Chapter 68

“I can’t guarantee I’ll be able to find it, although I think I should check it out.”

“That’s good. Princess Este is an important person for your work.”

Declan spoke as if he wouldn’t mind Stella if it wasn’t related to me. That could tell how narrow the scope of his consideration was.

Then, he got up after telling Mason about me.

“Your Majesty, are you going as well?”

“You’re going. So, of course, I have to go, too.”

* * *

As I hurriedly headed to the palace where Stella was staying with the imperial doctor, behind us, Hans followed with the doll. When I entered the bedroom, I could see her lying unconscious, drenched in sweat. Still, there was no blood on her slender face, so she looked like a dead man.

“I was wrong. Please, forgive me.”

Stella was begging someone, muttering nonsense as Mason had said. She cried and called her mother, saying that she wanted to see her.

Mason’s face, gazing at her like that, changed terribly.

“Examine her now.”

The doctor who accompanied Declan’s orders looked at her.

“That is….”

The doctor tilted his head and looked puzzled.

“There doesn’t seem to be anything special.”

“Does that make sense? She couldn’t come to her senses!” Mason shouted as the doctor looked around and answered so.

‘When did his feelings become so deep…?’

I don’t know if he was conscious of it himself, although Mason was definitely agitated because of Stella.

“Yes, you can suspect it’s poison just by looking at the symptoms. However, it’s not poison if you see that the color of her lips and tongue have not changed.”

“Is it really poison?”

The doctor shrunk his shoulders as Mason hastily asked.

“Well, no. Talking nonsense is usually a symptom of a high fever, but she doesn’t have a fever.”

Hearing that, he looked like he wanted to argue more with the doctor, but Mason seemed to be putting up with Declan’s presence.

“I see. Just give her some medicine to restore energy.”

“Understood.”

Eventually, the doctor ran out of the room with a relieved face.

“Erica, is there anything strange?”

I glanced around the room. There was no black smoke to be seen. Again, the black smoke seemed to be invisible if it was not related to Declan. Because of that, I had no choice but to believe in the original story.

I stared intently at the bed on which Stella was lying.

“Your Majesty, please change all the bedding in the bed on which she is lying now.”

“All…?”

“Yes. I think there’s a spell on the bedding. It feels like the brooch.”

As Declan immediately gave orders to the handmaids, Mason watched quietly, puzzled.

“Not only that bedding, but all the bedding currently in this palace must be burned.”

“Are you saying everything has a problem?”

“Because you don’t know what’s in which bedding.”

In the original story, Jennifer cast a spell on the bedding used by Stella to make her trapped in a nightmare. The magic was to bring out the most painful memories of the subject and prevent them from waking up.

After replacing it with new bedding, the handmaids came out and Declan stepped back in. The sound of Stella’s breathing could be heard more comfortably than before. It seemed that the handmaids had wiped off the sweat and changed her clothes.

“Why doesn’t she wake up?”

Mason asked anxiously.

“Don’t worry too much, she’ll wake up in a little bit.”

Even though he listened to my words, he couldn’t take her eyes off her because he was anxious. The next moment, Noah came in, knocking on the door.

“Your Majesty, Princess Medicis has arrived.”

Mason’s face hardened when he heard that Jennifer had come when Stella had collapsed.

“How shameless.”

“Mason, control your face.”

At Declan’s prompt, he wiped his face dry and calmed his emotions.

“I’m sorry, Your Majesty.”

As Mason raised his head and straightened his posture, Jennifer came in shortly thereafter, “Greeting to the Sun of Burgundy, Your Majesty the Emperor.”

“Yes. What are you doing here?”

Declan treated her in a thoroughly businesslike manner.

“When I heard that Princess Este had collapsed, I was startled and ran right away.”

Even with a look of surprise, her gaze was directed only to Declan.

“Were you acquainted with Princess Este?”

“Recently, we’ve gotten closer. When we were together over tea a few days ago, she looked healthy, how could this happen?”

When she lowered her eyebrows, Jennifer gave a sad expression. Nevertheless, there was no worry in her eyes.

‘This was it.’

I narrowed my brow as I watched the black smoke swirling from Jennifer’s hand. The reason I had a headache yesterday, the reason why Jennifer had to come all the way here…

‘She did it to complete the magic of delusion.’

The magic of delusion required two steps. After allowing the magic to permeate the subject’s consciousness, the target to be fascinated towards must be specified through physical contact.

