to distance himself from Josephine.

“We often met back when we were young. We have known each other since then, so you should not be this cold toward me.”

“When we were young?”

Carmun wrinkled his nose, a small contemptuous smile appeared around his mouth.