“Your Majesty must never come into contact with Princess Medicis.”

The brooch was sealed securely in advance, so step two could not work. Still, black smoke had to be avoided unconditionally. Hearing my words, Declan, who raised one eyebrow, was conscious of Jennifer but he didn’t ask me why.

“Princess Este has improved a lot. So, there is no need to worry anymore.”

“Is she doing better?”

Jennifer quickly cleared her confused expression for a moment.

“Oh, I’m really glad. I was worried a lot.”

“Yes. So, it’d be better if you just go back.”

“Then, can’t I just look at the Princess’s face? I’m so worried that my steps wouldn’t move this.”

“No matter how close you are, I can’t show the ill side without the person’s permission. She is a princess.”

Her eyes looked like she couldn’t refute because in the situation, I thought what he said was right.

It was because the bedroom was the most private space and only doctors and family could enter. Even though Declan and Mason were the exceptions because Stella was a hostage, Jennifer was not. In the end, she bit her lip and struggled to smile.

“I was short-minded. Then, I will take my leave.”

Finally, she left the bedroom with regretful eyes. As her footsteps faded away, Declan turned to me.

“Why did you tell me not to come into contact?”

“There was something in her hand. She must have prepared something like magic.”

“She rolled her head quite a bit.”

It was probably meant to create an opportunity to meet Declan while he was dealing with Stella.

‘But, why did she think that Declan would come if Stella was sick?’

If I hadn’t moved, Declan would have only sent Mason and the doctor in the first place. It would be good to be able to meet Declan if he came, and it would be good to confirm that he was not interested in Stella even if he didn’t come… Was it because of something like that?

While Declan met Stella because of the holy relic and Perseum, Jennifer did not know what was going on.

“Are you awake?”

At Mason’s trembling voice, I hurried to the bed.

Golden eyes like the sun slowly appeared. The eyes slowly returned to focus, and then they became round.

“Chancellor…? How are you here?”

A small voice escaped from between her lips.

“You have lost your consciousness and I came here with a doctor.”

‘…Wow, what’s that soft voice?’

Though he still spoke politely, it was quite different from when he was talking to Declan and me. Meanwhile, Declan narrowed his brow as if he felt it too and stared at Mason.

“Oh, yes.”

Stella, who smiled faintly, found Declan and raised her torso. But, as if there was no strength in her body, her hands kept slipping and staggering.

“It’s okay. Just lie down.”

“But…”

“I have no hobby of torturing sick people. Are you okay now?”

“Yes.”

“Mason, you should take a closer look at the princess’s condition here.”

“Ah, yes. I see.”

At his words, Mason replied with a slightly puzzled look.

* * *

As soon as we left Stella’s bedroom, unable to bear my tickling mouth, I asked Declan.

“Your Majesty is also supporting the chancellor and Princess Este, right?”

“It’s not like that.”

“Hey, you can tell me. I also support them as well. They get along well.”

“It’s not for us to argue. It’s Mason’s choice.”

“So, that’s why I’m supporting them.”

As I laughed, Declan chuckled as well. The good atmosphere I thought would continue was shattered the moment we left the detached palace.

“Your Majesty.”

It was because of the main character of that voice.

Declan also furrowed his eyebrows in displeasure as he opened his mouth, “Are there any more things to do?”

“It’s been a long time since I’ve seen Your Majesty, and it’s a pity that I have to go back.”

Jennifer blushed slightly and smiled.

“I have nothing to see with you.”

When he turned around in denial, Jennifer quickly grabbed him.

“A short break improves work efficiency. The roses were blooming beautifully in the palace where I was staying, would you like to see them together?”

Even more enchantingly, her eyes curved and her black eyes like the abyss were shining brightly.

“I’m not free.”

At his blunt reply, her black eyes trembled slightly at the cold reply.

“Actually, it’s because I don’t want to be alone. Seeing Princess Este sick, reminds me of Tierra more today.”

Jennifer, whose eyebrows drooped sadly, drew closer.

“Your Majesty is the only one I can rely on here.”

Her gaze slightly lowered the next moment after continuing her words and she blinked her eyes pitifully.

‘…This monster. How wicked.’

I glanced at her and clicked my tongue.

However, the moment Declan turned around without saying a word—

“Ah.”

—She suddenly grabbed her head and her body staggered.